VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
November 7th, 2022
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, November 7th, 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, Galen Brainerd, Darlene Wundrow, Mark Zimmer and Jim Johnson. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes attended also.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Beebe, seconded by Grasley to approve the October 3rd, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Casey Gudis attended the meeting to report that the Bruce Park is closed for the season. The crew has been busy getting all equipment ready for the upcoming snow season. Two water lines have been replaced due to low pressure to the properties and the sewer project on Hanson and River Avenue is completed and will be paved in the Spring of 2023.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS & REQUESTS:
Backpack Blessings Donation Request: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve a $150.00 donation to the ‘Backpack Blessings’ program for the Bruce School, carried.
‘Shop with a Cop’ Donation Request: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve a $50.00 donation to the ‘Shop with a Cop’ annual program, carried.
Bruce Kiwanis Project Request: The Bruce Kiwanis approached Trott to ask permission to install a marquee sign in the Village to post for community events. The marquee would be at no cost to the Village except for maintenance, utilities and upkeep would be the Village’s responsibility. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to send the item to committee to discuss further, carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Jim Blazek asked the Board if they would consider snow blowing the sidewalks on Alvey Street and Washington Avenue for children’s safety walking to school. With only two maintenance employees doing all the snowplowing for the Village, the Board said they would try their best to get it done and would possibly talk to the School to see if they would be willing to help.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permits: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve a building permit to Bob Lorkowski to do some interior remodeling on his house he owns at 631 N. Alvey Street, carried.
Motion by Grasley, seconded by Zimmer to approve a building permit to Bob Lorkowski to install a porch on his house he owns at 631 N. Alvey Street, carried.
Operator’s License: Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to approve an operator’s license for Brooke J. Tremblay, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Discussion and Action Regarding Corrective Work on Village Wells: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Discussion and Action Regarding Corrective Work on Village Wells’ issue until the December, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Sewer Rate Increase: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Beebe to table the ‘Sewer Rate Increase’ issue until the December, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
W. River Avenue Sewer Line Replacement Project: The sewer line is replaced and the blacktop will be replaced in the Spring of 2023 during the Water Filtration Project.. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Committee Meeting 10/13/22 Minutes: A committee meeting was held on October 13th, 2022 to discuss the Village Ordinance pertaining to water and sewer lateral installation costs. The ordinance hasn’t been updated since 1999. PSC Schedule No. CZ-1 states, ‘The initial water and sewer lateral(s), not installed as part of a subdivision development or an assessable utility extension, will be installed from the main through the curb stop and box (property line for sewer laterals), by the utility and charged at actual cost to the customer.’ The committee recommends updating the ordinance accordingly.
Garbage Rate Increase Approval: At the annual Budget Workshop discussion was had with our accountant regarding recouping the Village’s costs for refuse collection. It was recommended at that time to raise rates. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to approve increasing the garbage rates by $2.50, from $55.00 quarterly to $57.50 quarterly, carried.
Public Works:
Veteran’s Memorial Park Site: The site has been marked and materials for the wall have been delivered. The murals are completed and need to be picked up and installed. Completion of the project will not be completed by Veteran’s Day but is anticipated to be completed by then end of November. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Veteran’s Memorial Park Site’ issue until the December, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
North Main Street Reconstruction Project:
North Main Street Project – Property Assessment Adjustment – Parcel #106-00092-0000:
The Board received a request regarding the assessment for Parcel #106-00092-0000. The parcel was assessed at the full 100% rate for the west side of the property along West Alvey Street, which was part of the 2011 Phase 1 part of the project. Since this is a corner lot, one side should be 100% and the other 50%. The property owner is requesting that they be assessed 50% along West Railroad Ave. The original assessment was for 100%. If both Phases were to be considered a “total” project, then the assessment should be reduced by 50%. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve reducing the original assessment to the property by 50% for the North Main Street Reconstruction Project, carried.
-DISCUSSION-
The project is complete. The clerk is working on finalizing all paperwork with the DNR & CDBG. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘North Main Street Reconstruction Project Discussion’ item until the December, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion: Nothing new to discuss at this time. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion” item until the December, Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Administration:
Title 9 Chapter 1 Section 12 – Ordinance Amendment: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve amending Ordinance Title 9 Chapter 1 Section 12 of the Village of Bruce Code of Ordinances to reflect PSC Schedule No. CZ-1 which states, ‘The initial water and sewer lateral(s), not installed as part of a subdivision development or an assessable utility extension, will be installed from the main through the curb stop and box (property line for sewer laterals), by the utility and charged at actual cost to the customer.’, carried.
Finance:
Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action: Nothing new to report at this time. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action’ item until the December, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Ambulance Garage Building Discussion & Action: Nothing new to report at this time. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Beebe to table the ‘Ambulance Garage Building Discussion & Action’ item until the December, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Plow Truck Purchase Discussion & Action: Gudis received a quote for a plow truck from Meyers International for $102,743.92 as well as an additional quote from Monroe Trucking for $104,749.00 for the box, sander and wing. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to purchase the new plow truck, carried.
Termination of On-Solve (CodeRED) System: After the annual Budget Workshop with the Village accountant, the Board decided that the On-Solve (CodeRED) Alert System does not get utilized as much as what was anticipated. The School has offered to put out any alert messaging that the Village may need in the future. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to terminate services with On-Solve (CodeRED), carried.
Public Hearing November 7th, 2022 6:30 p.m.-Proposed 2023 Budget: Trott reported the Public Budget Hearing for the proposed 2023 Budget was held prior to the November 7th Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Review, Discussion & Approval of 2023 Budget: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve the Village of Bruce 2023 Budget of $502,663.00, carried.
Set Levy, Including Approval of All Internal & Unresolved Matters: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve setting the 2023 Levy at $117,395.00 and approve all internal & unresolved matters, carried.
Committee Meeting 10/25/22: A committee meeting was held on October 25th to discuss purchasing equipment with the Local Recovery Grant funding the Village received. The committee is recommending purchasing two side by sides from Tractor Central at approximately $30,000.00 each, one with a plow and one without, both enclosed with heat and a/c.
Equipment Purchase Approval: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to purchase two side by sides from Tractor Central at approximately $30,000.00 each, one with a plow and one without, both enclosed with heat and a/c, carried.
Industrial Site:
Committee Meeting 10/6/22 Report Only: A committee meeting was held on October 6th to meet with individuals from Blue Hills Dairy, LLC to discuss possibly building a facility at the Village’s Industrial Site. The committee requested the following from the business before moving forward with the plans:
– A business plan and financial plan from Blue Hills Dairy, LLC.
-The Village is offering a possible commitment to sell if Blue Hills Dairy gets the needed permits and also state engineered plans.
– The Village would want to obtain an appraisal on the land to determine the accurate value of the property.
– The Village would want first right to purchase the land if the land ever would come up for sale.
No other recommendations from the committee at this time.
Blue Hills Dairy, LLC: The Village is willing to sell the Industrial Site land to the business but wants the committees recommended requests met before-hand. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to obtain a letter from the Village attorney outlining the items the Village is requesting before sale. One all requests from the Village have been met, the Village will sell the land to the business, carried. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Blue Hills Dairy, LLC’ issue until the December, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $50,518.20, carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Village Hall Thanksgiving Holiday Hours: The Village Hall will be closed on November 24th and November 25th for the Thanksgiving Holiday
Christmas in Bruce: December 10th, 2022
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 8:02 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer