Village Board

Village of Grantsburg Village Board of Trustees Special Meeting Monday, August 28, 2023 The Board of Trustees for the Village of Grantsburg met on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Village Board Room, 316 S. Brad Street, Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Present: President Terrance Kucera, Trustee Greg Peer, Trustee Diane Barton, Trustee Hank Java, Trustee Maurice DJ Henderson Absent: Trustee Leo Janke, Trustee John McNally, Others: Police Chief Mitch Olson, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Allison Longhenry, Greg Marsten- Burnett County Sentinel, Ben & Nicki Peterson. Attending via zoom: From SEH-Brea Grace, Renee Cance & Dan Penzkover Call to Order President Kucera called the Special Village Board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Clerk/Treasurer Meyer conducted roll call. The pledge of allegiance was recited. Memory Lake Aquatic Management Plan, grant President Kucera invited Brea Grace, SEH to start by explaining the timeline presented for completing the Aquatic Management Plan required by WI DNR prior to any future mechanical weed cutting or dredging of Memory Lake. Grace indicated Renee Cance, SEH , had a conversation with Matt Berg regarding his aquatic plant survey and reports. Berg’s reports will be completed in November-December. SEH would be using these survey reports to compile the Management Plan with a completion date estimated in late summer of 2024. Grace and Cance stated they had a conversation with Austin Dehn and Pamela Toshner from WI DNR on August 24th and asked many questions regarding the requirements of the Aquatic Plant Management plan. After the discussion, which C/T Meyer was also a part of, Cance indicated the Village’s 2015 plan does not meet current WI DNR standards listed in NR 109. The new plan will concentrate on the aquatic plants in Memory Lake and management of these plants. It was also verified this plan will have to be updated every five (5) years to comply with WI DNR NR 109. Grace and Cance did not feel the report could be completed prior to the 2024 Watercross event. Grace reported she had asked Dehn and Toshner the chances of Watercross obtaining a permit to mechanically cut weeds for the 2024 event with the grant application submitted and a contract being executed between SEH and the Village for the Aquatic Management Plant plan. They indicated it was very possible but could not guarantee anything. Discussion ensued regarding items to include in the plan including a report on the economic impact of Watercross compiled by UW Extension some years ago, a report showing no negative impact on lakes when the Watercross events are held, tribal statement on the wild rice in Memory Lake and other uses of the lake. These items will be gathered and sent to Renee Cance. The Board discussed applying for the Lake Planning grant to assist with costs since the Management Plan completion isn’t possible prior to the 2024 1  Special Village Board Meeting Monday, August 28, 2023 Watercross event. The cost of the plan and grant management is estimated at $53,000 with several items that could be completed by the Village to reduce this cost. Nicki Peterson reported the Watercross committee had met prior to knowing the $53,000 estimate and agreed to contribute up to $10,000 to the plan with the Village covering the $4,500 grant application fee. If the grant were granted to the Village, it would cover 67% of the costs, leaving 33% or $17,500 for the Village and or Watercross. Peterson indicated she would also contact some local residents and businesses in the hope of obtaining donations. Motion by Trustee Peer, second by Trustee Henderson to approve the contract with SEH in the amount of $4,500 to prepare and submit the Lake Planning Grant to WI DNR for the Aquatic Plant Management plan. Motion passed unanimously. Disallowance of Claim – Goodwin A letter was received from the Village’s liability insurance company recommending the Village disallow a Notice of Claim received on June 28, 2023, from Elaine Goodwin for a fall she suffered on the sidewalk in front of the building at 136 W. Madison Avenue last winter. Motion by Trustee Java, second by Trustee Barton to follow the insurance company’s advice and disallow the Notice of Claim received on June 28, 2023, from Elaine Goodwin. Motion passed unanimously. Adjournment President Kucera adjourned the Village Board meeting at 7:28 p.m. Sheila Meyer Clerk/Treasurer 2