Livingston 

Village of Livingston

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m.

New Village Clerk/Treasurer Stephanie Anderson was sworn in. Roll call was taken. Brown – yes, Haas – yes, Gluege – yes, France – yes, Loeffelholz – yes, Richards – no, and Warne – no. Also present were Gary Stuckey, Betty Schambow and Steve Jones. Ric Riniker was not present.

Clerk Anderson verified that the agenda was posted at the Village Post Office, Village Message Board and Village Office on July 1, 2011.

Motion was made by Haas to approve the Minutes from June. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

In reviewing the Treasurer’s Report, a discussion was held regarding an expense paid to the City of Dodgeville and the issue of disposal of holding tank waste. The Village may be looking for a different method to dispose of the waste; various different options were discussed. Motion was made by France to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Motion was made by France to approve that Clerk/Treasurer Stephanie Anderson has the authority to sign checks, etc., on all accounts, access to the safety deposit box and access to all financial information as it relates to the Village of Livingston. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Bills

Clerk Anderson shared various bills that await payment as follows:

Utility Service Co., Inc. - $32,790.27 (water tower work)

The Village is still awaiting a key for the water tower. Motion was made by Haas to pay the Utility Service Co. bill for water tower work once the Village receives the key to the water tower. France seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

LGIP – Loan Payment – $42,452.05 (new water house)

Motion was made by France to pay the first installment of the LGIP loan payment in the amount of $42,452.05. Gluege seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Delta 3 Engineering - $195.00 (design and review services for Hwy. 80 project)

Motion was made by Haas to pay the Delta 3 Engineering bill in the amount of $195.00. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Esser Electric - $1,729.95 (wiring siren in the new well house)

Motion was made by Loeffelholz to pay the Esser Electric bill in the amount of $1,729.95. France seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Ivey Construction - $1,620.03 (delivery of crushed stone and pit sand)

Motion was made by Haas to pay the Ivey Construction bill in the amount of $1,620.03. Gluege seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Joe’s Pumps - $479.71 (installation of new water meters)

Motion was made by France to pay the Joe’s Pumps bill in the amount of $479.71, Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Kruser Septic Service - $1,202.96 (porta potties and hauling of sludge)

Motion was made by Haas to pay the Kruser Septic Service bill in the amount of $1,202.96. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Rural Excavating - $425.00 (leveling of land at ball field)

Motion was made by Gluege to pay the Rural Excavating bill in the amount of $425.00 from the Ballpark Fund. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

JI Construction - $2,000.00 (digging and exposing curbstop at Cty. Hwy. E)

Motion was made by Haas to pay the JI Construction bill in the amount of $2,000.00. France seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Library Report

Betty Schambow reported that it has been a busy month at the library. Circulation numbers are up and good attendance at various programs at the library. There is an upcoming puppet show sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Blood Center. Also, Reed Miller will be coming to the Montfort Public Library on July 21, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. He is sponsored by both the Montfort and Livingston Public Libraries. There are a couple of weeks left of the summer library program. Still having some issues with the toilets at the library. Also, about a month ago, when the unmistakable gas odor was traveling around town, Alliant Energy came to the library and found a small gas leak.

Clerk’s Report

Clerk Anderson reported that things have been going well in her new position. Liquor licenses and operator’s licenses were disbursed the various businesses last week. Shelly Bull had spent time training and mentoring Anderson around the office.

A request has been made by Dawn Johnson for an operator’s license. Motion was made by Haas to grant an operator’s license to Dawn Johnson. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. Roll call vote – Haas – yes, France – yes, Loeffelholz – yes, Gluege – yes, Brown – abstained. Motion carried.

Ric Riniker Report

Ric Riniker was unable to attend the Board Meeting. He relayed information to Clerk Anderson to present at the Board Meeting on his behalf, as follows: the Eric Schmitz land deal has fallen through, that Eric Schmitz will be applying for a variance, and that he has been working with various contractors/builders on building prices for the new fire station addition.

Police Report

Steve Jones reported that he believes the King’s tire issue has been resolved. Trustee France suggested that he walk through the neighbors’ yards to observe that the issue has, in fact, been resolved. He will be doing so. The Pettit’s dog continues to be a problem. Jones will be issuing a fine to the Pettit’s. Expired/unregistered cars continue to be a problem. Jones reported that he questioned the minor alleged to be the cause of vandalism at the Memorial Park and nothing came up. It was suggested that an officer from the Grant County Sheriff’s Department also question the minor as it relates to this matter. It was discussed that the park bathrooms should be locked at night. There have also been various break-ins of automobiles in the Village, as well as houses in neighboring towns.

Tree Committee

None.

Bart Nies – Delta 3 Engineering Report

Nies appeared regarding the Highway 80 project. 3 residents affected by the project also appeared – Chad Hahn, Joe Wilberding and Tim Loeffelholz. Nies handed out the DOT plans as it relates to the project and then explained the plan. It was stated that the storm sewer work would be 100% covered by the DOT. 80% of the cost of the new sidewalk would be covered by the DOT and 20% of the cost would be assessed to the homeowner. The DOT estimated that the project would cost $20,000. The Village’s share would be $4,000, which would be assessed to the affected property owners. The need for a crosswalk from Barber Avenue across to the Friendly Place is the driving force behind this project. The DOT has not completed their final plans yet, but we will be receiving them soon.

Hahn had concerns as it relates to having his adjoining driveway with his neighbor disrupted. He questioned how that issue will be handled. It was stated that the DOT would install a sidewalk through both driveways, cutting through the driveway, and then replace the area from the sidewalk to the road. There would be no changes to the actual driveway.

Hahn and Wilberding had concerns related to the landscaping, bushes and trees already present on their properties. It was suggested by Nies that the homeowners move landscaping, bushes, etc. It is believed that other than a couple of bushes, not much else will be disturbed on the affected properties.

Wilberding stated that he has a cistern on his property. He was instructed that he is to inform the DOT of this when the DOT contacts him.

Hahn had questions regarding how long his driveway would not be able to be used, as his wife does have an in-home daycare business. Nies stated that the DOT may pour ½ of the driveway at a time, allowing him to use the other half that was not poured, wait a period of time, and then finish the other half.

There is a utility worksheet that must be completed in this matter. Gary Stuckey is to contact Chad Renly from the DOT for the Utility Worksheet, Form DT2236.

There were previous issues regarding the adjustment of manholes and valves in town. Nies believes that the affected manholes and valves won’t have to be adjusted by the DOT, that Stuckey can do it.

At the August Board Meeting, Nies would like the Board to give final approval for the WI DOT Highway 80 project. It will be bid out in March 2012.

Citizens Concerns

There was a resident complaint regarding the pothole issue on Park Street. The pothole will be looked at.

There was another resident complaint regarding the monthly water bills. The resident questioned when the bills will switch over to be billed per “100” and not per “1,000” gallons used and when the bills could be expected to be correct.

Old Business – Ball Park

There has been slow progress at the ball park. We are waiting on concrete to be poured by J&T Concrete.

New Business

Livingston-Clifton Firehouse Addition

Grant Loy reported that bids opened last Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. and seven bids were received. The two lowest bids were received from Rock Church Construction and Midwest Builders. The bids received were as follows: Jim’s Building Center - $277,273, CJ Construction - $263,050, Olympic Builders - $336,845, Langmeier Lumber - $271,994, K&L Construction - $284,910, Rock Church Construction - $243,210, and Midwest Builders - $258,501. These bids do include everything that is on the original design – in floor heat, wainscoting, brick front, etc. Delta 3 took the two lowest bids and will be going through them to make sure there are no omissions. There is a township meeting next Wednesday night, July 13, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at the Livingston-Clifton Firehouse. Delta 3 will be present to discuss this project. A price quote still needs to be received regarding the moving of a power pole on the property. As it stands, it appears that the Township and Village will each be responsible for payment towards the project in the range of $106,000 - $115,000.

Floodplain Ordinance

FEMA recently changed their floodplain maps and any community with FEMA affected by the changes must adopt an ordinance for its residents to be eligible for flood insurance.

Todd Infield, Village Attorney, drafted the Ordinance to Repeal and Recreate Title Sixteen of the Municipal Code of the Village of Livingston, Grant County, Wisconsin, Relating to Floodplain Zoning.

Motion was made by France to adopt the floodplain ordinance. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Resolution for Ward Creation

Due to the census, each municipality is responsible for drafting a resolution for ward creation. Livingston consists of two wards – Ward 1 being located in Grant County and Ward 2 being located in Iowa County. A resolution was drafted by Clerk Anderson. Motion was made by Gluege to adopt the Resolution for Ward Creation. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Reports

Maintenance

Gary Stuckey reported that students from Iowa-Grant High School came to the Village on their last day of school to volunteer their time around town. Overall, it was a good experience and we welcome them to come back next year. There have been various trees planted around town in various locations. The Village will water the trees. There were two mulch gift certificates purchased by Tom Brown from Tri-Star Pallets from a fundraiser for the Lions Club. The gift certificates will be held until next year. A curbstop was replaced in front of Arlene Gundlach’s residence. All new lightswitches have been installed in the park bathrooms. They have been set on the motion-activated setting.

A discussion was again held as it relates to locking up the park bathrooms. Due to vandalism, all municipal restrooms will be locked during the evening until further notice. The park bathrooms will only be open from 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. If use of a park bathroom will be needed for an event at the park in which a village resident has reserved the park, the park bathroom will be open and available.

A discussion was held regarding the hauling of Livingston’s brush to a local quarry. A few weeks ago, something got hauled into the quarry and a bull got into some clippings and died. As various other people dump brush at the quarry, it is unknown who had dumped the clippings. Recently, the Village has taken a load out to the quarry and has burned it. The Village will continue this practice. It was recommended by a board member that the Village look into chippers, but it was questioned what to do with the chips once chipped. It was thought that the chips could be transported to Lancaster to their compost area.

Stuckey brought up the idea of trading in the tractor for a skid loader. He has not obtained any price quotes for the tractor, but it is estimated that the tractor would be worth about $18,000. Stuckey saw a brand new/used skid loader at Ritchie’s with 200 hours for $30,000. The Board decided that this issue would be tabled and discussed later in the year.

Stuckey received two bids for the Florence and Jackson Street projects, one from Scott Construction and one from A-1 Asphalt & Paving. A-1’s bids to sweep, clean, tack and put a 1.5 inch overlay on Florence Street was $11,400 and on Jackson Street was $11,300. Scott Construction’s bid to just put a sealcoat on Florence Street was $2,577 and to repair Jackson Street was approximately $15,200. Motion was made by France for Scott Construction to sealcoat the 850’ of Florence Street for $2,577. Haas seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried. Motion was made by Loeffelholz for A-1 to sweep, clean, tack and put a 1.5 inch overlay on Jackson Street for $11,300. France seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Stuckey brought the issue up again regarding liquid waste recycling. He received information from United Liquid Waste Recycling. They charge approximately 3 cents per gallon of waste and they would like a 3-year contract. The tank needs to be cleaned out two times per year. It was discussed contacting various farmers in the area to see if they could use the waste on their fields. This issue was tabled until the next board meeting.

Other Reports

A discussion was re-visited regarding the Livingston-Clifton Firehouse addition. A motion was made by Loeffelholz that the Village’s share of the project shall not exceed $120,000 and shall be put up as a construction note. France seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

A discussion was held regarding the request of Shelly Bull, who was the interim Clerk for the Village of Livingston, to train new Clerk/Treasurer Anderson. Motion was made by Haas that the Village shall pay a maximum of 30 hours at $18 per hour to Shelly Bull for consulting fees. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Motion was made by France to go into closed session at 9:40 p.m. Haas seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried. Motion was made by Haas to go back into regular session at 9:58 p.m. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried. Motion was made by France for Gary Stuckey to enroll with a family Dean Health Insurance plan at a cost savings to the Village. Loeffelholz seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Brown to adjourn at 10:10 p.m. Haas seconded the motion. All I. Motion carried.

Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 1, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.

DRAFT COPY UNTIL NEXT BOARD MEETING.

Stephanie Anderson, Village Clerk/Treasurer