board_meeting_minutes_april_6_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 APRIL 6, 2023 MINUTES The Regular Village Board meeting held on April 6, 2023, was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Village President Dave Alden. Members Present: Dave Alden, Rudy Mothes, Jim Pearson, Steve Young Members Absent: Rick Engstrom; Janet Hunter, Sara Reimann-Hill Others Present: Ann Peterson, Clerk/Treasurer; Trevor Thiex, Siren Police Chief; Helen Wilkie, John Magnuson & Bill Brice, Big Doctors Lake Association; Dave Chell, Greg Peer & Jerry Becker, Whitetails Unlimited; Alex Hopkins; Hazel Almquist; Cynthia Mattson; Doug Mattson; Dugan Mattson; Wayne Wiberg, Town of Siren; Ray & Angela Robbins; Corey Bauer, Cordell Fischer & Molly Brown, Bauer Investment Group; Eric Barclay, MSA; Sarah Radomsky, Inter County Leader; Greg Marsten, Burnett County Sentinel President Alden called for Public Comments. None were offered. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Jim Pearson to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Rudy Mothes to approve the Regular Village Board meeting minutes of March 9, 2023. Motion carried without negative vote. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Rudy Mothes to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $195,271.39 general vouchers and checks cut since the last regularly scheduled board meeting in the amount of $40,113.20 for a grand total of $235,384.59. Motion carried without negative vote. President Alden gave the President’s Report. He thanked Clerk/Treasurer Peterson for her work on the election this past Tuesday. The Village had 48% voter turnout which is very good for a Spring Election. The Village received a thank-you from the Burnett County Humane Society for the donation from the Village. Clerk/Treasurer Peterson gave the Clerk’s Report. Open Book has been set for Thursday April 13th and will be conducted by Associated Appraisals over the phone. Board of Review will be Tuesday May 9th from noon to 2:00 p.m. Associated Appraisals will discuss with the Board at the Board of Review Meeting the need for a revaluation in 2024. Chief Thiex gave the March Police Report. March DMV totals were $621. The Department continues to be very busy. The Village has received reimbursement from the Department of Justice for Officer Pardun’s training. Chief Thiex did let the Board members know they are welcome to do a drive-along with any of the officers. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion/Action with Big Doctors Lake Association The Board and representatives from the Big Doctors Lake Association discussed their surface water grant through the DNR. The Lake Association is soliciting bids for the alum application. The total cost of the project is $245,880 of which the DNR 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 will pay 75%, which is $184,410 leaving a balance of $61,470 to be paid by the Lake Association. The grant is a reimbursable grant whereby the Lake Association needs to pay the vendors directly and then get reimbursed by the DNR. The Lake Association would like to have the Village act as a guarantee of a loan through Community Bank. Jamie Morales has indicated that Community Bank can loan the Lake Association funds for interim financing at 1.99% plus prime. Clerk/Treasurer explained the conversations she had with both the League of Wisconsin Municipalities as well as Ehlers on how financing could impact the Village’s debt capacity. If the Village does either loan the money and/or borrow on behalf of the Village the Village should use a Bond Attorney to draw up the necessary paperwork to make sure we comply with all IRS regulations. The Board did decline to assist with interim financing. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Rudy Mothes to pay the Big Doctors Lake Association $27,000 towards their portion of the grant. Motion carried without negative vote. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion/Action on with Burnett County Whitetails Unlimited about placing a statue of Homer Pearson buck in Crooked Lake Park. Dave Chell from Whitetails Unlimited and the Board discussed the possibility of putting a statue in Crooked Lake Park. Whitetails Unlimited has been approached by relatives of the Homer Pearson family about the possibility of erecting a statue in honor of the 43-point non-typical buck. The family is prepared to cover the cost of the statue. President Alden would like to have our Buildings, Grounds & Parks Committee discuss this issue in more depth to determine a good location within the Park where we could have lighting and security. b. Discussion/Action on Termination of Easement for Paul Underdahl. A motion was made by Steve Young and seconded by Jim Pearson to approve the Termination of Easement for Paul Underdahl. Motion carried without negative vote. c. Approval of Successor Agent for Imperial Operating WI LLC d/b/a Siren Marathon to Nathaniel Miller. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Steve Young to approve Nathaniel Miller as the Successor Agent for the Siren Marathon Store. Motion carried without negative vote. d. Discussion/Action on enforcement of Short-Term Rental Ordinance Trustee Hunter asked that this item be discussed by the Board. There are short- term rental operations that are operating within the Village that have not complied with the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. President Alden felt that this issue could be turned over to Burnett County when the Burnett County Tourism Coalition have worked through this issue on their larger scale. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Rudy Mothes to follow-up with the known short-term rental establishments to let them know that they need to apply and have their paperwork in so that their applications could be approved at the June Board meeting. Motion carried without negative vote. The meeting schedule was set as follows: a. Board of Appeals & Planning Commission: April 19th at 10:00 a.m. b. Tourism: April 19th at 9:00 a.m. c. Ball Park Committee: April 10th at 6:00 p.m. d. Reorganization Board Meeting: April 18th at 10:00 a.m. e. Board of Review: May 9th 12:00 – 2:00 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 f. Buildings, Grounds & Parks Committee Meeting: April 19th at 9:00 a.m. g. Public Safety Committee Meeting: April 18th following Reorganization Meeting h. Streets & Utilities Committee: April 18th following Public Safety Committee i. Personnel & Finance Committee: April 21st at 9:00 a.m. A motion was made by Jim Pearson and seconded by Steve Young to adjourn the Village Board Meeting at 2:54 p.m. Motion carried without negative vote. Submitted by Ann L Peterson Village Clerk/Treasurer