Ellsworth Board Proceedings, March 3, 2008

VILLAGE OF ELLSWORTH, WISCONSIN

Board Proceedings March 3, 2008

Pres. DeWolfe called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room located in Village Hall.

Members Present: Trustees Dick Hines; Curt Wandmacher; Rick Sweig; Neil Gulbranson; Kenny Manfred; David Deiss

Staff Present: Clerk; Peggy Nelson, PWD; Greg Engeset and Chief of Police; Greg Place

Others Present: Village Attorney: Bob Loberg and Pierce County Herald; Jason Schulte

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

MSC Manfred/Wandmacher to accept minutes of 2/4/08 as submitted. Unanimous.

APPROVAL OF BILLS:

MSC Sweig/Gulbranson to approve payment of vouchers submitted for audit to date. Unanimous.

#15198-15201, 15227-15237, 15263-15348

General fund- $1,227,972.68

Water fund - 36,421.21

Sewer fund - 13,407.06

CITIZEN COMMENT:

None

Jason Marks request to amend Street Dance License Application for July 12 -13 time change from 5:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.:

Jason addressed the board requesting he be allowed to change hours previously approved to allow for an Ultimate Fighting Event in the street informing the board that this would be another form of entertainment in addition to the music, this organization has held over 60 shows, they provide their own insurance and professional security, noting he thought it would benefit Ellsworth and cannot see what it would hurt, the more people the more money into the community, noting the more money he makes the more he can donate looking at the Safe Routes Program. Police Chief Greg Place informed the board that he is not in favor of this event which takes away from the family orientated event which the street dance is suppose to be and also questioned the need for the Village Clerk to check into our insurance to see if such an event is allowed on a public street. Trustee Kenny Manfred agreed questioning what benefit this is to other businesses, with Jason disagreeing informing him that other businesses get the overflow of business. Trustee Curt Wandmacher stated he felt by adding another event, it is adding an element of risk, we need to be sure we are covered; with Jason assuring the board that he and the organization will also be insuring the event. Trustee David Deiss informed Jason that he was having a hard time with this as it is such a big stretch going from a street dance to Ultimate Fighting on a public street which he is not in favor of, if it were on his own property he would have no problem. Trustee Neil Gulbranson agreed questioning if it would be fenced to block the view with Jason informing him that they would be looking at semi trailers, buses whatever it would take to block the view to prohibit people from watching and not paying to watch. Jason asked the board that they keep their personal views to themselves; this would be a public event which would allow people to make their own decision as to attend or not attend. After much discussion, MS Manfred/Sweig that we deny the request to extend the hours for the street dance. Motion carried with Wandmacher and Hines opposed.

Pierce County Fair Committee Temporary Class “B”/“Class B” Retailers License for Motocross Event 8/1/08:

MSC Deiss/Gulbranson to grant license. Unanimous.

Ellsworth Community School District Foundation, Inc. Temporary Class “B”/“Class B” Retailers License for a fundraising event at the Pierce County Fairgrounds on 6/14/08:

Jerry Christiansen present at the meeting informed the board that in the past the foundation has held an art auction to raise money for school projects, this year they are doing something different looking at a golf outing, basketball tournament, karaoke, food stands, all events will come together at the fairgrounds. MSC Hines/Manfred to grant license. Unanimous.

Deanna Marshall - Exceptional Events, request to hold Dog Show Event at the East End Park on 6/21/08:

Deanna addressed the board informing them that she owns a business in Prescott called Exceptional Events, event will be a fundraiser sponsored by East End Mercantile. No aggressive dogs will be allowed, all dogs will be required to have current vaccinations, be leased, clean-up and a certificate of insurance will be provided. Food vendors and vendors will be set up along with security provided. Event will focus more on the cutesy side, such as which dog looks more like their owner. MSC Gulbranson/Wandmacher to approve event in the East End Park with a Certificate of Insurance to be provided to the Village. Unanimous.

Funsters/Chamber Cheese Curd Festival update, Welcome to Ellsworth signs relocation of signs update, Funsters request to locate sign on Welcome to Ellsworth signs:

Raynee Farrell addressed the board on behalf of the Chamber with an update on the Cheese Curd Festival, informing the board that they are teaming up with the Funsters for the Sat. night event sponsoring Jo Dee Messina. A current calendar of events as of 3/3/08 and committee report was handed out. She informed the board that the Ellsworth Sign side brackets are being made and will be located on the Welcome to Ellsworth signs in the near future at which time the signs that were taken off the bottom will be put back up on the side brackets. Scott Gulbranson on behalf of the Funsters presented a picture of a sign they are planning to have made for the Funsters requesting that they be allowed to locate the sign on the Welcome to Ellsworth signs. MSC Gulbranson/Hines to allow the Funsters to locate their sign on the Welcome to Ellsworth signs. Unanimous. Trustee Rick Sweig suggested they have their phone number put on the sign.

Sam Warp – Biosolid Facility update:

Sam addressed the board informing them that they are getting quotes on new equipment - Bio Set Process and Cementech Process. An engineering firm looked at all types with the finding that the cheapest route is stay with the lime process they currently use. His feeling is that the same odor issues will still be here with the Cementech Process, he is in favor of the Bio Set Process which will eliminate the majority of the odor issues reducing the ammonia which will make for better working conditions/environment, has twice the lime value of the current product, dust will be gone, noting that the equipment is made in Somerset, WI. Equipment would take 7 days to install. The plant will be paid off in 8 years at which time an evaluation will be done. A Commission meeting is scheduled for March 13th, 9:00 a.m. for bid review and March 18th, 8:30 a.m. to award bid. A public Hearing will be held on April 3, 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hall Board Room.

Developer’s Agreement between the Village of Ellsworth and Gerrard Corp. for Crossing Meadows Addition East Residential Phase I:

Pres. DeWolfe informed the board that no response has been recd from the Gerrard’s in regard to a letter sent to them by Village Attorney Loberg regarding a Letter of Credit which has not been recd and invoices that have been sent out per the Developer’s Agreement. Village Attorney Loberg suggested that this be a closed session agenda item for the April 7th board meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ETZ:

2/19/08 Trustee Sweig – Conditional Use Permit issued to James and Charlotte Burt, N5221 730th St., to construct a Wind Electric Generator Tower.

Salary & Labor:

2/7/08 & 2/11/08 Trustee Gulbranson – Closed session under Section 19.85(1) (c) for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.

Public Works Dept. employee applicant interviews.

2/28/08 – final review of applicants.

MSC Gulbranson/Sweig to accept committee recommendation to hire Michael Phillip Huppert, start date March 24, 2008. Unanimous.

Gulbranson informed the board that there were 131 applicants for the position, narrowed down to 13, there were a lot of good applicants and the committee did a good job including Greg.

3/3/08 – MSC Gulbranson/Hines to accept the committee recommendation to hire a Limited Term Employee under terms of side letter with Police Union. Unanimous.

Library Board:

No meeting until April. Trustee Rick Sweig requested that the Library Personnel Handbook be referred back to the Library Board to get items in place with the Village Personnel Handbook looking at the section on insurance.

Finance, Purchasing, Buildings:

2/25/08 & 3/3/08 Trustee Wandmacher – reviewed and discussed insurance proposals for 2008-09 submitted by Wausau Signature Agency and C.J. Chartier Insurance Services, Inc. Discussed Crosstown Rd/Hwy 65 intersection right-a-way land purchase and land easement. MSC Wandmacher/Manfred that we accept the committee recommendation to go with the proposal submitted by Wausau Signature Agency for 2008-09 coverage and stay with the Local Government Property Insurance Fund for the property and contractor’s equipment coverage. Unanimous.

REPORTS:

Chief of Police:

-Discussed the 2007 Annual Police Report submitted to board members at the Feb. 4th board meeting. Trustee Wandmacher referred to the cover sheet which states that patrol was stepped up, questioning the fluctuation in speeding tickets as in 2003 51 tickets were issued compared to the next 3 years which range between 20-29 tickets and back up to 49 in 2007, noting he has not seen much patrol on S. Maple St. recently. Chief Place responded that it revolves around the number of service calls, citizen complaints, officer’s time they spend on a case as they act as both a patrol officer and investigator, paperwork involved, officers handle all areas due to it being a small department. Trustee David Deiss stated that it is his opinion that squad cars need to be out on the street patrolling, he sees too many sitting too often at the Police Dept.; we owe it to the taxpayers to have cars out on the street and he would like to see them out there more often.

-Safe Routes to School Grant; preliminary meeting held with himself, Greg Engeset, Jerry DeWolfe, Steve Broton and Patrick from Cedar Corp. to proceed with the 2008 grant application. Village has a sponsor for the grant application cost, same monies as in 2007 will be applied for, application will be finalized early April. Cedar Corp. is also checking into grants, other programs that may be available for the Hwy 65 area.

Public Works Director:

-Well #4 test pumping completed showing that the sand amount is within DNR guidelines. The sand is being analyzed to see if a sand separator can be added to the base of the pump so that we could pump at 500 gpm versus 400 gpm, cost of approx. $5000.

-Well house bids should be back for award at the April board meeting, looking at a Sept. /Oct. completion date.

-Generator; waiting for a quote from Cummins which should come in this week.

-Safe Routes to School Grant, Cedar Corp. is still waiting to her back from the D.O.T. for approval to be our consultant.

-Crosstown Rd. watertower engineering costs came in at $53,301.99, $36,699.00 less than the $90,000.00 estimate due to being able to work with the general contractor making for less issues and change orders.

OLD BUSINESS:

None

NEW BUSINESS:

Trustee Gulbranson brought up discussion on moving the board to the north end of the board room before the projector equipment is installed which would allow for the flat wall screen. Board agreed and will proceed with the move after the April 1st election.

Set a Cemetery Committee meeting date for 3/10/08, 5:00 p.m. to address grave digging businesses along with rules and regulations for grave digging at Maple Grove Cemetery.

Trustee Dick Hines informed the board that he feels that signage is needed at the end of S. Piety St. showing the street goes both directions along with N. Grant St. and Overlook Drive.

MSC Manfred/Hines to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Unanimous.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy A. Nelson-Clerk

12C

WNAXLP

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