VILLAGE OF LA FARGE

                 Regular Board Meeting          Monday, July 14, 2025

                                                                                    

1). Village President Aaron Nemec 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: Terry Jensen, Karen Leis, Jill Stoltz, Barbara Melvin, Dave Fish, Cathy St. John, and Aaron Nemec.                

Also: News reporter Lonnie Muller, Public Works Manager Wayne Haugrud, Utility Clerk Greg Lawton, Police Chief Steve Palmer, Brad Steinmetz, Bart Nies with 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 on Thursday, July 10, 2025.     

                

3). Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve the previous meetings minutes: (6-9-2025/Regular Village Board meeting; 6-23-2025/Special Village Board meeting; 3-31-2025/Nuisance Property committee meeting; 6-26-2025/Tax Incremental District Joint Review Board meeting; and 7-8-2025/Planning Commission meeting). (Carried).    

4). Correspondence: None.

   

5). Public Comment: None. 

 

6). Utility business:  

**Bart Nies, owner of Delta 3 Engineering, was present to discuss closing out the proposed 2024 infrastructure improvements project. In the board material was the final pay application (#9) for Badger Environmental & Earthworks for $160,526.71 and a Change Order (#1), for an additional $125,451.21. The village added 351’ of watermain on Cherry Street, some manhole and sewer work, laterals, water services, and extra street work on Seelyburg Road and Cherry Street. (The change order amount is included in the final pay application). Bart said three conditions need satisfied before releasing the final payment. He asked for approval to be contingent upon: a). the contractor finalizing the punch list items, b). Delta 3 receiving all the final liens waivers (to make sure Badger has paid their subcontractors and suppliers) and c). Delta 3 receiving a couple American Iron Steel grant documents. Badger is to finish the punch list items within the month of July. Jensen moved, Stoltz seconded to pay Badger Environmental for pay application #9. (Carried). Melvin moved, Leis seconded to approve change order #1, contingent upon the three contingencies Bart listed above. (Carried). Aaron also signed a Certificate of Substantial Completion. This is dated June 20, 2025, which starts the one-year warranty period. If anything happens that Badger put it, they are to fix it at their cost. Bart thanked the village for their business & said they enjoy working here.   

 

**The new Boom truck is here and in service. Going to keep the old one for a little while to make sure we’re good, then in the Fall or next Spring, we’ll put it on the Wisconsin Surplus auction site.  

**The WWTP discharge permit is moving forward after getting our phosphorus approved and should have it by October. It’s good for 5 years then.   

 

7). Old Business:

a. The Planning Commission met and approved “A Resolution recommending discontinuance of a portion of Gold Street as a public way and report to the Village Board”. Jensen moved, Leis seconded to approve the resolution. (Carried).   

b. Melvin moved, Fish seconded to approve “A Resolution to Discontinue a Portion of Gold Street as a Public Way” and set Monday, August 25th, 2025, for a Public Hearing on the subject. (Carried).  

c. Wayne explained if the above goes awry, Plan B is to alter the grade of Gold Street, to give Cory Volden the opportunity to elevate the road to make the approach and move forward with the building. The State plans for a new structure are coming soon, and he would like to start moving forward. Jensen moved, St. John seconded to approve Plan B, to alter the grade (per Village ordinance section 6-1-2). (Carried).       

​

**The sign is in for Franklin Street and will be installed soon. Chief Palmer said after the last rain storm, he drove the road and deemed it safe.   

 

8). Daniel and Janet Gremban submitted a proposal (sent with the board packets), to purchase a parcel of land the village owns that abuts/borders their property on the North side and is East of One Organic Way, a total of about .50 acres. The proposal is similar to a previous one from Jim Hanson, paying all costs associated with the land transfer and the survey fee. Jensen moved, Melvin seconded to approve the proposal. (Carried).

 

9). Chris Donovan submitted a Certified Survey Map for the board’s consideration. He is separating his house and storage units building to 2 parcels. (According to our ordinances, the board must approve the change in the property lines). Stoltz moved, Leis seconded to approve the CSM. (Carried).  

   

10). Village Attorney, Nikki Swayne, advised us to Notice the Claim made against the Village of La Farge, La Farge Police Department, and Steve Palmer, (information sent with the board packets), and to disallow it. Jensen moved, Leis seconded to approve the recommendation of disallow of the claim. (Carried).  

**Fish moved, Stoltz seconded to allow Attorney Nikki Swayne to represent all the parties listed in the claim (the Village of La Farge, La Farge Police Department, and Steven Palmer). (Carried) 

 

11). Two years ago, we purchased a skid steer, and with that and the backhoe, Wayne said we don’t use the MF 660 end loader much anymore. He would like to sell this and the accessories on Wisconsin Surplus, to get money out of it now while it’s still in good condition. Fish moved, Jensen seconded to approve of this. (Carried).   

 

12). Stoltz moved, Melvin seconded to approve of hiring Greg Lawton and Kim Walker as the listing officials to do the annual dog count for the village. (Carried).

 

13). Reviewed an operator license application from Bobbie Shanahan (WI Responsible Beverage Server training completed on 6-18-25). Her background check showed some items dating back 8 years prior. It was felt to give her a chance, and it can be revoked if something comes up. Jensen moved, Leis seconded to approve the new license. (Carried).   

 

14). Chief Steve Palmer gave his monthly police report.

**He has been accepted to the Vernon County Combined Tactical Unit. The unit consists of 12 members. Applications were submitted in May. They felt he was a good asset to the Team. Steve likes the working relationship he has with the Sheriff’s office since he started.  

 

15). Committee Reports and Updates:

**Police: Steve is finalizing his plans on dividing the village into 7 sectors to enforce the abandoned and junked vehicles in town and will be getting a press release soon on this. 

**Aaron had a huge thank you to all involved with the 4th of July celebration. Another successful event. Behind the scenes are Wayne and his crew getting the village ready. A lot of hard work goes into it. The events were very well attended.    

 

16). St. John moved, Fish seconded to approve payment of the bills. (Carried).

        

17). Jensen moved, Leis seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

     

                                                                                      __________________________________      

                                                           Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer