Regular Board Meeting

MINUTES SUBJECT TO VILLAGE BOARD APPROVAL VILLAGE OF BIRON REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES – April 8, 2024 The April 8, 2024 Regular Village Board meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Jon Evenson at the Biron Municipal Center. The meeting was properly posted according to Wisconsin State Statutes. PRESENT: Jon Evenson, Tammy Steward, Mark Honkomp, Jamie Biegel, Dan Muleski, Patty Gapen. Mike Guillemot is excused. Also present: Anne Arndt, Peggy Doughty, Samantha Daugherty, and three guests. MINUTES: Motion Honkomp, second Muleski to approve minutes of the March 11, 2024 Regular Board meeting. Motion carried. Motion Biegel, second Evenson to approve minutes of the March 25, 2024 Special Board meeting. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT: A resident voiced concerns with semis parking long term on 31st Street North by Kwik Trip. Calls to the sheriff’s department don’t always result in action. Suggestions were made including the Village selling that cul-de-sac area to Kwik Trip and dead end it. FINANCE COMMITTEE: Chairperson Patty Gapen reporting. All bills, non-lapsing accounts, and journal entries for the Village and utility departments are in order. Chief Kerkman stated he would like to purchase a battery operated fan for Engine 1 and will use the department’s fundraising account to purchase. Motion Muleski, second Honkomp to approve all bills, non-lapsing accounts, and journal entries for the Village and utility departments and to approve the Finance Committee report. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Samantha Daugherty reporting. Totals reported to the Finance Committee: Receipts for March: $106,482.47 and Expenses: $130,424.04. General fund checking account bills were paid on check #’s 23556-25595 with eight autopays to IRS, Deferred Comp, Department of Revenue, and WRS for payroll deductions. A list of March bills paid from the General Fund was included for review. Village Non-Lapsing Fund: $1,208,198.82. Village Golden Passbook: $1,027,408.61 Utilities Checking: $58,047.89. Water Money Market: $888,068.55. Utility bills were paid on check #’s 5085-5099. Motion Muleski, second Homkomp to approve the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried. BIRON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Chief Kerkman reporting. Training consisted of annual emergency vehicle course operation. Six medical and one fire call was made in March. Several members are in training classes at MSTC. Several members attended the WI Firefighters Association conference in Stevens Point. The department roster is at twenty. Motion Honkomp, second Gapen to approve the Fire Department report. Motion carried. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Chairperson Mark Honkomp reporting. The committee did not meet in March. LEGISLATIVE, ORDINANCE & ZONING COMMITTEE REPORT: Chairperson Dan Muleski reporting. The committee did not meet in March but Muleski reported he’s been working with the building inspector on elevation for new construction. He has also been doing preliminary work on creating an ordinance for short-term rentals. PLAN COMMISSION: Chairperson Jon Evenson reporting. The Comprehensive Plan needs to be updated. Many entities now require a copy when applying for grants and other state programs. The Commission will secure an entity to help with the updating. TID eligible projects were discussed. Three significant projects are Huffman Road rebuild; Biron Drive rebuild; 80th Street water loop to the Bridgewater development area. The water loop would resolve fire flows and the lining of sanitary sewers, both which would take place in coordination with the Biron Drive reconstruction. Evenson reported he spoke with Highway Commissioner Roland Hawk regarding the purchase of 1025 N. Biron Drive property as part of CTH U reconstruction. Roland asked if the Village will still honor the 50/50 split. Motion Evenson, second Muleski to approve the recommendation of the Plan Commission to continue to honor the 50/50 cost split subject to final assessment value and relocation costs as they become available. Motion carried. Evenson reported there may be floodplain grant money to assist with the costs. Motion Muleski, second Evenson to approve the Plan Commission minutes and report. Motion carried. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT: Chairperson Tammy Steward reporting. The committee did not meet in March. Keith Helmrick, Classic Development, reviewed plans for Bridgewater Phase II sanitary sewer, water main, and street extensions. Motion Steward, second Muleski to approve the plans as presented, subject to review by the Public Works Director. Motion carried. PUBLIC PROPERTY, SAFETY & RECREATION COMMITTEE REPORT: Chairperson Mike Guillemot reporting. The committee did not meet in March. There are still five boat slips available for rent. WATER UTILITY COMMITTEE REPORT: Chairperson Jamie Biegel reporting. There is a need to purchase commercial water meters. An option is to replace the register and endpoint for meters two inches and above rather than replacing the entire meter and is more affordable. The committee recommends purchasing two one and one-half inch meters along with fifteen registers and endpoints for meters two inches and above. Total cost of $6,205 will be paid from the 2024 budget and the remaining meters be budgeted for in 2025. Issues at the well are being resolved. Motion Muleski, second Biegel to approve the Water Utility report. Motion carried. WASTEWATER COMMISSION REPORT: Note: The Wastewater Treatment Plant is operated & staffed by the City of Wisconsin Rapids. One member of the Village of Biron Board of Trustees is an acting member of the Commission. Motion Evenson, second Muleski to accept minutes of February 14 and March 13 meetings. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: None CLERK’S REPORT: Arndt reported the Spring Election went smoothly. NBC news, Elections Unit, and USA Today contacted her several times during the day for reports and voter turnout. Use of the Express Vote is increasing over using paper ballots. Arndt would like to purchase another Express Vote to alleviate lines on Election days. A quote from ES&S was reviewed for $4,135. ARPA funds may be used to purchase this. An Accessible Voting Equipment Subgrant Reimbursement ($750) is available through the WI Elections Commission, which Arndt will apply for Motion Muleski, second Biegel to purchase one Express Vote for $3,385.00 using ARPA funds. Motion carried. Open Book will be May 8 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. by telephone only. Board of Review will be May 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Biron Municipal Center. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: no report ADJOURN: Motion Honkomp, second Biegel to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Approved by Biron Board of Trustees Date: _________________________ Anne Arndt, Clerk Signed: ________________________ Jon T. Evenson, President