VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
September 2, 2014
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.
Village President Mike Newman presided and called to order the meeting at the Village Hall facility at 7:00 p.m. Board members present were Lloyd Waite, Shane Trott, Mark Zimmer, Jim Doke, Bobbi Jo Fillion and John Manosky. Both Clerks attended also.
Motion by Fillion, seconded by Waite to approve the Agenda, carried.
Motion by Fillion, seconded by Manosky to dispense of the reading and approve the minutes of the August 4, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Darlene Wundrow reported flushing hydrants is scheduled for September 15, 16, 17 & 18, 2014, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Fall Clean Up will be October 10th & 11th, 2014. Curb side pick-up will be on Monday, October 13th. One lift station compressor is being repaired by Moberg Electric. Two compressors are in each lift station. Three that are working were installed in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s are over 40 years old. Darlene received a quote of $1,683.00 for two compressors that are the same style as what is currently being used. Motion by Doke, seconded by Zimmer to approve purchasing two compressors for $1,683.00, carried. Waunona, a small community near Madison, is advertising thirty-six model 25 Badger residential water meters for sale for $2,200.00 and Darlene asked for approval to purchase them. They are the same type that is currently being used in the village and are very difficult to find for replacements. Motion by Waite, seconded by Doke to approve purchasing thirty-six, model 25 Badger residential water meters for $2,200.00 or best offer accepted from Waunona, carried. Wundrow reported the two Experience Works that were working for the Village are not anymore. Help may be needed to keep up with the lawn mowing and trimming. The ambulance garage roof needs to be replaced and Darlene asked for suggestions on replacing it. Motion by Trott, seconded by Fillion to approve seeking quotes to re-roof the ambulance garage, carried.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
North Main Street Reconstruction Project-Status Report: There was no new information to report. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to table the “North Main Street Reconstruction Project” issue until the October, 2014 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Jackie Johnson attended the meeting and thanked the Board for handling the situation of removing a dumpster from the property near her. She wanted to also thank the Fire Department for their consideration in handling the fireworks during the Blue Hills Festival. They do an outstanding job.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permits: Motion by Waite, seconded by Zimmer to approve a building permit for James Frisinger to re-roof his commercial building at 710 N. Main Street, carried.
New Operators License: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Trott to approve a regular operator’s license for Marie A. Kirk, carried.
Street Use Permit: Kim Grasley attended the meeting to explain her request to have live music outside in the rear parking lot at The Pour House Tavern Inc., 626 N. Main Street, on October 4, 2014. Discussion was held on the length of time for the music, lighting and fencing that would have to be installed. Motion by Waite, seconded by Manosky to approve a Street Use Permit for Kim & Jeff Grasley of The Pour House Tavern Inc. to block off the area behind their establishment on October 4, 2014 to have live music playing 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Public Safety:
Notification from State Commissioner of Railroads of Wisconsin Central Ltd. Petition for Closure of 1st Street and Blackburn Street Crossings: Newman reported the Village has received a final decision from the Commissioner of Railroads regarding the request from Wisconsin Central Ltd. to close the 1st Street and Blackburn Street railroad crossings. The determination states that the 1st Street railroad crossing will be closed and the Blackburn Street crossing will remain open. The Village is responsible for installing temporary barricades and road closed signs at the 1st Street crossing by September 1, 2014. Because we didn’t receive the notice until August 29th the Commissioner has changed the deadline to October 1, 2014. Wundrow contacted Rusk County Highway Department and they are allowing the Village the use of their signs.
Barricades at 1st Street Railroad Crossing: Discussion was held on the date to put up the barricades. Motion by Doke, seconded by Zimmer to approve installing the safety barricades at the 1st Street railroad crossings by September 5, 2014, carried.
Motion by Doke, seconded by Zimmer to approve tabling the “Notification from State Commissioner of Railroads on the Closure of 1st Street and Blackburn Street Crossings” issue until the October, 2014 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Welfare:
Abatement Issue: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to table the “Abatement Issue” until the October, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
ATV Routes in Village: Newman reported he spoke to Larry Quinn regarding the ATV routes in the Village and the possibility of connecting to the trails outside the Village limits. The Committee will meet to review changes to the current route in the Village. Motion by Doke, seconded by Manosky to refer the “ATV Route in Village” issue to Committee to discuss possible changes to the ATV route that was previously approved, carried.
2015 Library Budget Approval: The Board reviewed the proposed 2015 budget of $39,778.02 for the Library. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Trott to approve the 2015 Library Budget of $39,778.02, carried.
Administration:
Employee Wage Negotiations: A Committee meeting will be scheduled in September to review employee requests for 2015 wage negotiations.
Industrial Site: Doke reported he talked to Larry Meisegeier regarding the plans to possibly build a building in the Village’s Industrial Park to manufacture sheep dairy products. Plans are still moving forward. UW Stout has met with the group and they are testing some of the products for marketability. More exposure to their products is needed and a meeting is scheduled in Weyerhaeuser on September 3, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. that Doke plans to attend.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Rusk County Comprehensive Plan: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Doke to table the “Rusk County Comprehensive Plan” issue until the October, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Bruce Housing Authority-Request for Consideration of PILOT Payment: Motion by Waite, seconded by Fillion to review the request from the Bruce Housing Authority Board for consideration of the current PILOT payment at budget time, carried.
Proclamation-Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month: Newman read the proposed proclamation for approval. Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to adopt the Proclamation for Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, carried. A copy of the proclamation is attached.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to pay vouchers and electronic tax payments totaling $31,509.64, carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A donation of $100.00 has been received from Mark Zimmer towards the Softball Field Dugout Project.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Department of Administration-Preliminary estimate of the January 1, 2014 population in the Village of Bruce is 775 residents.
Skull N Bones Gravel Challenge Bicycling Event-September 20, 2014-No Entry Fee for the 25, 50 & 100 mile routes. For more information check the Village’s web site at www.villageofbruce.org
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Waite, seconded by Fillion to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 8:08 p.m.
Terry Hegeholz
Clerk/Treasurer