Special Village Board

Village of Grantsburg Village Board of Trustees Special Meeting Thursday, July 24, 2025 The Board of Trustees for the Village of Grantsburg met on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at 316 S. Brad Street, Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Present: President Rick Lindberg, Trustee Greg Peer, Trustee Hank Java, Trustee Leo Janke, Trustee Sam Campeau, Trustee John Addison Others: Police Chief Jared Woody, DPW John Erickson, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Allison Longhenry, Bryce Highstrom-NWBE, Inc., Representative Duke Tucker, Zak Radzak-Teamsters General Local 346. Via Teams Meeting: Dan Penzkover & Derrick Bacha-S E H, Inc, and Nicholas Spitzer-WisDOT Project Manager Call to Order President Lindberg called the Special Village Board meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Clerk/Treasurer Meyer conducted roll call. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. James & Johnson Project options and/or change order. The Board discussed the documents included in their meeting packets. Derrick Bacha, S E H Design Engineer, explained more about the soil borings he had originally included in the project. Emails show WisDOT’s comments that they did not think soil borings were necessary for this small project on James & Johnson. Bacha had gotten an estimate of $4,150 for soil borings from Professional Service Industries, Inc. Highstrom’ s email indicating a second option was included in the packets. WisDOT pavement engineer, Devin Harings recommended doing a test strip to determine the minimum depth of excavation and new base required. A 15’ wide X 50’ long area would be used with 12.5’ having fabric and 5” cut, 12.5’ with no fabric and 5” cut, and 25’ with 8” cut. After compaction, a loaded truck would be driven over the area, and the results would be analyzed. The cost of the test strip would be $10,000. Trustee Java asked if we use less than the 4” base, will we be jeopardizing existing funding? Highstrom responded WisDOT said 6” with the fabric is the least they would recommend without a test strip. Highstrom was asked how much material was in the original bid and could that be used? He said 400 tons in the original bid will be used at the intersection. Several Trustees agreed the worst section on James Avenue has been between the two four- way stops. Nicholas Spitzer, WisDOT Project Manager, indicated the Village could submit a Change Management Request for the base charge and see if Federal money will cover the change order. It will take a week or so for a decision. The Trustees were cautioned by Bacha and Spitzer not to get their hopes up for additional funding. Bacha asked the age of James Avenue. C/T Meyer said 1985 was when James Avenue was constructed. Representative Tucker indicated he would be willing to write a letter to WisDOT on behalf of the Village and would send it to Spitzer for inclusion with the Change Management Request. To assist with the project still getting done before School starts, the Board discussed closing 1  Special Village Board Meeting Thursday, July 24, 2025 James Avenue from Johnson to the Pool. Motion by Trustee Java, second by Trustee Janke to do a contract amendment to close James Avenue from Johnson Street to the Pool (allowing for traffic to cross James Ave to enter and exit the Elementary School) and to remove the pedestrian path. Motion passed unanimously Public Works Union & Health, etc. Insurance. C/T Meyer explained the PW crew, Larrissa Lee and Allison Longhenry voted to join the Teamsters General Local 346. Zak Radzak, representing the Teamsters Union, was present at the meeting. Radzak explained in Wisconsin, non-essential workers (non-Police) can only bargain wages. He further explained the wage negotiations are limited to a certain percentage which is 2.91% for 1/1/2026 wages. The employees are interested in joining Teamcare insurance through the union. The insurance will save both the Village and the employees money in healthcare costs. Premiums are the same for single and family insurance. Because of the premium structure, employees who currently have single insurance will pay substantially more per month. For example, an employee with single coverage now has between $72 and $120 withheld from their check each month. Their monthly premium with Teamcare will be $195 per month (10% of the total premium). Family premiums are $35 to $45 less than currently. Discussion was held on a possible stipend for those with single coverage to lessen the impact of monthly withholding. Union employees will pay monthly union dues of $45. Supervisory employees John Erickson-DPW, Sheila Meyer- Clerk/Treasurer and Lynett Yoerg-Library Director are not part of the union but can join Teamcare Insurance. Employees can opt out only at this initial enrollment. All new employees hired will be required to join the union and take Teamcare Insurance. Motion by Trustee Janke, second by Trustee Java to approve a contract with the Teamsters Local 346 effective from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026, for non-essential Village employees. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Trustee Java, second by Trustee Janke to approve the Teamcare Wisconsin Municipalities Participation Agreements for DPW employees, Clerical Workers, and Non- Bargaining Unit Employees for participation in the medical, RX, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance programs effective September 1, 2025. Motion by Trustee Addison, second by Trustee Java to give a stipend to those employees with single insurance coverage to offset the additional premium cost to December 31, 2025. THE VILLAGE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION to discuss Police Officer resignation pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85 (1) (c) “Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the government body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.” Motion by Trustee Peer, second by Trustee Janke to convene into closed session at 11:10 a.m. Motion passed unanimously. THE VILLAGE BOARD WILL RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85 (2). Motion by Trustee Java, second by Trustee Janke to reconvene into open session at 12 noon. No motions from closed session. 2  Special Village Board Meeting Thursday, July 24, 2025 The meeting was adjourned at 12:02 p.m. Sheila Meyer Clerk/Treasurer 3