VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
October 6th, 2025
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, October 6th, 2025.
Village President Shane Trott presided and called to order the meeting at the Village Hall facility at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were Galen Brainerd, Darlene Wundrow, Tim Dolan, Jim Johnson, Mark Zimmer and Kim Grasley. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes and Deputy Nicole Frisinger attended also.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Dolan to approve the minutes from the September 8th, 2025 Public Hearing, carried.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to approve the September 8th, 2025 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 give the Board an update.
The Village’s biannual Clean Up Event has been completed.
The last few of the new remote read meters are being installed.
The crew has been busy rodding sewers & flushing hydrants.
The addition on the Veteran’s mural at the park will be completed by Memorial Day of 2026. Gudis asked if the crew should begin the construction now or wait until the Spring. The Board instructed him to wait until Spring.
He informed the Board of a slide on the park playground equipment that has been busted and needs replaced. The Clerk will reach out to Creative Recreation Systems to look in to getting a replacement.
Gudis also brought to the Board an idea of possibly getting community donations for a splash pad to be installed at the park in the future. The Board stated that would be a great addition to the park and something they will look in to further.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
Rusk County Jingle Bells & Badges Donation Request: Trott read aloud a donation request letter from the ‘Rusk County Jingle Bells & Badges’ program, formerly known as ‘Shop with A Cop’. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to approve donating $50.00 to the program, carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: (Please state your name – Limited to 5 minutes per person)
Kurt & Colleen Kopras attending the meeting regarding the garbage cans at the property they own at 718 N. Main Street. She asked the Board to come and collect the cans. Kurt stated that the building is now empty, other than the food pantry located in the back. Colleen stated that she has started a petition to circulate to every resident in the Village about their story and to have them call the Village Hall with any questions. She stated she will get as many signatures as needed to sway the Village in voiding the bill for the cans. Trott stated that if the building was vacant, they needed to contact the Village Hall during regular business hours to stop services and have the cans collected. Kurt asked that once that happens, if the fee for the carts would be waved. Kurt asked that if the Village takes the cans and eliminates the fee if they would not be charged for services. He also asked if there was a minimum charge for water and sewer services. Trott said there will still be a base fee charged. Trott stated that no action can be taken at this time as it was not an agenda item.
APPLICATIONS:
Bow Hunting Permit: Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Grasley to approve a bowing hunting permit to Joe Vojtasek, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Sewer Rate Increase: Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to approve raising the sewer rates by 2% effective April 1st, 2026, carried.
Public Works:
Alley Paving: Russ Thompson’s Excavating, Inc. has marked the alley to begin construction. The project is scheduled to be completed this fall. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Alley Paving’ item until the November, 2025 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
Committee Meeting 9/24/25 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on September 24th, 2025. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
Garbage Building Upgrades: Materials came in at a cost of approximately $13,500.00 from Barry’s Builders to finish off the interior of the garbage truck building, including insulation. Cost would go down for tin used that is already in stock. The committee is recommending going forward with the supplies list and price from Barry’s and having the Village crew do the work for the upgrades.
LRIP Funding: The 2026-2027 funding cycle is open for the Local Road Improvement Program. The committee is recommending applying for the funds to rehab 1st Street. Applications are due by November 15, 2025. A 5-year plan will be submitted with the application as well.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to approve the committee’s recommendations from the September 24th, 2025 meeting regarding the garbage building upgrades, carried.
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve the committee’s recommendations from the September 24th, 2025 committee meeting regarding the LRIP funding, carried.
LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds: Motion by Grasley, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds’ issue until the November, 2025 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Cemetery Expansion: Discussion was had on the expansion of the Bruce cemetery into the plotted 6th addition. Gudis reported that there were roughly twenty-four lots remaining for sale. It was decided that the expansion into the 6th addition was not necessary at this time. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Dolan to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion: Nothing new to discuss this month. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion’ item until the November, 2025 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Administration:
Committee Meeting 9/17/25 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on September 17th, 2025. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee met with employees to discuss wages and benefits for 2026. Employees are requesting a 5% wage increase with an addition of $50.00/ month towards their health insurance stipend. The committee is recommending the requests to the Board for approval.
Some discussion was had on cell phone stipends to on-call employees. No recommendations at this time.
The committee discussed revising the Village’s Ordinance pertaining to private wells and inspections. The revisions were recommended by the DNR at the last sanitary sewer inspection in August, 2025.
The committee is recommending contacting the PSC to advise on the issue before proceeding.
Motion by Grasley, seconded by Dolan to approve the committee’s recommendations from the September 17th, 2025 meeting, carried.
Motion by Grasley, seconded by Johnson to put the Private Well Ordinance on next month’s agenda, carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $50,909.99, carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
The 2026 Budget Workshop will be held on October 8th, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
The 5:05 Business After Hours event will be held on Thursday, October 9th, 2025 at 5:05 p.m., recognizing Gateway Gourmets, L’Cars & Gateway Inn & Suites. There will be a ribbon cutting, tours, wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Bruce Community Farmer’s Market: Every Friday thru the end of October, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Bruce Park
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Grasley to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 6:19 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer