Minutes for Board of Trustees Meeting of March 11th, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Roll Call: Steen, Bjorge, Lawton, Salava, Caulfield, Gutzmer, Walters
Absent: Aschliman
Confirmation of Public Notice and Compliance with Open Meeting Laws
Review made to approve February Board of Trustees meeting minutes. Motion to approve with
the change to the double approval of Lawton in the notes, by Salava, 2nd by Lawton, motion
carried. January 2009 minutes tabled until March Meeting.
Public CommentsSpeaker: Representative from the Fire dept to request Special Events-picnic permit, approved by
Bjorge, 2nd by Gutzmer. Motion carried. Change was made to application to reduce the number
of people listed to be in the building at one time. Caulfield and Salava abstained from the vote.
Mark Pattison special events permit application was tabled until April Meeting at the request of
Pattinson. Lawton stated receiving a few calls in changing the spot of the event from the Main
Street area.
McSherry stated the LOSAP resolution was not listed on the agenda for approval . Clerk stated it
was to be handled in the Treasurer’s area of the agenda, since it was approved last meeting.
Steen stated it was an error that it was not listed. Walters said if it is an error, it is hers.
Municipal Court Report –
Public Works and Streets Department Report –Foster brought an estimate for the roof repairs on
the first well required by the DNR. Steen stated it should have been on a request at budget time if
it was that bad. An estimate was presented for $2500.00. Additionally, an estimate for the
Village street sweeper was presented. It was stated that there should always be at least two
estimates presented for a purchase. Brought up the issue of a previous invoice received so there
were actually two estimates. Gutzmer stated it is time to make a decision on this as it is time to
sweep. Tabled until further in to the meeting.
Police Department Report–special events ordinance presented for review. Suggested that Village
Attorney review and some sort of penalties need to be added if the ordinance is not followed.
Steen suggested getting it all together, submitting to the ordinance committee first and then they
can bring it to the board. The topic of dog droppings was brought up and stated there needs to be
an ordinance to work on the public areas and people not picking up after their pets. Steen
inquired about the leash law and if shock collars are considered the same under the leash law. It
was reported that Officer Haven trained and was certified in use of the Taser within the last
week. It was asked if the Board would consider the purchase of a taser for the Police
department’s use. Steen ask that it be put in the budget this year, or if there is room in this years’
Police budget. Officer Schultz requested the possibility of setting up classes for the older teens in
the community for assistance with job hunting preparation, dress, and resume preparation.
Lawton stated that is available through the schools and the county offices, and also from the
alternative school.
Motion by Bjorge to accept invoice from Farmers Implement for $4800.00, 2nd by Lawton
motion carried. For the purchase of the sweeper, upon board consideration.
Consideration of red Ridgeway book by Melva Thomas for entry into the time capsule at the
county office, approval by Lawton, 2nd by Salava, motion carried.
Discussion of status of Village-Town joint contract to possibly be completed by the April board
meeting. Also Walters noted an error in the Towns minutes in Nov 2008 stating the Village and
Town had signed a contract with the Ridgeway Fire Department. There is no signed contract
with the Fire Department and that notice should read a signed contract with the land purchase to
buy.
Discussion regarding Health and Dental insurance for one employee. Options discussed but will
be continued to be looked at by the Personnel Committee for their final suggestions for the board
to vote on before or on the April board meeting. Lawton volunteered to follow up and contact the
League of Wisconsin Municipalities and Pam Higginbotham regarding options.
Walters asked if it might work better if the committees set their own meeting dates rather than
her doing it, as it would possibly work better if they knew their schedules and it would save a
little time. In addition, she pointed out there was a $800 savings in our cost for Website setup
design.
Asked for estimates for police garage roof and repairs. Not aware of repair being needed and
possible combined estimates with other painting or if needed, repairs of other areas.
A note of a DOT meeting with the Town of Ridgeway and Town of Dodgeville regarding
interchanges if anyone wants to attend.
Treasurer noted that April meeting date should have at least preliminary yearend financial
information available.
Noted a New Officials workshop will be available after next elections for any new trustees or if
any trustees that many want to attend that did not get to attend previously.
Steen asked Salava and Caulfield if they knew how things worked, in regards to an entry in the
Fire Departments check register for $15,552 out of the working account and placed in a savings
account labeled for capital improvements. Noted that this was just a question, if they were aware
of it and how it worked with the Fire Department. Salava stated that they had moved leftover
funds in the past to that account, left over funds that the Village and Town had given them for
their budget. Caulfield stated there were a couple of trucks out in the bay that were funded with
leftover money from their budget from years past and did not come before the board. Steen said
he was not positive but wondered if any transfers like that should be communicated to the Town
and Village boards first. Any change in a budget needs to be voted on and wondered if any left
over money should be returned to the two boards or deducted from next years’ funding, if the
amount left over is that substantial. Caulfield stated it was not really a change in budget since
RFD does not feel they are a department. Lawton stated that she remembered vividly that when
Attorney Anderson came to talk to the Village in regards to the Fire Department and how it was
set up, that Anderson had stated that any budget changes needed to go through the board. Lawton
inquired if there was that much left over at year end, why was the Fire Department asking for an
increase in their budget request for 2009. Steen thought that if the budget is not accurate, it puts a
strain on the Town and Village. Caulfield and Salava stated they understand that the Fire
Department is a separate entity and when the Town and Village pass their budget request, what is
done with the money is the Fire Departments decision. Lawton restated that it doesn’t make
sense that if there is that much left over, why RFD would ask for an increase in the budget to pay
for heating and electricity increases. Steen said he was just trying to understand that if there is a
request for an amount for their budget that the Village feels is excessive and they don’t approve
it, what course of action does RFD or the Village have. Salava said he never has seen anything
presented in the budget that was in excess. Lawton stated she understood that the Fire Dept needs
new equipment but how come the request for an increase in this year’s budget wasn’t taken from
the leftover monies. Bjorge asked how many years has this been building but Salava stated to ask
the RFD Treasurer the specifics. Steen stated again he was just inquiring and was not insinuating
anything. Walters then asked if she could ask a question. She stated first of all, she was not
asking either Salava or Caulfield, since they are on the Fire Department ,to answer for anything
pertaining to the Fire Departments finances, this check register is usually given each month to
the board to review and was only bringing the transaction to the boards attention. Also, if RFD is
a non-profit entity, why would it be ok to put moneys from the Town and Village into a savings
account or CD and earn interest on that money? Salava stated they are allowed $50,000 as a nonprofit entity to earn. Walters also inquired that In addition, if that kind of money was left over,
whether it was from one year or cumulative years, why wasn’t it deducted from the additional
$48,000 of non- budgeted money that was requested from the Village by RFD for their pumper
truck? Salava stated that this came about in December. Steen again stated that this was just an
inquiry as to how it worked, certainly not implying anything else.
Review and motion to approve General Fund vouchers by Bjorge, 2nd by Gutzmer, motion
passed.
Review and motion to approve water vouchers with the exception of the possible duplicate
invoice from Water Leak Locator by Lawton, 2nd by Caulfield, motion carried.
Review and motion to approve sewer vouchers by Lawton, 2nd by Gutzmer, motion carried.
Caulfield inquired into if any other board member was attending the DOT- Town of Ridgeway
and Dodgeville meeting regarding their interchange, as he was concerned about posting liability
since it was in our agenda. Steen stated that it doesn’t matter who goes, it is not a requirement
and as long as there is no Village business conducted at that meeting, it is fine. Walters inquired
if in the future she should note for informational purposes only on items such as that, as she
wasn’t sure how to pass information on sometimes to the board. It was stated that wasn’t needed.
Steen also stated Aschliman sent notice that she had resigned from the board.
Motion to adjourn meeting by Caulfield, 2nd by Gutzmer, motion carried. 9:15 p.m..
Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon L. Walters
Treasurer/Clerk-Village of Ridgeway.