Village Board — Minutes

VILLAGE PUBLIC HEARING & BOARD MEETING July 7th, 2025 The Public Hearing was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. President Jerry Sonnenberg called the meeting to order. President Sonnenberg turned the Public Hearing over to Attorney Hasler to run. Hasler stated that the Public Hearing is to consider and decide on a request for conditional use permit to allow parking in the street (Front) yard at 208 North Main Street, Friendship Parcel # 126 -00020-0000. Attorney Hasler asked for any questions or comments, hearing none, he closed the Public Hearing at 6:04 VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – July 7th, 2025, PAGE 1 The Friendship Village Board meeting was called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by all present. President Jerry Sonnenberg called the meeting to order and roll call was taken. Present were Trustees Brad Oberbeck, Ernie Klicko, Nadine Ashworth , Melvin Waller, Bob Berry, Jason Pierce and President S onnenberg. Also present were Attorney Joseph Hasler , Public Works Director Beth Shultz , Treasurer Sandy Shawback, and Clerk Rebecca Reuter. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION by Berry, second by Oberbeck to approve June 2nd, 2025, Village Board minutes, motion carried. TREASURER REPORT General Water Sewer May 1, 2025, Balance 256,198.78 275,463.14 12,864.58 May Receipts 30,849.05 21,974.30 8,820.88 May Disbursements 54,683.55 30,744.90 11,047.17 May 31, 2025, Balance 232,364.28 266,692.54 10,638.29 LGIP #1 TIF $1,062,332.94 – LGIP #9 ARPA $ 0.45 – Capital Project Checking $3 4,041.48 - Building Fund $ 70,000.00 – Money Market $1,64 6.91 – CDBG Working Fund $13,857.48 - LGIP #6 Park/Beach $ 44,879.39 – Tax Checking $1 1,940.03 – TIF Checking $ 95.00 -Street Equipment Fund $ 87,725.00 – Court Order Proceeds $3,808.03 – Water LGIP #3 Special Redemption Fund $259,793.68 - LGIP #4 Water Replacement Fund $3 87,445.49 – LGIP #8 Water Debt Reserve Fund $ 78,552.15 – Sewer LGIP#2 Special Redemption Fund $114,832.93 - LGIP#5 Sewer Replacement Fund $ 55,322.59 – LGIP#7 Sewer Debt Reserve Fund $63,866.46 MOTION by Klicko, second by Ashworth to approve treasurer report, motion carried. PAYING OF BILLS MOTION by Klicko, second by Oberbeck to approve July vouchers 27708 - 27750 in the amount of $120,741.55, motion carried. CITIZEN INPUT Joe Vassau – Representing the Friendship Lake Advisory Group stated that the Lake District is requesting to have “No Fishing” signs to be posted on either side of the beach. A boat wash down area by the boat launch as recommended by the DNR. A raft at the beach. They understand this has not been approved in the past due to insurance issues. But they ask that the board review Wisconsin State Statute 895.52, which provides immunity to the municipality which owns the beach. Josh Chernoff – Owner of Last Call Pub & Grub stated that they came to the meeting to request the Village makes an Ordinance or complete banning of the food trucks. He stated that he represents some of the other businesses. They asked the Village Board to look at all the way the food trucks are affecting the local businesses. He shared his concerns with the food trucks such as financial strain on traditional businesses, impact on employment, local economy dynamics, regulatory and zoning challenges, and their call for regulation. Kerry Cokler – stated that she works at Last Call Pub & Grub. She lives and works in Adams County. She stated that she can’t afford to have food trucks that don’t have to follow the same rules as a restaurant. This impacts her life. She needs her job to support her kids and family. John Amell – owns J & B New and Used Resale. He is having a lot of issues with parking. It’s all public parking out in front of his building, next to the courthouse. He would like to see if something could be figured out. He would like the Board to consider if he could have parking spots that are available just for his business during store hours. Nadine Ashworth – wanted to thank the Village of Friendship for their donation to the fireworks. Jerry Sonnenberg – stated that he would like to thank the Ashworth family for all that they have done for the community over the last 25 years, it’s outstanding. Every year the fireworks just keep getting better. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – July 7th, 2025, PAGE 2 Gail Hentges – stated that she is the manager of Last Call Pub & Grub. It took a lot of work to remodel the building and revamp it. They’ve been open for about 3 months. They brought a lot of opportunities into this community. They have had at any one given time on a Friday night 2 bartenders, 1 cook and 1 waitress. With the food trucks they aren’t getting the foot traffic anymore. When the food trucks come in, they don’t get any business. They are now down to 1 bartender on a Friday night, 1 cook and 1 waitress. That is the impact on the small business downtown. Becky Xheka – stated that she would like to see some improved parking downtown . She also stated that small businesses are the backbone to a community. The food trucks don’t add anything to the community. They come at the busiest times, and park everywhere. They come in at lunch and then they’re gone. On the 4th of July they used their bathrooms and filled their dumpsters up with trash. ROPORT FROM COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE RICK PEASE The County Representative was not in attendance. DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON A REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW PARKING IN THE STREET (FRONT) YARD AT 208 NORTH MAIN STREET PARCEL # 126-00020-0000 Oberbeck asked if by doing so would the Village be violating any DOT regulations or the flow of traffic? Klicko stated that this would just allow them to have the same parking they had before. MOTION By Berry, second by Klicko to approve the Conditional Use Permit, motion carried. Roll Call Vote 7 – Yes / 0 - No DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION CONCERNING THE FENCE THAT ENCROACHES ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AT THE CORNER OF RAYMOND STREET AND WEST SECOND STREET Hasler stated that the map prepared by Badgerland Survey establishes that the fence at 205 Raymond Street extends into the Raymond Street and West Second Street right of way. The Raymond Street encroachment appears to be 24 feet. The West Second Street appears to be 16 to 17 feet. Our ordinance permits the removal of encroachments like this. It provides that the owner has 15 days’ notice, and after the expiration of 15 day the Village will remove and special charge the property owner the cost of the removal. The Public Works Director Beth Schultz sent out a letter indicating that this matter was going to be on tonight’s agenda and letting the property owner be aware of both the map and the new ordinance. This has been an issue since 2023 and into 2024. What’s new is we have a definitive map, and we have an ordinance. MOTION by Pierce, second by Klicko directing written notice to the property owner to remove the encroachment in the 15-day requirement and the notice that if it isn’t done the Village will do it and special charge the property owner, motion carried. Roll Call Vote 7- Yes / 0 - No DISCUSSION & ACTION ON EMPLOYEE WAGES Sonnenberg stated that he is looking for a motion to recommend that the Clerks salary be moved to $27.48 to be making the same as the Treasurer. Also, the Finance/Personnel Committee would like to give a $2.00 an hour raise to the Public Works Director because of all the work she’s doing. He would like to make those increases effective as of June 1st, 2025. MOTION by Berry, second by Klicko to approve the wage increases effective as of June 1st, 2025, motion carried. UPDATE ON EAST LAKE STREET PROPERTY Hasler stated that there isn’t anything to update on. The board acted on a raze and remove order at the last meeting. That was served on the property owner on June 9th, 2025. To the best of his knowledge the order has not been observed. His advice is that we will let the raze and remove order speak for itself. Bret Schneider – stated that the property is his stepmoms. He has a contractor that is willing to come in and clean up the property and get it back into habitable condition if there would be a way to make it work out. Berry asked how come it’s taken it to get to this point to get anything done? We’ve been dealing with this property for 7 or 8 years now. Why wasn’t anything done? The Village has tried to work with you time after time and nothing has gotten done. And so now it has come to this. Now your stepping forward to try and do something, he doesn’t understand why he (Bret) never tried to help VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – July 7th, 2025, PAGE 3 before. They have been given ample time to get the property cleaned up and nothing ever gets done. Schneider stated that he was just informed at this time that this was happening. That’s why he is working with them to transfer it into his name to take it over so that it will be done right and he will have all say over the property. And it will stay clean and livable. Oberbeck stated that in this raze order they were given 30 days to petition the court, that was stated clearly. That was something separate from the Village Board, that was sent through the courts to the property owner. Which done in compliance this conversation might be different. His question is why was that not done? Schneider stated that he got a lot of the information right at the end of the period and with the holiday no one was accepting stuff to be able to do it. He has plans to walk in and do it tomorrow. He is going to pay for a lawyer and start doing that. Oberbeck aske if he’s read the General Engineering’s report? That it will be $75,000.00 in repairs. Schneider stated that he is aware that it will be $75,000.00 in repairs. He understands that the entire yard needs to be cleared. The interior and exterior need to be fixed. The animals need to leave….all kinds of stuff. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT Berry stated that all the meters have been done except for 1 that will now be a manual read. There is a fire hydrant on Moundview Drive that needs to be repaired. Schultz is working with Annie from Wisconsin Rural Water Association to get that done. There is a sinkhole over by ACEC. Fenner is supposed to come in and do some work on it, but that hasn’t been done yet. The new truck has a few issues. Schultz has an appointment to get it in to get it looked at. The Committee would like to get some of the other vehicles and some other stuff on the state auction site or put it out front and see if we can get some bids on it. They discussed crack-filling estimates, and the Committee would like to make the recommendation to go with one of the bids. MOTION by Berry, second by Pierce to hire Fahrner to do the crack filling on Raymond Street from West Lake Street to North Street, and Grand Street from West Lake Street to North Street in the amount of $6,307.00, motion carried. The Committee talked about the tree removal on Park Street. There are a lot of trees that need to be removed. Right now, they decided to just wait because the days going to come when Park Street is going to have to be replaced between the Village and the City and that would be the time to think about taking some of the trees down. Tall grass letters were sent out. The ones who got them mowed right away so that was taken care of. They briefly discussed stormwater infiltration into the lake and the creek. There going to get some more information. Look at the maps and try to figure out what can we do, what can’t we do , what our best options are and talk with some more people and do some research. FRIENDSHIP LAKE DISTRICT REPORT Ashworth stated that the harvesters have been working. Over 35 surface stumps have been recorded by the GPS. After a lengthy discussion about getting a used harvester from Gosse Lake there was a vote taken to get the used machine. The duck derby was not as successful as they hoped. After the brat fry and expenses that they had to split with the chamber it was only $94.00 in profit. Discussion was held on the fishing tournament for July 18, 2026. The Castle Rock Bassmaster’s will provide the adult fishing portion. John Trost is a fish guide, and he will help with the kid’s portion. Inspection of the powerhouse will be performed in the next few weeks. The Lake District by the dam property were being charged $85.00 to mow that small section, so a private party is mowing that for the rate of $12.00. The Lake District donated $1,000.00 to the fireworks. The next meeting is July 17th at the Town of Adams Hall. FIRE DISTRICT REPORT Klicko stated they sent out donation letters from the Fire District that made $12,000.00. The materials are at the burn center. They will be starting to work on that. They are still working on a couple of grants. All the trucks are back in service from being out of service. They put a new dampener on the engine. The new door key system has some problems with it so they are working on that. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – July 7th, 2025, PAGE 4 AMBULANCE COMMITTEE REPORT Sonnenberg stated that they haven’t had a meeting. The next meeting will be held on July 23rd. DISCUSSION & ACTION ON OPERATOR’S LICENSE MOTION by Berry, second by Pierce to approve Operator’s License’s for Barbara Giessel, Scarrlet Hams, Athena Oberbeck, Cynthia Katthoefer, Brittany Jepson and Bruce Nachreiner, motion carried. Oberbeck abstained. DISCUSSION & ACTION ON PROVISIONAL OPERATOR’S LICENSE MOTION by Berry, second by Pierce to approve Operator’s License’s for Shauna Lauritzen and Barbara Weade, motion carried. DISCUSSION & ACTION ON SODA/WATER LICENSE MOTION by Berry, second by Pierce to approve Soda Water License for Rustic Road Coffee, LLC, Knights of Columbus, The Friendly Brew, Adams County Snowmo bile Association, Inc , motion carried. DISCUSSION & ACTION ON TEMPORARY ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE MOTION by Berry, second by Pierce to approve Temporary Alcohol Beverage License’s for Adams County Snowmobile Association, Inc., Castle Rock Lions Club, and Knights of Columbus, motion carried. CORRESPONDENCE The Village received a letter from GFL stating: Good morning! I wanted to reach out to you and let you know a change that we have made to your trash and recycle pickup. We recently acquired a new GFL truck that is a split body truck. Meaning, half of the truck holds trash and the other half holds recycle. This is still an automated truck and as the arm tips each tote into the body of the truck, the driver has a switch in the cab that directs which side of the body it goes into, ensuring the trash and recycle remains separated. I wanted to bring this to your attention in the event that the village receives any complaints that we are mixing the trash and recycle. I received a call about this yesterday and I didn't want to raise any alarms on your end. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. Thank you! SET AGENDA ITEMS FOR AUGUST 4th MEETING Discussion on food trucks , the no fishing signs, the boat wash , the raft, and handicap and public parking to go on the Public Works agenda. Update on 207 East Lake Street Personnel committee to give update on new employee Being no further business to come before the board, MOTION by Berry, second by Pierce to adjourn, motion carried. Meeting ended at 6:53 __________________________________________ Rebecca Reuter Village Clerk