VILLAGE OF LA FARGE

 Regular Board Meeting         Monday, December 13, 2021

                                                                                  

*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 - Present at the meeting:

All Board Members: Aaron Appleman, Barbara Melvin, Frank Quinn, Aaron Nemec, Karen Leis, Terry Jensen, and Cheryl Purvis.   

Also present: News reporters Lonnie Muller and Bonnie Sherman, Brad Steinmetz, Mark Phillips, Mark Digman (via phone), Public Works Manger Wayne Haugrud, Police Chief Jonathon Brown, Utility Clerk Greg Lawton, and Clerk Kimberly Walker.    

        

*Verification was given of meeting publishing in the La Farge Episcope, and of posting at the Bank, Post Office, and Village Office on December 10, 2021.

  

*Quinn moved, Jensen seconded to approve the meeting minutes: (11-8-21/Regular Village board meeting; 11-9-21/Special Library Board meeting; 11-15-21/Special Library Board meeting; 11-22-21/Regular Library Board meeting; and 11-29-21/Public Hearing/Special board meeting. (Carried).    

            

*Correspondence: None.              

 

*Public Comment: None.             

    

*Utility business: Wayne reported the Well 3 generator has been installed and is online. At Well 2, the old generator is out, the new one is in place, and just waiting to get it wired up. We will then have backup generation at both wells. And a call was placed to Forster to get an update on the electrical relocation but haven’t heard back from them.  

 

*Main Street Project: Mark Digman, with Delta 3 Engineering, called in to give a review of the Main Street project. The contractor was on site last week and got most of the punch list items done. They’re not sure they’re going to get the list 100% completed, due to the weather. Things not completed include restoring of the bank façade, some painting work in front of the Bank, installation of the banner pole (worried about frost), cleaning of the catch basins and a few others. If don’t get done, will finish in the Spring. Had a formal complaint about the location and heights of a few traffic signs. When the plans were submitted to the DOT, they were approved by them at the correct heights. The contractor thinks they reused some of the posts, and the signs used to be shorter. They will fix those to the correct height. And questioned was the spacing around the posts. Thought it was 3’, and DOT says 4’. Only thought to effect one or two signs but will fix. And the holes around the sign poles will be filled in the spring. No one had any questions for Mark.              

 

*Mark reviewed pay application #6 for Gerke Excavating in the amount of $433,886.80. This is essentially the final one. On line 3, the contract price is $1,279,931.80. This includes the changes order costs, so this is the final number. Mark has withheld 2%, or $25,000, as he is still waiting for final lien waivers to make sure the sub-contractors are paid and there’s still the punch list to finish this spring. The board agreed to hold this until the list is complete in the Spring. And we have a one-year warranty period after the substantial completion date with the contractor, which was November 15, 2021. Melvin moved, Quinn seconded to approve pay request #6 to Gerke Excavating. (Carried).

 

*Change Order #1. These are items above and beyond what was planned. The big items included the DOT making the village do a detour to keep the project going, additional costs from the electrician, as the prices had gone up based on the type of poles that were installed, and contaminated soil found when digging. Total change order was $29,461.73. The total project was $417,000 under budget. It was a success and looks great. Jensen moved, Nemec seconded to approve this change order for $29,461.73. (Carried).     

 

*Update on Grants: Cheryl talked with Mark Steward at Vierbichers, and they haven’t heard anything

yet on the EDA grant for the substation relocation.       

  

*Old business: Received 2 prices for a Skid Steer. John Deere from Hillsboro Equipment bid $65,510, to include a brush cutter, forks, and a bucket. Portland Implement from Cashton bid $54,500 for a Kubota with all the attachments. Prices are expected to rise the first of the year, but if signed to buy, it locks the price in. Jensen moved, Appleman seconded to approve the Kubota bid (with Portland). (Carried).    

 

*We are looking into applying for a USDA grant to help fund the Skid Steer. Vierbichers has a proposal of $2,000 to submit this for us. This grant helps LMI communities pay up to 55%. This is primarily for the utilities, and they aren’t in financial shape to purchase it. And the PSC does not allow for loans to be taken out without prior approval. If awarded, the grant would cover $29,975. This leaves $24,525 the utilities need to come up with. This will be funded on the sewer side. And if needed, they can borrow from the village. Quinn moved, Leis seconded to approve Vierbichers agreement for the USDA grant application. (Carried).    

 

*Mark Phillips was present as a private citizen, for discussion on the 2 lots to be returned to the Free Methodist Church that the skatepark sits on. He was unaware of the vote last month for giving it back. He would like the board to reconsider, as families use it everyday and it’s helping the youth out. The church can’t get insurance for it. They’re having a big challenge trying to find anything. If they can’t find any, it will need to close and would be taking away from the community. It was mentioned to check with the League of WI Municipalities to see if they had any ideas. Mark was thanked for coming.  

 

*Jackie Yocum had asked to be on the agenda to talk about Winter Festival, but she did not show.

 

*Earlier in 2021, the board approved discontinuing and vacating a portion of Elm Drive (off from Oak Drive). When finishing the paperwork, the Attorney needed some final items passed. Jensen moved, Melvin seconded to approve an Order and a Resolution to vacate said portion of Elm Drive. (Carried 6-1, with Quinn abstaining as he is an abutting landowner).  

 

*Quinn moved, Appleman seconded to approve said names for election inspectors for the 2022-2023 term: Sherri Schrofer, Gloria Glick, Bonita Dorschied, Mark Glatfelter, Maureen Hysel, Greg Lawton, Dave Fish, Barb Melvin, Joan Kent, Tammie Lee, and Kim Walker. (Carried).

 

*Agenda Item#15: Had a resident inquire on setting up a fund for new Christmas pole decorations for the Main Street area. After they were put up, had further discussion that the party didn’t realize we had just purchased them a few years back. They’ll not pursue it now. 

 

*Quinn moved, Leis seconded to approve an operator’s license for Karen Downing. (Carried). She is a renewal, holding a license in the village last year.   

 

*Police report/update: Chief Brown reported 49 calls for service in November. He had a couple things for municipal court, mentioned winter parking rules are now in effect, had reports of counterfeit bills in the area, and reviewed one arrest record.          

     

*Committee Reports:  

**Library: New Librarian, Lisa Ahler, officially started today, but had a few days in last week. The library still has a mask requirement, and the meeting room was recently opened for up to 8 people to use.      

**Finance: The county had to make a correction to their tax levy after the tax bills for La Farge and others were already printed and mailed. So new tax statements are being sent and say revised on them.

   

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

 

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

                       

                                                                                      __________________________________      

  Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer