Village of Laurium
Regular Council Meeting
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Present for Roll Call: Bausano,
Bonenfant, Harrell, Junot, Lanctot, Rastello and Zei.
Guests: Paul Baroni,
Jesse Drake, Robert Foley, Jon Koskiniemi, James Lemler, Alice Peterson, Julie
Sprenger, Edward M. Vertin, Betty Zei, and Daniel Zubiena.
The meeting was
called to order in the Village Council Chambers by President Bonenfant at
5:30PM.
President Bonenfant presented Alice Peterson with a plaque recognizing her for serving as the Village Treasurer for 11 years.
Julie Sprenger informed the council that the grant to the Americana Foundation was approved in the amount of $27,420.00. This money will now be used to prepare the documentation to be submitted for nomination to become a National Registry District. Julie Sprenger, Robert Foley, Lynn Bjorkman and John Rosemergy will work on a request for proposal to consultants. This request will be done at the end of June and hiring of consultants around the end of July. Public and informational meetings will be held during the year. All work will be completed by July 2004.
Minutes
A motion was made by Zei and seconded by Lanctot to approve the minutes of the Statutory Meeting on Monday, April 14, 2003. Carried 7-0.
A motion was made by Rastello and seconded by Bausano to approve the minutes of the regular council meeting held on Tuesday, April 15, 2003. Carried 7-0.
A motion was made by Junot and seconded by Zei to approve payment of the merchandise accounts in the amount of $27,528.02. Carried 7-0.
Committee Reports
Finance: Village Administrator Vertin reported that the state-shared revenues have decreased and the state’s financial picture is not improving. It may be necessary to move money from other funds into the General Fund (Due to/due from General Fund) to pay the bills at the end of June at the bottom of the cash cycle. The finance committee is to look into using CDs instead of the Municipal Investment Funds accounts for higher interest rates. A motion was made by Bausano and seconded by Junot to approve the resolution to authorize Vertin to have access to the bank accounts but not be a check signer. Carried 7-0. (A copy of this resolution follows the minutes).
Recreation: A letter of thanks is to be sent to the CHS Student Senate for the clean up they did at the playground. The temporary gate by the ditch is to be made permanent, similar to the first gate by the DPW garage. Some kind of a fence is to be put up on the north side of the DPW garage for the sand, gravel and topsoil. Two options were discussed for fencing/parking areas at the playground area; one would use railroad ties and the other concrete columns and chains. It was decided that railroad ties would be purchased from Moyle Construction for $7.00/tie. Rastello will look into grants available for walking trails. A steering committee will be set up with himself, Bausano and citizens to work on this. Having a car show at the George Gipp Arena in August was discussed. Other area events and how much weight the floor can withstand will be checked into. Baseball thanked the village for the good job being done by the prisoners at the fields.
Public Safety – Police: A discussion was held regarding the new police schedule that was implemented due to the financial situation. Lanctot and Harrell voiced disapproval of the new schedule and the vacant shifts it creates. After further discussion, the police department will go back to the old schedule. Part time officers can be used if they are available and the amount of overtime needs to be watched. A motion was made by Harrell and seconded by Lanctot to approve ordering two new doors from 41 Lumber. One is for the evidence room for $198.00; the other from the garage into the parking lot costs $589.00. The MSP radio tech will be asked to cover the cost of the lock ($279.00) for the door from the garage to the parking lot. Carried 7-0.
Public Safety – Fire: No report.
Personnel: No report.
Streets/Equipment/Sanitation: Old Colony Road was graded and oiled. The dump truck that tipped in the snow dump is in Green Bay and has been examined by both Monroe Truck and Broadway Chevrolet. There is work that needs to be done on the chassis. A quote to fix the existing dump box is for $4300.00 and a new dump box is $4900.00. A new dump box will be installed and the truck should be back by the end of July. The work on the chassis, transportation to Green Bay and the $4300 to fix the dump box is covered by our insurance. Monroe will be asked to check our other dump trucks before this new dump box is installed to see if a similar problem exists. A motion was made by Zei and seconded by Rastello to have UP Engineering give us a firm estimate for next month’s meeting for installing a catch basin(s) on the west side of the 200 block of North Iroquois Street. Carried 7-0.
Trustee Lanctot left the meeting at 6:50PM.
Property/Building/Ordinance: A motion was made by Harrell and seconded by Junot to charge 1 ½% interest per month and a $3.00 late fee for all extra garbage pick up bills that are not paid after 30 days. If bills are not paid after 60 days, the matter will be handled in small claims court. Carried 6-0.
Beautification/Parks/Community Relations: No report.
New Business: A letter of resignation, effective immediately, was accepted with regret from President Bonenfant. President Pro-Tem Harrell will act as president until a new president is appointed by the council.
Old Business: Two letters of interest were received for appointment to the Laurium Housing Commission. A motion was made by Rastello and seconded by Bausano to appoint Diana M. Jones to the Laurium Housing Commission for a five-year term effective immediately. Carried 5-0. A motion was made by Bausano and seconded by Zei to have the Clerk and Village Administrator consult Village Attorney Vairo on the vacancy in the office of president. Carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia M. Golus, Clerk
Village of Laurium