Administration Committee

The Village Administration Committee met on Monday, January 8 at 4:30 p.m. in the Village Board room, 316 Brad Street S, Grantsburg, WI 54840. Present: Chairman/President Terrance Kucera Trustee Greg Peer Trustee Hank Java Others: Clerk/Treasurer Sheila Meyer DPW John Erickson Chief Mitch Olson Kim Hallberg, Nicki & Ben Peterson, Damon Johnson – Grantsburg Watercross Greg Marsten – Burnett County Sentinel Brent Blomberg President Kucera called the Administration Committee Meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Memory Lake Aquatic Management Plan Grant update The committee chose to move this agenda item later in the meeting until all Watercross members that had planned to attend were present to discuss. Water towers DPW Erickson informed the committee that an inspection was done on the North Water tower in 2023 that resulted in repair recommendations costing over $400,000. He indicated that the South Water tower required inspection in 2024 and would like to have that completed prior to moving forward with any recommendations for the North Water tower in hopes that the projects could be combined if work is also needed on the South Water tower. The committee discussed that DPW Erickson did not need to approach the committee for approval for agency required items costing less than the $10,000 threshold. The committee asked to have DPW Erickson return when repair recommendations are available for both towers to review. Motion by Trustee Java second by Trustee Peer to approve DPW Erickson to schedule State of Wisconsin (DNR, DOT, etc) required items without prior Village Board approval. Motion carried. Memory Lake Aquatic Management Plan Grant update Clerk/Treasurer Meyer explained the Village received notice from SEH that the DNR grant review board felt that the application did not fit in the Comprehensive Planning for Lakes and Watersheds category which had a $25,000 maximum grant award but could fit in the Surface Water Planning category with only a $10,000 maximum grant award. Originally the Watercross group agreed to pay $10,000 towards the project, the Village agreed to pay SEH to submit the grant and would borrow $10,000 with the grant portion covering the remaining costs. Now with only $10,000 maximum grant potential, there is a $15,000 deficit that would need to be covered. SEH verified the Village’s grant application was submitted to the Comprehensive Planning for Lakes and Watersheds category as directed by Austin Dehn WI DNR regional Water Quality Bureau specialist, but the grant review board had final say. The Village had the option to pull the grant application or keep it submitted under the new category, the Village chose to submit under the new category. Any project costs incurred prior to the grant award would not be eligible for grant coverage. The Watercross group asked the Village to get bids from other engineering firms for the Aquatic Plant Management Plan and to verify with SEH what the cost of an update Comprehensive Lake Management plan would be. The group verified that without this Aquatic Plant Management Plan, mechanical plant cutting and dredging could not be done. The committee asked Clerk/Treasurer Meyer to check with another firm for prices on lake management plans, follow up with SEH on the long-term plan and costs, and allowed the Watercross group to work with the Tribe to relocate the wild rice. The committee will inform the Watercross group as updates become available. No motions made. Water Main – State Rd 70 E DPW Erickson informed the committee that he would like to contact an engineering firm to develop plans and a cost estimate to replace the watermain on State Rd 70 between Johnson St and Russell St S. DPW Erickson explained this section of main has had at least one main break each year for the past five years which is far more than any other main in town. He would like to begin planning now so a project could coincide with Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Highway 70 re-surfacing project set for the year 2028. No motions made. The meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m. Allison Longhenry Deputy Clerk/Treasurer