March Board Minutes

VILLAGE OF NELSONVILLE VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES AT THE VILLAGE HALL Tuesday March 10th 5:30 pm UNAPPROVED MINUTES The meeting was called to order by President Josh Stolzenburg. Present at the meeting were: President Josh Stolzenburg, Trustee Mark Brueggeman, Trustee Rubina Martini and Clerk/Treasurer Daniel Bootz. Citizens present: Ray Reser, Jerry Trzebiatowski, Stacy O’Carroll, Jay Gordon, Gale Gordon, Wally Leppen, Mark Pearson, Jerry Dunn, Lois Brueggeman, Tor Anderson, Wild Waters. Minutes for February 11th BOT meeting were presented by Clerk/Treasurer Daniel Bootz. M/S, Brueggeman/Martini, move to approve the January 14th Minutes, all in favor, motion carried. Treasurer’s report submitted by Clerk/Treasurer Daniel Bootz. M/S, Martini/Stolzenberg, move to pay the bills as presented by Clerk/Treasurer Daniel Bootz, all in favor, motion carried. Correspondence was reviewed. Public Statements – J. Gordon – Asked to speak at the time of the Well Abandonment agenda item. M. Pearson asked about the village survey. Stolzenberg indicated that the planning commission is looking at the results and will be writing a statement and determine the plan for releasing the survey results. Martini clarified that the planning commission is taking time to look at the information and how surveys were collected. Pearson expressed concern that the results of the survey are being ignored. To this, O’Carroll explained that at the time of the Planning Commission Meeting, due to the large number of paper surveys submitted, all of the surveys were not entered until just prior to the Planning Meeting, and the commission did not have time, prior to the meeting, to review and assess the data that was collected. As there was a total of 108 responses, O’Carroll asked that the committee be given time, rather than rushing the results, to review the information. G. Gordon pointed out that the committee had results at the time of the Planning Commission Meeting. Martini explained that the information presented to the Planning Commission was not the full data, but was put together just prior to the meeting for an initial review. Several questions were not present on the initial report presented to the committee. Martini explained that the committee is consulting a professional regarding the information due to the number of respondents and concerns regarding the method that the data was collected. Pearson asked that the information not be discarded and Martini agreed that the survey should not be ignored and that survey results would be released. Reser introduced himself as the candidate for the Portage County Board District 25. He is unopposed for the position. Reser has lived in the district for 50 years and is a former resident of Nelsonville. He is a retired UWSP employee and geologist. He indicated that his hope is to address issues with the County Jail and nursing homes, as well as water issues effecting the farmers and village residents. He took questions from the citizens at the meeting including questions regarding his employment background. Anderson presented information on improperly abandoned wells. He had spoken to Jen McNelly at Portage County. Jen provided him with information on properties that had multiple wells and where there was no record on whether the additional wells had been properly abandoned. In regards to improperly abandoned VILLAGE OF NELSONVILLE VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES AT THE VILLAGE HALL Tuesday March 10th 5:30 pm wells, the largest concern is biological contamination from animal dropping, carrion or direct pouring of contaminants into the water shed through the well. Nitrates are not associated with abandoned wells and the water testing done in the village has not supported that abandoned wells have had an impact on drinking water as the related contaminants have not been found in the collected samples. Anderson explained that typically these open wells occur because the property owner forgets about them. They are then often build over or forgotten. In comparison to other communities, Nelsonville is better than average in regards to the density and number of abandoned wells. The information presented by the County indicated that there are seven properties with multiple wells lacking documentation that they were properly abandoned. This includes two agricultural wells. When questioned about this, Anderson confirmed that the agricultural wells are located on the property of Gordondale Farms. Individual property owners were not identified at the meeting. The Water Commission requested that the board contact each property owner to inform them that they may have an improperly abandoned well on their property, and request that these wells be properly abandoned or that documentation be submitted to the County to confirm abandonment. J. Gordon explained that some of the county information might be misleading as the map may show test wells or wells that were abandoned, but the documentation is not there to confirm this. Stolzenberg indicated that the goal would be to inform property owners that there may be an improperly abandoned well with some information and guidance, not to enforce abandonment of these wells. Trzebiatowski expressed concern about individuals who have properly abandoned wells being singled out due to lack of records. Martini reiterated that this information would be to advise property owners, not to single anyone out or demand documentation or abandonment. Bootz reported that there were 57 voters during the spring primary out of a possible 111 eligible voters. The election workers were thanked for the time and work they put into helping the election run smoothly and having results to the County as quickly as possible. Ballots for the Spring Election would be received by the Village on 3/13/20 and absentee voting would begin at that time. The polling station for the Spring Election was not expected to change for the upcoming election and planning for the election would start in the coming week. GCAC Update: A farmer survey was presented to the committee at the most recent meeting. Groundwater Protection Committee report: Will send information to homes that tested high in nitrates. The next round of testing is in April. Park Commission report: Spring planting of trees is being organized and the commission is looking for volunteers. Date and contact will be determined at the next meeting. Plan Commission report: Survey information is being reviewed and discussed at the next meeting Fire Commission: Trzebiatowski presented and submitted Fire Commission Report (Attached). 6:20pm, Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted by: Daniel Bootz, Clerk/Treasurer