Village Board — Minutes

Village of Benton August 21, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes Members present: Scott Cruse, John Perkins, Jill Knight, Joe Slater, Kenneth Farrey, Chuck Wartner Absent members: Cal Robbins Village employees present: Sonya Silvers, Eric Mowry, Others Present: Rita Buchholz, Lynn Halverson, Shawn Roelli 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, August 21st, 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 (Wartner, Slater) to approve the minutes from the regular village board meeting held on July 17th, 2024, as presented. Voice-all ayes. Carried Rita Buchholz and Lynn Halverson from Lafayette County Housing presented the board with a timeline and preliminary maps for the Whaley Court housing project. There will be 8-10 units, and each will have 2-3 bedrooms and a garage. This will be income-based workforce housing. They have secured funding for the housing unit in Shullsburg and will be completing the funding application for Benton by January 2025. If funds are secured, the ground-breaking would be October 2025 to April 2026. If funding is not secured, they will reapply next year. Shawn Roelli, CPA, from Johnson Block, was present to discuss the audit summary with the board and answer questions. Eric Mowry stated the streets have been marked out for seal coating, and there are a few spots left to patch. Struck & Irwin will be calling when they are ready to apply the seal coating. There is one section of sidewalk to finish up next week. Swift Park doors are waiting on new hardware. Curbs were painted, and crosswalks will be painted next week. Bathroom doors at Village Park were painted by Zoe. Today was Zoe’s last day, and Halle will be watering for the rest of the season. The basketball hoop that was lowered in Village Park has been raised back up. Leland Felderman will grind the stump at Village Park before Labor Day and will remove the trees at the Boy Scout cabin in October. Brian Hammill is attending first responder training on Wednesday nights until December. Sonya stated Michael Ervolino was contacted about his plans for building on lot 13 in the subdivision. He is nearing the twelve-month timeline for starting the build that is set by the restrictive covenants. He spoke with Sonya and stated he would not be able to build anytime in the near future and would like the village to purchase the lot back. The papers were signed today, and the village now owns lot 13. Lori Droessler will be relisting the lot. Committee Reports:  The Finance and Personnel Committee will meet on Thursday, August 22, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss employee annual wage increases.  The Public Nuisance Committee will meet on Friday, August 23, at 8:30 a.m.  The water and sewer committee met to finalize the recommendation for the engineering firm to complete the facilities plan. John Perkins has concerns that contractors need to bid on the same project for the sewer repairs. John will work with Jared Roling to refine a plan. Additional concerns with the semi-parking were also mentioned. One truck driver has paid the permit fee, and there have been at least two others parking there without a permit. Eric will install a permit parking sign. Brian will give one warning to violators. Village of Benton August 21, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes The 2025 budget timeline was presented. Three board meetings will have adjusted dates this year: October 9th, 6:30 p.m. November 13th, 6:30 p.m., and December 4th, 6:15 budget public hearing and 6:30 p.m. regular village board meeting. Replacement Class B Retail license for Whitey’s Bar & Grill, McCarthy’s Bar, Joseph McCrea Post 7896, and Lawrence’s Pub and Eatery from 6:00 p.m. September 1, 2024, through 1:00 a.m. September 2, 2024, for the Labor Day street dance. Motion (Knight, Slater) to approve the Replacement Class B Retail license for Whitey’s Bar & Grill, McCarthy’s Bar, Joseph McCrea Post 7896, and Lawrence’s Pub and Eatery from 6:00 p.m. September 1, 2024, through 1:00 a.m. September 2, 2024, for the Labor Day street dance. Voice-all ayes. The recommendation from the water and sewer committee was to contract with Town and Country Engineering to compile and complete the facilities plan for the WWTP. The Town and County bid came in lower, and engineer Greg Droessler is familiar with the sewer plant. Motion (Knight, Wartner) to approve the recommendation from the water and sewer committee to contract with Town and County Engineering for the facilities plan for the WWTP, pending attorney review of the contract. Voice-all ayes. 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 7:52 p.m. Motion (Slater, Perkins) to adjourn. Voice-all ayes.