VILLAGE OF LA FARGE

                 Regular Board Meeting          Monday, March 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: Karen Leis, Dave Fish, Aaron Nemec, Jill Stoltz, Barbara Melvin, Terry Jensen, and Frank Quinn.              

Also: News reporters Lonnie Muller and Bonnie Sherman, David Curry, Barry Donovan, Cathy St. John (running for board in April), Public Works Manager Wayne Haugrud, Police Chief Steve Palmer (phone), 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, March 6, 2025.      

             

3). Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve the previous meetings minutes: (2-10-2025/Regular Village Board meeting; 2-26-2025/Parks, Grounds, Buildings, and Cemetery committee meeting; and 3-3-2025/   Streets and Utilities committee meeting). (Carried).    

              

4). Correspondence:  

**The La Farge Lions Club donated an AED unit for the Community Center. Very nice contribution! 

**The Police Department was the recipient of $1,000, and the Village Park $400, from the La Farge Lions Club School giving back program, where classes select a place they want their share awarded to.  

**Greg is on the final steps of the community projects funding for the $1 million for the substation project.

**Reminder of the annual Fire Department banquet Saturday, March 15th, starting at 6 p.m. at the ESB.     

 

5). Public Comment: None. 

 

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

**Someone made a complaint to the Vernon County Land Conservation department, who turned it over to the DNR, which came and did an inspection. This is a repeat of what they found after the inspection when Mike Lepke did the water quality trading river bank project. Lepke fixed it then, and re-seeded it, and the final payment has been paid to him. But it’s still not right, so we will fix this ourselves. Mike is letting us take the dirt he got from the project and we’ll re-seed it when the weather permits and let the DNR know.    

 

**Also had a complaint on the compost pile. The DNR looked at this and said it needs to be removed asap from the mapped floodplain/wetland area to an upland area. We have about 50 yards to remove. Our truck can haul 8 yards a time. The landfill cost about $120 a load. Mike Lepke has a quarry area off County S, at Manning by Readstown, which is certified to accept this, and the cost is $75 a load. We can start hauling as soon as the road bans are off. Wayne mentioned a new site by the quansit building, which is not in the wetland area. Then once a month, or as needed, we can haul it out. Stoltz moved, Nemec seconded to approve hauling the compost to Mike Lepke’s quarry. (Carried). Jensen moved, Fish seconded to move the new compost area to the quansit area. (Carried).        

 

**We have an agreement on file with Vernon Electric Cooperative, for “Operations and Maintenance Assistance”. They have a fourth amendment to it, for price increases on some equipment, labor costs, and mileage. We only pay/use them when needed. Melvin moved, Leis seconded to approve the amendment to the Vernon Electric Cooperative agreement. (Carried).

 

**The utilities had to do a lead and copper survey to every water service in the village. This was finished last fall, and the DNR notified us that we are in compliance. This report can be found on the village website.

 

**Wayne and Scott Lind from the KVR board met today at the park regarding new dark sky initiative lighting to put on the structures to replace the overhead lights. They are $95 each, so Wayne ordered 6 of them. Other updates at the park recently include changing the fuse boxes in the shelters to breaker boxes.  

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7). Old Business: The Nuisance Property committee met and are proposing an idea for a community clean-up day in the village. Looking at a one-time offer, to have dumpsters available for no cost and 50% off on appliances, tires, etc. April 26th is tentative, with May 10th as a rain date. Will put out an ad to notify residents, that by April 18th, to call ahead to the office if interested or let us know if they have a large quantity of items to dispose of, so we know how much we may receive. Maybe the village employees could help pick up items the following Monday or Steve is looking to get the Challenge Academy to help. And, have a pile for scrap metal. Contact Hook n Haul for the dumpsters. Not sure of the costs, so may solicit to help offset the dumpster fees. This will be a one-time deal, with ½ off appliances. The dumpsters will be set up at the quansit area. The committee is meeting again in 2 weeks to put together the ad and final details. Also, anyone that wants to help is welcome. Steven said the idea behind this is to resolve issues people may have on their properties. If someone has a lot of stuff, they may not be able to take everything this time, but Steve can work with them for a solution to get rid of it. This is a good idea but need some parameters to start with. Jensen moved, Fish seconded to proceed with getting 2 dumpsters for April 26th, with May 10th the rain date, with a one-time offer of ½ off appliances, to use the Challenge Academy, and to ask for donations to help with the costs. (Carried).     

 

8). Jensen moved, Leis seconded to approve an operator license for Elizabeth Brown (Alcohol Server training completed on 2-17-2025). (Carried). The police background check was good.

  

9). Phil Campbell and Jori Campbell have asked to mow the property/field behind the Emergency Services building and by the wastewater treatment plant, for agricultural use. This also helps us to keep the weeds down. We have done this in the past with people and have an agricultural lease to sign. Looking at 2 years, from April 1, 2025, thru April 30, 2027, for the sum of $0 dollars. Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve the agricultural lease with Phil and Jori Campbell for 2 years. (Carried).         

 

10). Nemec moved, Leis seconded to approve the Disallowance of a Claim. (Carried). Info from the Attorney was previously sent to the board for review.   

  

11). Police Report/Update:

**The Taser 10 components have been received, and Chief Palmer is working on implementation.

**Chief Palmer is currently attending a DCI Drug Investigation school in Appleton.    

 

**Chief Palmer explained revisions he’d like to the penalty sections of the Chronic Nuisance ordinance and the Camping ordinance. He went thru the current fine amounts, and the new changes. This will help the municipal court clerk and be in line with other ordinance violation amounts amongst the municipalities.  Jensen moved, Stoltz seconded to approve the changes to the penalty section of the chronic nuisance ordinance and the camping ordinance. (Carried 6-1, with Quinn abstaining).  

 

**Chief Palmer would like to adopt and incorporate by reference revisions to ordinance Sec 11-1-1, Offenses Against State Laws Subject to Forfeiture. This section lists all the State Statutes we can cite for. We are missing several that Westby and Cashton both have. The new ones were highlighted for the board to review. Steve’s asking us to adopt those statutes into the ordinance, so we’re aligned with the others. Attorney Nikki Swayne has reviewed and approved this. Jensen moved, Melvin seconded to adopt and incorporate by reference the revisions to ordinance Sec 11-1-1. (Carried 6-1, with Quinn abstaining).   

 

12). Committee Reports and Updates:

**Nemec reported the Streets & Utilities committee met last Monday to discuss issues we’ve had on Main Street. Not singling anyone out, as we’ve also had problems in the past, with vehicles being parked on Main Street, obstructing views. It has become a safety issue, seeing around trucks and camping trailers, and about how long vehicles can park for. They’re recommending a 2-hour limit for parking, during the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday thru Friday, to exclude legal holidays and other special events, as deemed by the Village Board, from Bird Street to State Street, along Main Street on both sides, to include prohibiting motor homes and enclosed trailers (anything large obstructing views). Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve the recommendation for the parking restrictions for Bird Street to State Street (as stated above). (Carried 6-1, with Quinn abstaining).                 

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**This committee is also recommending extending the length of the yellow lines on the corners of all Main Street, from Mill to Maple, per DOT regulations. This will also help with the sight problems. Fish asked if there’s going to be curb and gutter from Maple to Cherry when the Main Street project resumes and Wayne said yes. The board agreed to add this section also to the plan. Leis moved, Stoltz seconded to approve extending the length of the yellow lines for no parking, along Main Street, from Mill to Cherry Streets. (Carried 6-1, with Quinn abstaining).    

 

**Streets: Leis inquired on crosswalk lines. Wayne said they will be painted when the Main Street project is completed.

**Parks: Leis reported the committee approved 4 new high chairs for the community center and two (single) sheltered picnic tables in the Village Park. The school Tech ed kids will build one this year, and if it goes well, another one will be constructed the following year.  

 

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

  

14). Jensen moved, Leis seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

   

                                                                                      __________________________________      

                                                           Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer