Village of Ellsworth: June, 2011 Board Proceedings

VILLAGE OF ELLSWORTH, WISCONSIN

BOARD PROCEEDINGS

6/6/2011

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; Neil Gulbranson; Michael J. Steele; Rick Sweig and Kenny Manfred.

Staff Present: Clerk/Treas.; Peggy Nelson, Police Chief; Greg Place, Public Works Director/Zoning Administrator; Greg Engeset

Others Present: Attorney; Lars Loberg, Pierce County Herald; Sean Scallon, Cedar Corp.; Wendy Sander and Russ Kiviniemi, ATV Association; Darren Place and Shane Lardahl, Snowball's Bar; Nate Fleming, Others; Scott Gulbranson, Deanna Gilbert

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MSC Steele/Sweig to accept minutes of regular meeting 5/2/11 as submitted. Unanimous.

APPROVAL OF BILLS: MSC Manfred/Wandmacher to approve payment of vouchers submitted for audit to date. Unanimous.

#21482, 21531-21605, 21631-21665

General fund- $ 90,276.92

Water fund - 12,335.09

Sewer fund - 44,213.53

Public Comment on non-agenda items: None

July Board Meeting Date: July 11, 2011, 7:00 p.m.

Ordinance #613 amending Sec. 7.085 of the Municipal Code - ATV routes: Pres. DeWolfe questioned stickers on ATV's stating that they are not designed for hard roadways and who assumes liability. Darren Place informed him that seeing there are no ATV trails, they are trying to get from point A to B, noting that you can drive tractors on blacktop roads. Liability is the operator's responsibility, same as any other driver on the road and should have insurance. Trustee Neil Gulbranson informed those present that the reason he is voting no is that the Village Board already allows for a mile of ATV trails, they currently have access to food and beverages, board recently designated an ATV parking area in East End. In looking at the West End proposed route from Crosstown Rd, which is 2 miles, there are more stop signs and intersections to go through, the narrowing of N. Grant St. by the fairgrounds where there is no parking, horse and dog shows at the fairgrounds May to Aug. where kids are present, involves families. Board currently gets complaints about people mowing their yards and semi reefers running in the fairgrounds. Residents he has talked to on N. Grant St. do not want, he feels that the board has been good to the ATV Association and that they will keep coming back until all streets are designated for ATV's. After discussion, MS Gulbranson/Manfred to deny Ordinance #613. Trustee Mike Steele, Dick Hines, Curt Wandmacher and Rick Sweig opposed.

MS Hines/Sweig to adopt Ordinance #613, motion carried with Trustee Kenny Manfred and Neil Gulbranson opposed. Police Chief Greg Place commented that this is only on a trial basis until 12/31/11, requesting that the board review at that time along with existing snowmobile routes.

Tony Hood - Crossing Meadows 6/1/11 construction completion date extension request: Contacted Clerk Nelson, not able to attend meeting. MSC Steele/Manfred that we instruct Clerk Nelson to send him a letter instructing him to attend the July 11th board meeting to address his request. Unanimous.

Deanna Gilbert - Memorandum of Understanding Between the Village of Ellsworth and the River Falls Area Optimists Club: Deanna addressed the board with a request to enter into an agreement to allow for the Optimist Club to place flags on village right-a-ways in front of resident's homes that have signed up and paid for this service on certain holidays, proceeds will go to fund activities that benefit youth of the River Falls area which would include Ellsworth. They hope to get a club started in Ellsworth, she is an Ellsworth resident, this is an international organization. Discussion held with change/addition recommendations to the agreement recommended by Attorney Lars Loberg. MSC Gulbranson/Hines to sign agreement with the language change as recommended by Attorney Lars Loberg. Unanimous.

Scott Gulbranson - water meter high reading/usage, 202 W. Summit Ave.: Trustee Neil Gulbranson abstained

Scott addressed the board informing them that he had a high bill this past quarter, usage was way up, he has had the same renters for over a year, and there has not been any leaks or problems that they are aware of, he had a plumber come and could not find anything. He contacted Scott Hines, Village employee, who checked the meter and put in a new radio read meter, since usage has been pretty much normal. He informed the board that he was willing to split the bill as he feels it is a meter problem. PWD Greg Engeset informed Scott and the board that meters just don't jump ahead, what goes thru the meter is used, meters tend to slow down. The meter was tested several times and showed to be exact to 1% slow, meter is 20 months old. The old meter was installed with a new meter at the Village Hall, the meter and has been running 1 1/2% slower than the new meter. Both meters will be left in place for future reference and add'l testing. Pres. DeWolfe suggested that we let it run with ours and monitor. No board action taken.

Russ Kiviniemi, Cedar Corp. - project update for Safe Routes to School and TID 8: Reported that thanks to calls and contacts by village officials to elected officials in Madison, the Safe Routes to School Project is back on track and ready to bid out with a July bid award.

TID 8 - Pres. DeWolfe made contact with officials at the DNR and DOT informing them of the economic benefits to the Creamery getting this project moving forward, after which time contact was made to Cedar Corp. DNR is reviewing the Trans 207 process versus a Chapter 30 permit requirement. Project is moving forward with Cedar Corp. submitting plans for the box culvert last week, both the box culvert and intersection projects should be able to be bid out at the same time.

District/Ward boundaries for Village of Ellsworth, letter from P.C. Clerk: Clerk Nelson reported that the map and ordinance would be completed for board action on July 11th.

FEMA correspondence, Floodplain map/ordinance update: Sample ordinance and information gave to Attorney Lars Loberg to draft for board action on July 11th.

Approve Developer's Agreement between Village of Ellsworth and Senior Properties of Ellsworth, LLC: MSC Steele/Wandmacher to give Pres. DeWolfe the authority to sign final copy revised by Attorney Lars Loberg. Unanimous.

Resolution #2011-10 Compliance Maintenance Resolution: MSC Manfred/Sweig to adopt the annual DNR report for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Unanimous.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS:

TID 7 Joint Review Board: 5/11/11 - taxing jurisdiction representatives reviewed the proposed draft of the project plan amendment.

Plan Commission: 5/16/11 Trustee Rick Sweig

Senior Properties of Ellsworth, LLC property rezone - MSC Sweig/Gulbranson to adopt Ordinance #612 rezoning Lot 2 from R-1 to R-3 (Multiple Family). Unanimous.

Plan Commission granted a Conditional Use Permit on Lot 2.

TID 7 adopt Resolution 2011-9 approving amended project plan and district boundaries - Wendy from Cedar Corp. addressed the board informing them that due to changed assessment practices by the DOR, presenting a print-out showing TID 7 as it sits right now done by Ehlers, concern is that the district will not pay off, need 7-8 million in increment. 2 options are available - 1. continue as is and amend district to include the added land 2. Declare TID 7 distressed, provided legislation goes thru, which would extend the life of the district by 10 yrs. and allows to take from another district - donor district which will extend the life of that district by 10 years. If district is amended it cannot be declared distressed. A new district could be created for the senior living project. Finance Committee to work with Cedar Corp. and Ehlers, cancel final Joint Review Board meeting, look at various options to see which direction to proceed.

Senior Properties of Ellsworth, LLC, building and site plan approval: MSC Steele/Gulbranson to approve plans contingent upon final items to be worked out with parties involved and coordinate tearing up Golf Course Lane with Golf Course when closed. Unanimous.

Water & Sewer: MSC Manfred/Wandmacher to give the committee authority to authorize and approve minor change orders for the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. Unanimous.

Library Board: 5/24/11 Trustee Curt Wandmacher

Minutes on file at the Village Clerk’s Office

Finance, Purchasing, Buildings: 5/11/11 Trustee Neil Gulbranson

MSC Gulbranson/Sweig to sign a one year (9/1/11-8/31/12) space lease agreement with Hunger Prevention Council of Pierce County Inc. at $605.00 per month and Pierce County Historical Association at $508.00 per month. Unanimous.

Health, License, Welfare: 5/25/11 – Trustee Rick Sweig

MSC Sweig/Wandmacher to approve a premise extension application from Snowball's Inc. for July 23-24, 2011, fenced in area east of building. Unanimous.

MSC Sweig/Gulbranson to grant a Temporary Class "B" License to the Ellsworth FFA Alumni for the NTPA/WTPA Tractor Pull June 11, 2011 rain date June 12,2011, allowing 20 yrs. of age and younger on the premise. Unanimous.

MSC Sweig/Wandmacher to grant a Dance License for 7/1/11-6/30/12 to:

The Rock & Roll Cafe, Tim & Marcia's Eastender, 21 Plus Inc. - Broz Bar, Snowball’s Inc., Scottie’s Uptown, SDF Services, Inc. - Just Ka's, R&B of Ellsworth Inc. - The Century Saloon. Unanimous.

MSC Sweig/Gulbranson to grant the following license for renewal for 7/1/11-6/30/12 provided all outstanding bills due the Village of Ellsworth by license holder are paid. Unanimous.

Class “A” Retail: Hinck Foods Inc. – Hinck’s Economart, Northern Tier Retail LLC - SuperAmerica #4241, SSG Corp. - Holiday, Consolidated Energy Co-op, Freedom Valu Centers Inc. #79, Pamida Stores Operating Co. LLC - d/b/a Pamida #654, The Outdoor Store LLC

“Class A” Retail: Brad’s Corner Liquor

“Class B” Retail: Kinne-Englehart American Legion Post 204, Snowball’s Inc., 21 Plus Inc. - Broz Bar, SDF Services, Inc. - Just Ka's, Tim & Marcia's Eastender, Scottie’s Uptown, B&M Bar, LLC - Danny Dunn’s Pub, R&B of Ellsworth Inc. - The Century Saloon, The Rock & Roll Cafe. Unanimous.

Reports:

Chief of Police May was a busy month with incidents including vandalism at Summit Park and break-ins at the fairgrounds.

-Due to the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade the dog kennel is gone, working with animal shelters to take animals which may be an added budget expense.

-Squad car repair expense high for May.

PWD/Zoning Administrator:

-New street sweeper to arrive late July/early August.

-Sent in intent to apply for a Tree Planting Grant.

-Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade construction demo started.

-Curb/crosswalk painting completed, went back to doing crosswalks due to large price increase from company that did the crosswalks in previous years.

-Rec'd request for an Engine Braking sign on County Rd C due to add'l truck traffic.

-Questioned if the village should voice a concern on the State Joint Finance Committee action to limit work that the Pierce County Highway Dept. will be able to do on village projects.

-Met with representatives from English Lutheran Church on the former Bloomstrand lot, looking at various uses, agreed first thing is to get all dead wood/trees removed and open up for additional sunlight. Storm sewer pipe extension/replacement would be the owners responsibility.

-Employee off on work compensation, working light duty.

-Rec'd a price of $3000 - 4000 from a guy in Roberts to do an inventory of trees on village property.

Clerk-Treas.

-Attending a District Clerk/Treas. meeting in Birchwood, WI at which time the Government Accountability Board reps will give un update on new election laws including the voter ID bill effective 1/1/12. Primary Recall Election July 12th.

MSC Steele/Gulbranson to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Unanimous.

Respectfully submitted: Peggy A. Nelson-Clerk

Published July 20, 2011 29 1C

Tags: public notices, general legals