Regular Village Board Meeting — Minutes

MINUTES March Regular Board Meeting Village Office, March 18, 2026 5:30 p.m. – 6:44 p.m. Regular Village Board meeting for the Village of Cobb was called to order at 5:30 pm by President Liz Lenz. Members Attending: President – Liz Lenz, Trustees – Kristen Schoville, Marlin Harms, Renee Linscheid, Alisha Martin, Nick Klaas, Alaina Benton Members Absent: None Staff Present: Interim Village Clerk – Lisa Riley, Public Works Director – Mark Flanagan Public Present: Fire Chief Steve Linscheid Public Notices: MOTION (Schoville, Linscheid): motion carried by unanimous voice vote to approve posting of agenda at the following four places: Cobb Post Office, Cobb Food Mart, Royal Bank, and the Village Office on Monday, March 16, 2026, and compliance of the open meeting law. Pledge of Allegiance Minutes: MOTION (Lenz, Benton): a motion carried by voice vote (KJaas abstained) to approve the Regular Village Board February 11th meeting minutes, as presented, and the February 19th Special Village Board meeting minutes with the amendment that the minutes reflect “Carley Rider is to be removed from all bank accounts, with the addition of Lisa Riley”. Treasurer’s Report: No Treasurer’s Report was provided at this meeting, due to bank reconciliations being a work in progress with the shortened hours. COMMITTEE & COMISSION REPORTS Library Board – Alaina noted that they have had two meetings since our last Village Board meeting. Carrie has the five summer programs scheduled and information will be coming out soon. There will be another summer reading challenge. The Board suggested getting the summer program schedule from Carrie and putting on the Village website, as people are planning for summer school attendance. The library received a $1,200 United Fund donation that they will be using for the summer library programs. Cobb-Highland Recreation Commission –The February 11, 2026 minutes and March 11th agenda were provided. Lisa Riley informed the Village Board that Blackhawk Lake is still working on their 2024 audit, as Iowa County changed auditors after 40+ years, following a software conversion and cyber-attack, so things have been challenging. Fire District Board – Fire Chief Steve Linscheid provided the 2025 Annual Report. He informed the Board that 2025 was the largest number of calls in history, with 47 just fire calls and 43 First Responder calls. They also provided mutual aid for several calls, which they do not receive reimbursement compensation for, as it is part of the agreement. A costly communications upgrade is currently in process with Iowa County. The department will need to change everything, including all radios. The cost will be $20 million for radios only, in Iowa County. Chief Linscheid recommended reaching out and talking with Iowa County Board Supervisor Don Leix, Representative Todd Novak and Senator Howard Marklein regarding the cost of this upgrade to the various small departments. The Fire Department Open House will be held in July. A very nice grant was received. Steve also wants to let the community know that they have some Knox Boxes available to install, especially for elderly residents in the community. A Knox Box is a secure, wall-mounted safe installed on the outside of buildings, allowing fire/EMS departments immediate emergency access without forced entry. This eliminates the need for firefighters/EMS personnel to force open doors, saving time and reducing costly damage to one’s property. Only authorized emergency personnel have access to open the box. The department purchased their own spreader/cutter from fundraising monies. The cost is approximately $12,000- $13,000. Steve also reported that the current engine fleet are running OK. Splash Pad- An 8-Pin Tap Tournament was held at Tower Junction on Saturday, March 7th. This was a 2-day fundraising event, that several volunteers helped with running a raffle and basket raffle. The event was very successful and they raised $4,885.50 for the splash pad. They are currently running the Egg My Yard event, with signups until March 27th. The Concession Stand will be opening next Friday, for the first home Iowa-Grant softball game. Renee asked for anyone that is available to help clean the stand on Saturday. Renee is working on the Sign-Up Genius schedule for the concession stand and will be sharing that. May Day Basket fundraiser will soon be underway, approximately April 8th. The splash pad is scheduled to be open Memorial Day weekend. Entrance Sign Committee- Liz noted that the committee is meeting March 19th at the Village office. They will be discussing design options provided by EP Graphics out of Mount Horeb. Liz will be reaching out to Ron Ritchie, as he stated Ritchie’s would be willing to contribute with some of the cost of replacing the entrance signs. Personnel Committee -The Personnel Committee met on Tuesday, March 10th and Friday, March 13th. MOTION (Schoville, Linscheid): a motion carried by voice vote to approve the Personnel Committee Minutes for March 10, 2026 and March 13, 2026, as presented. CITIZENS AND DELEGATIONS- none UNFINISHED BUSINESS RETAINING POND IN BISHOP BOLDT SUBDIVISION- Interim Clerk Lisa Riley proposed the question to the Board if they were aware the Village was responsible for the recording costs and transfer fees for this deal. Attorney Eric Hagen posed those questions to her. A value for the property will need to be attained from the assessor, to calculate the transfer return fee even though no money is being exchanged. Lisa will reach out to Village Assessor Bruce Gardiner to get a value for the property. LAND SALE –NORTH OF SCHEPER PARK- Due to vacations of various parties involved, we are looking at closing on this property sometime in April. ENTRANCE SIGNS – No action needed at this time. EASTMAN STREET CONSTRUCTION- Discussed the need to investigate financing rates for the cost of this project. Engineer Greg Lee is working on putting cost estimates together. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2026-03 Authorizing the Village Clerk to Deputize Mark Flanagan as Deputy Clerk for and Related to the April 7, 2026 Spring Election - Kris Schoville-SWTC, Request to Waive Fee for Use of Community Center for EMT Refresher Course August through November on Wednesday nights - MOTION (Harms, Martin): a motion carried by voice vote (Schoville abstained) to approve the fee waiver request to use the Cobb Community Center for the EMT Courses, being hosted by SWTC, on Wednesday nights from August through November, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Speed Limit Request DOT Response by Dollar General - The response received from DOT is attached. I have reached out to Representative Todd Novak's office and they are discussing with DOT , as they have done for several Lafayette County issues with DOT requirement for pedestrian and bike paths. Annual Website Contract Renewal/Upgrade - MOTION (Linscheid, Klaas) motion carried by 7-0 roll call vote (Benton – Aye, Linscheid – Aye, Schoville – Aye, Martin – Aye, Harms – Aye, Klaas – Aye, Lenz – Aye) to approve the contract proposal for the annual renewal of the Town Web website and website upgrade, as presented. Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan- Clerk Lisa Riley informed the Board that a response was needed from the Village to Iowa County Emergency Management’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan request by April 1st. She will complete the survey that no new items were completed. MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION – Committee may consider entering into closed session under Section 19.85(1)(c) Wisconsin State Statute considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation date of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility – Village Clerk/Treasurer position. MOTION (Benton, Klaas); motion carried 7-0 on a roll call vote (Benton – Aye, Linscheid – Aye, Schoville – Aye, Martin – Aye, Harms – Aye, Klaas – Aye, Lenz – Aye) to go into Closed Session with Carley and Mark in attendance at 6:15 p.m. MOTION TO RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION – Committee may consider taking a consensus to return to open session following the closed session to formally dispose of any issues discussed in closed session. MOTION (Lenz, Linscheid) to reconvene into open session at 6:28 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Action of Closed Session MOTION (Schoville, Martin); motion carried 7-0 on a roll call vote (Benton – Aye, Linscheid – Aye, Schoville – Aye, Martin – Aye, Harms – Aye, Klaas – Aye, Lenz – Aye) to hire Lisa Riley as the Village Clerk/Treasurer, effective March 18, 2026 at the rate of $30.50/hour, with full benefits including PTO to be determined with the Personnel Committee. The Board confirmed they are willing to be flexible with Lisa’s schedule, as family comes first, if she is willing to fill the position. Open communication will be a priority, along with posting open hours on the Village office door, Village FaceBook page, and the Village website. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS  Spring Election will be April 7th with In-Person Absentee voting beginning March 24th. Lisa Riley recommended residents make an appointment to vote absentee, due to the varying open office hours. She will be posting Open Office Hours on the Village Website, Village Hall door, and the Village FaceBook page.  Bruce Gardiner will be holding a Revaluation Educational Meeting on Thursday, March 26th at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center.  Animal Licenses are due by March 31st. Late fees ($5.00 per animal) will be added on April 1st.  The shredding event with the Town of Eden will be held on Saturday, April 25th. Lisa had contacted Bucky Boland for volunteers to help with the event, as the Village has to supply 3 volunteers for the day. APPROVAL OF BILLS FOR THE MONTH: MOTION (Klaas, Martin) motion carried by 7-0 roll call vote (Benton – Aye, Linscheid – Aye, Schoville – Aye, Martin – Aye, Harms – Aye, Klaas – Aye, Lenz – Aye) to approve the monthly bills. Adjournment: MOTION (Lenz, Martin); The motion carried by unanimous voice vote and the meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lisa Riley, Interim Village Clerk/Treasurer