Village Minutes 08.05.2026

VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MINUTES Wednesday, August 5, 2026 1. CALL TO ORDER at 6:01 pm ROLL CALL: K. HANDRICK-Present, M. AHRENS-Present, K. SORENSON-Present, K. PAUL-Present, B. PARLIER-Present, J. LAWRENCE-Present, A. CABRERA-Absent 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS a) Virtual Meeting Guidelines This meeting will be recorded and available upon request b) Public Participation at Government Meetings In Person Attendance: Chris Trice – Street Superintendent Virtual Attendance: Kevin O’Brien – Record Review 4. INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME TO ANDY WUETHRICH – CANDIDATE FOR 86TH ASSEMBLY Assembly Representative Wuethrich did not appear at Board Meeting 5. APPROVAL OF VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES a) Regular Village Board Meeting Minutes – July 1, 2026 b) Special Joint Village Board/School Board Meeting Minutes – July 15, 2026 c) Special Joint Village Board/Utility Commission Meeting Minutes – July 20, 2026 MOTION – Approve All Minutes from 3 Board Meetings in July Motion made by Sorenson second by Ahrens. Motion passed by voice vote. 6. REVIEW OF LICENSE APPLICATIONS a) Operator Licenses for Mackenzie McKinney & Samantha Nelson– GPM Southeast, LLC (R-Store) Both Operators passed background checks and turned in required paperwork. Both recommended for approval. MOTION – Approve Operator Licenses for M. McKinney and S. Nelson for GPM Southeast, LLC Motion made by Sorenson second by Ahrens. Motion passed by voice vote. 7. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT a) Village Permits Approved in July, 2026 b) Fire Department and First Responder Calls c) Administration Department Activity in July d) Police Department Activity in July e) Public Works/Utility Departments Activity in July • STH 107 • N. Industrial PKWY • County Materials Sports Complex • Veterans Park • CIPP • Well #5 f) Administrators Activities & Plans for August Cherek updated the Board with the daily activities of the Village staff for July and upcoming activities/projects for August. His full Administrators Report can be found in the Agenda Packet. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 9. NEW BUSINESS a) Discuss and Approve NO. 2026-08-05A Declaration of Official Intent – STH 107 Reconstruction Cherek shared a Declaration of Official Intent for payment of the 2026 Highway 107 Project. It states the Village used cash funds to pay for project and if, in 3 years, the Village runs into a cash flow issue, they have the option to turn the cash flow payment into a borrowing loan to replenish the cash supply. MOTION – Approve Declaration of Official Intent 2026-08-05A – STH 107 Reconstruction Motion made by Paul second by Sorenson. Motion passed by voice vote. b) Discuss and Approve Certified Survey Map for Herman Hilmershausen Cherek received a CSM for 2 lots owned by Herman Hilmershausen. Hilmershausen is preparing to sell Lot 1 but is wishing to change lot lines to retain a shed on Lot 2. MOTION – Approve CSM for Herman Hilmershausen Motion made by Paul second by Ahrens. Motion passed by voice vote. c) Discuss and Approve TEAMCARE-Central States Health Plan Contract for 2026, 2027 and not to exceed amounts for 2028 & 2029 The Village health insurance contract with TEAMCARE is up for renewal. Cherek presented rates for 2027 through 2029 reflecting an increase of 3.95% for the first year. Overall Village expense to increase $12,840 for the 2027 year. MOTION – Approve TEAMCARE Central States Health Plan Contract for 2027-2029 Motion made by Paul second by Parlier. Motion passed by voice vote. d) Discuss and Approve Proposed 2027 Fire & EMS Department Budgets The Village and Towns of Cassel, Rib Falls and Stettin will pay an increase of approximately 2% in fire protection fees proportionately distributed to equalized values. The Village’s section fee will go up $1,421.63. The 2027 Fire Contract Budget is proposed at $189,270.00. Increases in wages due to a trend in larger call volumes, utilities and fuel contributed to an overall expenditure increase of 4.26%, totaling $142,181.49 in operating expenses. The Proposed Budget reflects the approved move of the Public Fire Protection fees (Hydrant Rental expenses) off the taxes and 100% on to the utility. The proposed EMS Budget remains the same at $43,833.87 in expenditures. These expenditures will be paid for by the Village (about 72%) and the Towns of Marathon, Cassel and Stettin paying 28% jointly. The Village will pay approximately $3,600 more in 2027 due to the 2025 call volume in the Village increasing compared to the townships. The Village pays for the ambulance service of $10,913 through a contract with Edgar EMS approved at the April 1, 2026 meeting. Proposed 2027 Fire/EMS Revenues of $151,479.07 and Expenditures of $265,393.60. MOTION – Approve Proposed 2027 Fire & EMS Departments Budgets and Contract Rates Motion made by Paul second by Sorenson. Motion made by voice vote. e) Discuss and Approve Proposed 2027 Parks Budget Cherek presented a preliminary parks budget to assist in setting the 2027 Use Agreements with the ball groups. He noted a 9% expenditure difference with the 2026 budget and proposed increasing contracts by 9% or $1,831. Part of that increase includes budgeting $2,000 for equipment replacement in a capital improvement fund. The Village will shift 3% of mowing expense to the clubs to pay for. Board members would like to see a more defined 5-year schedule of the mowing subsidization. Cherek’s proposed parks revenue will increase by 4% with the ball club contracts, sponsorship revenue and Veterans Park rental revenue from the Farmer’s Market and Fundays. MOTION – Approve the Parks Revenue Increase and Advise Cherek to Move Forward with the Ballpark User Agreements at the 9% Increase Motion made by Sorenson second by Ahrens. Motion passed by voice vote. f) Discuss and Approve Sourcewell Purchase of Ventrac Tractor, Cab and Mower Attachment *Moved to After Item 5 Cherek, along with Street Superintendent Trice, informed the Board that during the major 30” snowstorm in March, the Village’s 1994 Stiener tractor broke down and has been inoperable since. It is past the point of repair. Cherek shared a quote of $45,034 for a new Ventrac tractor including cab and mower attachments. The Village is expected to receive a Wisconsin Emergency Management Disaster Fund Grant reimbursement of about $16,851 from the snow event. Cherek noted the Capital Improvement Fund interest earnings total $34,149 and proposed using $28,183 of those earnings along with the Grant earnings to purchase the new Ventrac tractor. He suggested the remainder of the interest earnings for the year be allocated toward the Utility Fund, stating a large sum of the money in the CIP LGIP account is due to the Cure-In-Place Piping project. MOTION – Approve Purchase of New Ventrac with Cab and Mower Attachments Using WDF Grant Reimbursement and Capital Improvement Plan LGIP Interest Earnings Motion made by Paul second by Parlier. Motion passed by voice vote. g) Discuss and Approve Conditional use permit for St. Matthews Church Tabled to September Meeting h) Discuss and Possible Action on Building Permit – Unclassified Structure The Village received a building permit for a storage structure of which Cherek could not determine classification of use. He took it to the Plan Commission on August 3rd to determine what sheds/storage buildings are as those are permitted in the code of ordinances however not defined as to what they are. The Plan Commission forwarded it to the Village Board to determine ordinance language. Board members held a lengthy discussion about what the definition of a shed/storage structure is with no outcome made. They requested the resident submit plans to go along with the building permit for the shed they intend to install. i) Discuss and Possible Action on New Fire Department Members • Dylan Hartwig & Trey Schoelzel Fire Chief Hall along with Cherek interviewed the 2 new firefighters and both are recommended for approval to join the Department. MOTION – Approve New Fire Department Members Motion made by Paul second by Ahrens. Motion passed by voice vote. j) Discuss and Approve 2026-2027 School Year Crossing Guards • Larry Berres, David Martin, Brenda Wirkus, Kathy Grell, Paige Koch All returning crossing guards are recommended for approval for the 2026-2027 school year MOTION – Approve Crossing Guards for the 2026-2027 School Year Motion made by Paul second by Parlier. Handrick abstained from the vote. Motion passed by voice vote. 10. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF BILLS Trustees questioned the following checks: Check 49726 – Flock Group, Inc. – paid by donation sources Check 49756 – Frontier – cancelled Fire Dept line MOTION – Approve Payment of Bills Motion made by Ahrens second by Lawrence. Motion passed by voice vote. 11. RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES a) Discuss and Approve Resolution 2026-08-05 - Amending the 2026 General Fund and 2026 Capital Improvement Fund Budgets for Fire Engine #50 Purchase / Fire Engine #46 Replacement Cherek proposed amending the budget to borrow $25,000 from General Fund and Capital Improvement Fund Reserves with intention to be paid back thru budgeted payments of $8,333.34 from fire contracts in the next 3 years with full reimbursement in 2029. Another 1-time budget amendment to transfer $10,000 from the FD Equipment account and $2,000 from the FD IT account to the Capital Improvement Fund for 2026 would cover the full $37,000 cost of the new engine and set-up. MOTION – Approve Resolution 2026-08-05 Motion made by Paul second by Sorenson. Motion passed by voice vote. • Discuss and Approve NO. 2026-08-05B Declaration of Official Intent The Declaration of Intent states that if the Village runs in to cash flow issues from using reserve funds for new fire engine, they have 3 years to borrow the amount spelled out in the Declaration as a loan to replenish cash funds. MOTION – Approve Declaration of Official Intent 2026-08-05B Motion made by Parlier second by Paul. Motion passed by voice vote. b) Discuss and Approve U-2026-08-05 Resolution Establishing Public Fire Protection Charges At the July 20, 2026 Joint Village/Utility meeting, both Board and Commission members voted to move the Public Fire Protection (PFP) off residents’ taxes and fully to a charge on the utility bills. The Village currently has been charging 50/50 on taxes and a charge on utility bills. The change is coming with a rate case study with the PSC. A resolution is needed to establish this change. MOTION – Approve Resolution U-2026-08-05 Motion made by Sorenson second by Ahrens. Motion passed by voice vote. 12. VILLAGE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION BY ROLL CALL VOTE PER WIS. STAT. 19.85(1)(e) “DELIBERATING OR NEGOTIATING THE PURCHASE OF PUBLIC PROPERTIES, THE INVESTING OF PUBLIC FUNDS, OR CONDUCTING OTHER SPECIFIED PUBLIC BUSINESS, WHENEVER COMPETITIVE OR BARGAINING REASONS REQUIRE A CLOSED SESSION.” a) St Matthew’s Parking Lot Agreement b) Seubert Development Agreement Cassie Lang Village Clerk / Deputy Treasurer MOTION – Go Into Closed Session at 8:01 pm. Motion made by Paul second by Lawrence. Motion made by roll call vote. ROLL CALL: AHRENS-Yes, SORENSON-Yes, PAUL-Yes, PARLIER-Yes, LAWRENCE-Yes, HANDRICK-Yes 13. VILLAGE BOARD WILL CONTINUE IN CLOSED SESSION PER WIS. STAT. 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.” a) 2026 Employee Wages & Compensation 14. VILLAGE BOARD WILL RETURN TO OPEN SESSION BY ROLL CALL VOTE MOTION – Return to Open Session at 9:20 pm Motion made by Sorenson second by Paul. Motion passed by roll call vote. ROLL CALL: SORENSON-Yes, PAUL-Yes, PARLIER-Yes, LAWRENCE-Yes, HANDRICK-Yes, AHRENS-Yes 15. TAKE ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) 12a) St Matthew’s Parking Lot Agreement MOTION – Approve St Matthew’s Parking Lot Agreement Motion made by Paul second by Lawrence. Ahrens abstained from the vote. Motion passed by voice vote. 16. FUTURE SCHEDULED MEETINGS: a) Regular Village Board Meeting – Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – 6:00 pm b) Special Village Board – As Needed 17. ADJOURNMENT at 9:21 pm Motion to adjourn made by Lawrence second by Ahrens. Motion passed by voice vote.