Village Board — Minutes

Village of Benton March 15, 2023 Board Meeting Minutes Members present: Scott Cruse, John Perkins, David Ralph, Jill Knight, Kenneth Farrey Absent members: Chuck Wartner, Cal Robbins Village employees present: Sonya Silvers, Eric Mowry, Brian Hammill Others Present: Joe Slater, Dan Wackershauser, NeDallas Hammill 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, March 15, 2023. 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 meetings were presented. Motion (Ralph, Perkins) to approve the minutes from the regular Village Board meeting held on February 15, 2023 as presented. Voice-all ayes. Carried Sonya Silvers stated that well number one has been shut down. The pump started making noises, water was surging, and at times water has been cloudy. The Village is under contract with Utility Service Company for maintenance of the wells. A technician will be coming to rehabilitate the well and the expense of that will be covered. The contract does not cover water quality and, depending on the cause of the cloudy water, there could be expenses incurred to the Village. Farrah Morrissey has reached out to Sonya and several board members in regard to donations and ideas to replace the sewer line in the VFW from the building to the street. Two quotes were received for the work ranging from $6,000-$8,000. Any work from the building to the street is the responsibility of the owner. A Benton Community Fund grant was suggested. Eric Mowry has been preparing the street sweeper for when the snow melts and trimming some of the trees in the park. Officer Brian Hammill highlighted the police department stats for the month. There were 32 calls in the last month, 8 of those consisted of traffic violations. There is currently an ongoing investigation in the Village; Officer Hammill is unable to release any further details regarding the case at this time. Committee Reports:  Scott presented notes from the police committee meeting. The police committee will monitor police expenses such as clothing allowance, equipment, and training. Officer Hammill will choose which training he needs to attend to keep up his certifications and license.  Jill Knight mentioned that there should be a park committee meeting scheduled soon. The orb rocker was fixed this winter.  Kenneth Farrey stated that the personnel committee has been working on updating the employee manual and the attorney has sent it back with a few modifications before it will come to the full board for approval. The request for an operator’s license for Laura O’Brien was made. The Village office performed a background check and received all necessary paperwork to issue an operator’s license. Motion (Knight, Perkins) to approve the operator’s license for Laura O’Brien. Roll-all ayes. Carried Village of Benton March 15, 2023 Board Meeting Minutes The stray dog procedure from the Lafayette County Clerk was given to the board in the meeting packet. Jill asked that the procedure be placed on the website. The current capitalization policy for the Village of Benton was presented to the board. When we capitalize something, it becomes an asset rather than an expense. The cost of the asset is allocated to expense over its useful life through depreciation rather than the full expense taken at purchase. This has different impacts on our books and budgeting. Due to the inflation and cost of everything now compared to the last amendment in 2005, the auditor has asked that we update our current policy amount from $2,000 to $5,000 a year. Motion (Farrey, Knight) to approve the update of the current Village of Benton’s capitalization policy amount from $2,000 to $5,000 a year. Roll-all ayes. Carried Resolution #2023-04 declaring property to be blighted and authorizing the Community Development Authority of The Village of Benton, Wisconsin to acquire and assist the redevelopment of the property was presented to the board. Motion (Knight, Ralph) to approve Resolution #2023-04 declaring property to be blighted and authorizing the Community Development Authority of The Village of Benton, Wisconsin to acquire and assist the redevelopment of the property as presented. Roll- Kenneth Farrey-Yes, John Perkins-Yes, Jill Knight-Yes, Dave Ralph-Yes, Scott Cruse-Yes. Carried Sonya will look at the line item in the budget for summer help and determine the amount allocated. She will then send a description to Todd Bastian at the school to find interested students. Bill McCauley will be mowing again this year. Pay the claims against the Village. Motion (Knight, Ralph) to pay the claims against the Village. Roll-all ayes. Carried Meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Motion (Ralph, Perkins) to adjourn. Voice-all ayes. Carried