board_meeting_minutes_november_9_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 NOVEMBER 9, 2023 MINUTES The Regular Village Board meeting held on November 9, 2023, was called to order at 10:03 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; Sarah Radomsky & Kayla Chastek, Inter County Leader; Becky Strabel, Burnett County Sentinel; Ray & Angela Robbins, Lake Country Apartments; Teresa Anderson, MSA 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 as presented. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Janet Hunter and seconded by Steve Young to approve the following meeting minutes: a. Regular Village Board meeting of October 12, 2023 b. Committee of the Whole meeting of October 17, 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 $125,422.26 general vouchers and checks cut since the last regularly scheduled board meeting in the amount of $40,310.97 for a grand total of $165,733.23. 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 October Police Report. October DMV totals were $504. The Department is waiting for the major case to wind down. The Department has been issuing some citations for the Town of Meenon; however, there ordinances do not meet current costs so there will be no citations issued in the Town of Meenon until they bring their fee schedule up to cover costs. The State Road 35/70 DOT project has been pushed back to 2027 from 2026. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson will investigate if that will impact the use of our TID 2 funds. STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS Personnel & Finance Committee A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Steve Young to approve the wage increases for non-union employees. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Janet Hunter and seconded by Steve Young to update the Fee Schedule. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Rick Engstrom and seconded by Steve Young to discontinue offering DMV services as of January 1, 2024. 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 Jeff Johnson and seconded by Steve Young to adopt the 2024 General Fund Budget. President Alden called for a roll call vote: Alden aye Mothes aye Engstrom aye Pearson aye Hunter aye Young aye Johnson aye Motion carried. OLD BUSINESS A motion was made by Janet Hunter and seconded by Steve Young to approve the amended CDBG Contract with MSA. The Environmental Revue now counts as more points during the application process, and this should have been included in the original contract. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Rick Engstrom to approve Pay Request #3 for A-1 Excavating for the Industrial Park Utility Extension in the amount of $15,271.92. This is for seeding of the project. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Jeff Johnson to approve Pay Request #3 for A-1 Excavating for the Industrial Park Street Extension in the amount of $3,470.69. This was also for seeding of the project. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Rick Engstrom to approve the invoice from Cedar Corporation for $5800 for the Environmental Assessment on the Mohawk Property. Teresa Anderson from MSA explained that there are some research activities associated with a Phase 1 Environmental Study. Motion carried without negative vote. Mohawk is concerned about future expansion of the site. They are getting started with the project soon. The Board discussed that by selling the property it does tie up the property from any other future development as there is no plan in place for the development by Mohawk. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Steve Young to table this issue. Motion carried without negative vote. NEW BUSINESS The Board discussed opening the State Roads in the Village limits to ATV/UTV traffic. Chief Thiex has discussed this with the DOT. The Village can open the State Roads to ATV/UTV traffic if the speed is 35 mph or less. The Village will need to pay for a traffic study if we want the areas that are currently higher than 35 mph to be lowered. The speed study could result in the speed limit being increased. All of State Road 35/70 would be eligible and State Road 35 would be fine heading south toward the Village limits up until the speed limit changes to 40 mph. The other issue to consider is that ATV/UTV traffic is set by Village Ordinance to 10 mph however that could be changed by our Village Ordinance. The main issue is that there is no access to property owners on Clear Lake. The DOT did indicate the Village could create a travel lane off the State Roads to allow access. The decision was made to have the Streets & Utilities Committee continue to investigate this issue. The Board discussed accepting the utility easements from Lake Country Apartments. Public Works Director Jaskolka indicated that the Public Works Department has exercised the hydrants, and he has asked Ray & Angela Robbins to put some posts around the one hydrant. The manholes and valves have been raised. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Steve Young to accept the Utility Easements. 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. The meeting schedule was set as follows: a. Buildings, Grounds & Parks Committee: November 28th at 9:00 a.m. b. Personnel & Finance Committee: December 5th at 9:00 a.m. c. Public Safety Committee: November 28th after Parks d. Streets & Utilities Committee: November 28th after Safety e. Tourism: November 15th at 9:00 a.m. f. Ball Park Committee: February 5th at 6:00 p.m. g. Board of Appeals & Plan Commission: To be set if needed. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Jeff Johnson to adjourn the Village Board Meeting at 10:34 a.m. Motion carried without negative vote. Submitted by Ann L Peterson, WCMC/CMTW Village Clerk/Treasurer