December 12, 2012 Monthly Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of the C.K.S.D.
The Consolidated Koshkonong Sanitary District held their regular meeting on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 6:00 P.M.
Present were John Traynor, Todd Sahr, Robert Venske, Barbara McGann, David Anderson, David Houfe Jr. and Lynne Lund.
Also present were Jonathan Groessl, C.K.S.D. Attorney; Rich Plywacz, a Town of Fulton property owner; Barbara
Steponkus, C.K.S.D. Accountant;
President John Traynor opened the meeting at 6:00 P.M. and called the meeting to order.
1. The President asked for confirmation of meeting notice. Lynne stated that the agenda was published in the Edgerton
Reporter on December 5, 2012 and posted at the C.K.S.D. Office, Oberg’s Tavern, Newville Mobil and on the C.K.S.D.
website.
2. Barb McGann made a motion, seconded by Bob Venske, to approve the November 14, 2012 minutes. Motion carried
with 5 ayes.
3. There was no public participation.
4. Under Board Communication Report, Bob had nothing to report. Barb McGann stated that she talked with Lynne this
week. John Traynor stated that he also talked to Lynne. Todd stated that he talked with Dave Houfe and also Lynne. Dave
Anderson had nothing to report.
5. Under Election of Officers, Dave Anderson feels that it is working the way it is. Todd Sahr made a motion, seconded by
Barb McGann to keep the officers as is, which is as follows:
President - John Traynor
Vice President - Todd Sahr
Secretary - Bob Venske
Treasurer - Barb McGann
Motion carried with 5 ayes.
6. Under Discuss/Take Possible Action on Approving Utility Contractors for 2013, Lynne stated that we do this annually.
She added that we currently have two Utility contractors to be approved; R.T. Fox Contractors and R&R Excavators. Lynne
pointed out that Master Plumbers do not need pre-approving; only the Utility Contractors do.
Dave Andersons made a motion, seconded by Todd Sahr, to approve R.T. Fox Contractors and R&R Excavators as Utility
Contractors for 2013. Motion carried with
7. Under Discuss/Take Possible Action on Field Operations Manager and Internal Operations Manager 2013 Labor
Agreements, Lynne presented her and Dave Houfe’s 2013 Labor Agreements to the Board to review. She stated that the
dates and salaries were the only items changed. Lynne added that Jonathan Groessl also reviewed the agreements.
Todd Sahr made a motion, seconded by Dave Anderson, to approve the Field Operations Manager and the Internal
Operations Manager’s 2013 Labor Agreements as presented. Motion carried with 5 ayes.
8. Under Discuss/Take Possible Action on Sick Leave, Lynne presented a copy of the Sick Leave portion from the Personnel
Policies and Procedures Manual to the Board. Dave Houfe explained this came up when the babysitter for his children was
sick so he stayed home and took a sick day for this. He added that Lynne disagreed with this. Dave Houfe stated that he
has done this in the past. He stated that he called John Traynor about this and John did not have a problem with it. John
Traynor wondered if the Board is willing to change the terminology from “sick days” to “personal days.” He added that if
Dave Houfe or another employee falls into that situation again it will be fine. Lynne pointed out to the Board that if they
change to “personal days” they are opening it up for an employee to use all of these days. She feels that with “sick days”
we still have some control. Dave Anderson suggested that we add another line to the current policy saying that the Board
would need to approve any other days. John Traynor stated that he has no problem with them calling him for approval.
Bob feels that it should only be for immediate family. Dave stated that the question is because the babysitter was sick not
his children. He added that no other employees have young children here but they could at some point.
Todd stated that he was the one that thought we should change it to “personal days.” He feels that it would be for more
down the road and an ease for the use of the days. Todd added that nothing could be misconstrued that way. He feels that
it would save some headaches and grief. Todd stated that more companies are going with the “personal days” and use
them as they wish. John Traynor stated that the Rock County Highway Department uses three different classifications; the
employee, the dependent or other. Barb McGann asked what Lynne does not like about going to “personal days.” Lynne
stated that the “personal days” is just like giving more vacation days. John Traynor feels that we will have this regardless.
Barb Steponkus asked if we change to “personal days” is the Board going to allow the employee to accumulate these days
up to 90 days like they do with sick days. Bob agreed that changing it to “personal days” is just like giving them more
vacation days. He feels that we need to control it. John Traynor stated that we are not controlling it now. Dave Anderson
stated that after three days the employee should bring in a doctor’s excuse. Dave Houfe stated that he thought our
handbook said that but it does not. Dave Anderson stated that a doctor’s excuse can be requested at any time. Barb
McGann agreed. Bob read from the manual “This benefit is intended for use during actual illness, other medical disability or
medical reason serious enough to keep the employee away from work. This includes situations that require the employee
to care for a member of their immediate family and should be used in accordance with applicable family medical leave
provisions.” He feels it is fine the way it reads now. Rich Plywacz, a Town of Fulton property owner, feels that we should
leave it the way it is. John Traynor stated that there are always going to be employees that will max out on their days.
Todd stated that from a Board level he always felt that we should not micro manage what the employees do. He added
that is why he suggested the “personal days” and those days would also cover being sick. John Traynor stated that there
are multiple ways to look at this. Dave Houfe asked if an employee uses all their accumulated sick days and then calls in
what would happen then. John Traynor stated that the employee would not get paid. He added that either way is fine with
him.
Bob Venske made a motion, seconded by Barb McGann, to leave the “sick days” as is. Motion carried with 4 ayes. (Todd
Sahr opposed.)
9. Under Approval of the Bills, Barb McGann referred back to the question of sick days where Dave Houfe called John
Traynor and John approved it. She stated that if the President approved it we should just go with that.
John Traynor asked if there are any bills out of the ordinary. Lynne stated that there is a bill of $10,930.00 for L.W. Allen,
Inc. and Dave will comment on this one further. Dave Houfe stated that this is for the HVAC modifications and they are
completed. He stated that they actually had to do some programming to set the time for the makeup air units to run. Dave
Houfe stated that it is working good now. He added that the exhaust fans are now all tied to the makeup air units.
Bob Venske made a motion, seconded by Todd Sahr, to approve both Lists of Bills for payment. Motion carried with 5 ayes.
10. Under Review of the Financial Statements, Lynne stated that there are no other Certificate of Deposits up for renewal
this month. She reminded the Board that they approved the two Certificate of Deposits that renewed on December 1, 2012
at the November meeting.
Todd Sahr made a motion, seconded by Bob Venske, to place the financial statements on file subject to audit. Barb
McGann asked what the “subject to audit” means. John Traynor stated that it is formality. Bob stated that it is in case
there is something wrong with the financial statements and it gets caught in an audit then we are not liable for approving
it. Motion carried with 5 ayes.
11. Under Report by Field Operations Manager, Dave Houfe stated that the blacktop is done at Station S and it looks good.
He added that they added black dirt and seed around it.
Dave Houfe stated that he will get a hold of Pete Riesterer again about the tree line. Mr. Plywacz asked what tree line we
are removing. Dave Houfe stated the tree line out by the field, along Ellendale Road and also along Kidder Road. He does
not know about the removal process yet.
Dave Houfe asked if anyone is interested in still having a tour of the station. Dave Anderson and Bob Venske would like to.
It was agreed that they will contact Dave Houfe and set up a time after the first of the year.
12. Under Report by Internal Operations Manager, Lynne presented the Board with an updated list of the total delinquent
service billings that went to tax rolls. She added that some people paid their bills before the list actually went to the
county.
Dave Anderson asked about the house that burned down on the corner of Highway 106 and Albion Road in the Town of
Albion; do they still get billed. Lynne stated that we have not heard from the owner. Dave Houfe stated that the sewer can
be capped. Bob stated that the owner is Daniel Butz.
13. There was no correspondence to report.
14. Todd Sahr made a motion, seconded by Barb McGann, to convene into closed session at 6:27 P.M. pursuant to Chapter
19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiation 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 RE: Gauss Land. A
roll call vote was taken at this time:
Bob Venske - Aye
Barb McGann - Aye
John Traynor - Aye
Todd Sahr - Aye
Dave Anderson - Aye
Motion carried with 5 ayes.
15. Todd Sahr made a motion, seconded by Barb McGann, to reconvene into open session at 6:45 P.M. A roll call vote was
taken at this time:
Bob Venske - Aye
Barb McGann - Aye
John Traynor - Aye
Todd Sahr - Aye
Dave Anderson - Aye
Motion carried with 5 ayes.
16. Under Discuss/Take Possible Action on Gauss Land, Todd Sahr made a motion, seconded by Barb McGann, to proceed
as discussed in the closed session. Motion carried with 5 ayes.
17. Under Board Requests, Todd Sahr wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. John Traynor stated
that he would like to set up a time to have a pizza party for all the C.K.S.D. employees. It was decided to go with Friday,
January 4, 2013 at noon. Lynne will post a notice due to having a quorum present.
There being no further business to come before the Board, Bob Venske made a motion, seconded by Barb McGann, to
adjourn the meeting at 6:51 P.M.
Lynne Lund, Internal Operations Manager
Absent: None