6-23-25 Village Board — Minutes

Village Board Meeting Minutes June 23, 2025 On June 23. 2025, Clerk-Treasurer Linda Kuhlman called the Village Board meeting of the Village of Brooklyn to order at 6:30 p.m. Trustees present were Mike Gehrmann, David Berland, Dan Olson, Jake Bachim, and Christian Allen. President Mike Brusberg and Trustee Todd Klahn were absent. Also present were Norma Botma, William Brockman, and Clerk-Treasurer Linda Kuhlman. Pledge of Allegiance. Olson made a motion to have David Berland chair the meeting. Bachim seconded. Motion carried. Public Comments -- William Brockman asked about the ruling of law in the village on ATVs running on the streets; do they need to be licensed, lights, anything special. Berland stated based on signs posted, all streets are legal for ATVs. Allen said we will have to check with ordinances. Olson said they have to follow DNR requirements and follow speed limits. Brockman stated on Saturday night he was at Main Street Music, and there was a kid in front of Main Street Music zipping around. Berland suggested to call the police. He did but it took over an hour to get there. He called today and an officer is supposed to call him back. Gehrmann said he’s seen the same frustration on Highway 92. Brockman said it’s been going on for a number of days, and his son has had issues with the person a lot. He talked to Green County who might have an officer here tonight. Olson said there is an ATV enforcement division through Dane County who has sat in the village before. Brockman’s other issue is with a truck in the village. Kuhlman said Deputy Grumke is aware of that and working with other deputies. Brockman said the other issue is the village is up to his property line, and people are coming into town and using jake brakes. They don’t start until after King Lake Road, and that’s an issue that needs to be addressed. There needs to be fines and enforced. By the time they’re going out of town, by time they hit his driveway, they’re going 60-70 mph. Olson suggested to call owners of the trucks. Berland said they appreciate his comments and will follow up. Norma Botma – she’s here in regards to Mt Hope Cemetery and perpetual care and several family gravesites. The main issue involves a flat plaque, and she understands we contract out mowing and weed trimming at the cemetery. She said it leaves a lot to be desired. On May 17 there was no weed trimming for 2-3 weeks, and she has pictures and gave them to the board. With regard to the stone, they have used the weed eater to the point it’s taken all the enamel finish off the stone. There’s an outline of a tractor, but that stone was placed at an angle on the cement base of the gravestone. Another issue is the stone next to one of her family’s is too close, and why is there a discrepancy. She needs a proper answer about what she believes to be wrong placement. Secondly, at her uncle’s site there was a cemented stake in the ground, and it was bent and pulling out of the ground. She was there earlier today and saw the stake has been replaced. She talked to the American Legion today about it. There is a flag on the stake so she’s satisfied with that. Three to four years ago she talked with the clerk about planting a peony by her parents’ grave site, and was told it would be mowed down. But it happens to be in the same area where there are hostas planted on each side of a gravestone. Why can’t she have peonies planted on the side of her parents’ grave. She has family members and they need answers to these apparent problems. Berland said we can’t give you answers tonight, but we can ask public works. He asked her to please leave contact information with clerk so we can contact her. Olson said we can take it back to the public works committee. The board thanked them both for coming. One of the board members stated to go through photos and see if it was one of those vandalized. No president report. Allen made a motion to approve minutes from June 9. Bachim seconded. Motion carried. Anchor Club II Special Event permit application – Allen asked if there have been any problems in the past. Olson said he would like to see when departments have comments, that the comments are put in the comments section of this application or put see attached email for each comment. Bachim asked if fire and everyone else takes a look before it comes to them. Kuhlman said yes. Berland said there’s emails from all. Bachim and Olson see no issue. Bachim made a motion to approve application for special event for Anchor Club II on July 26-27. Olson seconded. Motion carried. Olson made a motion to approve the amplification permit for Anchor Club II for July 26-27, 2025. Bachim seconded. Motion carried. Allen made a motion to approve amending the alcohol license for Anchor Club II to include the alley behind the bar on the dates of July 26-27, 2025. Gehrmann seconded. Motion carried. Stand task order – Olson said this is to get started on work for permit for the treatment plant upgrades. We have a series of things to go through. There are deadlines we have to meet, and the Strand task order is so we can get it started and get them going so we can meet deadlines. It showed compensation amount of estimated $70,000 for all the engineering. Gehrmann asked if they have all the stuff in here to do. Olson said it’s preparing the draft for the facility plan. Berland asked if $70,000 is a reasonable fee. Olson said yes, and down the road there will be more fees associated with this. Allen asked if there’s a budget allocated for this. Olson said no. Kuhlman said it will span over a couple years. Gehrmann asked if it’s general fund or sewer. Kuhlman said sewer. Gehrmann asked if we will have to bump the rates up. Kuhlman said there will probably be a future task order to look at to do a sewer rate study once they know the tasks that have to be done and the costs. Allen said if it’s reasonable and we have to comply. Olson said we have to meet deadlines for the permit. Allen made a motion to approve Strand’s task order 2025-01 WWTP facilities planning. Gehrmann seconded. Motion carried. Resolution 2025-12 fee schedule. Berland asked if it’s reasonable with other communities. Kuhlman said it’s the same as other charges we have. Gehrmann asked if it’s per day or per time. Kuhlman and Olson said per incident. Olson said we also have a 48-hour parking law. Bachim asked if we want to post for no parking over 48 hours. Olson said it’s posted in the alleyway that way. He can talk to public works about posting a sign there. Berland said it doesn’t need to be approved, it’s an ordinance. We should site ordinance number on the sign Gehrmann made a motion to approve resolution 2025-12 for resolution of ordinance Appendix C amendments. Bachim seconded. Motion carried. No additional discussion on parking ordinance. Olson said he didn’t see anything in the bills. Gehrmann didn’t see anything. Kuhlman asked if she can have permission for her and the deputy clerk to sign the check for the truck next week. We don’t have the amount yet, but it is due in next week. Gehrmann asked what the modem charge for Dane County Clerk is. Kuhlman said it’s for the modem in the election machine to modem results to the county. Olson made a motion to approve bills as presented with the addition of the check to pick up the new truck that has come in. Allen seconded. Motion carried. Clerk’s report – Hotel Street update – dumpsters are coming tomorrow. Landscapers should finish tomorrow and fence should be put in tomorrow. Gehrmann asked about handrail in front of the apartment at the corner. Kuhlman said yes. Olson asked if the fence includes a gate for neighbor. Kuhlman said no, the homeowner got a quote to put that in separately, and the quote was higher than he received from other places. So they are not putting in the gate. But owner was asked about how far the fence should go towards the sidewalk, and he approved that location. Hoping to open everything up by end of week. July 8 tree cutting service will be taking down tree between Anchor Club and neighbor. Trustee members confirmed it is a civil matter. The Railroad Street parcel was sold at auction, and tomorrow the judge certifies the date. Green County Sheriff’s Department is aware. Assessor’s plat was given to board members for the Hotel Street Block. It goes to the state, and the state has 30 days to approve it. Once we get it back, the property owners need to sign off on the plat, which will then be approved by the board and then filed with Green County. Assessor talked to about half of the property owners when they were out here a few weeks ago, so hopefully we have everything worked out. Kuhlman will transfer funds to One Community Bank on July 1. Last week Kuhlman attended a local government summit. It’s an organization that works with the League, Towns Association and Counties Association that helps with lobbying. They talked about AI in government, doing policies and letters, etc. They talked about cybersecurity and had agencies there that can help if you get attacked. One thing they mentioned frequently is if you get a ransomware attack, do not turn off your computer or touch it at all and call IT, your insurance company and their agencies immediately. The heads of the League, Towns Association and Counties Association were there and talked about collaboration between municipalities. There was discussion about possibility in the future of municipalities joining together and having a joint administrator instead of individual clerks, etc., especially of the dwindling labor force. Berland mentioned he is attending the Dane County Cities and Villages meeting this week, so is there anything the board wants him to bring up. He’s now on the executive board. It’s a relatively powerful lobbying group. Gehrmann said we face wastewater issues. We get the regulations but with no solution and no help. He said is any farmer going to want anything on their fields unless you indemnify them. Olson said the only other alternative is to go to landfill, but then it has to be treated, and it’s very expensive. Kuhlman mentioned the other issue is levy limits. Berland said he’s seen in the legislature that they’re pushing to increase levy limits, so they’re discussing it. Berland will bring up the wastewater issues and ask them to make that a priority. Kuhlman said they did recently add funds to the clean water fund and safe drinking water programs. Public Works Committee – Olson updated on the Highway 92 project. Preconstruction meeting will be held after July 4, and they are talking about the contractor starting mid-July. Not sure which way they’re starting. Allen asked if they’re aware of the concert. Olson said yes, and contractor has 62 days to finish the project. Discussed Highway 104 project. They’re going to do rumble strips, etc., and it’s not affecting village much. Discussed First Street semi parking, and it was put into the deed that we allowed them to have one semi parked there because it’s a commercial property. Problem now is multiple semis are parking there. They’re working with Grumke. Gehrmann asked if it’s the same person. Olson said they believe so. We had some vandalism in Legion Park and just had some this weekend. They vandalized the men’s bathroom, and public works had to lock it up on Sunday to be repaired. Sidewalks were discussed, and we’re waiting to hear back until the next meeting. They wanted more information to update the older study. It was mentioned a new study would have to be done for the sidewalks. Bachim said it was repairing and replacing sidewalks, starting on South Rutland, and updating means going wider. Allen asked if they’re improving on them. Olson said sometime there will be curb/gutter through there and then sidewalk will be done. To make them wider, you’d have to deal with easements, etc. Gehrmann said in Madison it’s done with multi-use path, and they make a path knowing it’s going to be ripped up and redone. Bachim said or widen the road and put in a multi-use lane. Allen, said it’s a few blocks, right to the corner. Olson said it’s still taking money out of homeowners’ pocket. Bachim said he’d like to see a new sidewalk. Gehrmann suggested making a path instead of sidewalk. Allen asked if we know if we can pull it out and reseed it. Bachim said it might be an ordinance, state versus local. Allen suggested looking at it. Olson said it was tabled to next meeting. Emergency management on July 24 is doing an active shooter training at elementary school. It will be multi counties with law enforcement, fire/EMS. Bachim said a training like this has not been done and so a lot of work is going into it. PFAS and PFOS sampling are being done bi-monthly. Monthly samples taken and all safe. Planning & Zoning Commission – Allen said they had a meeting on June 11 th. Maxwell Gartzke came about changing his duplex on Hotel Street and making the front half into a potato chip plant and manufacture out of there. One concern is zoning. Berland asked if the half facing Hotel Street would be the chip plant. Allen said Gartzke owns the whole thing, and it will be him and his wife making, so just a box truck and no semis. He is in general business, which will be commercial and some residential. Not technically zoned for shipping. We might have to do a conditional use permit or he would sell them from there as well. It seemed like a good idea. Assuring there is a fire wall between units, and with HVAC compliant and not dumping oils, etc., down the drains. Also discussion on flood plain zoning ordinance. Got email from DNR to modernize the ordinance for flood plain zones. None of them exactly understood, so hopefully someone will be there to try to explain and answer questions. As far as we can tell there isn’t a flood zone in Brooklyn. They didn’t want to make a decision without asking their questions. There is a vacant citizen committee member needed, so Allen suggested Mark Bruner. Olson made a motion to approve the minutes of January 21 and February 24 PZ meeting. Allen seconded. Motion carried. Bachim abstained. Bachim made a motion at 7:33 p.m. to adjourn. Gehrmann seconded. Motion carried. Linda Kuhlman, WCPC, CMTW Clerk-Treasurer