VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
November 6th, 2023
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, November 6th, 2023.
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 Jim Johnson, Galen Brainerd, Kim Grasley, Darlene Wundrow, Tim Dolan and Mark Zimmer. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes and Deputy Nicole Frisinger attended also.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve the October 2nd, 2023 Public Hearing Minutes, carried.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to approve the October 2nd, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Casey Gudis attended the meeting to report to the Board that the park & cemetery are both closed up for the winter and the crew is busy getting all equipment serviced and ready for the winter months.
The East Arthur Ave/S. Main St. sewer line project is completed. Blacktopping will be done in the spring/summer.
The filtration project is complete as far as piping, blacktopping and site restoration. The installation of the filter plant is still ongoing.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
Backpack Blessings – Donation request: A donation request was submitted to the Board from the Backpack Blessings Program through the school in October. After review of the budget at that time, the Board denied the donation request. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to keep the request on the agenda until year 2024, carried.
Shop with a Cop – Rusk Co. Christmas for Kids Program: A donation request was submitted from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department for their annual ‘Shop with a Cop Christmas for Kids’ Program. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Dolan to donate $25.00 to the program, carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Robert Lorkowski attended the meeting to inform the Board of his purchase of the Mirr’s Gateway Motel building. He is currently in the process of renovations.
He also asked the Board if they would be willing to install speed limit signs and school zone signs on Main Street to help with the speed of traffic.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permits:
Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to approve a building permit to Jolynn Engel to replace siding and reroof her house located at 633 N. 4th Street, carried.
Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Grasley to approve a building permit to Tim Dolan to install a blacktop driveway at his rental house located at 123 W. River Avenue, carried.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve a building permit to Robert Lorkowski to reroof his building located at 621 N. Main Street, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Committee Meeting 9/26/23 Minutes/Report: A committee meeting was held on September 26th, 2023 to discuss the garbage contract. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
Gudis presented the committee with a quote for a used garbage truck for the price of $106,900 and also pricing for purchasing new garbage carts: There are roughly 380 customers Village wide.
65 gallon @ $48.29 each x 380 = $18,350.20
95 gallon @ $72.00 each x 380 = $27,360.00
and 95 gallon recycling carts @ $72.00 each = $27,360.00
The committee is recommending the following:
* Charge customers a one-time ‘service charge’ for the receptacles. ($144.00) This can be billed over 4 quarters.
* Purchase the used truck for $106,900
* Purchase the 95 gallon recycling and 95 gallon refuse carts for an estimated total of $54,720.00
* Increase current garbage rates 2.5%, effective 1/1/24, then dropping the rate back to $57.50 1/1/25 with the added $144.00 fee for the carts
* In the Spring of 2024, send out letters to residents informing them of the Village’s plan to go with their own service
* Look at getting quotes to build a storage shed on the property the Village owns on Coleman St. to store the new truck and carts
** Re-evaluate things after one-two years to see if the Village would like to take on dumpsters as well
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve the September 26th, 2023 Utility Committees’ minutes with the amendment of a 4% increase in the garbage rates effective January 1st, 2024, carried.
Garbage Contract Discussion: Nothing further to discuss at this time. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to table the ‘Garbage Contract Discussion’ item until the December, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Garbage Rate Increase: After review of the budget for 2024, the Village is at a deficit for revenues versus expenditures. A 4% increase in rates from Republic Services to the Village is effective January 1st, 2024. To get the revenues in line with the expenses, motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve a 4% increase in the garbage rates effective January 1st, 2024, carried. This would increase the quarterly rate to $59.80.
Sewer Main Replacement on East Arthur /S. Main St.: The project is completed. Blacktopping will be completed in the spring/summer of 2024. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve an invoice in the amount of $3,697.50 for engineering work completed for the sewer main replacement on East Arthur Avenue and S. Main Street, carried.
Public Works:
LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds: The application is ready for submittal for the November 15th, 2023 deadline. Nothing further to discuss at this time. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds’ item until the December, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Purchase of Speed Bumps: Trott mentioned at the October meeting that he would like to see speed bumps/school zone signs installed throughout the Village, particularly on Main Street, Trails End Avenue and 2nd Street. He asked Frisinger to look in to pricing as well as regulations and programs the school might have to help with school zone signage. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Purchase of Speed Bumps’ item until the December, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Works Committee Meeting 10/23/23 Minutes/Report: A Public Works Committee was held on October 23rd, 2023. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee met to discuss the roof installation on the well house #3 building. The committee is recommending going with a pitched roof versus a flat roof. A bid/change order was submitted from Haas Construction in the amount of $24,625.65, with the supplies alone costing $6,409.34.
Northland Construction Services presented a bid in the amount of $16,600.00. After further discussion with Northland and Gotham, an addition to the roof needed to be added to the bid to have access in the roof to be able to pull the well out if needed. Northland will supply the committee with a revised bid to include this cost. The total cost will be roughly between $18,000 & $20,000.
The committee is recommending having Northland Construction Services do the work. This will save the Village money, work will be completed faster and it is a local company.
Water Filtration Project – Corrective Work on Village Wells & River Avenue:
-DISCUSSION & ACTION-
– UPDATE –
Larry Gotham of Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. attended the meeting to give the Board an update on the Filtration Project. All piping, blacktopping and site restoration are completed. All curb and gutter is complete except for one patch. The interior paneling of the water treatment plant building is being installed but still waiting on the steel for the roof.
The manufacturer for the filter system informed Gotham that the unit has been made and has been put out for testing. The unit should be delivered in February 2024. And completed in May of 2024.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Water Filtration – Corrective Work on Village Wells & River Avenue’ item until the December, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Cooper Engineering – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Dolan to approve paying an invoice in the amount of $2,090.00 to Cooper Engineering for services on the Water Filtration Project thru October 14th, 2023, carried.
Morgan & Parmley Ltd. – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Dolan to pay the invoice in the amount of $6,190.00 to Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. for engineering work on the Filtration Project, completed thru October 31st, 2023, carried.
Haas Sons, Inc. – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Grasley, seconded by Wundrow to approve paying the invoice from Haas Sons, Inc. in the amount of $490,897.28 for work completed on the Filtration Project thru November 2nd, 2023, carried.
Change Order #1 Discussion: Trott reported that a change order was submitted to the DNR for work to be completed on the Well House #3 building. This would be for the installation of a pitched roof, versus a flat roof originally in the design plans. The work would not be covered through federal funding on the project; however, the change order was a decrease in total costs for the project.
Change Order #2 Approval: A change order was presented to the Board from Haas Sons for a 155 day time extension on the Filtration project. This would set the completion date to May 1, 2024. The original completion date was set for November 27th, 2023.Several Board members expressed their concern with the lengthy time extension and the inconvenience it would bring to the Village residents. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Grasley to approve Change Order #2, carried.
Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion: An itemized list of expenses incurred by the Village was presented to the Board. A meeting will be scheduled with the school administrator to discuss the item further. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion’ item until the December, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Park Dugout Update: The back stop poles have been installed. The netting is on back order but should arrive in the Spring of 2024. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Park Dugout Update’ item until the December, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Administration:
Maintenance Position Hire: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Maintenance Position Hire’ item until the December, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Finance:
Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Wundrow to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Public Hearing November 6th, 2023 6:30 p.m. – Proposed 2024 Budget: Trott reported the Public Budget Hearing for the proposed 2024 Budget was held prior to the November 6th Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Review, Discussion & Approval of 2024 Budget: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve the Village of Bruce’s 2024 Budget of $558,663.00, carried.
Set Levy, Including Approval of all Internal & Unresolved Matters: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve setting the 2024 Levy at $125,440.00 and approve all internal & unresolved matters, carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $513,032.60, carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Village Hall Thanksgiving Holiday Hours: The Village Hall will be closed on November 23rd and November 24th, 2023 for the Thanksgiving Holiday
Christmas in Bruce: December 9th, 2023
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 8:13 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer