04-07-25_board_minutes

1 THE VILLAGE OF GAYS MILLS Minutes of the regular meeting of the Village Board of Gays Mills held Monday, April 7, 2025, 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: Ethan Eitsert, Harry Heisz, Emily Kinserdahl, Larry McCarn, Kevin Murray, Kim Pettit, and Art Winsor. The board received verification that the agenda was posted in accordance with the open meeting law. Under citizens and delegations Kevin Murray announced that St. Mary’s Catholic Church would like to have their Corpus Christi procession again on June 22nd. The board had no issues with this request. Under the Wastewater Treatment Project update Evan Chambers of Town & Country Engineering provided a written report with a request that the company is waiting for direction from the village regarding potential areas to sample and model for water quality trading projects. An Intent to Apply has been submitted to the DNR for a program that would help fund water trade projects. Also Town & Country Engineering has submitted a Congressionally Directed Spending Request for the village’s proposed wastewater treatment project. Kinserdahl reported for the swimming pool committee with the recommendations of updating the prices of pool parties and swimming lessons, and changing swimming lessons to one hour. Currently nine applications have been received for lifeguards. Committee also listed repairs that are needed and announced the opening day will be June 7th. After discussion Murray made a motion to update the swimming pool party fee to $150 for two hours, hold lessons for one hour, and increase the lesson fees by $5.00 each (Individual $35.00, Individual with a Pass $20.00, Family (3+ children) $70.00, and Family (3+ children) with a Pass $55.00). Seconded by Winsor. Motion carried. The board learned that the Fire Department will be building benches to donate to the swimming pool. The board reviewed the list of repairs needed for the pavilion, baby pool, bathhouse, bathrooms, exterior, and big pool. Basic maintenance items have been ordered and the swimming pool committee has volunteered to help with some of these items on the repair list. Major repairs were discussed regarding the concrete pool deck and pool pump. After discussion the board agreed to wait until fall to find out how to repair the concrete pool deck. Kinserdahl made a motion to purchase a backup pool pump to have on hand. Seconded by Pettit. Motion carried. The committee is planning to hold another swimming pool meeting to finalize more details. 2 For the Public Works report Bob Robinson updated the board that the hot water heater for the CCC kitchen has been repaired; a bird nest had plugged up the vent. Two fire hydrants have been delivered and will be repaired. The plow and sander have been removed from the baby dump truck. The office will be working with public works on disconnection notices. Town & Country Engineering provided a Scope of Service for assisting the village with the wastewater treatment facility’s permit to the DNR for renewal. The current facility permit expires December 31, 2025 with the next renewal permit for an additional five years. McCarn made a motion to approve Town & Country Engineering to assist the village with the WWTF renewal permit on an hourly basis and not to exceed $1,250. Seconded by Murray. Motion carried. Kinserdahl made a motion to approve the board meeting minutes of March 3, 2025. Seconded by Pettit. Motion carried. Murray made a motion to approve payments of the bills as listed in the monthly expense report. Seconded by Eitsert. Motion carried. Luke Adams of 601 Ten Hills was present and addressed the board regarding the sidewalk that was damaged before needing to be removed in order to install his driveway. He also requested that a streetlight be relocated closer to 603 Ten Hills Street. Luke Adams did discuss with the neighbor at 603 Ten Hills who has no issues with this request. After discussion McCarn made a motion to approve the village to pay the expense of the sidewalk replacement and for Luke Adams to pay for the expense of moving the streetlight in order to install his driveway. Seconded by Murray. Motion carried. The board received an update on the nuisance properties at 200 Main Street and 208 Main Street that no response has been received from the letter sent out on January 8th. Kinserdahl made a motion to approve the building inspector to be contacted and start the process of obtaining exterior photos showing the structural issues. Seconded by Murray. Motion carried. The board also discussed other buildings that may need to be added to this list. No action was taken on the agenda item Alley Installation – North Mills. Two estimates have been received, suggested a special meeting with landowners, and more details need to be figured out. Murray made a motion to approve two Certified Survey Maps for the Johnson Properties: West Point Road Property (Being part of Government Lot 4 of Section 21, Township 10 North, Range 4 West, Village of Gays Mills) and Old Gays Road Property (Being Part of Lot 1, Section 29 of the Assessor’s Plat of Gays Mills located in Part of the Southeast Quarter of the Northeast 3 Quarter and Part of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter, All in Section 29, Township 10 North, Range 4 West, Village of Gays Mills). Seconded by McCarn. Motion carried. The board was notified that the sewer hookup waiver extension will be expiring this August. After discussion Murray made a motion to approve the extension for another five years (August 1, 2025 to August 1, 2030). Seconded by Pettit. Motion carried. Charley Preusser of 212 Park Street submitted a written request to purchase a village lot which was a CDBG funded buyout with no restrictions – 210 Park Street. Charley Preusser was present and offered $2,000 for the lot, which is comparable to the recent county lot sales. Kinserdahl made a motion to authorize and ratify the conveyance of real estate of 210 Park Street to Charles Preusser for $2,000 and to have all closing costs be paid by purchaser and to allow use of lot until all documents can be finalized for closing (R2025-03). Seconded by Pettit. Motion carried. Charley Preusser also submitted a land lease request for a HMGP purchased village lot at 204 Park Street. Preusser acknowledged receiving and understanding the guidelines and use agreement. Kinserdahl made a motion to approve the 204 Park Street land lease request to Charley Preusser. Seconded by Pettit. Motion carried. The board reviewed the village committee assignments and has asked the village office to contact members to see if they are still interested in participating in committees before final review in May. The board discussed cemetery items and requested a quote for full burial grave openings by a contractor. Discussed adding roadways to the cemeteries new addition and allowing cemetery lots to be sold in the first two rows of the new addition. Discussed green burials – more information to be gathered. Agreed to have the St. Mary’s cemetery sign removed. McCarn made a motion to approve the increase of cemetery lot fees from $450 to $600. Seconded by Eitsert. Motion carried. Village Ordinance Sec. 11-3-3 Cemetery Regulations will be submitted with the new updates at the May board meeting. Jill Riggs was present and agreed to allow the village to purchase kitchen items from her that she owns and no longer needs. She will put together a list of kitchen items for sale and will let the board review in May. If needed the board will meet before the May board meeting to view items. The board received correspondences: yard waste pickup began, Cemetery cleanup is this month, received a thank you from the Farmer’s Market, hydrant flushing will be April 16 & 4 17th, Spring Clean-up is April 26th, Open Book is scheduled for April 24th, and Board of Review is scheduled for May 5th. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025. At 7:15 p.m. Kinserdahl made a motion to convene into closed session pursuant to Wisc. State Stat. 19.85 (1)(c) for the purpose of reviewing employment applications and 19.85 (1) (e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public properties, the investment of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons required a closed session. Seconded by McCarn. A roll call vote was taken: Kinserdahl, Pettit, Winsor, Heisz, McCarn, Eitsert and Murray voted Yes. Motion carried. At 7:51 p.m. Murray made a motion to reconvene into open session. Seconded by Eitsert. Motion carried. Murray made a motion to hire nine lifeguards: Rileigh Bromeland, Agnes Carstens, Ingrid Carstens, Irene Gallagher, Addysyn McCann, Shalee Nelson, Lena Schmidt, Gina Yonker, and Charles Zelhofer. Seconded by Pettit. Motion carried. Winsor made a motion to change the lifeguard pay rate for first year lifeguards to $9.00, Second year and more lifeguards pay to $10.00, and head lifeguard to $10.50. Seconded by Kinserdahl. Motion carried. At 8:19 p.m. Pettit made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by McCarn. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted Dawn R. McCann, Clerk APPROVED 05-05-2025