Granton Village Board Discusses Water and Sewer on Highway 10 Triangle

Monday, October 17th, 2022 -- 10:01 AM

The Granton Village Board discussed plumbing water and sewer to the triangle on Highway 10.

According to the unofficial minutes from the meeting, the Village located the sewer lateral. There are still questions regarding the size of the water line servicing the triangle. The Village will call in a Diggers ticket and locate the lines so they know what they’re dealing with.

Once they have identified the line and the size, the Village will decide whether to pursue running the lines this fall or wait until spring. The Village President contacted Cedar Corp and let them know that despite the issues they have had, the Village will keep them on as the engineers for the County K, Water and Sewer project.

Cedar Corp will submit the ITS’s for the SDWLP and CWFP Grants which are due by Oct 31st. They will start the Environmental Review, at no charge, in November. This review is required for the Spring Grant Applications. Due to the set back, the project is now on track for 2024.

The Clerk presented Village expenses at the park totaling $3,421. This includes all utilities, supplies and labor used by the park. Dana Klein presented the park financial’s for the 2022 season and advised the bank balance at the end of the season is $5,677.

The park would like to retain $2,500 for start-up money for next year so they do not have to borrow from the Village again. The Board agreed to apply a $1,000 park donation to offset the bill so the amount owed by the park would be $2,421.

Dana also requested permission to open a savings account to separate donated funds. The Village suggested they apply for their own EIN number and bank account. The Clerk will help them get started.

The Village will move forward on the sidewalk updates, focusing on the worst sidewalks first. Some residents will have the option of removing the sidewalks due to the condition and location or replacing it.

A letter was designed to send out to these homeowners advising information on the sidewalk grant that can assist with up to a 50% funding if they want to replace the sidewalk and to offer Village assistance with sidewalk removal should this be their choice.

The Village can remove and dispose of concrete, place fill, seed and till. The resident would be billed for 50% of the costs. Residents will be given until September 1st of next year if they want to replace the sidewalks to give them enough time to get quotes and arrange replacement.

If they want the sidewalks removed they will need to let the Village know by November 5th of this year and the Village will schedule the sidewalk removal in the spring of 2023.

The Wisconsin DOT originally told the Village if the alleys were open for public use, being used year round and maintained by the Village, they could submit a survey map, legal description or a subdivision Plat.

There has been some discrepancy in information as Town roads have different requirements than Village Roads. DOT is confirming information. Trumark will assist the Village with the survey requirements.

Numerous complaints have also been made regarding a dog running at large and barking. The dog is not vaccinated or registered and the police have dealt with the Village resident several times. In September, this dog attacked another dog and was aggressive to those who tried to intervene.

The police instructed the resident to vaccinate and register the dog. A copy of the Police record was available for review. Village ordinance 181, Section 1-7, restricts Village residents from keeping animals that habitually barks or kills, wounds or worries any domestic animal.

The resident was requested to attend the Village Board meeting and did not. Due to the residents' failure to resolve these issues, the board will give the resident 10 days to relocate the dog outside of the Village.

Budget Planning will be on November 2nd at 5:30p, and the Budget hearing will be on November 9th at 5:30p. The Board heard the President’s Update. The United Communities meeting was hosted by the Village on September 26th with Fema presenting.

The Board also heard the Library Updates. Kay Heiting explained that the County is required to pay a minimum of 70% of the cost of rural circulation. The County has generously supported the library with 78%. This year the County is looking at cutting the library funding.

Libraries have certainly changed over the years and the County Funding allows citizens without internet to check out a hot-spot, at no charge, take Gale Courses like Quick Books, Check out hiking backpacks, fishing gear, dvds and of course books.

In small rural libraries like Granton, reducing the circulation match would certainly minimize the ability to purchase materials, especially with the rising costs. The Village will try to reach out to the County for support.

The Board also heard the Water Update. Monthly and Iron samples completed, quarterly meter readings complete, started PSC annual report, suggested the yield sign on Maple be changed to a stop sign since visibility is now altered due to a fence, studied for waste water exam, cleaned up flowers and 2 dump trucks filled with pine needles in the cemetery, closed down the park and put aerator in the pond.

The Board also heard the Waste Water Update. They completed monthly DNR Report, changed oil in blower 2 and cleaned lift station basket. R&R Waste Water ran cameras to the end of the sewer pipe to locate the end of the main. They will come back to to clean out the roots on Main Street.

The charge is 1.60 per foot plus travel time. Pond 3 Phosphorus is at .95 mg/L. Pond was treated with RE2 to drop the levels below .80mg/L prior to discharge. Sampling for fall discharge has begun. Put away picnic tables and trash containers and winterized buildings to include water shut off.

Met with the Health Department for the Campground and Park Permits. Contacted Complete Control regarding the Well 5 Furnace. They will install a new air dryer. Schierl Tire installed new tires, brakes and routers on the truck.

Cleaned out ditches on Granton Road and ordered 1.5” curb stop and boxes for the water and sewer project at the Highway 10 triangle. The 5 year WWTP Permit will expire in 2023. The new application will be due in October 2023.

During the Open Forum, it was stated the 2022 Big Dreams Grant for 15,000 is due October 31st. Roxy and Pam Eibergen will submit the $15,000 Grant for playground equipment. They will work with Dana and the Village to submit.

The Board also heard the Treasurer’s Report. The Deposit and Expense report was presented. The Checking balance is $62,479.82, the Fund balance is $636,026.13, the Cemetery CD is $16,927.29, the CDBG balance is $10,339.49, and the Library balance is $28,723.31.

Finally, the Board heard the Clerks Report. A building permit was applied for by Elmhorst Construction. Sent out Absentee ballots. Chief inspector Training will be on October 26th in Neillsville and the fall election will be on Nov 8th.

Village will host the drug take back program and residents can pick up a postage paid envelope to recycle drugs and creams (no needles). Due to the number of non residents utilizing the compost piles the Village will order “Village Residents Only” signs for the compost area as well as “No shooting firearms on Village property.”

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.