Public Works — Minutes

VILLAGE OF FRIENDSHIP PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING – Wednesday October 22, 2025– Page 1 The Public Works Committee meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. In attendance were President Jerry Sonnenberg, Chairman Bob Berry, committee members Jason Pierce and Melvin Waller; also in attendance was Public Works Director Beth Schultz, and Clerk Rebecca Reuter. The agenda for the meeting was: 1} Roll Call 2} Approve meeting minutes from September 17th ,2025 3} Citizen input 4} Discussion & Possible action on: stormwater infiltration into the lake 5} Discussion & Possible action on: Boat Wash Down 6} Discussion & Possible action on: possible location on handicap parking and ramp in front of discount grocery store 7} Discussion & Possible action on: Leaf Pickup 8} Discussion on Code Enforcement Officer 9} Public Works Directors Report 10} Adjournment A majority of the Village Board may be present but no Board action is contemplated. Approval of September 17th , 2025, Minutes Motion by Waller, second by Pierce to approve September 17th , 2025, Public Works Minutes, motion carried. Citizen Input Peter Downs 309 Hillwood Lane, where he lives, the road is higher than both his lots. He has a lot on the slew side, and one across the street on the lake side. Whenever there are torrential rains or downpours the water congregates on Hillwood. Most of the torrential rains the water flow towards the lake, and there’s no drainage. What it does is pools on the lakeside then runs down underneath his platform towards the pier and right down the bank into the lake with all the leaves and pine needles. All the debris end up in the lake, and he doesn’t know how to get rid of this other than possibly putting in a storm drain up there, because the road is higher than the other properties. He knows that water also flows down Bill Petters driveway on the slew side because he’s got a big dock that is goes down to. He hasn’t seen anything that flows down to the slew, it always flows down towards the lakeside, then down the bank. But if we build up that lakeside then where is it going to run? Berry stated that his first thought would be to build some kind of a rain garden. It would flow into that and slowly seep down through that and then maybe it wouldn’t wash down into the lake. There really is no way to put any kind of a storm grate up there, because you’re still going to have to try to pipe it and it will still go into the lake. Downs stated that he doesn’t know what else to do. He could build up that property, but then if there were to build that up and put rock in there, then would it flow that other way? Berry stated it should still flow that way, it’s going to be able to percolate into the ground a little easier than it all running off. Even with all the plants and the good grass that he has at his house there are times when he will get a hard rain, and it will still wash down his bank into the lake. Downs could also try to divert it to one side or the other. Downs stated that to the east of his house they put in what looks like a rock driveway, but it’s not really a driveway. They put a shed on top of that rock pad. And then to the west they are higher also…the waters going to go, and he would rather it goes down on the lakeside, but he doesn’t want it taking all the debris with it. Berry and Sonnenberg are going to set up a time and go to look at it. Discussion & Possible action on: stormwater infiltration into the lake Berry stated that we just discussed it a little. He hasn’t heard anything from anyone he has reached out to at Madison Public Works and what they might suggest. He doesn’t know what else to do other than what we’ve talked about getting the storm drains cleaned and seeing what kind of shape they are in. At this point he feels that’s really the best thing we can do. Schultz stated that we have some quotes but there are a lot on storm drains to do. Berry stated that maybe we prioritize. We do the oldest drains first; do the lines we know run down to the slew, the very end ones and see how bad they are. He knows that it was suggested to put the fabric PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING – Wednesday October 22, 2025– Page 2 bags on the drains, but that will just cause more problems than anything. They will get filled up and then they will start flooding streets, that’s the last thing we want. Schultz stated that they have been cleaning them out. Discussion & Possible action on: Boat Wash Down Berry stated that he hadn’t heard anything back on that. It’s going to take some time to figure out what we want to do, and how we are going to do it. We can work on that through the winter, and hopefully have something be springtime. Discussion & Possible action on: possible location on handicap parking and ramp in front of discount grocery store John Ammel 106 East 2nd Street, (He made sure everyone had a picture so they would know what he was talking about, It will be included with these minuets) He stated that he had talked with Jeremy our building inspector, he came and met him at the store . Ammel was thinking they could run it a long under the window and come out like an “L” , but Jeremy said that would not work because it wouldn’t be wide enough. We would be 3 inches wider on the sidewalk, and that would make it too narrow for the sidewalk. Ammel measured it and he thinks it’s only ¾ of an inch wider on the other side of the street. Jeremy says when he measures it that its about 3 inches. Jeremy recommends that we go straight out at the entrance, dig down so you only have a little bit of a hump on the current sidewalk and paint it yellow. Jeremy said as long as people could bike and walk overtop of it and the sidewalk could be used and not blocked, he would be ok with it. Berry stated that his biggest concern is how far up it is that going to sit? Ammel stated that you have to have an inch for every foot per drop for a handicap ramp. Jeremy said we could go off the current step that’s there, and that’s 7 ½ inches, but when you cut the sidewalk out, we need to make sure that when it comes out at the end that you’re flush at the end. About 3 or 4 inches maximum would be at the height of a normal sidewalk that we could roll that over. Jeremy said somebody else on Main Street is doing the same thing in front of one of their buildings. Berry stated Sonnenberg had heard that the heritage center wanted to do it too. But they haven’t approached us at all. According to our ordinance we do have the final say in it, and Ammel would have to pay for ½ of it, that is our ordinance, and the Board would have to issue the permit to do the work. Berry’s biggest concern is, say someone is coming down the sidewalk from the west, or the east in a wheelchair are they going to get up over that ramp easily. To him that’s almost an obstruction, that’s why he’s surprised that Jeremy recommended this. Ammel said as long as the edges are rounded it would be good, and that Jeremy sees it all the time. Berry stated that with the ramp and the cut outs down to the curb that we would be getting rid of 2 parking spots. Pierce asked if the ramp was coming out into the road? Ammel stated that it would be even with the road, after cutting out the curb. Berry stated that what he would like to do is come up there sometime with a string line, hold it up at the 7 inches, take it down to the street to see what that slope is going to look like. His mind is going that he doesn’t care how you have it ramped down you have to be able to get up and over it without any obstruction. Ammel stated that when you cut the sidewalk out, you’re going to have to put the ramp down farther so that it comes up with the current concrete. They had to do the same thing at their store in the City of Adams, but it was with black top. Berry stated that he is going to drive over and take a look at that to see how it was done. The handrails would have to go from the building down the ramp also. That’s why he wants to go with some string lines to mark it out. Discussion & Possible action on: Leaf Pickup Berry stated that it is set for November 17th-21st. Motion by Waller, second by Pierce to approve leaf pick up dates, motion carried. Discussion on Code Enforcement Officer Sam was not able to attend but will try and make it to the Village Board meeting. Public Works Directors Report Schultz stated that Public Works has been wrapping up a bunch of little things to get ready for winter. Today they put down 3 yards of BST patching up holes. They finally got the curb stop at the school admin building done. To do it she ordered an extension of 1 ¼ PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING – Wednesday October 22, 2025– Page 3 on top and just short of 2 inches on the bottom, and 3 inches long, and it fits down inside of it. She had no way of screwing it on there so she took a piece of wood, sat it on the to p and hammered it in there and it’s as tight as can be. Then she put the 1 ¼ curb stop on there. They put BST all around it today. Berry stated that something he thinks they should do is go over there twice a year and take that inside cap out make sure it’s good and clean, oil it up so it’s always going to come out easy. Schultz stated that she did that and didn’t tighten it down to tight. She also made sure it’s down below where they will plow so it shouldn’t get hit. We had a complaint about the building at 308 Main Street next to the smoke shop. They are complaining about the smell coming out of that building . She went over and checked it out. She is also getting complaints about what an eye-sore it is, and nothing is getting done with it. She knows about a month ago he called her asking her to put meters in there, but when they went to put meters in nothing w as ready. He needed to call the plumber. There were pipes all apart in there. She did a walk around and it smelled a lot like mildew. She talked to Heather who runs the smoke shop, and Heather said that the girls say that sometimes it smells like something dead is coming out of there, and other times if smells musty. Schultz’s concern was sewage. But it doesn’t smell like that . But the doors are wide open so anything or anyone can just walk in , so there might be a dead animal or two in there. She took pictures and told them that she would present it to the Board to see what everyone says. Berry stated that we aren’t going to turn the water on until the building is brought up to code. We have the right to leave that water off until the building is up to code and we are satisfied. We’ve delt with that building in the past. Schultz stated that all the picnic tables at the park are stained. By the end of the week, they will have them all up under the shelter. The strobe lights are on the Dodge. She pulled in the brush truck yesterday and it wouldn’t shut off so she had to pop the clutch to get it to shut off. She thinks it’s in the switch because if you turn that it does absolutely nothing. Waller stated that he didn’t think you could get any parts for that truck but maybe Fenner’s could cobble it up somehow. He could start with putting in a switch. But he was under the impression that you couldn’t get any parts for that truck. Schultz stated that it just happened so she will look into it a little more. The park and beach have both been winterized. The plow truck is done, but the oil pan still leaks. Fenner’s were supposed to fix that. It’s not as bad as it was, but it still leaks. The County said the oil pan itself was leaking. Waller stated that he looked at that one time and when he got under there and looked at it, it was the oil pan. Schultz stated that it’s not leaking as bad as it was, but it is still leaking and if we are paying Fenner’s $100 an hour for labor, he should be fixing the problem. Matt is one of the mechanics from the county shop and is interested in working one Friday a month to do any repairs that we need to do. He’s asking for $30 an hour. So, she just wanted to throw that at the Committee. $30 an hour is a lot better than $100. She feels it’s a win, win situation. He has done some work for her on her truck and did a phenomenal job. Waller doesn’t think we need to stick with any particular contractor. We have to do what’s best for the Villages interest as long as he’s reliable. He has heard from people at the county that Matt is a darn good mechanic. Schultz stated that Matt said even if we have an emergency when we are out plowing in the middle of the night, he will come in. But he also works at the county shop so he will be on call for them during snowstorms. The Committee agreed to give him a try. We aren’t bound by a contract to go to any certain business for repairs. Schultz stated that WRWA came and gave her an education on fire hydrants. Bud, and Anne went with then to the fire hydrants on Moundview Dr. and showed them what was wrong with it. Bud told us if we ever have any problems with fire hydrants to get in contact with him and he would help. She always picks their brains when they’re here because she learns more from WRWA in 3 hours then she has the whole time that she’s been here. They learned all about their valves, so if you see one of the valves that have been painted blue that means th at that’s been exercised. Anne gave her some good paperwork to keep records on the ones that they do. It is very important to her to keep good maintenance records on the stuff that they do. They took their water test, Friday will be 2 weeks. She doesn’t know how they did. She’s skeptical. There were some questions on there that she was not prepared for. The LRIP is due on October 31 st, she has started the application, and she is going to meet with Pat the Highway Commissioner on Monday to finalize the application, but she needs a road. Berry stated that the next one on our list other than Park Street is Hillwood Lane . We can ear mark it for Hillwood and then two years from now do the same thing. Schultz stated that that’s what she did. She started the application and put Hillwood on there. She has to have certain measurements on there for the road, and Pat said he would help her with that. She has also gotten an estimate from Gassers for the road, so that should help Pat with any other questions. She put down on the application that we would pulverize the road and then put a 2-inch asphalt pad on top. She would start at Dakoda Ave. and go all the way to the end. We received a complaint for about the former resident of 207 East Lake Street showing up in the middle of the night and driving onto the back of the property and in the process, he is shining his headlights in all the neighbors’ windows. The complaint states that he was there from 2:30-2:45, 3:25-3:35, 3:40-3:55, then parked his car and stood in the rain f rom 4:30-6:15. He just keeps coming and going at all hours of the day and night. And not only are his headlights flashing in everyone’s windows, but his muffler needs to be replaced so he is also loud. Berry stated that Sonnenberg and he were talking about this briefly before the meeting and we’re going to do some research on it to see what we can do. If they aren’t going to move the shed like they said they would then maybe we will need to do that. Reuter stated that a letter was sent out to the property owner today about the shed. Adjournment Motion by Waller, second Pierce to adjourn the meeting, motion carried. Meeting ended at 6:01 ___________________________________ Rebecca Reuter Village Clerk