board_meeting_minutes_december_14_2023.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 THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, 2023 MINUTES The Regular Village Board meeting held on December 14, 2023, was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Village President Dave Alden. Members Present: Dave Alden, Rick Engstrom, Janet Hunter, Jeff Johnson, Rudy Mothes, Jim Pearson, Steve Young Others Present: Ann Peterson, Clerk/Treasurer; Jim Jaskolka, Public Works Director; Trevor Thiex, Police Chief; Becky Strabel, Burnett County Sentinel; Teresa Anderson, MSA; Mark Krause, Wagner Surveying; Brian Bocan; Ed Johnson President Alden called for Public Comments. None were given. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Jeff Johnson to approve the agenda with the change of moving the discussion with Brian Bocan to immediately following the Police Report. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Rudy Mothes to approve the following meeting minutes: a. Budget Hearing of November 9, 2023 b. Regular Village Board meeting of November 9, 2023 c. Buildings, Grounds & Parks Committee meeting of November 28, 2023 d. Public Safety Committee meeting of November 28, 2023 e. Streets & Utilities Committee meeting of November 28, 2023 f. Personnel & Finance Committee meeting of December 5, 2023 Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Janet Hunter and seconded by Steve Young to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $87,348.20 general vouchers and checks cut since the last regularly scheduled board meeting in the amount of $45,563.70 for a grand total of $132,911.90. Motion carried without negative vote. President Alden had nothing for the President’s Report. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson had nothing for the Clerk’s Report. Chief Thiex gave the November Police Report. November DMV totals were $314.30. One of the laptops has broken so it will need to be replaced at a cost of $2600. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Jeff Johnson to purchase a new laptop. Motion carried without negative vote. Chief Thiex has to have another knee surgery on December 20th followed by a second surgery in 6-months. STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS Buildings, Grounds & Parks Committee A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Rudy Mothes to move forward with Pickleball Court Resurfacing Project by getting pricing and resurfacing the existing tennis courts. Motion carried without negative vote. Trustee Pearson indicated that he met with the Gandy Dancer Pickleball Association and facilitated them speaking with companies that could provide quotes on updating the existing surface on the tennis courts. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country and the Village should encourage someone to build an indoor court at some point. The estimated cost for the 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 resurfacing would be around $100,000 and the GDPA has been raising funds to assist with the surfacing. Trustee Hunter indicated she has spoken to a few people who do still use the courts for tennis. Public Safety Committee A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Jim Pearson to have a speed study done along State Road 35 south of the Traffic Lights. The Burnett County Highway Commissioner will need to write a letter in support of the speed study. Chief Thiex will follow up on this process. Motion carried without negative vote. Streets & Utilities Committee A motion was made by Rick Engstrom and seconded by Steve Young to eliminate the parking lane in the 24050-24066 block of State Road 35/70 as part of the 2027 DOT Project. This is the parking area in front of Trader Bill’s, Starwire, etc. There have been vision issues with traffic having parking along the east side of the highway along the block. Motion carried without negative vote. Personnel & Finance Committee A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Jeff Johnson to pay out Chief Thiex for any hours above the 40 hours of PTO allowed to be carried over on the last payroll of the year. Chief Thiex was not able to use all his hours that he was allowed to carry over into 2023 plus his normal hours with all the large cases this year. Motion carried without negative vote. Planning Commission A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Steve Young to approve the Conditional Use Permit for 23936 State Road 35 to be used as a dwelling of the employee of the Rental/Property Management Businesses that will be run on the same property with the conditions that a sign for the business be erected and the property owner notify the Village if the use of the property were to change. Motion carried without negative vote. NEW BUSINESS A motion was made by Rick Engstrom and seconded by Jim Pearson to appoint Joni Anderson, Doug Beedle, Becky Burkhardt, Ann Johnson, Gloria Johnson, Avis Morrison, Fern Woods, Pat Wynn, Cheryl Zeman, and Richard Zeman as Election Inspectors for the 2024-2025 term. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Rick Engstrom to set the 2024 Village of Siren Caucus for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday January 11th. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Rick Engstrom and seconded by Jeff Johnson to approve the Class A Liquor and Beer License for Family Dollar Store #36616 for the period of December 14, 2023 – June 30, 2024. Motion carried without negative vote. Brian Bocan addressed the Board concerning his plans for the lot he owns on First Avenue to the west of Zhashagiins. He is interested in putting in a small campground, like what was done in Grantsburg. The Village owns the land to the west of the property where the drainage ditch is located; he would be interested in discussion with the Village on purchasing a portion of the property. Mark Krause from Wagner Surveying discussed the lot showing land owned by the Bocan’s on First Avenue and how that would need to be cleaned up. Trustee Pearson brought up that there is nothing in our current ordinances that would allow campgrounds in C1 Commercial Zoning so this discussion 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 should go to the Planning Commission for further discussion for either a change in zoning on the lot and/or a change in the allowable/conditional uses for C1 Commercial Zoning. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Rick Engstrom to amend Village Ordinance §19-4 Tourism Commission. The amendment changes the make-up of members along with minor verbiage changes. Burnett County has opted to not pay toward the Burnett Information Center so that will only be funded by the Siren Tourism Commission going forward. The phone numbers associated with the Information Center will be discontinued and the emails will be monitored by the Burnett County Tourism Coalition. President Alden called for a roll call vote: Alden aye Mothes aye Engstrom aye Pearson aye Hunter aye Young aye Johnson aye Motion carried. Teresa Anderson from MSA addressed the Board about the need for soil borings as part of the directional drilling that will need to be done as part of the 2024/2025 Water Projects. Where the water mains will be looped there will need to be soil borings completed. Teresa indicated that the Village should have the soil borings done prior to the grant application being submitted as it would be part of the plans and specs. There were two proposals received from Professional Service Industries and American Engineering Testing. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Jeff Johnson to contract with Professional Service Industries at a cost of $4,750. Motion carried without negative vote. Motion carried without negative vote. The meeting schedule was set as follows: a. Committee of the Whole: To be set if needed. b. Board of Appeals & Plan Commission: To be set if needed. c. Streets & Utilities Committee: January 16th at 10:00 a.m. d. Public Safety Committee: January 16th at 9:30 a.m. e. Tourism Commission: January 17th at 9:00 a.m. f. Ball Park Committee: February 5th at 4:00 p.m. A motion was made by Janet Hunter and seconded by Jeff Johnson to adjourn the Village Board Meeting at 10:46 a.m. Motion carried without negative vote. Submitted by Ann L Peterson, WCMC/CMTW Village Clerk/Treasurer