Committee of the Whole

MEETING MINUTES Village of Palmyra Combined: Committee of the Whole Meeting Monday April 21, 2025 6:00 pm Village Hall Board Room 100 W. Taft Street. Palmyra, WI. The meeting was called to order by Village President Tim Gorsegner at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Ball, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Wallace-present. Tucker joined via phone. Pledge of Allegiance Communications: President Gorsegner mentioned the following events: May 1st cookie decorating fundraiser at Healthy Community Network, May 1st -10th Friends of the Library book sale, Community Wide Rummage sale 1st weekend of May. Gorsegner mentioned that he forgot to put on the agenda to fill the trustee vacancy, he has gotten 1 letter of interest. Please send a letter if you are interested and it will be discussed at the next meeting. Department Reports: Building Inspection - none Clerk / Treasurer-financial report will be on the agenda later Library-nothing at this time Parks & Recreation-typed report submitted. Public Safety- Chief Pavlock met with Jefferson County Sheriff recently to discuss some upgrades and other things. It was a good meeting. Public Works- Scott said that DPW employees Pat and Randy passed their 7th and final exam and Tony passed one also. Pat & Randy are fully certified. The DOT dropped the ball on the Hwy 106 project, they did not get FAA approval and because they are so close to the airport they need that approval. This could be up to 30 days before they can start, and detour signs and cones are out already. There will be a 60% completion meeting next week regarding the PFAS study. The DNR have accepted our application for the Clean Drinking water loan, but we won’t know until fall if we have gotten the grant. They are working on sludge pumping and the park bathrooms are open. Scott is taking in weed harvester applications again. The first person declined the job. Sidewalk letters will go out next month to where the projects will be. Committee Reports: None Building Permits: None New Business: 1. Entire Committee of the Whole-Due to new committees not being assigned yet, all business will be under the Entire Committee of the Whole. A. Discussion/possible action on allowing the sale of fireworks within the Village of Palmyra. Chief Pavlock submitted a letter to the board saying that he will not support the sale of fireworks in the village. Pavlock said that enforcement action will be taken on those that have fireworks. This is due to several reasons listed in the letter. Pavlock says there were several illegal use violations, and an issue with permit fees being paid. Aaron from Bartolotta was present and he disagrees with Pavlock. Trustee Tucker asked about Party in the Park event in the future, will that event be able to have fireworks? Pavlock said that would be a village board decision. Dustin Hein from Freedom Fireworks asked to speak. He said that recently he and the owner of the BP station spoke about an agreement for them to sell at that location. Hein said there would be no drinking and would have a nice-looking trailer. Hein asked the board to consider they be allowed to sell for 1 year shot to see how they operate. Petruska/Ball motion to take a 1 year pause for the sale of fireworks within the Village. All ayes-motion carried. B. Wallace/Petruska motion to approve an operator’s license application for Jessica Provencher. All ayes-motion carried. C. Tucker/Smith motion to approve an operator’s license application for Mary Baranowski. All ayes-motion carried. D. Discussion/possible action on hiring a part-time Fire & Rescue Administrative Assistant. Chief Gartzke spoke. He said that this position is specifically for the Fire Dept and will be crossed trained with Jill. They will help with grant writing and be support fire/ems dept. This gives them the opportunity to staff the front office every day. They will be focused on EMS billing and proper reimbursement. There is a new program - ground emergency medical transport offering back pay to 2023, she will see if we are owed any money, help with the implementing of fee schedules through inspections. He can’t guarantee the money this person could bring in. They will be on a probationary period. Trustee Petruska said if this is a new position and it isn’t budgeted, how will we fund this position? Mike says they are severely understaffed, and the referendum was shut down, they are going to sell some items. There could be a probationary period. Chief Pavlock says they have been asked about fee increases, and EMS billing and audits have been done by our interim and active assistant chief. The applicant already interviewed and they have served as EMS billing and fire person. What they bring in will more than cover her wages. If it’s not working, then they will let this go. Petruska asked Scott if he knew where he is at for the budget comparison this 1st quarter? He has looked at this yes, says they are “comfortably” where they should be. This position will pay the same rate as Jill Hoard’s position. Ball/Smith motion to hire a PT Administrative secretary for the Fire/EMS dept. and review this position after 3 months. Roll call vote: Ball-aye, Gorsegner-aye, Petruska-nay, Smith-aye, Tucker-abstains, Wallace- aye. Motion carried E. Discussion/possible action PFAS treatment building. Trustee Petruska asked what the notation on the bottom of the quotes mean when it says MEP’s not included. Halbrucker says he isn’t sure but the board approved a contract with MSA so it must be part of that, Petruska is wondering because if this is an extra cost then the board should know. Petruska/Smith motion to approve the drawing labeled option 1A with a metal roof as long as the metal roof is installed correctly in the amount of $341,269.18. Clerk Mueller asked Halbrucker when we will have to pay for this and where the funds are coming from. He said that it will be partially paid for with utility funds and the Clean Drinking Water grant. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace-aye. Motion carried. F. Smith/Petruska motion to approve the April 7, 2025 Village Board meeting minutes as presented. All ayes-motion carried. G. Petruska/Ball motion to approve the payment of the bills on the bill list totaling $82,099.64 with extras to Core and Main and Brightspeed. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace-aye. Motion carried. H. Ball/Wallace motion to approve the Feb. 2025 Financial statement, bank statement and cash account balances as read by the Clerk. All ayes-motion carried. I. Appointment of Lori Garlock as Election Official. JT/TS-carried. J. Discussion/possible action on fees for Police and Fire/EMS services at special events, parades, etc. Chief Pavlock requested that this item be tabled until there can be a Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss this. Item tabled K. Consideration for a volunteer from the Board to attend the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium meetings. Trustee Petruska volunteered and will try it out. If she can’t make every monthly meeting then maybe another board member could attend. L. Unfinished items: Public Safety Building update. – Chief Pavlock isn’t sure if this should it go to the committee first or the full board. He can be ready in 2 weeks. Employee Reviews- the Clerk said that according to the Employee Handbook there should have been reviews done in Jan and again in Fall. Maybe when the Committees are established this could take place. Pickle Ball advertising, adult and other activities, beach, party in the park. Trustee Smith said she spoke with Stephanie today. Smith asked Halbrucker if the lines  ready for pickle ball. He said they are still there from last year, a little faded. Petruska said that Stephanie was going to get prices on pickle ball equipment so that we could rent it out to people. Petruska would like to have another park & rec meeting once committees are formed. Petruska asked Halbrucker if he could get an update on when the beach house roof will be started. Party in the Park-there will be no fireworks or laser show due to the cost unless we can find a funding source. Petruska said it is already the end of April and any planning should have been started on this if the event is the end of May. Alissa Simmons has not heard anything from Stephanie about this event. Petruska asks Smith if she could shoot Stephanie an email and have her reach out to Alissa. M. NOTICE OF CLOSED SESSION Petruska/Wallace motion to convene, upon passage of the proper motion, into Closed Session with staff, pursuant to §19.85(1)(e), Wis. Stats. at 7:08 pm 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 with regard to the Fire and Emergency Services Contract with the Town of Palmyra. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace-aye. Motion carried. Smith/Wallace motion to convene into open session at 8:00 pm. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace-aye. Motion carried. Smith/Petruska motion to adjourn at 8:01 pm. All ayes-motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Laurie Mueller Village Clerk/Treasurer Minutes approved without corrections May 5, 2025