board_meeting_minutes_december_2025.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 – VILLAGE BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2025 MINUTES The Regular Village Board meeting held on December 17, 2025, was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Village President Steve Young. Members Present: Dave Doty Sr., Kelly Gunderson, Ed Johnson (via Zoom), Sara Reimann, John Tinman, Steve Young Members Absent: Nick Haessly Others Present: Ann Peterson, Clerk/Treasurer; Jim Jaskolka; Public Works Director; Teresa Anderson, MSA; Becky Strabel, Burnett County Sentinel; Zach Zelinksi, Inter County Leader; Eric Larson, Nor-Son Construction (via Zoom); Dawn Kegley, REM Inspecting LLC; Jon Doric, Siren Fire Association; Jan Young; Shawn Tolene, A&W Restaurant Manager President Young called for Public Comments. None were offered. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by Sara Reimann to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried without negative vote. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson swore in John Doric, the new Fire Chief for the Siren Fire Association. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by Kelly Gunderson to approve the following minutes: • Regular Village Board meeting of November 19, 2025 including 2026 Proposed Budget Public Hearing • Streets & Utilities Committee meeting of December 9, 2025 • Public Safety Committee meeting of December 11, 2025 Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Ed Johnson and seconded by Sara Reimann to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $36,203.73 general vouchers and checks cut since the last regularly scheduled board meeting in the amount of $95,290.29 for a grand total of $131,494.02. Motion carried without negative vote. President Young gave the President’s Report. The year has been interesting, and he thanks all the board members for their help this past year. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson gave the Clerk’s Report. Tax bills have all been sent out, most properties in the Village saw a decrease in net taxes. This is mainly due to the Department of Revenue’s Equalized Value error from 2024 that is being corrected as part of the 2025 and 2026 tax rolls. There will be a public hearing prior to the January Board meeting for our second Citizen Participation Meeting for our CDBG grant. Chief Thiex was not at the meeting as he had knee surgery earlier in the day. Board member John Tinman gave the Siren Fire Association Report. The Association is meeting tonight and will be looking at the by-laws for updates that need to be brought current. STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS 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 Planning Commission A motion was made by John Tinman and seconded by Sara Reimann to approve the Short-Term Rental Application for Kris Peterson at 7701 Burnett Lane. The State of Wisconsin has told Mr. Peterson that if he wants to use the basement as a bedroom, he must put in an egress window. Before the space can be used even for a living room space a handrail must be put in. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the Conditional Use Permit Application for 24003 State Road 35/70 to be used as a Drive-In Establishment serving food and drink. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the proposed site plan for 24003 State Road 35/70. The original site plan was amended to change the fence height to 8’ rather than 6’. Eric Larson, from Nor-Son Construction informed the Board that the Department of Transportation has approved the access permit, but they are trying to determine how to approve the stormwater permit. The building plans are in queue to be approved. The State has a 30-day window to review the plans. The Village will not issue a building permit for the project until notification that the state has completed their plan review. Motion carried without negative vote. Public Safety Committee A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by Kelly Gunderson to waive the fees for sign permits and the requirement that signage be located on business premises during the State Road 35/70 Road Project. The Chamber of Commerce will work on size uniformity for the signs as well as placement of the signs. This information will be shared with the Board when it is finalized. All in favor, motion carried. OLD BUSINESS The Board and Dawn Kegley with REM Inspecting LLC discussed the current contract the Village has with REM for permits and inspections. Currently REM does all new one and two-family dwelling permits and inspections for the Village of Siren. When new homes are built in the Village the landowner pulls a Land Use Permit from the Village for $125 and then all other fees/inspections are handled by REM. There are no costs to the Village. All other permits for residential dwellings – alterations, additions, decks, etc. including attached and detached garages are permitted through the Village with no inspections. Costs for these permits are $75. What was discussed was to have any additions/alterations/new detached garages and larger sheds also be permitted through REM. Currently Village ordinance does exclude re-roofing and re-shingling from needing a permit. The Board discussed the need to lay out exactly where a permit is needed and what permits should be inspected and to also make sure that fees are not cost- prohibitive for development. The Board discussed having Clerk/Treasurer Peterson put together a couple of common building permit issues that arise in the Village that can be used as a basis for a future Committee of the Whole meeting. NEW BUSINESS A motion was made by and seconded by to set the 2026 Caucus Date as January 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the Class C Wine License for Midwest Mercantile & Confectionary LLC d/b/a Acorn Pantry for the period of December 17, 2025 – June 30, 2026. Chad Thomas has taken over ownership of the business. Motion carried without negative vote. 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 A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by Kelly Gunderson to update the Employee Handbook as presented. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the Election Inspectors for 2026/2027: Joni Anderson, Doug Beedle, Terry Beyer, Ann Johnson, Gloria Johnson, Avis Morrison, Janis Wegner, Fern Woods, Cheryl Zeman and Rich Zeman. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by John Tinman and seconded by Sara Reimann to approve Pay Request #3 for Stout Construction for Molly Engstrom Drive Project in the amount of $44,896.76. This leaves a retainage of $3,238.56 on the project. Motion carried without negative vote. The Board discussed joining the Housing Needs Analysis spearheaded by the Village of Webster. The Village of Webster is hiring a firm to do a study on housing needs for the area. They are asking area municipalities if they would like to join the study at a cost of $1000 each. Kelly Gunderson reported that the Burnett County Housing Committee has also done a needs survey. The Board discussed the need for housing of all sorts in the area for the aging population as well as for new families. A motion was made by Kelly Gunderson and seconded by Sara Reimann to join the Housing Needs Analysis with the Village of Webster for a cost of $1000 if the entire Village of Siren is included in the study area. Motion carried 5-0 (John Tinman abstained). A motion was made by John Tinman and seconded by Dave Doty Sr. to approve Pay Request #5 for B&B Electric in the amount of $137,570.45. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Kelly Gunderson and seconded by Dave Doty Sr. to approve the plans and specs for the Water Tower and Water Looping Projects. The interior dry on the water towel has been put in the base bid to remove and replace; to spot clean will be put in as a bid alternate. MSA has not been able to connect with Northwestern Wisconsin Electric on moving the electrical service, so MSA is going to increase the amount in the bid to work with NWECO on this. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to solicit bids for the Water Tower and Water Looping Projects. The bidding schedule will be to advertise December 31st and January 7th with bids due on January 20th and bids awarded at the January 29th Village Board meeting. Motion carried without negative vote. The meeting schedule was set as follows: a. Special Village Board Meeting: December 22, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. b. Committee of the Whole: January 20, 2026 following Caucus 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 Sara Reimann to adjourn the Village Board Meeting at 5:56 p.m. Motion carried without negative vote. Submitted by Ann L Peterson, WCMC/CMTW Village Clerk/Treasurer