VILLAGE OF LA FARGE

                 Regular Board Meeting          Monday, January 13, 2025

                                                                                    

1). Village President Frank Quinn called the regular meeting of the La Farge Village Board to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Emergency Services building, at 201 S. Cherry Street.

 

Roll Call - Present at the meeting:

All Board members: Dave Fish, Jill Stoltz, Aaron Nemec, Karen Leis, Terry Jensen (Phone), Barbara Melvin, and Frank Quinn.              

Also: News reporter Lonnie Muller, Public Works Manager Wayne Haugrud, Utility Clerk Greg Lawton, Police Chief Steve Palmer, Sara Hamilton (running for Board in April), and Clerk Kimberly Walker.     

            

2). Verification was given of meeting publishing in the La Farge Episcope, and of posting at the Bank, Post Office, and Village Office on Thursday, January 9, 2025.    

            

3). Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve the previous meetings minutes: (11-18-2024/Chronic Nuisance Property committee meeting; 12-9-2024/Streets and Utilities committee meeting; and 12-9-2024/ Regular Village board meeting). (Carried).    

              

4). Correspondence: None.

 

5). Public Comment: None. 

 

6). Utility Business:

**Reviewed Pay application #3 (final), from Mike Lepke Excavating, LLC, for $4,376.86. This was retainage money that was kept back for the Kickapoo River & Bear Creek stream improvements project. Fish moved, Nemec seconded to approve the pay application. (Carried).

**Wayne mentioned the water quality trading is still not approved by the DNR. Delta 3 has responded to them following more questions but we’re still waiting to hear back. It’s been almost 2 years with this.  

**Part of our TIF has a designated project of disinfection of wastewater. We need to disinfect the effluent between May and October, for fish quality. We are looking at eliminating the chemicals we use and do an ultraviolet light that would kill the bacteria that goes out. Delta 3 has done a study for us. Project cost is around $150,000. The DNR requires a study on the plant and will need to approve it before proceeding. This will save us money on chemicals.

 

7). Old Business: Barb and Wayne listened to a presentation with MuGrid. They gave 4 options, ranging from $6-$9.5 million dollars. The expensive one would be us on our own grid. There is annual revenue, from $100,000-$250,000, depending on which project we would go with (solar, wind, etc.). One includes the rebuilding of our East circuit, which we are looking to get upgraded in the future. There is no cost to apply for the concept letter. This is already included in the funding we received with the OEI project we have. They will do this for us if we wish to move forward. If we get awarded, we are not obligated to take it. Our share could range from 5% to 20%. Nemec moved, Stoltz seconded to go ahead and apply for the concept letter for the MicroGrid project with MuGrid. (Carried).        

 

8). Leis moved, Fish seconded to grant an operator license to Marcus Strait. (Carried). He completed the Wisconsin Responsible Beverage server training on 12-15-2024.

 

9). Reviewed two contracts for an upcoming abatement issue. The first is for a demo company, River Valley, to come and clean up the property, at an undisclosed time, for a total of $2,600. They will take care of moving all the items for abatement. We chose this route, so the village employees aren’t going to be at risk of removing the items. Melvin moved, Leis seconded to approve the contract with River Valley Junk and Demo, LLC. (Carried).

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**Part two of this (abatement) is an “Agreement to Store and Sell Property” with an auction company. River Valley Junk and Demo will remove it all and take it to this place, which will be responsible for storing it and selling it. Number 4 of the agreement is the compensation and payment. They will receive 20% of the

gross sale proceeds, and the village will receive 80%. Chief Palmer said the sale of the items will go against the total bill of the abatement costs. Abatement costs remaining due after the proceeds will be placed as a special charge on the property taxes. Nemec moved, Leis seconded to approve the agreement. (Carried).   

 

10). Police Report/Update: Chief Palmer reported December was a slow month.

**Steve attended an advanced traffic law course at Fort McCoy. It was an excellent course and learned a lot.  

**Received some of the equipment relating to the Taser 10 purchase.

 

11). Committee Reports and Updates:

**Police: Jill said the Chronic Nuisance Property committee met tonight and will have a report in February.    

**Library: Barb mentioned a meeting is scheduled for the end of the month.   

**Police: Frank reported the Municipal Court is going well. Things are coming together.     

 

12). Fish moved, Nemec seconded to approve payment of the bills. (Carried).

 

13). Jensen moved, Leis seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 6:46 p.m.

   

                                                                                      __________________________________      

                                                           Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer