Village Board

VILLAGE OF HORTONVILLE VILLAGE BOARD APRIL 4, 2024 MEETING MINUTES APPROVED APRIL 18, 2024 President Jeanne Bellile called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Center at 531 N. Nash St., Hortonville, Wisconsin. Trustees present: Grace Abitz, Pat Lund-Moe, Jim Moeller, Jane Olk, Shauna Keel, and Julie Arendt Vanden Heuvel. Trustees absent: Officials/Staff present: Administrator Nathan Treadwell, Clerk-Treasurer Jane Booth, Director of Public Works Aaron Steber, Chief of Police Kristine Brownson, Library Director Alexandrea Krause, and Attorney Ashley Lehocky. President Jeanne Bellile thanked Pat Lund-Moe for all her years of service on the Village Board. Consent Agenda Motion [Moeller/Arendt Vanden Heuvel] to approve as outlined. Roll call vote, 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. A. March 21, 2024 Regular Board meeting minutes B. Licenses and Permits i. 6 Month Class “B” Beer License Otto Miller Concession Stand Hortonville Youth Sports 130 John Street Julie Griesbach, Agent C. Presentation of accounts and other claims against the Village Agenda Changes None Preregistered Citizens to be heard Mary Ellen Ahlgrimm, 665 Commerce Drive, my husband and I own Mil-Cor in the second phase of the industrial park. We are a drilling and a blasting company. We work in the quarries in the state of Wisconsin. Our equipment is very heavy and our main concern with the requirement of paving is that we have third chain drills, and they are very big and have major tracks on them, to unload and onload the drill would rip up any type of asphalt and they would rip up the asphalt in 2 years’ time. We employ 30 employees, and we take great pride in our business and the way we have conducted ourselves in the industrial park. We have meticulously maintained our yard and our business. We have firmed up almost the entire property to keep privacy under control. I am asking for a variance for the pavement because it will be destroyed in a matter of two years, and the average cost is expected to be about $250,000. Robert Blohowiak, 651 Industrial Park Avenue, I am the owner with my wife Mary of Northwoods Real Estate Holdings. We are currently doing business as Great Lakes Equine horse veterinarian hospital. We took ownership of the property in 2018 and I checked with my title company just today and there is nothing with my signature on the covenants, and it was news to me. We service sick and lame horses, and we had 140 horses on Saturday, and pavement would be extremely dangerous, and the gravel provides traction, and we also have to keep a great amount of distance due to contagious disease. We average 12-30 horses per day that are being seen and unloaded. We also have a specialty of performance show horses and do a lot of laynif evaluations. We also have a rehabilitation program for these horses, and they are being walked around the building. This would be a problem if it was pavement. It would be devastating for our business if the driveway were paved. I can give you examples of numerous horse hospitals and none of them have paved lots. Gary Bekx, 210 Industrial Drive, I bought my property secondhand vacant land in 2008 and at that time was not given covenants. There was never anything brought up with the building inspector. I was given a covenant book in May of 2014 by Andy Gitter, and at that point there was nothing brought up about paving. The minimum cost would be $68,000 and will be a hardship for me. I am currently renting out my building. If this is going to be a problem, this should have been done many years ago. There are also businesses in the industrial park that have variances. I know that PSI has a variance for their gravel. I think that we should have been invited to talk to the Planning and Zoning Committee meeting. Stock Street isn’t paved, and if the Village isn’t doing their part, why do we have to. I am asking that the Village Board grant us variances, and learn from this oversight, and going forward do a better job of policing it. I did consult an attorney, and it sounds like only people/tenants are the ones that are able to complain. I am asking for a variance on this, and I hope you make the right choice. Mike Olk, Tom-Cin Metals, 300 Industrial Park Avenue, asking for a variance for the property up there and everything was brought up in the covenants and taken care of at that point and time, except for the back parking lots. The reason for that is the approved plan calls for gravel and to come back almost 30 years later is kind of ridiculous. We are requesting a variance and hope you all approve it. Claire Abitz, 111 S Nash Street, I am the business and property owner at 111 S Nash Street. I am here to speak on the proposed further parking restriction in this area. I think the Village is potentially missing a mark when it comes to the area on S Nash. Speaking to further restrict parking, not only does it do a disservice to our businesses it reduces access to the lake and to the fishing pier, and it limits the option for overflow parking in the downtown at peak times. If parking lines were painted on the road in this area matching how it had been used historically it would restore eight to ten available spaces. These would be very useful during the downtown reconstruction. During the panel discussion last week for the Trustee candidates, I heard the word growth a lot. The Village wants growth, that’s great and I support that. At our location on S Nash Street, we have established three retail business, and have just added a fourth retail business. I thought that this kind of growth would be in line with the Village’s vision for the future. I would love to work together for a practical solution in this area. I do not believe further restriction is the answer. Committee Reports Library Board – Trustee Lund-Moe said that we met last Tuesday and approved funding for staff attendance at the conference in Stevens Point. Allie gave her director report and update. The calendar is done for April. Unfinished Business from previous meetings None New Business Discussion and Possible action on Industrial Park Variance for Great Lakes Equine Administrator Treadwell said that the information is in your packet. All of these businesses were contacted after I was told that these businesses should have paved driveways. I looked through our variances and none of these here had a listed variance with their properties. Trustee Moeller said that we can’t look at what past boards have done. I have heard that this is a significant hardship and what I am going to propose and what I didn’t hear from anyone was an alternative solution. What I would propose is that the owners of the properties come up with a solution. I drove through there and where the employees are parking is muddy gravel and I don’t see why that isn’t paved. Everyone’s situation is kind of unique. Trustee Arendt Vanden Heuvel asked the question of the attorney. Are we setting a precedent? Attorney Lehocky said that in order to accept a variance that doesn’t make sense to me. I would think it would be more of an amendment to the covenants. It appears to me that it is still enforceable. Trustee Lund-Moe asked what was the original complaint? Administrator Treadwell said that it was from a resident who had lived there for a long time and knew about the covenants. The main reason was dust. PSI had a variance, and they were required to put a slated fence around the unpaved area. Trustee Moeller said to table it for 120 days and have the property owners come back with a solution with changes to the covenant. Attorney Lehocky said that from a procedural standpoint you as a village board have the ability to make amendments to the covenants. Trustee Abitz said that she supports an amendment, and this is affecting four huge businesses. The equine place cannot exist there. President Bellile suggested setting up a joint meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Village Board in 120 days. Motion [Moeller/Arendt Vanden Heuvel] to table items ABCD the discussion and possible action for 120 days until such time that we can reconvene with the Planning & Zoning Committee during a public hearing. Roll call vote, 6 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstain (Abitz), motion carried. Discussion and Possible action on Crane Engineering effluent pump repair DPW Director Steber said that the effluent pump pumps treated water from our plant to the river. Trustee Moeller asked about the life expectancy and the cost of a new pump versus repairing the effluent pump. Motion [Moeller/Olk] to table the Crane Engineering effluent pump repair for one week. Unanimous voice vote, motion carried. Discussion and possible action on Typical Sections for Main Street Reconstruction Administrator Treadwell said that we had a public information meeting with the owners of properties along Main Street. Discussion ensued. Motion [Arendt Vanden Heuvel/Lund-Moe] to approve the typical finished sections County JJ North side parking drawing for Main Street. Roll call vote, 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Discussion and possible action on 2025-2027 Union Contract Motion [Arendt Vanden Heuvel/Abitz] to approve the 2025-2027 Union Contract with the notations of article 8.1 changing it to October 1, 2025, article 9.8 to December 31 a typo correction, and article 27.1 effective 2025 – 2027, article 11.2a with reference to dental benefits should be as hours determined by eligibility with the insurance company. Roll call vote, 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Discussion and possible action on Ordinance O-04-24 Amending Parking Prohibited Section 40-47 (22) Administrator Treadwell said this was brought up at the Public Safety meeting initially, there was no motion to bring it to the board. This was brought to the board by myself due to the fact that this was the Fire Chiefs request, and my recommendation would be to table this until staff can work with Outagamie County and see if there is a way to work out this area so there would be accommodations with parking and the roadway as well. Motion [Arendt Vanden Heuvel/Moeller] to defer ordinance 0-04-24 amending parking prohibited section 40-47 (22). Roll call vote, 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Discussion and possible action on R-11-2024 Resolution requesting the county to change the speed limit on CTH M for the section between the bypass and CTH MM. Administrator Treadwell said that a lot of people are increasing speed here and have 45 mph start after MM. Motion [Moeller/Keel] to accept R-11-2024 requesting the county change the speed limit on County M the section of the bypass and County MM. Roll call vote, 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Report of Village Officials Clerk-Treasurer: The report is in the packet. The election went very well. The DPW crew came and plowed from 5:30 pm until the close of the election. That was great. The power did go off briefly for about 30 seconds, but we didn’t lose any of the counts as all of the equipment has battery backup. We have a great crew, Nathan grilled burgers for us and that was a treat. The updated website is going live on Friday, April 5, Lauren has been working with our vendor Town Web and has done a great job. Lauren has taken this project and ran with it. Trustee Arendt Vanden Heuvel asked about how far back do we keep budgets? Clerk Treasurer Booth said she could find them electronically back to 2002. Trustee Arendt Vanden Heuvel asked if there were a large expenditure in a particular year is there any way to dig that up. Administrator Treadwell said the audit. We keep them for seven years. He also said that you could look at larger projects. Trustee Arendt Vanden Heuvel said that I was just curious, there was a reference to a large expenditure in 1999. Director of Public Works: The report is in the packet. I want to commend my staff after the election they stayed up all night clearing our roads and keeping the lift station going. Chief of Police: The report is in the packet. I will be putting out a post that they are starting the siren testing on noon Saturday. We have had meetings every day since the snowstorm. Some areas still have no power, and they are setting up power charging stations. With the ATV/UTV I will be working with Ellington, and I will work with getting some signs removed and/or updated over by Mystic to the Village limits. Trustee Arendt Vanden Heuvel said that towards the end of your report you talk about the traffic study so when you are saying denied, are you talking about the ATV/UTV, are there updates to that? We don’t have anything coming up to get rid of the ATV/UTV ordinance, do we? Chief of Police Brownson said no. Library Director: This is the friends of the library’s third year handling the summer rec scholarship program which provides children from lower income families the opportunity to partake in summer rec. We are still looking for more donations for this year. The last two years we have had 10 kids each year that we have been able to sponsor, and it has made a huge difference even creating memories, they are going to remember this. Our book and bake sale is May 17 and 18th and we are still accepting donations for that. A sign up will be posted soon, we are looking for volunteers to help and volunteers to bake. Attorney: No update. Trustee Arendt Vanden Heuvel asked if Village Trustees can contact the Village attorney directly if there is an ethics violation regarding a board member and Attorney Lehocky said that typically you would tell the administrator or President and they would then contact me. If it is with other members of the board, we typically don’t get involved with those. There are other avenues for that type of thing. Administrator: I attended the Fox West Chamber meeting today. We are starting to pick up with projects here, but the snow slowed that down. We are still planning for the Arbor Day Celebration. Any other miscellaneous topics for future discussion Trustee Arendt Vanden Heuvel stated that we used to video committee meetings. I would like to make it standard that we record all board and committee meetings, and I don’t know if that would be a resolution. Trustee Keel said she had residents ask about signage on Hwy 15 to notice of gas stations, etc. and who would they contact? Administrator Treadwell said that he had a contact at the state and to have them contact him and he will provide them with a contact. Communications and Miscellaneous Business Black Otter Lake District news: Nothing new at this time. Building permit report: The March Building report was submitted. Hortonville-Hortonia Fire District news: None, next meeting will be posted on the website and will be going forward. Gold Cross Ambulance run reports and news: None Hortonville Civic Association: Nothing new Senior Activities Committee: We are having our coffee and conversation this Monday, and the Fox Valley Memory Project is coming at 9:00 am. Our committee meeting is Thursday, the 11th at noon. Our potluck and birthday party is April 15th at noon, and we are making May baskets. April 23, we have a field trip to Hearthstone in Appleton. Trustee Lund-Moe wanted to thank fellow board members, staff and community members. I was listening to public radio the other day and hearing of all the communities that had no one running for open seats on board, commissions, school boards. It says a lot of our community that we had seven slots. It is my hope going forward that we continue to be open to new ideas, it would be very sad if we lost that number of candidates. I want to say to keep listening to the people. I remember when we weren’t going to have a splash pad, or pickleball courts, and look what we are doing because we listened to the community. The league of municipalities puts out a magazine and it talks about planning for the future. New people are moving into town with new ideas, it talks about planning for seven generations ahead. Thank you everybody. Comments and suggestions from citizens present None Motion [Arendt Vanden Heuvel/Moeller] to invite Bob Jewell who is going to be taking office in a couple of weeks to attend Closed Session. Roll call vote, 7 ayes, 0 nays. Motion carried. Motion to go into Closed Session Motion [Lund-Moe/Arendt Vanden Heuvel] to go into Closed Session under State Statute 19.85(1)(e) “Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.” Specifically, Developers Agreement 5-minute recess to clear meeting room Board to go into Closed Session under State Statute 19.85(1) Board to return to Open Session (roll call vote) Motion [Arendt VandenHeuvel/Keel] to return to Open Session. Roll call vote, 7 ayes, 0 nays. Motion carried. Any action on matters discussed in Closed Session None Adjournment Motion [Keel/Moeller] to adjourn. Unanimous voice vote, motion carried. The Board adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Minutes submitted by, Jane Booth, WCMC Village Clerk/Treasurer