Village Board — Minutes

Minutes March 12, 2025 The regular board meeting of the Village Board was called to order by Village President, Robert Spurley on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 6:30 P .M. at the Village Hall. Roll Call: Denny Rickard, Stephen Troester, Jason Cartwright, Larry Dale Schultz, Robert Spurley Absent: John Trace Employees: Randy Kitelinger, Mike Silver, Alan Schrank First Responders: Chief Amanda Schultz Fire Department: Chief Kevin Liddicoat, Assistant Chief Doug Rider, & Secretary / Treasurer Janean Faull Citizens Timothy Berndt resides at 803 Franklin Street. Berndt talked about house assessment, totaling $259,000. Berndt has an appointment with the Village Assessor to talk about current property assessment. Amanda Schultz with Linden Fire Responders stated they have received a $4,000 grant to purchase new equipment. This is a Compeer Financial emergency response equipment grant program with no grant match requirement. Amanda Schultz went over a list of first responder equipment that will be purchased. Consent Agenda A) Approval of February 2025 regular board minutes B) Approval of February 2025 treasurer’s report Motion by Denny Rickard seconded by Stepehen Troester to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. Presidents Correspondence Clerk / Treasurer Sue Lindner will return to work on March 20 Clerk / Treasurer Correspondence None Staff Reports Sewer / Water / Public Works Randy Kitelinger reported on March 1st Flo-on influent room B & M Technical Service Inc. service call. $2,349.00 is the cost for Conduent replacement B & M Technical Service Inc. quote. Water was running into sewer lift station 10” main and was plugged by disposable wipes. Kruser Septic Services Inc. did jet the sewer line at a cost of $960. Randy requested the $960 bill be placed on March 2025 bills to be paid. Randy on March 19 will be attending a free conference to earn 3 credits. Randy needs 18 water & 18 sewer credits for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources training requirements for the year 2025. Randy is working on lead pipes report with a WI DNR submission deadline March 21st. The snowplow will need a new cutting edge. Randy recommends purchasing a carbide cutting edge at cost of $1,600 due to the durability of carbide. 25-ton early order of salt for the Village streets was placed with the Iowa County Highway Department bult order. Randy will be out of state on the weekend of May 16. Mike will also not be in the area. Randy stated Kevin Liddicoat would assist with Village Sewer / Water if anything needed to be addressed. Police Correspondence Alan Schrank is working on a list of spring cleanup properties and unregistered vehicles around the Village. April 12 & 19 (8 A.M. – 12:00 P .M.) is the Village Spring clean up days at the public works garage. Officer Jackson will be assisting mutual aid at the Automotion Classic Car Show in Wisconsin Dells May 16 – 18 & Badger Football games later this year. Officer Jackson has successfully completed the Police Officer field training process and will now be on solo patrol. Committee Reports Tri State Custom Windows will call Jason Cartwright to schedule installation of windows at the Linden Village Community building. Ongoing issues with lighting issues with lighting ballasts in the community building. May want to look into Focus on Energy funding to replace lighting to LED efficient lighting. Park playground equipment needs some maintenance. Old Business A. 2025 Fee’s Listing needs to be looked at and went over by Sue Lindner & Alan Schrank for total comparison of year 2024 & 2025 proposed fees. Motion by Jason & 2nd by Stepheon to table for another month. Motion passed 5-0. New Business A. Holiday Wholesale does make deliveries to Larry’s Service Station. It was discussed the possibility of the concessions for the Linden Village Park concession stand being ordered through Holiday Wholesale and delivered to Larry’s Service Station. The Village Park concession stand has a current opening for someone to oversee the concession stand. B. Need to get a schedule for Village Park ball diamond completed. Start looking at tournaments to host. The Park Committee will meet. C. Robert Spurley discussed that it is Sue Lindner responsibility to pick up the Village mail from P .O. Box 469 at the Linden Post Office. Sue will bring the mail to the Village Hall to distribute to the Village departments. Currently one known key for P .O. Box 469 is in possession with Sue Lindner. It will be verified with Linden Post Office if anyone from the past has any other keys to the Village post office box that should be turned into USPS. In the absence of the Village Clerk / Treasurer the Village President will have Clerk / Treasurer Village P .O. Box mail key. The Village President will then pick up the Village mail and distribute out. Alan Schrank stated the Police Department USPS P .O. Box 469 mail key was checked back into the Linden Post Office on 03/12/2025. Alan Schrank asked no mail addressed to the Linden Police Department to be opened due to confidential police correspondence that does come in the mail. D. Check was received from Wisconsin Mutual Insurance for $1,500.00 dated 02/25/2025 to Linden Volunteer Fire Department. Doug Rider asked about the fire department mail being opened. Robert Spurley provided and went over in detail a memorandum from the Village attorney Eric Hagen with Boardman Clark. (See memorandum dated 03/10/2025) covering Village mailbox / mail opening and fire service fees. The fire department will meet and discuss fire service fees and bring a proposal to be discussed and approved at the April Village Board meeting. It was stated that many local volunteers fire departments are billing fire service fees to insurance companies to bring in revenue for equipment. Larry Dale Schultz did make a motion to bill for structure fires and motor vehicle accidents. Larry Dale Schultz rescinded the motion until the fire department can make a detailed fire service fees proposal. The firefighting billing fees will need to be adopted by ordinance and could possibly be put into the Village Fee’s listing. More research will be done on the billing fire service fee proposal. E. Larry Dale Schultz owns a property at 137 Babcock Avenue. Larry has a water meter on the water well that was drilled for Larry new house that was recently built. The purpose of the water meter on the well is for Village sewer billing. Larry stopped and talked to the Village Clerk / Treasurer about the Ordinance # 51.02 Rates and Charges (A) minimum monthly charge residential monthly cost per user $37.13. Jason Cartwright made a motion and was seconded by Denny Rickard to remove the sewer residential minimum monthly charge from 137 Babcock Avenue. Motion passed 4-0 with Larry Dale Schultz abstaining. F. Jason Cartwright made a motion and was seconded by Larry Dale Schultz to approve Jefferson Fire & Safety to flow test the qty 10 self-contained breathing apparatus & hydro test of qty 20 breathing air bottles for the Linden Volunteer Fire Department. Motion passed 5-0. G. Stephen Troester made a motion and was seconded by Denny Rickard for the board of review date April 29, 2025, at 6:30 P .M. at the Village Hall. Motion passed 5-0. H. Alan Schrank provided the Village Board members with a copy of the current Village zoning map dated 02/16/2001 & revised 01/30/2004. Village Board reviewing the zoning map. The village board will then send zoning map to planning commission or appropriate entity to review and make any recommended updates / changes. Monthly Bills Kruser Septic Services Inc. $960 bill was added to the March 2025 bills to be paid. Motion by Jason Cartwright and seconded by Denny Rickard to approve the March 2025 Village bills list. Motion passed 5-0. Adjourn Motion by Stephen Troester and seconded by Jason Cartwright to adjourn at 9:42 P .M. Motion passed 5-0. Minutes typed by: Chief of Police Alan Schrank