VILLAGE OF LA FARGE

Regular Board Meeting         Monday, December 12, 2022

                                                                                   

1). Village President Cheryl Purvis called the regular meeting of the La Farge Village Board to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Emergency Services building. Roll Call. Board members Frank Quinn, Karen Leis, Aaron Appleman, Barbara Melvin, Terry Jensen, and Cheryl Purvis were present. Absent was Aaron Nemec.        

Also present: News reporters Lonnie Muller and Bonnie Sherman, Public Works Manager Wayne Haugrud, Utility Clerk Greg Lawton, Police Chief Steve Palmer, Samantha Laskowski, Garrick Olerud, Nick Burnard, Michael Voit with EnTech Solutions (zoom), 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 December 8, 2022.    

        

3). Melvin moved, Leis seconded to approve the previous meetings minutes: (11-14-22/Streets & Utilities committee meeting; 11-14-22/Regular Village board meeting; 11-29-22/Regular Library board meeting; and 12-1-22/Public Budget Hearing & Special Board Meeting). (Carried).    

             

4). Correspondence: None.  

 

5). Public Comment: None.           

 

6). Utility business:  

**Samantha Laskowski was present, along with Michael Voit from En-Tech Solutions, for a presentation on what a community micro grid may look like for the village, see about a feasibility study, write a grant from the PSC to help fund the study, and to explain how the grid may help the community in a disaster, as well as economic benefits for the community. They reviewed the 4 components to the grid: Local generation, Consumption/ loads, Energy storage, and Point of common coupling. Michael talked about cost, resilience, and sustainability. A microgrid does anything that controls your power, from solar to generator, to the utility. It actively manages energy generation and has a storage system. Need to get more info on doing a feasibility study and the grant. The Energy district will collaborate with the utility and En-Tech on this. Samantha will put together a proposal of the costs to see if we’re interested in pursuing for the next meeting. The Office of Energy Innovation grant is due the end of January.        

 

**Regular utility business: Wayne reported for the month of November, the utilities purchased 57% renewable energy from the 2 wind farms and solar in Cashton.  

**The water rate discussed last month was approved by the PSC and will be effective February 1, 2023.  

 

7). Old Business: Reviewed a Stipulation and Order to Facilitate Cleanup for the Kathy Hart property. It states a 20-yard dumpster will be delivered to her place, for 2 weeks. Attorney George Wilbur has a group of people to help fill this. If another one is needed, they’ll let us know. Our Attorney will file this order tomorrow. If nothing is done, we will proceed with court. Jensen moved, Quinn seconded to go ahead with the Stipulation and order, with a change to #3 and #6, from 30 days to 2 weeks. (Carried).

 

**Cheryl informed all we have been working on the complaints regarding the Mark Olson property. She did write a letter to him last week, which addressed all the complaints he had. He knew we were meeting tonight to discuss it. Wayne has had several discussions with Mark, Mr. Turner, and the DNR. Right now the DNR is doing an investigation. They believe it’s a land dispute as well but are making sure the village is in compliance. Mark also called the sheriffs dept and they told him it was a land dispute. Wayne has done a great job, trying to resolve the situation. Regarding illegal fill being placed on the property, it’s not illegal to put fill in where it’s supposed to go. The contaminated soil that was found at the original digging site along Main Street was tested and removed, and properly disposed of at the land fill. Then erosion measures were done. The village is waiting to hear back from the DNR. They’re doing an outside investigation which takes time. Cheryl told Mark if he still thinks we’re lying, to seek legal counsel. And according to signs that Mr. Olson has put by the highway, he says there’s a fuel tank we buried in the street, which is not true. If those signs are not removed by tomorrow, the village will do a cease-and-desist order. We can’t have signs that are not true. She also reminded Mr. Olson, his property buts up to the flood plain and flood fringe. It’s all wet down there right now, as the water table is high. We had a terrible rainstorm and that’s what a lot of that water is. Unfortunately, that’s just the area there. There’s not much we can do about it. The tube Mr. Turner

 

had in there probably helped some, but again, it’s a property dispute. From what Cheryl knows, they had a confrontation, and Mr. Turner pulled the tube. The village will do what they can to help resolve it, but we can’t spend taxpayer money to help resolve a land dispute.                  

 

8). David Ronnfeldt requested to be on the agenda but was not present. 

 

9). Fred and Corie Hall have 3 parcels of land they’d like to donate to the village. They all abut the disc golf course area on the South end of the village. The value of all total $4,100. The tax revenue that we’d lose is less than $100 a year. Quinn moved, Melvin seconded to accept the land donation. (Carried).

 

10). Realtor Garrick Olerud was present for approval on a CSM (certified survey map), on property owned by the La Farge Area Senior Concerns (Bethel Parkside). This was a large parcel that needed an area surveyed off so it could be sold to Jim and Dode Hanson to put a house on. Quinn moved, Jensen seconded to approve the CSM. (Carried).    

 

11). Jensen moved, Appleman seconded to approve an engagement letter with Johnson Block & Company to perform audit and accounting services for the Village and Utilities for the year ending 12-31-2022. (Carried). 

 

12). Jensen moved, Leis seconded to approve an operator license for Mona Bader (training completed on 11/18/22). (Carried).

    

13). Police Report/Update: Police Chief Palmer had a busy month. He’s working on a missing person in the village, been attending software training at the county, has registered for the new chief’s conference in January, and will be attending an EMT refresher course. November 14th, he attended a public records law class and listening session at the Free Methodist Church regarding citizens’ concerns on drugs. He made  some community appearances, stopping in at Bingo night at the Community center and at the school concert. He feels he’s making a good impact with the community. And the amount of support he’s had is amazing, from the sheriff’s department to our local employees. It’s much appreciated. Been very good so far.   

 

14). Committee Reports:

**Clinic: Appleman said he tried to reach out to Rose (Wels) but has no specifics yet on her plans.  

 

15). Melvin moved, Quinn seconded to approve payment of the bills. (Carried).

 

16). Jensen moved, Appleman seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 7:23 p.m.

   

                                                                                      Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer