20260204 Village Board Minutes

PROCEEDINGS - VILLAGE OF ARGYLE - MONTHLY MEETING February 4th, 2026 The regular monthly meeting of the Argyle Village Board was called to order by President Thomas Moore on February 4th, 2026 at 7:00 pm. Roll call was taken with no one absent . Proper posting of the meeting was acknowledged. Helfvogt made a motion for approval of the minutes from the January 7 th, 2026 village board meeting and the minutes from the Caucus on January 6 th, 2026, Hinojosa seconded, motion carried. Johnson made a motion to approve the agenda, Rossing seconded, motion carried. CITIZEN COMMENT None. OLD BUSINESS Jeff Monson of Monson Septic appeared to clarify the ruling of septic haulers dumping waste at the village wastewater treatment plant. Jared Johnson has officially been listed as operator of the wastewater treatment plant and has been working with Town and Cou nty Engineering on a plan. Hinojosa presented a new contract template that may be implemented that haulers will need to fill out and agree on yearly to dump at the village plant that includes guidelines, testing requirements, and costs. A sub -committee meeting will be scheduled to finalize the contract and provide clear guidelines for septic, holding tank, and portable toilet waste. The bank loan resolution approving borrowing up to $270,000.00 from First National Bank & Trust, a division of Bank First, for a two -year term and levying an irrepealable tax to repay this obligation and authorizing Village President Tom Moore and Village Clerk -Treasurer Sandra Flannery to sign any and all necessary loan documents was presented. The Village and bank attorneys have reviewed the purchase of the bank already, these documents are presented by the title company to allow the closing on the bank which will occur on Friday, February 13th, 2026. Helfvogt motioned to approve, Rossing seconded, motion carried. Budget Resolution No 1 -2026 Removing Expense & Revenue of $18,000.00 Public Library facility use from the 2025 Budget, Payable 2026 was presented. Prior to the opportunity to purchase the First National Bank & Trust building, this amount would serve as rent for use of the library in the Community Building. T he amount will be amended to reflect the actual cost of interest payments for the loan of the new building, insurance, and grounds costs with a second Budget Resolution to follow. Helfvogt motioned to approve Resolution 1-2026, Webster seconded. A roll-call vote was taken with no opposition, motion carried. Budget Resolution No 2 -2026 Adding $15,256.30 Expense & Revenue for new loan interest payments, insurance costs, and grounds work and use from the 2025 Budget, Payable 2026 were presented. Hinojosa motioned to approve Resolution 2-2026, King seconded. A roll -call vote was taken with no opposition, motion carried. Memorandum of Understanding Between Village of Argyle and the Argyle Public Library Board of Trustees was presented, this operates as lease agreement for the library’s use of the new Village building at 321 E Milwaukee Street . This will include building maintenance , community room use and management, cleaning, and other responsibilities such as utilities. Any major repairs to the building w ill come back to village board for approval, and any furniture or fixtures bought will be the library’s responsibility such as computers and furniture. Major structure changes w ill go to the village board for approval. This is to be reviewed in November for costs and any changes that need to be made for the next year and approval. Regular board meetings, e lections and election related use, or other Village meetings will all be held in th is new building at 321 E Milwaukee Street . Helfvogt motioned to approve the MOU between the Village of Argyle and the Argyle Public Library Board of Trustees, Johnson seconded, motion carried. A second MOU between the Village of Argyle and the Friends of the Argyle Public Library and the Argyle Public Library Board of Trustees was presen ted to allow the Friends of the APL to fundraise on behalf of the library. This will allow the Friends of the APL to pursue things such as naming rights for parts or all of the building and handle gifts and donations for the fundraiser. A committee will be made up with one member of each group to deci de on choices together. If any committee member would like to before deciding on something, they can escalate it to their board before deciding as a committee. Helfvogt motioned to approve the MOU and appoint Webster to the committee seat, King seconded. A roll -call vote was taken with Rossing abstaining from the vote with the rest of the board voting in favor, motion carried. Steve Engles, Friends of the APL treasurer, spoke on the building costs and interest payments for the first t wo years of the plan. He stated the Friends will donate $2 5,277.00 to cover these costs for the next 12 months so that no costs will come to Village residents and taxpayers. Engles stated funds will be distributed monthly to provide the library with funds to pay for the operational costs and rent. Library board member Jennifer Detra stated she met with Demco to have plans drawn up with furnishings at no cost to give ideas of how they can transform the space from a bank into a library. After plans are provided , costs will be figured out. This cost plus the building debt would be the amount needed to raise during the capital campaign , which will be run by the Community Foundation of Southern WI . Any leftover donations can be used for operating costs. Currently the Friends have received pledges and donations totaling $130,000 towards the fundraising efforts . Webster shared a thank you note from the library board to the village on pursuing the purchase of the library building. Board member Monica Hodgson stated the library board’s heartfelt thanks, that it’s been their vision to see a new library for years, and the board is appreciative to see it work out. NEW BUSINESS The Legacy of Argyle has applied for new Class B Beer and Class B Liquor license s and 6 Operator Licenses for Keith Ritschard, Tina Ritschard, Brent Ritschard, Bryan Ritschard, Melissa Rufener, and Brenda Washa. Helfvogt motioned to approve, Hinojosa second ed, motion carried. Johnson stated the recycle center forklift is non-operational currently. It is not used very frequently, so for the time being the trucks can be loaded by the skid loader by other employees. The forklift will be sold to get it out of the shop. Johnson stated she will also meet with recycle plant employee McKibben to confirm if the hours change works for his schedule with the change last month to Wednesdays being open 1 1AM to 5PM. Matt Miller from Vierbicher presented their 2026 Planning Services Agreement. This is like previous years; if they are needed they can be called upon, and they will not exceed 9 hours a month unless they are directed to do so. Last year ’s cost was around $10,000.00, which was around 5 hours and $800.00 a month. This will be tabled for a future meeting. COMMITTEE BUSINESS Hinojosa presented an increase to dumping costs at the wastewater treatment plant on a new contract. Septic cost would change from $0.03 to $0.05, portable toilet from $0.03 to $0.05, and holding tank would be the same at $0.03. This contract would be signed yearly by each person wanting to dump at the plant to help protect the chemistry of the plant. Quotes are being obtained to televise the sewer lines to check the integrity and for maintenance needs. This is required to be done every 10 years. Discoloration of water has been ca used from Well # 2 becoming active again as iron oxide is being pushed up. When the well is more settled, it will stop. Residents are urged to open up the ir basement tap to flush the water until it is clear . It has passed all water testing completed. Rossing stated that he engaged with UW Platteville’s engineering students to look at the First National Bank property for a senior study they’re completing for a project. The students will a lso be looking at the Pec Valley Leader building, EMS, and Fire Station. For their project they will be verifying the structural components in the library floor and investigating ADA accessibility to the basement. Private companies and other municipalities work with them as an opportunity for the studen ts to get experience. They will appear before the board to get the experience of presenting plans to the plan commission and village board. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The 2026 Tour de Fish Fry will be coming back to Lafayette County this year. Patrons can collect 5 receipts from participating Friday night fish fr ies to be entered to win a gift certificate. Argyle Café, Corner Pub and Deli, and Goodfellas will all be participating. The WEDC Round Table will be held on February 5 th at the Legacy of Argyle with around 50 people in attendance. This discussion will be on downtown revitalization, placemaking, wayfinding and other ideas to bring people to the community. The WEDC helps with grants and funding for projects around Wisconsin, including the Legacy of Argyle building. The 2026 Calendar of Events has been put together and was sent out in the January 2026 utility bills. Schutte stated he plans to resign in April of 2026 and suggests moving the position to the open library director position ; he stated he is willing to help train the person taking this on. PRESIDENT BUSINESS The payroll report for January 2026 overtime paid to full -time: Johnson – 10.97 hours, Koch – 6.90 hours, Flannery – 0.83 hours. King made a motion to approve overtime, Hinojosa seconded, motion carried . The Village has hired a new Street Department Operator, Keith Falsey. A cemetery restoration company reached out about the Old Argyle Cemetery, they will be contacted for estimates on restoring s tones and repairs. CLERK BUSINESS Uncollectable water adjustment bills in the amount of $71.33 will be written off. Johnson Block has scheduled their pre -audit for February 12 th and 13 th and the full audit for February 23 rd to 26 th. King made a motion to approve total January 2026 accounts payable checks $676,725.64 February 2026 invoices paid to date $44,860.58, Johnson seconded, motion carried. The next monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th, at 7:00 pm. Helfvogt made a motion to adjourn at 8:35PM, Hinojosa seconded, motion carried. Mallory McGuire Deputy Clerk