Village Board

MINUTES OF THE ALBANY VILLAGE BOARD November 13, 2023 The regular meeting of the Albany Village Board was called to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Albany Village Hall be President Kim Blumer. Members present were: Blumer, Michelle Monson, Fred Johnson, Roald Henderson, Larry Nipple, Bert Hefty and Tonya Stephan. Also present: Robert Ritter, Lonnie Gill, Scott Vosters, Melissa Everson, Olivia Otte and Danny Mueller. The Pledge of Allegiance was shared. Proof of posting was verified. AGENDA: Motion by Stephan, seconded by Hefty, to approve the agenda as posted. Carried. ADOPT 2024 BUDGET: Motion by Monson, seconded by Stephan, to approve the 2024 budget in the amount of $1,196,619. Carried. ADOPT 2024 LEVY: Motion by Monson, seconded by Hefty, to approve the 2024 levy in the amount of $561,015. Carried. ADOPT 2024 SET ASIDES: Motion by Hefty, seconded by Stephan, to approve the 2024 set asides in the amount of $93,302. Carried. MINUTES: Motion by Monson, seconded by Johnson, to approve the minutes of the October 9, 2023 meeting as printed. Carried. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Nothing. PUBLIC APPEARANCES: None. GREEN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: Otte reported that they will be having a Housing Action Forum on December 7, 2023 from 8am-12pm. There will be a county wide housing study, showing the need for housing in the green county community and the different tools that can be utilized to help towards housing needs. She will send an invite to Brewer to pass on to the board. Also, they have a child care grant to be used towards capital improvements; please pass on the word to any caregivers. We should have word in December on whether our application was chosen for interns from Platteville to assess the river walkway, etc. Otte applied for a local small micro grant on our behalf for downtown beautification, most likely will hear back in January. She has been in contact with local food trucks that would like to put together a local food event, maybe coordinate with some other businesses to create a family friendly event to drive people to the downtown area, looking at doing this in summer 2024. Henderson would like to look more into doing the food truck event. Monson suggested doing the food truck event during our farmer/craft market day. Will present more information as it is gathered. Village Board November 13, 2023 Page 2 ALBANY COMMUNITY 1ST / CHAMBER: Vosters mentioned that the Chamber will have the lighting of the Christmas Tree on December 3, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. The Chamber’s next meeting is Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Library. LIBRARY UPDATE: Everson mentioned the library will be starting a writing event for high school age and up once a month on the last Thursday of the month. The Board of trustees has approved the policy handbook in its entirety. The silent auction raised $2,338. Trunk-or-treat was at The Lions Club, put on by the Albany PTO, and the library gave away almost 100 books to local children. December 2, 2023 from 9-11:30 a.m. is Snack with Santa, there will be snacks, crafts, books and of course, Santa! February 3 is National Take you child to library day. In memory of Catherine Blakemore, hosting author Annelise Ryan who is releasing her most recent book. The Library will be closed for Thanksgiving Day. Everson would like to welcome the new library page, Rebecca Rhyner. Henderson summarized the financial report that was presented. ALBANY HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD APPOINTMENTS: Motion by Stephan, seconded by Hefty, to appoint Jeff Berra for a five year term expiring 2028. Carried. DELINQUENT PERSONAL PROPERTY: Motion by Monson, seconded by Stephan, to write off the personal property taxes for New Image Salon in the amount of $54.46 and Mark Berlinski in the amount of $11.29. Carried. AUDITOR CONTRACT: Motion by Monson, seconded by Stephan, to approve the Auditor’s Contract for audit years 2023, 2024 and 2025. Carried. WATER UTILITY RATE INCREASE: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Monson, to apply to the PSC for a water utility rate increase in the amount of 8%. Carried. RESOLUTION 06-23: SEWER UTILITY RATE INCREASE: Motion by Monson, seconded by Hefty, to approve Resolution 06-23 Sewer Utility Rate Increase in the amount of 5%. Carried. RIVER ENTRANCE TIMES: Henderson wanted to address this issue from the previous Police, Fire & License meeting, since it was not addressed at the previous board meeting, he would like to learn more about some of the concern over late tubing times. Ritter reported that the last weekend of tubing was pretty busy and the fire whistle went off and it was for people who were tubing that wanted to get off the river and the tubing company that they used were not going to get them off the river, so the Fire Department got called to go get the tubers. The next night there was a similar incident with the tubers being put on later. Mueller reported that the first incident was through S&B and the customer had a popped tube; the second incident was Village Board November 13, 2023 Page 3 also through S&B and the customers were put in later than they should have been and the wind picked up which was harder than the river current and they were sitting in the dark. Mueller sent a bill to S&B for both incidents and has not received anything yet. Motion by Monson, seconded by Nipple, to have the Village send a letter to both tubing companies about charging for fire calls to help their customers get off the river. Carried. EMPLOYEE GIFT CARDS: Motion by Blumer, seconded by Hefty, to give the full-time employees $50 gift cards and the part-time employees $25 gift cards as a holiday gift. Carried. COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION REPORTS: Motion by Monson, seconded by Johnson, to approve the following committee minutes as printed: Finance/Insurance 10/20/23 Street & Utility 11/6/23 703 FIFTH STREET WATER METER: The removal of a water meter at this location has been completed and the cost was covered by an anonymous donor. SEWER PERMIT MODIFICATION FOR DNR: Motion by Nipple, seconded by Blumer, to allow Mead & Hunt to submit the Request for Modification to the DNR and next month present our revised trading plan to our trading partners. Carried. NEW TRUCK BID OPENING: Motion by Nipple, seconded by Blumer, to accept the bid from Symdon of New Glarus and have Gill order the 2024 5500 Series Dodge truck with equipment for a total cost of $117,788. Carried. ALBANY WATERWORKS EMERGENCY REPSONSE PLAN: Motion by Nipple, seconded by Monson, to approve the Albany Waterworks Emergency Response Plan. Carried. APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Monson, seconded by Hefty, to approve the bills. Carried. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Gill will look into the solar lights at the Hwy 59 and Mechanic Street intersection. Stephan made Gill aware of some playground equipment that needs fixing. Gill will look into getting some quotes on replacing flooring in the village hall. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Hefty, seconded by Monson, to adjourn. MICHELLE C. BREWER, Clerk Village of Albany 7:51 p.m.