public_hearing_and_board_meeting_minutes_january_2026.pdf

Village of Siren is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington DC 20250-9410 VILLAGE OF SIREN – PUBLIC HEARING – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 2026 The second required Public Hearing for the Village of Siren’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Village President Steve Young. Teresa Anderson of MSA provided an update on the status of the CDBG project, the status of displacement and relocation activities and provided time for public input and feedback on the CDBG project activities. This is a three-part project with $1,000,000 coming from CDBG. Remaining funds are coming from the Safe Drinking Water Program, which includes both a loan and principal forgiveness. The three parts of the projects include updates on both wells, water looping on Third Avenue, and water tower rehabilitation. The well projects are underway and the other two projects were bid earlier this month, and awards will be awarded at this meeting. There was no relocation needed for the projects. President Young provided commentary that there will be an as-built custom SCADA system installed as part of the well projects which should help with the water quality in the Village. Resident Aaron Bentley inquired about planning for the future of the SCADA system. Public Works Director Jaskolka reported that the crew will be getting trained on the system and the company that makes the system will also be able to provide training and support. There is a one-year warranty on the system. The Public Hearing was adjourned at 4:42 p.m. VILLAGE OF SIREN – VILLAGE BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 2026 MINUTES The Regular Village Board meeting held on January 28, 2026, was called to order at 4:42 p.m. by Village President Steve Young. Members Present: Dave Doty Sr., Kelly Gunderson, Nick Haessly, Ed Johnson (via Zoom), John Tinman, Steve Young Members Absent: Sara Reimann Others Present: Ann Peterson, Clerk/Treasurer; Jim Jaskolka; Public Works Director; Trevor Thiex, Police Chief; Teresa Anderson, MSA; Becky Strabel, Burnett County Sentinel (via Zoom); Sarah Radomsky, Inter County Leader; Andrew Dahlberg, Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Company; Aaron Bentley President Young called for Public Comments. None were offered. A motion was made by Dave Doty SR. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Kelly Gunderson and seconded by Ed Johnson to approve the following minutes: • Regular Village Board meeting of December 17, 2025 • Special Village Board meeting of December 22, 2025 • Committee of the Whole meeting of January 20, 2026 Village of Siren is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington DC 20250-9410 Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $91,537.78 general vouchers and checks cut since the last regularly scheduled board meeting in the amount of $418,091.03 for a grand total of $509,628.81. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson gave a brief synopsis of the payment to the Siren School District for taxes collected through the end of December 2025. Motion carried without negative vote. President Young gave the President’s Report. He thanked the Public Works Department for their work with snow removal so far this winter. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson had nothing for the Clerk’s Report. Chief Thiex gave the Police Report. He was released from light duty as of today from his knee surgery. He also gave a 2025 year-end report on the activities of the Police Department. Board member John Tinman gave the Siren Fire Association Report. The Association has met and an amended bylaws document will be brought to the Board for approval before it is adopted by the Fire Association Board. STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS Committee of the Whole A motion was made by John Tinman and seconded by Steve Young to return the Gandy Dancer donation check with a letter outlining the Village’s position on the suggested statue: The Village appreciates the generosity but there are no funds available for a project; similar to the proposed Homer Pearson Buck statue the Village is willing to work with a citizen group on securing a location for the statue once funds are raised. Motion carried without negative vote. Planning Commission A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Kelly Gunderson to approve the zoning change for 24024 First Avenue to C-1 General Commercial from R-2 Multiple Family Residential. The owner of the property, Zac Benson, will be using the former Methodist Church building as a family entertainment center for the public. Village Trustee Johnson reminded Board members that this is in the same location as the A&W Restaurant so any on-street parking will also impact that area. The owner does own the property to the west of the building if additional parking is needed. Trustee Doty pointed out that making spot zoning change can be an issue; not in this particular situation but something to keep in mind for the future. Motion carried without negative vote. OLD BUSINESS A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the updated Citizen Participation Plan for the Community Development Block Grant. The updated plan corrects a procedural error from 2025 by correctly listing our official newspaper as Burnett County Sentinel. Motion carried without negative vote. NEW BUSINESS Andrew Dahlberg of Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Company (NWEC) gave the Board an overview of some planned tree trimming in Village that will begin in February. This will be for trimming along the power lines. The project will take approximately six weeks. NWEC will send out a letter with a response form included for property owners to Village of Siren is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington DC 20250-9410 respond and ask questions. NWEC will take care of all clean-ups of the trees that are trimmed with input from the property owners. NWEC will look at secondary lines to see if they need to be serviced but otherwise, they will be left alone. NWEC will also work with the Public Works Department on any boulevard trees that need to be trimmed. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by Steve Young to approve closing Main Street and State Road 35/70 for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday March 7th from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by Steve Young to approve waiving Village of Siren Ordinance §330-22(E): Leaving Licensed Premises with Open Container for Saturday March 7 th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the bid for the Third Avenue Watermain Loop for DeSantis Excavating LLC in the amount of $278,185. There were ten bids received with DeSantis being the lowest bid. DeSantis has down work in the County but never for the Village. The project will be directionally bored with a flexible pipe. MSA is recommending approval of the bid. The Village has a contract with MSA to provide construction oversight of the project. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the bid for the Water Tower Rehabilitation for L & T Painting, Inc. in the amount of $519,650, which is for the base bids and all alternates. Some of the alternatives could lower the bid by decreasing the amount of work done on the interior painting. Badger State Inspection will be the inspector for this project. There is a $20,000 allowance in the bid for moving the power lines. MSA did reach out to NWEC but has not heard back from them. Public Works Director Jaskolka suggested inviting NWEC to a meeting to discuss moving the lines. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by John Tinman and seconded by Dave Doty Sr. to approve Pay Request #6 for B&B Electric in the amount of $92,663. Motion carried without negative vote. The meeting schedule was set as follows: a. Special Village Board Meeting: February 3, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. b. Committee of the Whole Meeting: February 18, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. c. Planning Commission & Board of Appeals: To be set if needed d. Tourism Commission: March 11th at 9:00 a.m. e. Ball Park Committee: February 9th at 6:00 p.m. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Kelly Gunderson to adjourn the Village Board Meeting at 5:53 p.m. Motion carried without negative vote. Submitted by Ann L Peterson, WCMC/CMTW Village Clerk/Treasurer