09-13-21_board_minutes

1 THE VILLAGE OF GAYS MILLS Minutes of the regular meeting of the Village Board of Gays Mills held Monday, September 13, 2021, which began at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Commerce Board Room. Village President Harry Heisz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call was taken with the following present: Harry Heisz, Josh Kasinskas, Larry McCarn, Kevin Murray, and Seamus Murray. Aaron Fortney and Lee Ruegg were absent. The board received verification that the agenda was posted in accordance with the open meeting law. No citizens or delegations. Agenda item moved up: Farmers Market. Barb Ashe manager of the Gays Mills Farmers Market started by thanking the village for their support. The farmers market group would like to apply for a grant to help pay for a banner to be placed on the Lion’s Shelter but first is requesting the village’s approval before applying for the funds. S. Murray made a motion to approve the Farmer’s Market to place a banner on the Lion’s Shelter contingent upon the Lion’s Club approval. Seconded by McCarn. Motion carried. Heisz volunteered to talk to the Lion’s Club on behalf of the Farmer’s Markets request to place a banner on the shelter. Barb Ashe also would like to use the kiosk and will bring back ideas to the board. Heisz gave the Public Works report. A list of unlicensed vehicles was received today and a second set of letters will go out. Since the first letter that was sent out in March the number of ordinance violations has decreased. Public works is still having issues with the nuisance beavers next to the Community Commerce Center and will be continuing to try to resolve this issue. It was mentioned by tenant Charley Preusser that there are many lights out at the Mercantile that need to be replaced. Heisz reported that McCormick Electric has been contacted to replace the lights. Evan Chambers of Town & Country Engineering was present and reported that a response has been received from the DNR on the Village’s variance request. The DNR will allow the village to resubmit a revised request. A new Pollutant Minimization Plan will need to be submitted which will allow the village to submit a better customized plan for the village. Town & Country Engineering submitted a proposal to create the new Pollutant Minimization Plan (PMP) for $1,500 to be reviewed by the board in October and submitted to the DNR for review by October 15th. K. Murray made a motion to accept Town & Country Engineering fee of $1,500 for the PMP. Seconded by McCarn. Motion carried. Town & Country Engineering has also started collecting information to start working on the facility plan. 2 There was not a swimming pool report given. McCarn asked if the donations for the Swamp Fest dunk tank were received. Nothing has been received in the village office yet. The Development Committee requested funds for the village to market the village owned residential and commercial lots and to set prices for the commercial lots. In discussion there are three different commercial lots to consider: 1) Commercial Lots within the North Mills subdivision which funds will be returned to the state. 2) Commercial Lots within the amended 2010 TID #1 lots which funds will be returned to grant funding agencies. 3) Commercial Lot in the original 2000 TID which are village owned. The committee would like to purchase realtor signs and order signage to post around the village. After discussion K. Murray made a motion to approve $1,250 out of the tourism budget to have the committee order print or digital marketing tools for residential and commercial village owned lots. Seconded by Heisz. Motion carried. The goal of the committee is to have a handout or signage available during Apple Festival. A kitchen report was not given. McCarn made a motion to approve the board meeting minutes of August 2, 2021. Seconded by K. Murray. Motion carried. McCarn made a motion to approve payment of the bills as listed in the monthly expense report. Seconded by K. Murray. Motion carried. Heisz reported that Kickapoo Craftsman will be starting the 212 Main Street roof repair and hoping to have it completed by Apple Festival. The Friends of Gays Mills has donated $5,000 toward the project and the village will be responsible for the remaining balance. The Alliant Energy TID 3-phase electrical project has started. As previously mentioned at the last board meeting Heisz brought back the discussion of applying for a loan to cover the sewer administration of Town & Country Engineers fees and to consider a loan for road work. The street loan of $120,000 for six years with Royal Bank was paid off in June. Jim Chellevold is to get road paving, sealing, and patching work quotes. Currently Royal Bank estimated interest rates at 1.75%. K. Murray made a motion to start the loan - line of credit process with Royal Bank for sewer administration of $33,500. Seconded by Kasinskas. Motion carried. The board will discuss the street repairs and possible loan during the budget process. Heisz followed up with the Marketplace on needing to install a sidewalk for safety purposes and did not get a definite answer. In the original building plans a sidewalk was in the specifications and have verbally agreed to installing a sidewalk in the past. Heisz stated that now many different managers have changed through the history of the Marketplace and suggested sending a letter. Craig Anderson also stated that the Marketplace had received significant grant funds for the 3 relocation and building of the Marketplace. Board agreed to send a letter to New Horizons regarding the sidewalk request. Kevin Murray brought up the concern that the Mercantile roof has been leaking for a while. The village has not had any complaints recently on the roof leaking after caulking had been done. K. Murray expressed his concern for a municipality to be a landlord and questioned how long the village needs to own and maintain this building. The board discussed the need to have a better system in place in order to handle repair requests. Agreed that repair requests need to be in writing; repair form to be created by office. A TID trail project update was not given. K. Murray made a motion to approve operator’s licenses to James Plaugher and Joan Frances and to approve an Alcohol Beverage Retail License Class A Beer and Liquor at 106 N Royal Avenue for Dollar General Store (DOLGENCORP, LLC) September 14, 2021 to June 30, 2022, and to approve a Cigarette and Tobacco license to Dollar General Store (DOLGENCORP, LLC). Seconded by Kasinskas. Motion carried. The board received information to start the 2022 Budget process. Craig Anderson made a budget suggestion of placing electrical service at the Cross Road Park. No correspondences were received. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 4, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the board room. K. Murray made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:16 p.m. Seconded by McCarn. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted Dawn R. McCann, Village Clerk Approved 10-04-2021