VILLAGE OF ASHKUM
MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
NOVEMBER 22, 2011

The Ashkum Village Board met Tuesday, November 22, 2011 @ the village hall. Present were Paul Heideman, Donna Schmitz, Ed Tholen, Jeff Hanson, Jeremy Beherns, and Russ Hull. Maintenance Supervisor Russ Schoon, Treasurer Krystal Alberts, Gayle Meents, a member of the Planning Commission, and Mack Berry from the Advocate were also present. Trustees Jason McKee and April Lyons were not in attendance.

President Heideman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Clerk Donna Schmitz read the minutes of the November 7, 2011 meeting. Ed Tholen moved to approve the minutes as read, seconded by Jeremy Beherns and the motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS/VISITORS
President Heideman recognized Maintenance Supervisor Russ Schoon who reported on the following:
    -He was asked to get bids for drainage work that needs to be done.      Bids were received from Haley Brothers for repairing a tile in the      park ($405) and to install catch basins by Gray’s 4 unit apartment      with beehive grates ($6,382). No action was taken at this time.

    -Copies of the Midwest Meter, Inc and Master Meter price      quotations were distributed for review and discussion. In the      November 7th minutes, it was reported that Joe Mikulecky had      suggested we get bids for the type of meters we wanted and send the      paperwork in to obtain more money from the $25,000 grant we      received. The $6,250 we received in October will be put in a      separate interest bearing account. Russ indicated both systems were      good and either company would be fine. The $13,900 quote from      Midwest Meter included 30 Badger Model 25 meters while Master      Meter did not include any meters in their estimate of $14,898.76.      Upon questioning, Russ reported we currently have about 90 Badger      Meters in use, and it would be a savings if we stayed with Badger      Meters. Jeff Hanson asked if we could ask a representative from      Midwest Meter if they could give a better deal if we purchased 300      plus meters and what their price would be if they could. Jeremy      Beherns suggested we go with the cheaper vendor who carries the      Badger meters. Ed Tholen moved we accept the $13,900 bid from      Midwest Meter seconded by Jeremy Beherns and the motion passed.      Russ was directed to have the salesman submit a new written bid      proposal and to add enough meters to bring the total to $25,000,      which would equal our grant

    -The Christmas lights on Main Street will be installed tomorrow.
     When questioned about changing his health insurance provider, Russ      replied he did not have a problem with the board’s decision.

President Heideman recognized Gayle Meents, a member of the Planning Commission who was present to discuss activities of their board. Gayle reported Jim Glenn received information from Insurance Services Office, Inc regarding five code books necessary to be current with coding enforcement. The approximate cost for the five books is $467 and there is money in their budget. The books will be used only as reference material as they are not a member of the ISO.

President Heideman recognized Treasurer Krystal Alberts who gave the treasurer’s report for October 2011. Russ Hull moved to accept the report as read, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed. Jeff Hanson moved to present the bills to the Finance Committee, seconded by Jeremy Beherns and the motion passed. Finance vice chairman Ed Tholen reported expenditures of $7,337.22 in the General Fund; expenditures of $7,812.99 in the Water Works Fund; and expenditures of $1,500 in the Road and Bridge Fund. Total expenditures in all funds were $16,650.21. Ed Tholen moved to pay all October bills in the usual manner seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed.

President Heideman brought the following before the board for discussion and/or action:

    -There was discussion at the last meeting about erecting a large      Christmas tree on Main Street. Trustee Hanson researched and      located a large tree at a minimal cost to us. The tree is free, and our      cost would be for transportation to the village, lighting, and drop      cords. A truck and trailer has been lined up and if everything works      out, the tree would be delivered Saturday.

    -The price quotes presented by Russ Schoon earlier for tile repair in      the park and two catch basins by John Gray’s four unit apartment      were discussed again. Ed Tholen moved we accept the bid proposals      and have both projects done, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the      motion passed.

    -In past years, the village board gave $50 to employees for      Christmas, and do we want to continue the tradition? Russ Hull      moved we give the same amount as in previous years, seconded by      Ed Tholen and the motion passed.

    -Nita Dubble was contacted about the ICOM contract which      included Danforth on our statement. Danforth cannot be billed      separately because ICOM dispatches our police car. They did,      however, dropped our annual fee from $1,800 to $1,200 based on      the number of calls they dispatched. President Heideman will contact      the Danforth village president about billing them for their portion of      the fee.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Trustee Russ Hull had no report.

Trustee Jeremy Beherns had no report.

Trustee Jeff Hanson had no report.

Trustee Ed Tholen had no report.

Clerk Donna Schmitz had no report.

President Heideman reported Robinson Engineering is interested in having our business.

President Heideman discussed the tax levy that must be passed in December. Ed Tholen moved to increase the levy by 5%, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed. The paperwork will be sent to the village attorney to draw up the necessary ordinance.

As there was no further business to come before the board, Russ Hull moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 pm, seconded by Ed Tholen and the motion passed.

The next scheduled regular meeting will be Monday December 5, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the village hall.

DONNA K. SCHMITZ
ASHKUM VILLAGE CLERK