VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
May 2nd, 2022
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, May 2nd, 2022.
Village President Shane Trott presided and called to order the meeting at the Village Hall facility at 7:00 p.m. Board members present were Kim Grasley, Loren Beebe, Jim Johnson, Darlene Wundrow and Galen Brainerd. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes attended also. Mark Zimmer was absent.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Beebe, seconded by Grasley to approve the April 4th, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Beebe, seconded by Johnson to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Casey Gudis attended the meeting to report that the pilot test on both wells has been completed. Culligan & Water Surplus both showed comparable ending results. Gudis is still working on the continuous chlorination that is due.
Backhoe Purchase: Gudis asked the Board to consider looking at the purchase of a new backhoe sooner rather than later. With the new plow truck still not being delivered after ordering in January, 2022, it would be best, if the Board is wanting to proceed, to order the backhoe now, considering delivery times. Currently trade in value on the old backhoe is at $30,000.00. A committee meeting will be scheduled later in the month to discuss the item.
Gudis reported that there has been some vandalism to Well House #3. He is looking for a contractor to repair the broken barn windows. A claim has been filed with the insurance company.
Lastly, Gudis reported that a resident at the end of Washington Avenue has been harassing the crew and other residents who use the dump site location. Installation of a culvert at the end of the street would help with turning around solely on Village owned property. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to approve installing a culvert at the end of E. Washington Avenue for approximately $450.00, carried. Motion by Beebe, seconded by Grasley to have the crew install a dash cam in the Village truck, carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Phil Arts attended the meeting and asked the Board if pit bulls are allowed in the Village limits. The Board responded that no, according to Village Ordinances, pit bulls are not permitted within the Village limits.
APPLICATIONS:
Operator’s Licenses:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Beebe to approve an operator’s license to Brady W. Cerra, carried.
Motion by Grasley, seconded by Johnson to approve an operator’s license to Jerald L. Johnson, carried.
Building Permits: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to approve a building permit to Paul Javener to re-roof his garage at his rental property located at 1108 N. 2nd Street, carried.
Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to approve a building to Karen Hanson to re-roof her commercial building at 530 S. Main Street, carried.
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve a building permit to Karen Hanson to install a fence at her property located at 504 E. Trails End Avenue, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Discussion and Action Regarding Corrective Work on Village Wells: Both test plants have been completed on both wells. Quotes from Water Surplus & Culligan will be submitted at a later date for the installation of the new water filtration system. Both companies’ water results from the test plants resulted in about the same parts per minute. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Discussion and Action Regarding Corrective Work on Village Wells’ issue until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Morgan & Parmley – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve an invoice from Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. in the amount of $4,695.00 for contracted work completed through April, 30, 2022 on the Corrective Work on the Village Wells Project, carried.
Sewer Rate Increase: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Grasley to table the “Sewer Rate Increase’ issue until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Works:
Committee Meeting April 20th, 2022 Report: Trott reported a committee meeting was held on April 20th, 2022 to discuss the Veteran’s Memorial Park Project. The committee recommended the following:
1) Speak with Bruce Telephone about getting a proposal to them for using their lot on Hwy 8 and Alvey Street. An agreement/contract would need to be drawn up regarding maintenance/upkeep for the property. Responsibility should be the Village’s if approval to use lot if given by Bruce Telephone Board.
2) Lot is 121.17 ft from East to West, and there are (2) 50 ft lots from North to South
3) Draft proposal needs to be drawn up as far as the agreement/contract.
4) Brainerd will measure the lot and draw up a layout of the plans for the mural
5) Zimmer will look at framework for the murals
Veteran’s Memorial Park Site: A proposal will be written up and submitted to Bruce Telephone for using their lot for the Veteran’s Mural Project location. Approval will need to be sought from the Bruce Telephone Board before moving forward.
As of May 1st, 2022, twenty-three applications have been submitted to the artist for the mural. A Memorial Day, 2023 date was given by the artist for completion of the murals. Applications are still being excepted at the Village Hall. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Veteran’s Memorial Park Site’ issue until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
North Main Street Reconstruction Project:
-DISCUSSION-
Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘North Main Street Reconstruction Project Discussion’ item until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meetings, carried.
Public Welfare:
Committee meeting April, 26, 2022 Report: Trott reported a committee meeting was held on April 26th, 2022 to discuss the WRA’s interest in improving/upgrading the Round Lake Park. The committee discussed the following:
1) What contaminants are present in the pond?
2) Would the pond need dredged? What hidden costs would arise for the Village?
3) The Village does not have any extra funding to pay towards the renovations.
4) Trott will meet with Jerry Carow from WRA and see what ideas they have.
Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion: Trott reported that some damage has been done to the concession stand at the Bruce Park do to a possible break in. The maintenance workers will fix the damage. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Beebe to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion’ issue until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Bruce Kiwanis – Pavilion Upgrade Approval: The Bruce Kiwanis is asking the Board for approval to put up a curtain wall on the Bruce Park Pavilion to have the ability to close off the pavilion during events due to acclimate weather conditions. All costs for the work would be incurred by the Kiwanis. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to approve the request, carried. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Administration:
Committee Meeting April 20th, 2022 Report: Trott reported a committee meeting was held on April 29th, 2022 to review Village Ordinance 7-1-13, regarding farm animals. The committee is recommending no changes to the ordinance at this time.
Finance:
Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action: Nothing new to report at this time. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Brainerd to table the ‘Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action’ item until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Ambulance Garage Building Discussion & Action: Area townships have been billed for their percentage of what the ambulance services. As of May 1st, 2022, only two townships have paid. The item will be left on the agenda for an update next month. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Ambulance Garage Building Discussion & Action’ item until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Plow Truck Purchase Discussion & Action: The Village is still waiting on the delivery of the new plow truck that was ordered in January, 2022. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to table the ‘Plow Truck Purchase Discussion & Action’ item until the June, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Review 2021 TID 1 & 2 Annual Reports: Trott reported that TID #1 was closed out in 2021 and TID #2 still has a balance as of December 31st, 2021 of $63,793.00.
2022-2023 Committee Recommendations: Trott recommends the following for the 2022-2023 Committee Recommendations:
Public Safety – Beebe, Grasley
Utility – Wundrow, Johnson
Public Works – Brainerd, Wundrow
Public Welfare – Beebe, Brainerd
Administration- Zimmer, Brainerd
Finance – Grasley, Johnson
Industrial Park – Zimmer, Grasley
Library Board Representative – Brainerd
Fire Department Representatives – Johnson, Wundrow
Interim President – Zimmer
Voucher Signers – Zimmer, Grasley
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to approve the recommendations, carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Grasley to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $260,801.11, carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
2022 Open Book – Tuesday, May 10th from 1:00 to 3:00
2022 Board of Review – Monday, May 23rd from 3:00 to 5:00
Village Wide Spring Clean-Up: May 13th & 14th, 2022. The collection site will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you are unable to haul your own refuse either of those days, pick up service is available May 16th, 2022 for a fee.
Village Wide Garage Sales: June 11th, 2022
Cruise Nights-Classic Auto Collision Center has set the calendar for Cruise Night in the parking lot at 705 N. Main Street in Bruce, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 17th, June 21st, July 19th & August 16th.
Saturday July 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will be the annual Open House/Craft/Car Show. Contact Classic Auto Collision Center at 715-868-CARS or classicauto@brucetel.net for more details.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Brainerd to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 7:40 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer