VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
September 8th, 2026
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Tuesday, September 8th, 2026.
Village President Shane Trott presided and called to order the meeting at the Village Hall facility at 5:30 p.m., 100 W. River Avenue. Board members present were Galen Brainerd, Jim Johnson, John Hoiby, and Darlene Wundrow. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes and Deputy Nicole Frisinger attended also. Trustee Mark Zimmer was absent. One Trustee position remains vacant.
APPOINTMENT OF VACANT TRUSTEE POSITION: Trott nominated Jim Moore to occupy the vacant trustee position on the Board. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Brainerd to approve Trott’s appointment of the vacant trustee position to Jim Moore, carried.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Brainerd to approve the August 3rd, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Casey Gudis attended the meeting to report to the Board that the Main Street chip sealing project is complete. The crew has been busy tar cracking around town as well as jetting sewers. The new tractor, mower and one side by side have been delivered. The second side by side should be delivered within the month.
Heater Installation Approval in Garbage Building: Gudis obtained a quote from Dave’s Heating and Air Conditioning in the amount of $7,099.42 for a heater to be installed at the garbage building on Coleman Street. The lack of not having one last year resulted in a frozen water line at the building. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Heater Installation Approval in Garbage Building’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, until further quotes can be obtained, carried.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
Trevor Richards – Library Report & 2027 Budget Presentation: Richards announced that it is ‘Library Card Registration’ month. Representatives from the three townships that fund the Bruce Library participated in a day of new registrations.
The Library received a $600.00 donation last month from the Blue Hills Lion’s Club and a $670.00 donation from the Friends of the Library this month.
Richards stated that a surrounding Library donated study carols to the Bruce Library and he asked permission to have the Village crew pick them up for him. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to approve having the Village crew pick up the furniture for him, carried.
Richards presented the 2027 Library budget to the Board for discussion.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permits:
Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to approve a building permit to Kevin Helmuth to do exterior remodeling of his home located at 610 N. 2nd Street, carried.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to approve a building permit to Allison Lovgren, Lyrical Living, LLC to complete a partial roof replacement on her building located at 126 W. Railroad Avenue, carried.
Operator’s Licenses:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve an operator’s license to Katie J. Nelson, carried.
Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to approve an operator’s license to Kristin A. Brodhagen, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Public Safety:
Village Hall Water Damage:
Completion date for the project was pushed out due to carpet being on back order. The carpet is the final line item left for completion. Carpet should be here within the week and move in date scheduled in the next couple weeks. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Village Hall Water Damage’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
Temporary Village Offices will be located at the Village Shop, 228 E. River Avenue.
Discussion on E-Bikes, Scooters & Gas-Powered Bikes:
Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Discussion on E-Bikes, Scooters & Gas-Powered Bikes’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Utility:
Simplified Water Rate Increase Application Approval: The application to the Public Service Commission was submitted and approved. It will take roughly 30-45 days to receive authorization to proceed from the PSC. Rates will go in to effect January 1st, 2027 at an increase of 3%. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Simplified Water Rate Increase Application’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Works:
Alley Paving: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Alley Paving’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
Main Street Repairs: Chip sealing from River Avenue south to Hwy 8 is complete.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Brainerd to table the ‘Main Street Repairs’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
Lawnmower/Side x Side Replacement Schedule: The tractor, mower and one side by side have been delivered. The delivery of the second side by side should be here within the month. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to approve putting a replacement schedule in place for every two years for every other side by side, same replacement schedule of the lawnmower, and every three years inspection schedule on the tractor, carried. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to remove the ‘Lawnmower/Side x Side Replacement Schedule’ item from the agenda, carried.
735 W. Railroad Avenue Property Survey/Sale: Myron Kempen attended the meeting to discuss with the Board regarding acquiring a small portion of Village owned property on Wester Street. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Brainerd to send the item to committee to discuss further, carried. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘735 W. Railroad Avenue Property Survey/Sale’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
‘Welcome to Bruce’ Signage: The Board would like to pursue installing new/updated ‘Welcome to Bruce’ signage on the East & West ends of the Village. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to send the item to committee to discuss further and to table the ‘Welcome to Bruce’ Signage item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Bench Donation from Legion Hall: The American Legion Hall/Auxilliary donated all weather benches to the Village to be used for the Veteran’s Mural wall at the Bruce Park. The Legion approached the Village and asked if they would be interested in additional benches to be donated for the Veteran’s mural location on Hwy 8/Alvey Street, to match the ones previously donated at the park. There are currently wooden benches located there that will be used elsewhere in town. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to approve accepting the donation of the all-weather benches from the American Legion, carried.
Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion:
Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion’ item until the October, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
2027 Library Budget Approval: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to approve the Library’s 2027 budget of $67,624.00, carried.
Park Splash Pad Project: Discussion was had on possibly installing a splash pad at the Bruce Park. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to send the item to committee to discuss further, carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $70,178.22, carried.
CORRESPONDENCE: 2026-2027 Committee Designations: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve appointing Moore to the vacant trustee positions on the finance & industrial site committees, carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Farmer’s Market: Every Friday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., located at the Bruce Park, from July 3rd thru September 25th.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Hoiby to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 6:23 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer