Village of Holmen

Board Proceedings

September 10, 2009

 

President Proctor called the Holmen Village Board meeting to order at 7:00 PM on September 10, 2009 at the Holmen Village Hall.  All board members were present. Also present were Attorney Peterson and department heads Brogan, McHugh and Haines.

 

Public Hearing – 7:01 PM – President Proctor called to order the public hearing on 401-403 Cedar Bird Lane Rezoning Petition parcel 14-1678-000 from R4 to R6.  No one was present to speak in favor or opposition of the proposed petition.  Proctor closed the hearing at 7:07 PM. Motion by Anderson, seconded by Olson to approve Rezoning Petition – 401-403 Cedar Bird Lane from R-4 District to R-6 District. Carried unanimously.

 

Motion by Olson, seconded by Seitz to approve the minutes of the August 13, 2009 meeting. Carried unanimously.

 

Finance and Personnel Committee – Motion by Seitz, seconded by Forde to approve the monthly claims for payment in the amount of $595,542.39. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Seitz, seconded by Anderson to approve proposal for contract services – Catherine Schmit at a rate of $50.00 per hour plus mileage reimbursement at the current IRS rate, if needed.  Carried unanimously.

Motion by Seitz, seconded by Olson to approve People First as a recruiting firm for hiring Administrator/Clerk position.  Carried unanimously.

Motion by Seitz, seconded by Olson to go into closed session at 7:20 PM per WI Statutes 19.95 (1) (c) to discuss personnel issues.  Carried unanimously. After discussion, motion by Anderson seconded by Szak to return to open session at 7:28 pm. Carried unanimously.  Motion by Seitz, seconded by Szak to approve interim staff compensation for Treasurer/Deputy Clerk at $500.00 per payroll and Public Works Director Haines at compensation time earned with an additional $2.83 paid per hour for those compensation hours.  Carried unanimously.

No discussion and no action was taken on Diocese of La Crosse – St. Elizabeth property counter-offer.

 

Park, Recreation and Library Committee – Trustee Forde updated the board on library and pool usage, he informed the Board that the Remington Hills shelter rebuilding has begun and that the Halfway Creek Park is on schedule.

 

Law Enforcement Committee – Trustee Szak updated the Board on recent Law Enforcement activity.  He mentioned Officer Haug has now completed his field training. 

 

Joint Municipal Court –  Chief Mc Hugh updated the Board on Joint Municipal Court.  President Proctor appointed Trustee Olson as an interim representative for the Village on Joint Municipal Court.

 

Fire Board Report – Trustee Forde updated the Board on recent Fire Board activity.  The next Fire Board meeting will be held on October 15, 2009.

 

Public Works Committee –  Public Hearing – 7:42 PM – President Proctor called to order the public hearing on Resolution 9.09 – Final Curb and Gutter Special assessments.  No one was present to speak in favor or in opposition to proposed Resolution 9.09.  Motion by Anderson, seconded by Szak to approve Resolution 9.09 – Final Curb and Gutter Special assessments. Carried unanimously.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Anderson to approve WWTP SOMAT parts purchase from Crane Engineering in the amount of $6282.00.  Carried unanimously.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Szak to approve ‘00 Sterling dump truck box refurbishing from Fleet & Body at a cost not to exceed $3000.00.  Carried unanimously.

No action was necessary on Well 7 emergency electrical repairs.

 

Economic Development – Trustee Olson informed the Board that there would be a joint committee meeting between Economic Development and Planning Commission on September 16, 2009 at 6:30 for TID #2 Neighborhood Plan discussion.

 

Village Board Proceedings

September 10, 2009

Page 2

 

Planning Commission – Next meeting will be combined with Economic Development Committee on September  16th at 6:30 PM.   

 

La Crosse County Supervisor(s) – Supervisors Spiker and Pedretti were in attendance. Supervisor Spiker talked about new elementary school Prairie View being open, he mentioned one traffic accident had occurred on the first day of school and he would be reviewing the report with Chief McHugh.

 

Joint Shared Ride Committee – Trustee Anderson updated the Board on the monthly Shared Ride activity. 

 

Other – Public Works Director Haines spoke to the Village Board about the School Board’s Safe Routes to School Plan put together by Schreiber/Anderson at the expense of the School District.  The School Board inquired about the possibility of a joint meeting with them to review and possibly endorse the plan.  The School Board offered to host the Village Board at their next School Board meeting.  The meeting will be broadcasted so any Board members unable to attend would be able to view the meeting.  Once an endorsement is in place for the plan the School would be eligible to apply for grant funds in order to proceed with the plan.

 

Bernie Ferry gave a presentation on behalf of the Holmen Area Foundation regarding a possible collaboration with the Village of Holmen, Town of Onalaska and Town of Holland.  The Foundation was hoping to have scheduled meetings with a representative from each of the three local governments.  Members of the HAF would serve as facilitators for the process.  They would assist in developing processes to assist with the collaboration process.  Mr. Ferry asked that the Board discuss and let him know if they would be interested in the proposal.

 

Sean Lentz from Ehlers and Associates gave a presentation to the Board on possible debt funding. Options were presented by Mr. Lentz, Option 1 was to fund the Highway 35 TIF project with Build America Bonds and complete financing of Halfway Creek Park at a future date.  Option 2 includes funding of the Highway 35 TIF project along with refinancing of the current Halfway Creek Park Project short-term loan and refinancing of the 1998 Bond. Mr. Lentz suggested that the Village also apply for a bond rating in order to reduce interest rates which would be ideal given the Village’s healthy financial position.  After a lengthy discussion, motion by Olson, seconded by Seitz to approve proceeding with Debt Funding Option 2 as presented.  Trustee Forde spoke with regards to keeping the debt level as steady as possible.  Trustee Olson mentioned that the Board will still have decisions to make regarding funding the annual loan payments.  He requested that historical data of debt be provided at the next Board meeting to assist in those decisions.  Trustee Seitz expressed his agreement with the decision to go ahead with Debt Funding Option 2 as presented.  Carried unanimously.

 

Thanks were extended from the board to the Park & Recreation and Police Department staff for their diligent efforts for Kornfest.

 

Trustee Seitz thanked Treasurer/Deputy Clerk Hornberg and Public Works Director Haines for their upcoming efforts in the absence of an Administrator/Clerk.

 

Motion by Olson, seconded by Szak to adjourn at 9:23 PM. Carried unanimously.

 

 

 

Angela A. Hornberg

Village Deputy Clerk