Village Board — Minutes

Village of Benton September 18, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes Members present: Scott Cruse, John Perkins, Jill Knight, Joe Slater, Kenneth Farrey, Chuck Wartner, Cal Robbins Absent members: Village employees present: Sonya Silvers, Jim Goffinet Others Present: Michelle Savatski, Ryan Kern The regular board meeting of the Benton Village Board was called to order by village president Scott Cruse at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Benton Business Incubator Building at 244 Ridge Avenue on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. 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. The minutes from the previous village board meeting were presented. Motion (Farrey, Perkins) to approve the minutes from the regular village board meeting held on August 21, 2024, after corrections. Voice-all ayes. Carried Michelle Savatski presented an update of the community center project to the board. The USDA loan has been obligated to the village. Final documentation for the $250,000 WEDC grant has been submitted. The Flexible Facilitates Program (FFP) grant will be announced no later than October 1st. If the FFP grant is not secured, the community center will move to Plan B and downsize the building by removing the village office, police department, family bathroom, and a reduction in the size of the meeting room. Jim Goffinet stated the new doors at Swift Park were installed. There is a pressure-reducing valve that is bad at Swift Park, and the toilets are not flushing. The part has been ordered, and it will get fixed before the home game on Friday evening. The championship sign and lights have been installed. There are several street lights that blink, and street light LED converters are needed to repair them. Jim will order the converters at an estimated cost of $1,600. Sonya announced that lot 13 in the subdivision was supposed to be closed on today; however, the buyer backed out of the purchase. Lori Droessler already has another offer on the lot that she will be sending over. Jim, Eric, and Sonya attended a meeting in Cuba City with Central Broadband for the fiber internet installation. The construction phase of the fiber internet will start in the beginning of October and is believed to last approximately four months. Letters will be going out to residents of Benton to gauge interest in hookup. There will be placing a cabinet on their leased property instead of a building. Committee Reports:  The Finance and Personnel Committee will meet on Thursday, August 22, to discuss employee annual wage increases.  The Public Nuisance Committee met and discussed nuisance properties including 216 W. Main Street and will meet on Thursday, September 19, at 8:30 a.m.  The water and sewer committee will meet Thursday, September 26 at 9 a.m. Scott Cruse mentioned the letter received from the Duxstead McDaniel law office regarding the sewer at 536 W. Main Street. The board would like village attorney Eric Hagen to draft a letter for reply. The Urban Forestry grant resolution #2024-05 was presented to the board. The resolution is needed to apply for the 2025 grant. Motion (Robbins, Slater) to approve Urban Forestry grant resolution #2024-05 as presented. Voice-all ayes. Village of Benton September 18, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes A new water/sewer truck is needed, and ARPA funds will be used to cover the expense. Jared Roling received quotes from several dealerships for trucks. The board believes a one-ton truck would be needed to haul the jetter, and they would like more options and bids. Lafayette County sent a letter regarding a parcel of land that is for sale in the village. The parcel is landlocked and available to the village for purchase with a minimum bid of $250.00. Sonya will reach out to Lafayette County and see if there are any back taxes owed. If there are no outstanding taxes owed, the village will make a bid not to exceed the $250.00. Motion (Perkins, Robbins) to approve submitting the sealed bid to Lafayette County for the purchase of parcel # 107.0335.7000 for $250.00 so long as there are no back taxes to pay. Roll-all ayes. Carried Scott Cruse presented attorney notes regarding 216 W. Main Street and the inspection report from Scott Jelle. The next step is to determine if the village will proceed with a raze order. Scott Cruse will reach out to the property owner. Pay the claims against the village. Motion (Slater, Knight) to pay the claims against the village. Roll-all ayes. Carried The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m. Motion (Perkins, Farrey) to adjourn. Voice-all ayes.