Village Board — Minutes

Village of Benton July 17, 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, Jared Roling, Brian Hammill Others Present: Greg Droessler, Bart Neis, Jordan Fure 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, July 17th, 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 (Knight, Wartner) to approve the minutes from the regular village board meeting held on June 19th, 2024, as presented. Voice-all ayes. Carried Bart Neis and Jordan Fure from Delta 3 Engineering were present to discuss a two-phase facility plan for the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Phase one is a WWTP facility evaluation consisting of looking at the existing facility, every structure, and all equipment. The information will be put into a report and given a condition rating to be prioritized. Phase one’s estimated cost was $11,750.00. Phase 2 would need to be completed for a DNR-approved facilities plan at an additional cost that was not provided. After the evaluation is complete, phase 2 will look into what is most needed and develop the complete facility plan. Delta 3 is a trade alley company with Focus on Energy, meaning they will look into where energy is being used and try to reduce the energy amount. Focus on Energy will also give up to $5,000 in reimbursement to the municipality if the evaluation is completed by mid-December. The facility evaluation will take up to two months to complete. Discussion on the facilities plan will move to the water/sewer committee and back to the board for final approval. Jared Roling has been working with the DNR on getting phosphorus levels down to meet requirements. The manhole on Highway 11 was televised, discovering four spots that need repair. The area by the WWTP was also televised, and there were some problem areas where roots had to be cut. Once they are able to finish televising, Jared will get quotes to get the needed repairs fixed. The DNR sent notification that they will have a survey for wells in August. Jared mentioned that in the future, properties with one curb stop for two laterals will need to be addressed. The discussion will go to the water/sewer committee. Brian Hammill has had 179 calls of service as of today’s date, with 35 of those in the past month. The audit has been submitted to the Department of Justice. Brian was helping Shullsburg on the 4th of July. Committee Reports:  The Public Nuisance Committee met and held discussion regarding 11 properties. Brian will call the responsible party at 346 Third Street and let them know the village will be mowing on an as-needed basis at a charge per hour.  The water/sewer committee met to finalize a new sewer ordinance. The ordinance will now move on for approval and adoption.  The finance committee met and is looking into getting Shawn Roelli, CPA from Johnson Block, to come to the board meeting to give a brief presentation on the audit.  The Police Committee met and approved Brian’s participation in a speed enforcement grant through Lafayette County. This will be a four-hour shift conducted after a normal eight-hour working day and be solely for traffic control. The village will be reimbursed for labor, fringe, and fuel for the extra four hours of coverage. Brian will order no parking signs for Labor Day. John Perkins asked if there have been updates on the property Lafayette County Housing purchased for development. This was purchased on July 20th, 2022. Village of Benton July 17, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes Motion (Wartner, Knight) to approve the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 2024-001 to amend chapter § 390, Section 7, definition of a multiple dwelling unit and add zero lot line definition of chapter § 390, Section 7. Voice-all ayes. Motion (Farrey, Perkins) to approve the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 2024-002 to add to § 390-15 (R-SM District) relating to conditional uses, zero lot line dwellings, and amend zero lot line developments. Voice-all ayes. Motion (Perkins, Robbins) to approve the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 2024-003 to add to § 390-16 (R-M District) relating to permitted uses, multi-family residential buildings, and zero lot line dwellings. Voice-all ayes. Motion (Slater, Knight) to approve the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 2024-004 to add § 390-11 (site regulations) relating to zero lot line requirements. Voice-all ayes. Motion (Farrey, Knight) to approve the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 2024-005 to add § 317-2,3,4,5,6,7 relating to all- terrain vehicles. Voice-all ayes. Motion (Wartner, Slater) to approve waiving the 2nd reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2024-001, 2024-002, 2024-003, 2024-004, and 2024-005 with corrections. Voice-all ayes. Pursuant to Chapter 19.85 Sub (1) par (g) of WIS. STATS, motion (Wartner, Perkins) to adjourn to closed session to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved, including discussion regarding written legal advice on possible litigation due to covenant violations and blighted property. Roll-all ayes. Carried. Adjourned to closed session at 7:30 p.m. Motion (Knight, Perkins) to reconvene to open session Roll-all ayes. Carried Reconvened to open session at 7:50 p.m. 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 8:00 p.m. Motion (Slater, Perkins) to adjourn. Voice-all ayes.