board_meeting_minutes_march_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 – VILLAGE BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY MARCH 25, 2026 MINUTES The Regular Village Board meeting held on March 25, 2026, was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Village President Steve Young. Members Present: Dave Doty Sr., Kelly Gunderson, Nick Haessly, Sara Reimann, John Tinman, Steve Young Members Absent: Ed Johnson Others Present: Ann Peterson, Clerk/Treasurer; Trevor Thiex, Police Chief; Teresa Anderson, MSA; Becky Strabel, Burnett County Sentinel; Sarah Radomsky, Inter County Leader; Chuck O’Fallon; Nicky Weiss, REM Inspecting; Kevin Shetler, Lisa Seaman, and Laura Lessard, Siren School District; Jed Butt; Aaron Bentley President Young called for Public Comments. Representatives of the Siren School District gave an overview of the operating referendum that is part of the April 7th Election. There were no other public comments. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. to approve the agenda as presented with the change of having the Code 4 Discussion sent back to Committee prior to the Board discussion. The Board discussed the agenda as it was posted and that items that should be tabled should be done at that point of the meeting. Motion failed. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. to approve the agenda as presented and seconded by John Tinman. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by John Tinman and seconded by Dave Doty Sr. to approve the Regular Village Board of February 25, 2026. All in favor, motion carried. A motion was made by John Tinman and seconded by Dave Doty Sr. to approve the Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting of March 24, 2026. All in favor, motion carried. A motion was made by Kelly Gunderson and seconded by Dave Doty Sr. to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $225,991.70 general vouchers and checks cut since the last regularly scheduled board meeting in the amount of $96,160.18 for a grand total of $322,151.88. Motion carried without negative vote. Nicky Weiss from REM Inspecting gave an overview of the 2025 permits pulled in the Village of Siren for UDC inspections. There was one new home built on Fourth Avenue in 2025. President Young gave the President’s Report. He thanked the Public Works Department for their work on removing the snow from these past snowfalls, especially with one member of the crew on vacation. He attended a Webster Chamber of Commerce meeting and learned some information on how other communities are doing their ordinance and enforcements as well as housing initiatives. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson reminded Board members of the March 31st Preconstruction Conference for the Water Tower and Third Avenue Water Loop projects. Public Works Director Jaskolka and Clerk/Treasurer Peterson will attend. Board members can attend if they wish. Chief Thiex gave the Police Report for February. The weekends are the busiest days of the week plus Tuesdays during the month. Most active time of the day is 3 – 6 p.m. 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 Board member John Tinman gave the Siren Fire Association Report. One of the townships has not voted on the proposed by-law changes so that item is still pending. The Department is doing well and there are 24 firefighters. Board member Sara Reimann had nothing to report on the Burnett County Towns Association. Board member Kelly Gunderson gave the Burnett County Housing Committee Report. The Committee sent out over 240 requests to businesses throughout the County for a housing study and how it impacts their business. 27 businesses responded so the Housing Committee is now going to do phone interviews with 15 of those businesses. The Village of Webster is working on a housing project on the old Fairgrounds. One of the businesses being interviewed is the Siren School District. Board member Sara Reimann gave an update on the Siren Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is working on getting signage for the upcoming State Road 35/70 construction project. There will be some signage and advertising being developed by Sarah from Crosshatch Coffee as a business kit that will be available to businesses to use during the road construction. The business kit will be physical and digital. OLD BUSINESS The Board discussed the letter from Sheriff Tracy Finch that was sent to Board members on March 6th. Board members discussed any interactions that they have had with Dispatch. Members were reminded to not contact Burnett County Dispatch for information on Siren Officers but to contact Chief Thiex directly. Teresa Anderson from MSA gave an update on several projects that MSA is working on with the Village: • Water System Improvements Project – The Safe Drinking Water Loan is scheduled to close on May 13th so there will be several items for action/approval at the April Board meeting. B&B Electric continue to work on Well #1, exterior improvements are complete and they are working on interior mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. The anticipated start-date for Well #1 is mid-April and once Well #1 is operating to the Village’s satisfaction work will begin on Well #2. There is a preconstruction conference for the Water Tower project on March 31st and MSA is working with Starwire to relocate their antenna prior to the start of the work. The preconstruction conference for the Water Looping project is also scheduled for March 31st and on-site work may begin as early as then, depending on weather. • Tewalt Plat – MSA has provided drainage and stormwater concept planning to the State; DOT requested some minor modifications which will be completed shortly and submitted back to the State to keep the approval process moving forward. • Molly Engstrom Drive – MSA anticipates closing the project this Spring once there is verifiable turf restoration • Landquist – continues to be worked on. There has not been a new date scheduled for the next meeting but when a date is scheduled it will be forwarded to the Board members. NEW BUSINESS Chuck O’Fallon and the Board discussed the O’Fallon’s request to reside in an RV on their neighbor Tom Anderson’s property while their new home is being built this summer. Their existing home will be demolished to make room for the new home. There is water 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 and sewer hook-ups on the Anderson property that could be used and the Village can supply a temporary meter for the water. The O’Fallon’s are applying for a variance that will be discussed at the April 21st Board of Appeals meeting and if the variance is approved, they will begin construction immediately and the entire building project is expected to last approximately three months. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve the request by Chuck & Joan O’Fallon allowing them to live in an RV on Tom Anderson’s property until November 30, 2026. All in favor, motion carried. The Board discussed the meeting dates for the April Reorganization and Regular Board meetings. With the Third Tuesday of the month and the Fourth Wednesday of the month being back-to-back days it did not make sense to have two meetings. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by John Tinman to hold the Reorganizational and April Board meeting on the Fourth Wednesday of the month. All in favor, motion carried. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve Change Order #2 for Wellhouse & SCADA Improvements. The change order covers additive costs for materials and labor for changing the exterior door hardware at Well #1 and replacement of the existing hardware at Well #2 to electronic entry with keyed back- up. The cost of the change order is $6,591. This is a change requested by Public Works Director Jim Jaskolka. The Board discussed the timing needed for the decision by B&B Electric. Dave Doty Sr. amended his motion to allow President Young to discuss this change order with Public Works Director Jaskolka and make the decision after that discussion. The amendment failed due to a lack of a second. Trustee Doty called for a roll call vote on the original motion. Doty Sr. nay Reimann nay Gunderson nay Tinman nay Haessly nay Young nay Motion failed. A motion was made by Dave Doty Sr. and seconded by John Tinman to approve Pay Request #8 for B&B Electric in the amount of $267,379.40 MSA is recommending approval of this pay request. Motion carried without negative vote. Chief Thiex reported on the Code 4 – AI Report Writing software. The software works with video uploads from the body cams to write a report based on the video uploads. The officers need to review the report, and they must find “code” words that are installed in the report to ensure review of the report. Burnett County Sheriff’s Office is in a demo period with the software. The cost is $50/officer/per month for a total of $1800 per year for all three employees. The company would like to lock in a two-year contract. It is an online platform so there is no software needed to purchase for the software. Board members discussed whether this purchase needs board approval since there is money in his budget or whether board members should take time to review the software prior to deciding. Chief Thiex reported that there is a free four-month trial period that the Village can have on the software. A motion was made by Sara Reimann and seconded by Nick Haessly that Chief Thiex do the four-month free trial and that Chief Thiex bring a report to the April Board meeting on how much time the software has saved the Department. Trustee Doty asked for a roll call vote: Doty Sr. nay Reimann aye Gunderson aye Tinman aye Haessly aye Young aye Motion carried 5-1. The meeting schedule was set as follows: 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. Buildings, Grounds & Parks Committee: April 13th following Streets & Utility b. Personnel & Finance Committee: April 15th following Public Safety c. Public Safety Committee: April 15th at 3:30 p.m. d. Streets & Utilities Committee: April 13th at 3:00 p.m. e. Planning Commission: April 21st following Board of Appeals f. Board of Appeals: April 21st at 9:00 a.m. g. Tourism Commission: April 15th at 9:00 a.m. h. Ball Park Committee: May 6th at 6:00 p.m. i. Board of Review: May 5th from 10:00 - noon A motion was made by Sara Reimann and seconded by Steve Young to adjourn the Village Board Meeting at 6:28 p.m. Motion carried without negative vote. Submitted by Ann L Peterson, WCMC/CMTW Village Clerk/Treasurer