Merrimac public meetings in 2022

December 13 Village Board

The Merrimac Village Board will review a bid-based update on the Well No. 1 project, including cost, loan/grant increase, rate impacts, and alternatives, with a possible decision timeline. They will also approve payments totaling $24,516.34, consider a conditional use permit for a boathouse, and discuss the 2023 sewer and water budgets.

• Well No. 1 project bid tabulation and secured loan/grant increase
• Payment of village bills: $24,516.34 total, plus $20,855.69 prepaid expenses
• Luck Certified Survey Map combining lots 151-0314-00000 and 151-0313-00000
• Grosse/Ripp Boathouse Conditional Use Permit
• Peterson Sanitation contract update and dump truck auction proceeds

The Village Board awarded the Well No. 1 Rehab Project to low bidder Mid City Corporation for $406,450, with all trustees voting in favor. The board also approved a $9,000 bond counsel contract with Quarles & Brady, a reimbursement resolution not to exceed $406,450, and authorized negotiation of change orders. The 2023 Sewer and Water Budget was approved, and a conditional use permit for a boathouse and a certified survey map combining two lots were also approved.

• Awarded Well No. 1 project to Mid City Corporation for $406,450 (unanimous)
• Approved Quarles & Brady bond counsel service contract for $9,000 (unanimous)
• Approved Reimbursement Resolution 2022-01-12 not to exceed $406,450 (unanimous)
• Authorized negotiation of Change Order No. 1 with Mid City Corp. (unanimous)
• Approved 2023 Sewer and Water Budget (unanimous)
• Approved Tom Luck Certified Survey Map combining two lots (unanimous)
• Approved Grosse/Ripp Boathouse Conditional Use Permit (unanimous)
• Approved Merrimac Snowbusters Club Snowmobile Trail Land Use Agreement (unanimous)

Meeting

The Village of Merrimac is holding a budget hearing to take public comment on and consider approval of the proposed General and Parks Fund 2023 Budget. The meeting precedes the regular Village Board meeting and is scheduled for November 7, 2022, at 5:00 PM at Village Hall.

• Public comment on proposed General and Parks Fund 2023 Budget
• Consideration of approval for the 2023 General and Parks Fund Budget
• Meeting at 100 Cook Street, Merrimac, WI

The Village Board unanimously approved the proposed General and Park Funds 2023 Budget. The board also approved several other items, including a land division application, an operator's license, a refund, and year-end employee bonuses. The meeting included discussions on speed limit signs, operator's license criteria, and a sanitation contract, but no final decisions were made on those topics.

• Approved General & Park Funds 2023 Budget (unanimous)
• Approved Kirk Olson Land Division Application (unanimous, Olson abstained)
• Approved Marrah Slotty's Operator's License Application (unanimous)
• Approved $40 refund to Mr. Garton for non-affiliated sports fees (unanimous)
• Tabled Quarles & Brady bond counsel scope until December (unanimous)
• Approved year-end bonuses for Administrator and Deputy Clerk (unanimous)
• Approved year-end bonuses for DPW and Maintenance Operator (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2022-01-11 PILOT at $5,955 (unanimous)

November 7 Village Board

The Merrimac Village Board is meeting to handle routine business including approving bills, reviewing a land division application, and discussing several administrative items such as operator's licenses, a sanitation contract, and a bond counsel engagement. The agenda includes both decisions and discussions on various operational matters.

• Payment of outstanding bills totaling $18,890.72 plus $8,929.05 in prepaid expenses
• Kirk Olson Land Division Application – Plan Commission Recommendation
• Operator's License Application – Marrah Slotty for Mac's Pub & Grub
• Peterson Sanitation 2023 Contract Review and Possible Collection Date Change Discussion
• Resolution 2022-01-11 Regarding Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT)

The Village Board unanimously approved the proposed General and Park Funds 2023 Budget after a public hearing. The board also approved a land division application for Trustee Olson's Church St. property, with Olson abstaining, and approved operator's licenses, year-end employee bonuses, and a PILOT resolution. Several items were discussed but tabled, including the Quarles & Brady bond counsel engagement pending Well No. 1 project bids.

• Approved General & Park Funds 2023 Budget (unanimous)
• Approved Kirk Olson Land Division Application on Church St. (unanimous, Olson abstaining)
• Approved Marrah Slotty's Operator's License for Mac's Pub & Grub (unanimous)
• Approved $40 refund for non-affiliated sports fees to Mr. Garton (unanimous)
• Approved year-end bonuses for Administrator and Deputy Clerk from Clerk/Treasurer account (unanimous)
• Approved year-end bonuses for DPW and Maintenance Operator from General Payroll and Streets accounts (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2022-01-11 for PILOT at unchanged $5,955 (unanimous)
• Approved Fire Department Resolution 2022-02-10, a $1 revision (unanimous)

October 11 Village Board

The Merrimac Village Board will consider several financial and operational items, including a sewer rate increase, a fire department-related levy resolution, and a debt service levy resolution. The board will also discuss the budget, approve engineering services for the Wellhouse No. 1 rehab project, and act on the Buffardi Riprap Project. A closed session is scheduled to discuss employee salary increases.

• Payment of outstanding bills totaling $14,043.90 plus $19,130.34 in prepaid expenses
• Sewer rate increase discussion and approval
• Fire Department-related levy resolution
• Wellhouse No. 1 Rehab Project: engineering design services amendment, service agreement, and advertisement for bids approvals
• MicroC purchase approval

September 13 Village Board

The Village Board tabled a decision on the Buffardi riprap project at 615 Lake Wisconsin Drive to allow more time to research whether the WI DNR or the Village has jurisdictional authority. The Board approved several 2023 budget items, including $40,000 for School Street Repair, a 6.5% sewer rate increase, and a new Chicken Permit fee of $20 for new applicants and $10 for renewals. The Board also authorized selling the old dump truck via Wisconsin Surplus Auction and reimbursing the Sewer Fund from ARPA funds for eligible expenditures.

• Tabled Buffardi riprap project until next meeting to research jurisdictional authority (3-1, Budde abstaining)
• Approved $40,000 from 2023 General Fund for School Street Repair (unanimous)
• Approved 6.5% sewer rate increase effective Oct. 25, 2022, pending final approval (unanimous)
• Approved new Chicken Permit fee: $20 new, $10 annual renewal (unanimous)
• Authorized sale of old dump truck via Wisconsin Surplus Auction (unanimous)
• Approved Deputy Clerk wage increase from $18.00 to $19.00 per hour (unanimous)
• Approved $2,000 purchase of Aquafix product for WWTP from ARPA funds (unanimous)
• Approved reimbursement of Sewer Fund from ARPA funds for eligible expenses (unanimous)

August 10 Village Board

The Village Board approved the Chicken Ordinance with a line removed that would have denied licenses if 50% or more adjoining property owners objected, and approved the ATV/UTV Routes Ordinance. They also approved purchasing a dump truck and related loan, and authorized seeking a garbage contract from Peterson Sanitation.

• Approved Chicken Ordinance with removal of 50% adjoining property owner objection line (all ayes)
• Approved ATV/UTV Routes Ordinance No. 144-7 (all ayes)
• Approved Varsity Club Operator's Permits for Traci Pomeroy, Jill Garcia-Richmond, and Heather Showers (all ayes)
• Authorized Administrator to request draft contract from Peterson Sanitation for garbage/recycling (all ayes)
• Approved purchase of 2022 Ram 3500 dump truck from Kayser Chrysler for $82,000 (all ayes)
• Authorized loan agreement up to $82,000 with Bank of Prairie du Sac for dump truck (all ayes)
• Approved Resolution 2022-01-08 for loan agreement (all ayes)
• Approved intent to levy 100% of dump truck loan payment on property taxes (all ayes)

July 12 Village Board

The Merrimac Village Board will hold its regular meeting, covering routine consent agenda items, bill payments, and reports. Key items include a presentation by the Baraboo Bluffs ATV/UTV Club, a conditional use permit for a commercial building, and discussion of a chicken ordinance following a Plan Commission recommendation. The board will also hear reports from the administrator and public works director.

• Payment of outstanding bills totaling $33,324.79 plus $21,683.75 in prepaid expenses
• Tom Luck Conditional Use Permit for a commercial building
• Chicken ordinance recommendation from Plan Commission
• Varsity Club liquor license application
• TowerNorth land lease agreement

July 12 Village Board

The Village Board approved Tom Luck's Conditional Use Permit for a commercial building at 127 W. Main Street, as recommended by the Plan Commission. The Board tabled the proposed Chicken Ordinance until the next meeting after public comment. The Board also rejected a cell tower land lease with TowerNorth/Verizon and authorized up to $1,000 for security cameras at Memorial Park.

• Approved Tom Luck's Conditional Use Permit for 127 W. Main St (all ayes)
• Tabled Chicken Ordinance No. 47-13 & 15, Series 2022 (all ayes)
• Rejected cell tower Land Lease Agreement with TowerNorth/Verizon (all ayes)
• Authorized up to $1,000 for security cameras and signage at Memorial Park (all ayes)
• Approved liquor license for Varsity Club (all ayes)
• Approved payment of outstanding monthly bills (all ayes)
• Approved consent agenda items 3.a.-3.d. (all ayes)
• Placed ATV/UTV ordinance topic on August agenda (all ayes)

June 14 Village Board

The Merrimac Village Board will review consent agenda items, pay outstanding bills totaling $57,215.47, and consider requests for festival start-up funds and liquor/tobacco license renewals. The board will also hear reports from the administrator, public works director, and village assistant on various operational matters.

• Payment of outstanding bills: $57,215.47 total, including $18,933.72 general, $12,262.80 park, $19,235.05 sewer, $6,783.90 water, plus $17,095.11 prepaid expenses
• Merrimac Community Festival Committee request for start-up funds
• Liquor license renewals for Mac's Pub & Grub and Ferry X-ing Bar & Grill; tobacco license for Ferry X-ing; Class B beer license for Candy's Café
• Chip seal on sections of School Street and Lake Wisconsin Drive
• Mulch purchase for Memorial and Voll Park playgrounds, $1,100

The Village Board approved the Merrimac Community Festival's $4,000 start-up fund request, to be repaid from 2022 festival proceeds. It also approved liquor, tobacco, and beer license renewals for local establishments, a short-term rental conditional use permit for 311 River Street, and several other administrative items. The board discussed ATV/UTV usage on village streets and scheduled future meetings around election dates.

• Approved $4,000 start-up funds for Merrimac Community Festival (all ayes)
• Approved liquor license renewals for Ferry X-ing Bar & Grill and Mac's Pub & Grub, tobacco license for Ferry X-ing, and Class B beer license for Candy's Merrimac Café (all ayes)
• Approved Ordinance No. 9-2a on confidentiality of income/expense records provided to assessor (all ayes)
• Approved mailing land lease agreement to Dennis Paul of Dolan Reality and TowerNorth (all ayes)
• Approved Short Term Rental Conditional Use Permit for Ian Lindsey at 311 River Street (all ayes)
• Approved $1,100 purchase of mulch for Memorial Park and Voll Park playgrounds (all ayes)
• Adopted Resolution 2022-01-06 authorizing state financial assistance application for Well No. 1 Rehabilitation Project (all ayes)

May 10 Village Board

The Merrimac Village Board will review consent agenda items, approve payments totaling $30,323.32, and hear reports from the administrator and public works director. Key discussions include a deputy clerk hire, a conditional use permit for Schmidt Boathouse, a sewer fund transfer, a Verizon proposal, garbage/recycling updates, a security camera for the metals drop-off area, LRIP grant options, resuming the daily noon whistle, dump truck financing, and updates on sewer and well projects.

• Payment of outstanding bills: $30,323.32 total (General $5,312.95, Park $2,912.08, Sewer $8,756.62, Water $13,341.67) plus $17,256.30 prepaid expenses
• Approve Deputy Clerk hire
• Schmidt Boathouse Conditional Use Permit
• Transfer from Sewer LGIP to Sewer Checking
• Resuming daily noon whistle

The Village Board approved the hire of Cindy Spradlin as full-time Deputy Clerk at $18.00 per hour, approved a Conditional Use Permit for Schmidt Boathouse, and transferred $5,000 from the Sewer Reserve to cover a negative checking balance. The board tabled a proposed Verizon Wireless land lease for further review and attorney consultation. It also approved resuming the daily noon whistle, preliminarily approved a Strand Associates Well No. 1 amendment, and approved payment of Strand invoices with one abstention.

• Approved hiring Cindy Spradlin as Deputy Clerk at $18.00/hour (unanimous)
• Approved Schmidt Boathouse Conditional Use Permit (unanimous)
• Approved $5,000 transfer from Sewer LGIP Reserve to Sewer Checking (unanimous)
• Tabled Verizon Wireless/TowerNorth land lease proposal until next meeting (unanimous)
• Approved resuming daily noon whistle (unanimous)
• Approved loan financing as reasonable option for new/used dump truck (unanimous)
• Approved CMAR report items including pilot project support and sewer reserve acknowledgments (unanimous)
• Preliminarily approved Strand Associates Well No. 1 amendment (~$3,600) and approved payment of Strand invoices (unanimous, Naxera abstained on payment)

April 12 Village Board

The Village Board will review financial statements and approve outstanding bills totaling $26,561.61. The meeting includes discussions on staff transitions, sanitation contracts, and utility maintenance.

• Adoption of Well Head Protection Ordinance
• Payment of $26,561.61 in outstanding bills
• Peterson Sanitation proposed contract
• Liquor license applications for Varsity Club and operator Cortney Clement
• Report on Lift Station 1 check valve failure and replacement

The Village Board adopted the Wellhead Protection Ordinance 185-21A, which establishes an overlay district to protect groundwater. The board also approved several operational items, including a fire department rescue vehicle purchase, committee appointments, and wastewater treatment upgrades. The Plan Commission recommended approval of a conditional use permit for a boathouse.

• Adopted Wellhead Protection Ordinance 185-21A (unanimous)
• Authorized signing debt service for 2023 Freightliner rescue vehicle, contingent on public hearing (unanimous)
• Approved $3,500 for Lift Station 1 check valve replacement (unanimous)
• Authorized hiring S&L Underground for check valve replacement (unanimous)
• Approved $9,600 for Anoxic Mixer 4 rehabilitation (unanimous)
• Approved $2,700 for MicroC tote and $1,000 for Polishing Pilot supplies (unanimous)
• Approved liquor license for Varsity Club Restaurant, LLC (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of Schmidt boathouse CUP at 696 Lake Wisconsin Drive (unanimous)