10-07-24_board_minutes

1 THE VILLAGE OF GAYS MILLS Minutes of the regular meeting of the Village Board of Gays Mills held Monday, October 7, 2024, which began at 5:45 p.m. in the Community Commerce Board Room. Village President Harry Heisz called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. Roll call was taken with the following present: Harry Heisz, Larry McCarn, Kim Pettit, and Art Winsor. Emily Kinserdahl, Ethan Eitsert, and Kevin Murray were absent. The board received verification that the agenda was posted in accordance with the open meeting law. Winsor made a motion to convene into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85 (1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchasing of public property, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive bargaining reasons require a closed session. Seconded by McCarn. A roll call vote was taken: Pettit, Winsor, Heisz, and McCarn voted Yes. Motion carried. Evan Chambers of Town and Country Engineering and Bob Robinson DPW were invited into closed session. Murray present at 5:57 p.m. At 6:00 p.m. McCarn made a motion to reconvene into open session. Seconded by Murray. Motion carried. No citizens or delegations took place. Crissie Reynolds the Crawford County Animal Control Officer reported to the board that she has been working with village residents on vaccinating and licensing their dogs. A list was provided of residents she is working with along with dog owners to be removed from the delinquent list. Reynolds also has removed some feral cats and asked about how many animals a resident can have. Bob Robinson was present for the public works report with updates that the large water meters have been tested as required, the new sewer motor and blower have been installed. The next project Robinson would like to see done is to have trees and brush removed from along the roads this fall. The well house equipment update quote is still be worked on. The sludge site needs to have soil samples completed as required by the DNR. 2 Evan Chambers of Town and Country Engineering updated the board that they are estimating between 300 to 700 phosphorus pounds for the village water trade. This would be two to three projects and they are currently looking at possible project sites in order to stay in compliance with the village Phosphorus Pollutant Minimization Plan. The Public Property Committee met on September 11th to discuss the Mercantile projects and bring back recommendations to the board. Martha Querin-Schultz told the board that the group would like to start with a few simple projects to beautify the Mercantile with no cost to the board for labor or materials. A list was prepared with pictures for the board to review: Replace worn and broken chairs in hallway with “newer” seating, add color to interior doorways and inside the halls to brighten the space, hang artwork in the hallways, add a community bulletin board on the south wall of the entrance, add to the north wall of the entrance interior historical signs and photos from Gays Mills, add directional signs to all the business names in the Mercantile on the interior annex “street pole”, hang slag signs in the hallways for businesses to make them more visible, add a picnic table outside, add benches to the main entrance, add planters to the entrance of the Mercantile, and create uniform suite numbers signs that can be placed on the outside of interior business door. Charley Preusser a tenant provided photos of furniture at North Crawford School and would like the furniture to be of a higher quality with the possible need to purchase instead of receiving donated furniture. A letter was also given to the board from Joshua Dudgeon a tenant with his input regarding the Mercantile. Winsor suggested providing a specific wish list so that groups or organizations could help with the expenses. After discussion McCarn made a motion to approve the mercantile projects and to have the group bring any new ideas back to the board for review along with any furniture wishing to be purchased. Seconded by Winsor. Motion carried. The Public Property committee also is recommending the approval of the North Mills extension agreement to read that all property shall be reverted back to the Village, and the village shall have the right to reclaim the property without any obligation of cost or compensation to the landowner who does not begin construction in one year from the date of lot sale. After discussion Murray made a motion to approve North Mills extension agreement as recommended. Seconded by McCarn. Motion carried. Murray made a motion to approve the regular board meeting minutes of September 9, 2024. Seconded by Winsor. Motion carried. McCarn made a motion to approve payments of the bills as listed in the monthly expense report. Seconded by Murray. Motion carried. 3 The beaver are building back the dam where previously a drainage tube was installed between the Community Commerce Center and the Babb’s property. Public works is continuing to work on the issue. Public works removed the obstructing vegetation along the sidewalks as discussed at last month’s board meeting. Sidewalk repair estimates will need to be gathered for the budget with intentions of the work to be done in 2025. The board received a letter from Town and Country Sanitation on garbage and recycling fee increases. The board would like to see what other companies would charge. Also Murray asked if it is required by the state to provide recycling services. A Budget meeting has been scheduled for Monday October 28th at 6:00 p.m. Under correspondences items received: Hydrant Flushing October 10th & October 11th; Trick or Treat on October 31st from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Crawford County Clean Sweep on October 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Child Care Conversation on October 14th at 5:00 p.m. in Prairie du Chien, Martha Querin-Schultz gave the board an update on the Community & Economic Development Award where they received a Community Input Finalist plaque in Eau Claire on September 26th; Martha also announced the final Second Sunday at the Mercantile will be on October 13th; and Heisz thanked the village employees for a successful Apple Festival. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the large community room. At 7:02 p.m. Murray made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Pettit. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted Dawn R. McCann, Clerk APPROVED 11-04-2024