VILLAGE OF LA FARGE

                 Regular Board Meeting          Monday, February 10, 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: Jill Stoltz, Barbara Melvin, Aaron Nemec, Dave Fish, Karen Leis, Terry Jensen (by phone), and Frank Quinn.              

Also: News reporter Lonnie Muller, Public Works Manager Wayne Haugrud, Utility Clerk Greg Lawton, Police Chief Steve Palmer, Mark Digman from Delta 3 Engineering, and Clerk Kimberly Walker.     

            

2). Verification was given of meeting publishing in the La Farge Episcope, and of posting at the Farmers State Bank, La Farge Post Office, and Village Office bulletin board on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Also, the Public Hearing was posted on 2-6-2025, and in the La Farge Episcope the last 2 weeks in January.    

             

3). Public Hearing was held later in the meeting, to wait for Mark Digman to arrive.

 

4). Melvin moved, Leis seconded to approve the previous meetings minutes: (1-13-2025/Regular Village Board meeting and 1-28-2025/Regular Library board meeting). (Carried).    

              

5). Correspondence:

**The board, office staff, and a guest of each, are invited to the annual Fire Department banquet on Saturday, March 15th, starting at 6 p.m. at the Emergency Services Building.  

**The Village received the $10,000 matching grant share from Vernon County for the new tornado siren.  

 

6). Public Comment: None. 

 

7). Utility Business: Wayne reported on the following:

**On January 24, 2025, the DNR finally approved the water quality trading plan. We were approved a 3-1 ratio. The original plan from Delta 3 was for a 2-1 ratio, for 142 credits. We’ll be close to offsetting this with the 3-1 ratio. This will save us paying for phosphorus discharge to the Vernon County Land Conservation Department. The new bill of $4,179.29 just arrived for what we owe. Delta 3 is going to inquire of this ratio difference and then get everything finalized. Then we won’t have the payment anymore. 

**On January 19, 2025, we had an electrical outage in the village. The cause was from one of our main breakers that feed all the circuits. There are 3 phases, and one phase was low and that’s what caused the whole thing to trip out. Donny Russell was called, who knows our system, and talked Adam thru to reset it. Power was put on right away with the generator. Donny came the next day and did some adjusting on the breaker, so it won’t trip out again. When the weather warms, we will need to investigate why the C phase is so low. Need to go out and follow each phase as to why a discrepancy.     

 

8). Old Business: None.   

 

9). Fish moved, Stoltz seconded to approve operator licenses for Paula Davis (WI Responsible Beverage server training completed on 1-15-2025), Stephanie Loper (training completed on 2-2-2025), and Michaela Cauffman (training done on 1-28-2025). (Carried). Background checks were good on all.

 

10). Earl Nelson submitted a Certified Survey map for the board’s consideration. He currently has one big parcel and is having it surveyed into 4 separate lots. The property is located along North Mill Street, going up highway 131 North. Wayne said it does meet our ordinance requirements for lot size. It is all currently zoned Industrial, and there’s no minimum for lot width. It is an existing, non-conforming structure. Per our ordinances, the board must approve the change in the property lines. Nemec moved, Leis seconded to approve the CSM. (Carried).  

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11). Vernon County is again taking applications for a community development matching grant of up to $10,000 per municipality. Wayne would like to apply for a backup generator for the substation, because if the power goes out, that building is out. It was in the initial plan but got taken out due to cost. Wayne has one quote from D & D for around $20,000 and is waiting for another one from Poellinger Electric. Melvin moved, Leis seconded to go ahead and apply for the grant. (Carried).  

 

*3). Mark Digman, with Delta 3 Engineering, entered the meeting at 6:42 p.m., so the Public Hearing was started. He started with passing out a sign-up sheet for attendance. Per CDBG requirements, this is the second Citizen Participation hearing. He reviewed the proposed 2024 Infrastructure Improvements project.

Components of Project: 

• Main Street from Maple Street to Unnamed R/W:  sanitary sewer replacement; sanitary sewer rehabilitation; 6” water main was replaced with 8” water main; street, sidewalk, and driveway patching due to construction; and yard restoration/landscaping.

• Unnamed R/W from Main Street to Snow Street:  new 6” water main was installed for system looping and yard restoration/landscaping.

• Snow Street from Unnamed R/W to 200’ east of S. Cherry Street:  new 6” water main was installed for system looping and yard restoration/landscaping.

• Seelyburg Road from 700’ north of N. Mill Street intersection to N. Mill Street:  sanitary sewer replacement; 8” water main was replaced with 6” water main; street and driveway patching due to construction; and yard restoration/landscaping.

• N. Mill Street from Seelyburg Road to Highland Street:  new 8” sanitary sewer installed; sanitary sewer rehabilitation; 8” water main was replaced with 6” and 8” water main; new 8” water main was installed for system looping; street, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and driveway patching due to construction; and yard restoration/landscaping.

• North Street from N. Mill Street to N. Gold Street:  sanitary sewer replacement; new 8” water main was installed for system looping; storm sewer installation/replacement; sidewalk and driveway patching due to construction; street reconstruction; and yard restoration/landscaping.

• Highland Street from N. Mill Street to 200’ east of N. Mill Street:  sanitary sewer rehabilitation; new 8” water main was installed for system looping; storm sewer installation/replacement; sidewalk and driveway patching due to construction; street reconstruction; and yard restoration/landscaping.

• Contract #1 – Project Progress Timeline:

  • Construction Commenced = 6/24/2024

  • Contract Substantial Completion Date = 11/8/2024

  • Actual Substantial Completion Date (approved at 10/14/24 Board Meeting) = 5/23/2025

• The Village has approved a Citizen Participation Plan for the Community Development Block Grant for Public Facilities (CDBG-PF)

• Main Street, Unnamed R/W, and Snow Street Project Area LMI % = 80.65%

  • Results of income survey

• Seelyburg Road, N. Mill Street, North Street, and Highland Street Project Area LMI % = 62.26%

  • Results of income survey

• Goals and objectives of the CDBG program => provide grant funding for significant and beneficial Projects for LMI communities

• Estimated Total Project Cost (5/8/2023) = $2,000,000

• Projected Final Project Cost = $2,000,000

• The total amount of CDBG-PF funds ($1,000,000) awarded for Project and used to benefit low – and moderate – income persons.

• Project helped solve community development needs.

• No persons were displaced as a result of the proposed activities.

 

1. Attendees were advised of other housing, public facilities, and economic development activities that can be assisted with a CDBG Grant. No one had any questions.

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*7). Back on utility business, Mark explained the WWTF UV Disinfection upgrade. The cost estimate is around $150,000, which includes construction and engineering. This is a small project, so not planning to go after DNR clean water fund money (as the costs to do this are the same whether it’s a huge project or small). There’s also benefits of no federal wage rates, no public hearings, and no grant applications costs.

This work will eliminate the need to chlorinate and dechlorinate the wastewater, which will save money. This will be bid in April, with work in May and June. Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve Delta 3 to proceed with the WWTF plans and specs for the project. (Carried). This project was identified in the original TIF plan, so it’s eligible to be paid from TIF funds.

 

**Mark gave an update on the Main/Mill project. Badger Environmental will start back as soon as the weather allows. Badger is looking to bid the DOT project for the repaving of Highway 82, which runs through our water and sewer project area on East Main, which hopefully will be done this Spring.          

 

12). Police Report/Update: Chief Palmer reported on the recent abatement of 121 S. State Street. He is working on finalizing the bill for the property owner. He had great collaboration will all parties involved: the village workers, Village Attorney, River Valley Junk and Demo, and law enforcement agencies.

**The nuisance property committee has been a great asset for the community and doing a fine job. He also thanked Greg, Wayne, and Kim for their help on several topics, and appreciated all the teamwork.    

**Still waiting to receive the Taser 10 components.

**Approaching the one-year mark since installation of the squad dash camera. 47,606 plate reads have been done since 2/5/25 and 16 vehicles are on the active hot list.   

 

*A resolution was given to the board to begin an abatement issue. (It outlined the property owner, address of abatement, and the attempts made to contact the person). Nemec moved, Leis seconded to approve the resolution. (Carried).  

 

*Steve presented a new update to Ordinance 10-5, “To repeal and recreate existing ordinance, Title 10, Chapter 5, of the Code of Ordinances, Village of La Farge, Wisconsin, relative to Abandoned and Junked Vehicles and Appliances”. The ordinance dates back to 1996. Steve and our Attorney made some changes, and included a new section (10-5-8), on Permits for Motor Vehicles, that was previously approved by the board. Leis moved, Melvin seconded to approve repealing and recreating the ordinance. (Carried 6-1, with Quinn abstaining).

 

*The motor vehicle permit application and form are pretty much done. Steve would like authorization for it tonight, as our Attorney is doing the finishing touches on it. The form will be completed consistent with the ordinance and state law. Melvin moved, Nemec seconded to approve the form. (Carried).

 

*For the municipal court, Westby, Cashton, and La Farge have been working to update the forfeiture amounts to all be the same. This will help the court clerk when sending out the paperwork for all to have the same fees. Steve gave the board 5 examples of changes. Stoltz moved, Fish seconded to approve the change. (Carried 6-1, with Quinn abstaining).

 

*The Nuisance Property committee will meet again on February 24th. They’ve been discussing possible community-wide property clean up initiatives. Looking at a Spring and/or Fall clean up day(s). Get dumpsters for scrap metal and other items. Look at citizen donations to cover some costs or have discounted rates to get rid of items. Get help to absorb some of the costs. Look at volunteers to help people clean up their properties. Steve mentioned the Challenge Academy cadets are a free service to help with stuff like this. They bring their own equipment, food, etc. Will get a proposal from the committee and go from there.      

  

13). Committee Reports and Updates:

**Library: Barb reported a meeting was just held. Not a lot is new right now, but things are going well.   

  

14). Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve payment of the bills. (Carried).

 

15). Jensen moved, Leis seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 7:21 p.m.

   

                                                                                      __________________________________      

                                                           Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer