Committee of the Whole

MEETING MINUTES Village of Palmyra Committee of the Whole Meeting Monday Aug. 19, 2024 6:00 pm Village Hall 100 W. Taft St. Palmyra, WI. The meeting was called to order by Village President Kathy Weiss at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Troiola, Weiss-present. Pledge of Allegiance Communications: President Weiss mentioned several upcoming events: Music on Main Aug. 23rd, Aug. 31st ski show at Blue Spring Lake, yardwaste Sept. 7th, Open Book Aug. 22nd from 2- 6 pm. And board of review Sept. 12th 5-7 pm Department Reports: Building Inspection -none Clerk / Treasurer-talked about the Aug. Election and the upcoming Nov. General Election Library- Trustee Petruska says they are working on budgets and building maintenance issues. Parks & Recreation-none Public Safety- Chief Pavlock said that he just attended the Chiefs conference for 3 days. The State Attorney General had some information about election threats and training that he will share with the clerk. The Police & Fire Commission approved to hire a FT police officer as soon as he can relocate, he has completed the academy but no experience so he will be on a 90 day training period. Working on the Budget. Public Works- some shouldering work to do on the newly paved roads, sidewalk projects started today. Working on budgets, getting prices for fixing beach house roof. Committee Reports: New Business: 1. Entire Committee of the Whole A. Discussion/possible action on a recommendation of a Lake Drawdown. President Weiss thanked the Ad Hoc committee folks for their time they have put into this. David Wilber is present. All meeting minutes except for their last meeting have been given to the Village Board. Trustee Smith said that the Committee is recommending to the Village to move forward with a drawdown in the winter of 2025-2026 and Dave Wilber says it needs a plan to developed. The plan would talk about community monitoring and invite more input for this, how they can leverage community enthusiasm, drone fly overs, other alternatives for funding, etc. Wiss also said that they learned of an issue with protecting the mussels. Trustee Smith said that the plan would keep the community informed. Trustee Gorsegner said that if we approve the drawdown then it gives the Ad Hoc committee the go ahead to work on their plan. Trustees Troiola and Petruska asked why we don’t table it until there IS a plan? Troiola says they want us to approve a drawdown without a plan in place? They will do fundraising. Mike Fischer spoke-the committee was supposed to look into the pros and cons of multi lake drawdowns and they got info. from Montello and Alpine Lakes. The DNR could not give them a list of lakes with multiple drawdowns. Wilber said that the milfoil was dramatically reduced for approx. 3 yrs. After the last drawdown. It is not a permanent solution, and they aren’t asking for multiple drawdowns. Fischer-said that the drawdown disrupted the whole echo system, larger northern pike are gone, DNR won’t stock the lakes anymore. The Lions Club stocked $3200 worth of fish in 2018. Fischer went on to say that the budget for the weed cutter has gone down over the last few years. He also asked why the weed cutter isn’t out earlier in the season. Also-several properties want to dredge. Troiola said, isn’t 2 drawdowns’ multiple? Trustee Petruska asked for the total number of people on the Ad Hoc committee. Trustee said 8 and of those 4 were Lake people. Petruska said there aren’t enough diverse members of the community for this vote and Troiola said the vote will always pass when the majority of the Ad Hoc are lake people. Troiola said what about a referendum question on the ballot. Scott Halbrucker said that this is the worst year for floaters of weeds on the lake that the harvester is not picking up due to operator issues, worst he has seen in over 20 years. Trustee Kinjerski said maybe they should look at getting a new weed cutter. Weiss asked if the board wants the plan first. Could the plan be done in the next few months? Wilber says yes. Troiola says the Ad Hoc committee was very beneficial and we have learned a lot more, but we shouldn’t put the cart in front of the horse. Troiola says he thinks the dredging permits expire in 2025/2026. Gorsegner says that the idea is with the board’s support, if we say yes then they will do the plan. Wilber said the board should let him know what data they want, and he welcomes additional people to attend further meetings. Weiss told the board to get what they want to the clerk by Friday morning in an email and she will forward it to David. Petruska/Troiola motion to table this until such time as a plan is given to the Board. All ayes- motion carried. B. Troiola/Gorsegner motion to approve the minutes from August 5, 2024 Village Board meeting as presented. All ayes-motion carried. Petruska abstained as she was absent on that night. C. Discussion/possible action on setting the date for the 1st Board meeting in September. The Board decided to have the meeting on Wednesday Sept. 4th at 6 pm D. Discussion/possible action on our ongoing projects as follows: Village Calendar- any updates. None from public safety. Emergency Management Plan and FEMA Training for Trustees- Chief Pavlock said that they need to pick a date for training and get the Town Board to attend as well. Sept 23 or Sept. 30th Time to be determined right now possibly 5 or 6 pm. 2. Administration and Planning Committee: Chairperson Gorsegner A. Troiola/Petruska motion to approve the appointment of Judy Stapleton as a Village of Palmyra Election Official. All ayes-motion carried. B. Discussion/possible action on wording changes to the Employee Handbook regarding drug testing. Tabled for better wording. 3. Budget & Finance Committee: Chairperson Troiola. A. Troiola/Smith motion to approve the payment of Bills totaling $40,408.63 on the bill list with extras presented tonight to Heidi’s Floral, WE Energies, Dept. of Admin. For email filtering, Brightspeed, park refund to Lower Spring Lake BP. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Troiola, Weiss-aye. Motion carried. B. Discussion/possible action on a quote from the Jefferson County Humane Society to contract with them for animal control. Chief Pavlock said that there has been a verbal agreement now for $175 a month for afterhours pick up. We do not take cats due to past employees being bitten when they are stray and feral. Under this contract cats will be accepted. Scott Halbrucker asked why he had a dog kennel built at the new sewer plant? That’s where dogs were always brought to in the past. Pavlock said he can’t take someone’s pets up to a kennel that isn’t climate controlled. Trustee Petruska asked if dog owners are getting charged now for dogs at large. Pavlock said says yes, but the Cler said she has not gotten any dogs at large money from them. He said they get 1 warning, but they are getting ticketed. This contract is just for the rest of 2024, he will budget for 2025 cost. Petruska/Troiola motion to accept the contract for the remainder of 2024 with the Humane Society of Jefferson County for $175 a month. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Troiola, Weiss-aye. Motion carried. 4. Public Safety Committee: Chairperson Ball. A. Ball/Gorsegner motion to approve Resolution 2024-07 updating the Village’s Fee Schedule pertaining to the Fire/EMS fees on the last page. All ayes-motion carried. 5. Entire Committee of the Whole: A. Troiola/Petruska motion to convene into Closed Session at 7:32 pm with staff, pursuant to §19.85(1)(g) Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Specifically, fireworks permits from 2024. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Troiola, Weiss-aye. Motion carried. B. Petruska/Ball motion to convene into open session at 7:48 pm for further discussion related to matters discussed in closed session. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Troiola, Weiss-aye. Motion carried. No action taken. Petruska/ Troiola motion to adjourn at 7:49 pm Respectfully submitted, Laurie Mueller Village Clerk/Treasurer Minutes approved without corrections Sept. 3, 2024