Special Meeting — Minutes

Village of Benton March 8, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes Members present: Gary McCrea, Katey Neis, Jill Knight, Kenneth Farrey Absent members: Cal Robbins, Terry Sheffer, Chuck Wartner Village employees present: Sonya Silvers Others Present: Rita Buchholz, Donn Wilmont, Jim Neyen, Bob Jones Via Zoom: Joy McQuid The Special board meeting of the Benton Village Board was called to order by Village President, Gary McCrea, at 1:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Benton Business Incubator Building at 244 Ridge Avenue on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. In compliance with the open meeting law, proper notice of the meeting had been posted in four public places; the Zephyr Depot, Benton State Bank, Benton Post Office, and the Benton Business Incubator Building. Donn Wilmont from Cuba City Telephone presented a broadband grant opportunity that would bring fiber optics to all of Benton’s residents. Currently, all of Cuba City has been converted over to fiber and Cuba City Telephone would like to extend its services to Benton and Hazel Green. All of the fiber optics would be run underground and Cuba City Telephone would be responsible for all the work and liabilities. Benton’s only obligation would be to write a letter of community support to the Public Service Commission and waive any permitting fees for use of utility right-of-ways. Discussion was held. Sonya will write a letter of community support and email it to Don Wilmont. Motion (Knight, Neis) to approve a letter of community support waiving the permitting fees for the use of utility right-of-ways to Cuba City Telephone Co. to pursue the Wisconsin Broadband Expansion Grant. Roll-all ayes. Carried Lafayette County Housing Authority and the Benton Village Board discussed the offer that was made to the Village of Benton to purchase 150 Whaley Court. A new offer was agreed upon. Joy McQuid and Rita Buchholz will take the negotiated offer to the Lafayette County Housing board meeting for approval and will present the decision at the next Village Board meeting March, 16th, 2022. Meeting adjourned at 2:03 p.m. Motion (Neis, Farrey) to adjourn. Voice-all ayes. Carried