9-8-2025_Board_Minutes

VILLAGE OF WYOCENA VILLAGE BOARD MINUTES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 Call to order: Village President Kim Bauer called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Roll call: President Kim Bauer, Trustees: Paul Crary, Owen Landsverk, Rebecca Sersch, Rusty Schiradelly, Jeremy Crary, and Doug Rose. Also present: Administrator Lori Kratky, Public Works Foreman Henry DeBoer, Library Director Brett Currie, Wyocena Fire Chief Brian Lemanczyk, Fire Department members Ralph Pulver and Justin Pounders, Rocky Run Riders Snowmobile Club Representative Marty Briggs, Ferguson Waterworks Meter Specialist Josh Kaufman, and others: Dian Hawley, Phil Kamrath, and Mike Fansel. Proof of Posting: The Village Clerk posted the agenda for the September 8, 2025 Village Board meeting on the bulletin board at the Wyocena Community Center, Wyocena Post Office, entrance to the Wyocena Library, and the Village website on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Recognition of Visitors: Dian Hawley would like to donate two shrubs to be planted at the Soldiers Memorial in the Wyocena Cemetery. Minutes: Motion by Landsverk, second by J. Crary, to approve the August 11, 2025 Village Board minutes. M.C. Reports: Library Director Report: Brett Currie introduced herself and gave each village board member a written report. Police Chief’s Report: No report was given. 1. Status of Police Chief Documents: Bauer was concerned if all necessary documents had been completed for Chief Harkey to begin working. Kratky responded all documents have been completed and Harkey began working at the beginning of August. Public Works Foreman’s Report: A written report was provided. No questions were asked. Administrator Report: Kratky informed the board of the following items: 1) Heavy refuse removal is scheduled for October 21st. 2) There are typically two meetings in October. The first meeting is October 13th and the second meeting is usually at the end of the month for budgets. Treasurer Report: Kratky presented the following vouchers for approval. Motion by J. Crary, second by Schiradelly, to approve the following vouchers: Roll Call: Sersch – yes, P. Crary – yes, J. Crary – yes, Landsverk – yes, Bauer – yes, Rose – yes, Schiradelly - yes. M.C. ABT Mailcom $220.00 Gordon Flesch $81.00 Advantage Lock & Key $235.00 Henry DeBoer $2,070.00 Associated Appraisal $833.33 Hohl's Farm Supply $130.00 Auto Value $494.80 Jeremy Crary $100.00 Baer Insurance $5,099.25 Martelle Water Treatment $60.25 Bliffert Lumber $178.44 Midwest Meter $606.94 Blystone Towing $1,678.36 Picketts Septic Service $170.00 Cardmember Services $177.07 Securian Financial $19.50 Cintas $113.28 Securian Financial $65.97 Col Cty Highway $904.03 Spee Dee Delivery $112.39 Col Cty Solid Waste $3,355.24 Transcendent Technologies $805.00 Country Plumber $450.00 US Cellular $140.93 CT Labs $1,389.00 Delta Dental of WI $11.42 Delta Dental of WI $191.66 General Fund $16,954.48 Delta Dental of WI $43.22 Library $220.48 Diggers Hotline $23.80 Water Fund $1,055.95 Frontier $1,185.82 Sewer Fund $2,714.79 Unfinished Business: Wyocena Fire Department Building Improvements: Landsverk stated he believes approximately $10,000 is needed to complete plans for fire department building improvements and asked Kratky to look at the 2025 budget for possible funding options. Wyocena Fire Department Request For A New Brush Truck and A Used Tender Truck: Fire Chief Lemanczyk stated he estimates approximately $50,000 is needed for a brush truck and approximately $500,000 for a tanker. Discussion followed regarding $30,000 of borrowed funds, previously reallocated from Skare Road resurfacing to purchasing a used tanker truck. Motion by Schiradelly, second by P. Crary, to use $10,000 of the borrowed funds for fire department building plans, and the other $20,000 to be placed in capital savings, if possible, to purchase a brush truck or for Skare Road resurfacing. Roll Call: P. Crary – yes, J. Crary – yes, Landsverk – yes, Bauer – yes, Rose – yes, Schiradelly – yes, Sersch – yes. M.C. New Business: 2026 Water Meter Replacement Project: A project proposal was reviewed from Ferguson Waterworks. No action was taken. Trustee Landsverk left the meeting at 6:43 p.m., during the presentation. Marilyn Schultz Request To Combine Parcels 124.01 and 124.02: Motion by J. Crary, second by Rose, to approve the request to combine parcels 124.01 and 124.02, located at 350 S. Jefferson Street. M.C. Rocky Run Riders Snowmobile Trail Request: Marty Briggs presented a map of a requested snowmobile trail. Briggs explained the route is the same as last year, with the downtown Wyocena businesses closed. Briggs explained an alternate route which could be used if a business should open. Motion by P. Crary, second by Sersch, to approve the map, and both routes, as presented. M.C. Phil Kamrath Request To Clean Headstones and Complete Repairs At the Wyocena Cemetery: Dian Hawley and Phil Kamrath requested permission to clean and beautify the Soldiers Memorial and surrounding area at the cemetery. The pair stated Kamrath has cleaned many headstones at other cemeteries and knows what chemicals may and may not be used on various stones. The flag pole at the memorial was also discussed. DeBoer stated the flag holder on the pole broke and he is planning on lowering the pole to paint it before fixing the flag holder and replacing the flag. Hawley stated someone may be able to donate a flag pole to replace the existing. Discussion followed regarding the need for a commercial grade pole. The board instructed Kratky and DeBoer to look at a suitable replacement and to report back with a cost so someone may donate money to purchase the pole if they chose to. Motion by P. Crary, second by Schiradelly, to allow Phil Kamrath to clean the Soldiers Memorial stone and veteran’s headstones, with the proper chemicals, and to investigate possible donations for the cemetery. M.C. Roger Springman Offer To Donate Items: The board reviewed an offer to donate a Dairyland Co Op Wyocena milk can and a 49-pound flour sack from the Marachowsky’s Portage Wholesale Co, Portage, WIsc., labeled as “White Lily Flour”. Kratky stated she spoke with Library Director Brett Currie who indicated the library would be willing to use the items in a display in the library; possibly each fall. Motion by Schiradelly, second by J. Crary, to accept the donations, with the library hosting an annual display using the items. M.C. Trick-or-Treat Hours: Motion by P. Crary, second by Rose, to establish Trick-or-Treat hours in the village as October 31, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with the Wyocena Fire Department present the entire time for safe crossing. M.C. Resolution 2025-02: Motion by P. Crary, second by Bauer, to approve Resolution 2025-02 Exemption From Columbia County Library Tax. Roll Call: J. Crary – yes, Bauer – yes, Rose – yes, Schiradelly, - yes, Sersch – yes, P. Crary – yes. M.C. Employee Vacation Carry-Over Request: Motion by J. Crary, second by Schiradelly, to approve up to 80 hours of unused vacation time to be carried into 2026 for Lori Kratky. M.C. CLOSED SESSION: The Board invited Lori Kratky to attend closed session. Motion by P. Crary, second by Bauer, to enter into closed session at 7:02 p.m. under state statute 19.85(1)(c) considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Roll Call: Bauer – yes, Rose – yes, Schiradelly – yes, Sersch – yes, P. Crary – yes, J. Crary – yes. M.C. The board returned to open session at 7:13 p.m. Budgets 2026 – Wages: Motion by J. Crary, second by Rose, to approve a 6% wage increase in 2026 for Lori Kratky, Henry DeBoer, and Sydney Arthur. Roll Call: Bauer – yes, Rose – yes, Schiradelly – yes, Sersch – yes, P. Crary – yes, J. Crary – yes. M.C. Board Comments: The next Village Board meeting will be October 13, 2025 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Adjournment: Motion by P. Crary, second by Rose, to adjourn at 7:16 p.m. M.C. Lori Kratky, Village Administrator/Clerk