Public Safety Committee

Village of Grantsburg 316 Brad Street South Grantsburg, WI 54840 Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes The Village Public Safety Committee met on Wednesday, May 14 at 11:00 a.m. in the Village Board room, 316 Brad St S, Grantsburg, WI 54840. Present: Chairman/Trustee Greg Peer Trustee John Addison Trustee Sam Campeau Others: Clerk/Treasurer Sheila Meyer Chief Jared Woody Police Office Administrator Larissa Lee President Rick Lindberg Harlin Prine, citizen Chairman Peer called the Public Safety Committee Meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Police – Library fines Chief Woody reviewed the current process when library materials are not returned or are returned damaged. He feels that the process is unnecessarily time-consuming for the police department and would like to ensure the library exhausts all options before passing on to the police department. He would like to streamline the process where police involvement is required. The committee discussed the guidelines that are detailed in the Village’s ordinances. The committee would like to invite Library Director Lynett Yoerg to the next Public Safety Committee meeting so the process can be reviewed. No motions made. Natural Lawn plan/application received The committee reviewed the request for a natural lawn from resident Sarah Busch located at 335 West Benson Avenue. The committee discussed ongoing review by the police department to ensure the property remains in compliance throughout the year. The committee also discussed whether a fee would be required by natural lawn applicants and how often applications would need to be submitted. They determined no fee at this time and requested applications annually. Motion by Trustee Addison second by Trustee Campeau to recommend the Village Board approve the natural lawn application for 2025 for Sarah Busch and requests the Village Board give the Public Safety Committee authority to approve future natural lawn applications at the committee level. Motion carried. Snowmobile Ordinance and All-Terrain Vehicles Ordinance Chief Woody requested permission to alter the existing plan for atv/utv use for events. Currently the ordinance allows the Village Board the ability to grant special permission for event use of golf carts on Village streets, Chief Woody requests that he has the ability grant that permission for golf carts and atv/utvs. The committee discussed the overall ordinance for atv/utvs throughout the Village which does not allow atv/utvs to drive on Madison Avenue East between Oak Street and Pine Street and James Avenue East between Rusell Street South and Johnson Street and Johnson Street to Highway 70. The committee did not feel there would be an issue with opening all streets to atv/utv traffic. Chief Woody explained that the Village could request Wisconsin DOT permission to allow atv/utv use on state highways. This would allow atv/utv riders to access all highway 70 businesses. Motion by Trustee Addison second by Trustee Campeau to recommend the Village Board change §507-4 Golf carts ‘Permission may be granted by the Village Board for golf cart use during events’ to apply to golf carts, all-terrain, and off-road vehicles and change Village Board to Chief of Police. Motion carried. Motion by Trustee Addison second by Trustee Campeau to recommend the Village Board remove §507-1 All-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles, Section B. All- terrain and utility terrain vehicle use in Village and allow Chief of Police to petition the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to grant permission to allow all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles to operate on state highways within the Village limits. Motion carried. Northwest Wisconsin Dust Devils – trails and street requests The Northwest Wisconsin Dust Devils requested at the previous Village Board meeting to allow atv/utvs to access the trail on the northwest corner of the Village’s airport property. The committee discussed that non-aeronautical use of airport property should not be allowed as it may cause issues with the FAA. The committee asked Clerk/Treasurer Meyer to update Scott DeRocker of the decision. No motions made. Property maintenance questions and review Chief Woody and Police Office Administrator Lee reviewed 72 properties that were found out of compliance. Of the 72 properties one repeat property was issued a third citation, and 65 follow-up letters were sent. The Police Department will do a review of these properties prior to the next committee meeting to discuss the next steps for each property. No motions made. The committee set the next Public Safety Committee meeting for Thursday, June 26 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting was adjourned at 1:34 p.m. Allison Longhenry Deputy Clerk/Treasurer