Committee of the Whole

VILLAGE OF TWIN LAKES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES August 7, 2023 – 6:30 p.m. Village Hall, 105 E. Main Street, Twin Lakes, WI CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT SKINNER AT 6:30 PM/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/ROLL CALL: Present: Trustees Barb Andres, Kevin Fitzgerald, Ken Perl, Sharon Bower, President Howard Skinner. Absent: Aaron Karow, Bill Kaskin. Also Present: Administrator Laura Roesslein, Village Engineer Greg Droessler, Clerk Sabrina Waswo PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. None. Jacqueline Lamont, 1925 Swallow Rd., here on behalf of Blueberry Hill asked about allowing golf carts and UTVs on subdivision roads. President Skinner noted Salem is doing the same thing and would like to see how that plays out. He stated there are other Twin Lakes members organizing on this issue as well. Liz Kinney, 1505 Richmond Rd., noted the traffic was better from Country Thunder. She suggested Kenosha County put up their signs earlier as had multiple cars turning around in her driveway and neighbor’s driveway. Skinner did not know why they were delayed in putting up the signs as he met with the County and it seemed like they had it handled. Bill Poetker, 1607 E Lake Shore Dr., knows a gentleman that received an award with an experimental float airplane. They want to do a video and photo shoot on our lakes to feature in their magazine. They will be doing this during the week. PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE REPORTS TRUSTEE SHARON BOWER - ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, JUDICIARY, LICENSING Discussion regarding agreements related to the Village’s General Liability Insurance and other coverage with R & R Insurance. Insurance has increased due to worker’s comp mod going up, WWTP upgrades and adding the new Village Hall. The worker’s comp agent has met with the Fire Dept., Public Works and, Police dept. on best practices and training. TRUSTEE KEVIN FITZGERALD - STREETS & ROADS, EQUIPMENT, STREET LIGHTS, WEEDS, LAKE PLANNING AND PROTECTION Discussion regarding an emergency repair of a storm sewer on S. Lake Ave. A section of storm sewer partially collapsed. It’s in bad shape, concerned it could collapse at any time. Can do an emergency repair to replace it with new reinforced concrete pipe. Would add a structure under the southwest curb for another sediment trap and extend a smaller diameter pipe across Lake Ave to help with drainage. Since it’s an emergency repair, do not need to go out for bid and could be repaired by this fall. If wait, it could potentially collapse during the winter and be more expensive to fix. The Engineer will provide quotes for the board meeting. Discussion regarding Resolution R2023-8-1 Commencing the Proceedings to Vacate a Portion of the Public Right of Way for Burden Ave. Trustee Fitzgerald pointed out that if they vote in favor to turn that portion back over to the Village, this property owner no longer has a buildable lot as they have to have 80 feet of road frontage. It’s considered a road right of way, even if there currently is no road there. Skinner noted instead of doing a road vacation the property owner should leave the 85 feet and try for a variance. TRUSTEE BILL KASKIN - CEMETERY, SANITATION, RECYCLING, SENIORS Discussion regarding the Village’s contract with Groot Waste Management. The Village is currently in a 7-year contract with Groot that ends at the end of this year. If we renew with them it would be a 5% increase, and then 3% each year following. We currently have 3% increases. Trustee Bower August 7, 2023 – Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 1 of 3 wants to put the contract out for RFP. Consensus was to have the Administrator call other municipalities to see if they put out bids and what they received. The board can then determine if 5% is realistic. Bill Poetker, 1607 E LSD, suggested changing the pickup to Monday from Tuesday to alleviate the trash can issues. TRUSTEE BARB ANDRES - SEWER, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, YOUTH, LIBRARY Discussion regarding an incentive program to reduce chlorides in the Village. Engineer Droessler put together an inspection form and rebate. We are currently operating under a variance with the WI DNR. They have strongly nudged the Village to incorporate an incentive program. We met with Culligan, who is working with neighboring communities on similar programs. The rebate program consists of: • $50 rebate for inspection/adjustment of a water softener as part of a regular visit by a licensed plumber or water softener provider. • $100 rebate for inspection/adjustment of a water softener by a licensed plumber or water softener provider. • $100 rebate for re-adjustment of an optimized softener by a licensed plumber or water softener provider. Droessler asked the board if they wanted to consider incentives for purchasing a new water softener, optimizing an old water softener system, and eliminating a water softener completely. Some use the softener as an iron removal system, which uses more salt. They could obtain an iron curtain to remove the iron and eliminate the softener or use less salt. Trustees Fitzgerald and Andres were in favor of adding that to the incentive program. The board would like the brochure to note that the DNR is regulating this and if nothing is done, they could force the Village into spending millions of dollars for treatment. Bill Poetker said this was presented at the Lake District meeting and questions came up after the meeting. People wanted to know what the increase would be to their sewer bill if they did nothing. He’s never had an issue with iron but his water is as hard as it could be. He will never need an iron curtain. Another question was is this the right forum to be addressing this issue as the only part of the system getting into our lakes is the road salt. Nothing enters the lakes from the homeowners. This is not a lake health issue, it’s a sewer treatment plant issue. Bill said the chlorides getting into the lakes is from the road salt and has nothing to do with the water softener systems. Droessler replied we were mandated by the DNR that we had to have a public informational meeting, that’s why it was at the Lake District. We need to pass an ordinance and budget for it with an effective date of January 1st so we have the funds for a rebate program. He suggested $250 to $300 for replacement with iron curtain or $250 to $300 for a water softener. He also stated a survey would be helpful to know how many water softeners there are in the Village and how many pounds of salt are used in a month. Commercial entities also need to be engaged. The Village’s discharge permit expires at the end of September. The DNR is holding off on reissuing the permit as they want the Village to have something in place. Discussion regarding a quote from Sabel Mechanical for handrail installation. This proposal is to install all the handrails. Discussion regarding a quote from Omni Glass & Paint, LCC for painting building 50 at the WWTF. RES Building – oldest at the plant, built in the 1950s with additions in the 1970s. It’s the only building with a remaining brick façade. Brick has been patched in with different masonry. Discussion regarding a quote from Mulcahy Shaw Water for a refrigerated sampler. The current sampler is not doing its job anymore. A new sample cost $10,195. It’s an Industrial refrigerator with a vacuum pump that will draw a sample up and will take pulse signals from a control system. August 7, 2023 – Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 2 of 3 VILLAGE PRESIDENT HOWARD SKINNER Discussion regarding a request to place a bench for Peggy Wiseman in Central Park. The family contacted President Skinner this past week to place a bench for Peggy in Central Park. Stan would like to meet with them to determine the location and then we would approve that location. This is different from the VFW’s bench. They have raised money by collecting plastic and this is a composite bench. They would supply the concrete. Fitzgerald questioned if they thought about Lance Park. The family was open to where the Village wanted it to be installed. Andres agrees that Lance Park is better. Skinner will confirm where they would like. CLOSED SESSION Skinner/Andres motion to go into closed session pursuant to Wis. §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 regarding a Village lease at 3101 East Lakeshore Drive. Roll Call: Trustees Barb Andres, Kevin Fitzgerald, Sharon Bower, Ken Perl, President Howard Skinner voting “aye”. Motion carried 5-0 to go into closed session at 7:49 p.m. OPEN SESSION Skinner/Bower motion to return to open session pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(2) and take action on any items discussed in closed session. Motion carried 5-0 to return to open session at 8:30 p.m. ADJOURN – Skinner/Bower motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Motion carried 5-0. /s/Sabrina Waswo, Village Clerk August 7, 2023 – Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 3 of 3