Village Board hears reports, sewer loan paid off

BOYCEVILLE — The village board heard several reports at their monthly meeting Monday night, including that a sewer utility loan has been paid off. They also heard from the police chief about the monthly activities and approved a zoning change item to allow for a home to be divided into a duplex.

During her report, Village Clerk/Treasurer C. J. Swanepoel reported that she had paid off a Sanitary Sewer Revenue Bond of 2003. The amount of the payment was $199,000. She also indicated that the village has received a $6,623 refund on the workers compensation insurance.

Police Chief Dan Wellumson reported that his department had a busy May with 91 incidents. Included were 21 ordinance violations including a dozen for junk, which Wellumson said were unlicensed vehicles. He also noted that they were working on the tall grass issue after village president Gib Krueger noted the tall grass in several spots in the village. Wellumson also noted that they were working on the car show and radar run at the airport during Cucumber Festival and showed the board a poster that has been made for the annual event.

Wellumson’s report also indicated that there were four municipal court items on May 8. They included a non-registration; display of unauthorized registration; winter parking violation and possession of tobacco by a minor.

Village Maintenance Head, Don Rose spoke about the recent DNR inspection of the water system. He was questioned about the high level of water at the waste water treatment facility and told the board that because of the heavy rains this past month the ponds are high. Rose told the board that he figured that the ponds captured some nine million gallons of rainwater and with the village pumping in some three million gallons and discharging some nine million gallons it still leaves the pond levels high, he noted.

A public hearing was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the meeting to hear a request from CR Homes LLC for a zoning change from R-1 single family residential to a R-2 two family residential at 1012 Center Street to be used a duplex.

President Krueger asked Eric Ryder to explain the request to the board. Ryder indicated that they have purchased the house as an investment and planned to create a two family residence by making the basement into an apartment.

However, Village trustee herb Dow questioned him about how the water lines would be separated into the building and who would be paying the utility bill. Ryder indicated that his firm would be responsible to the village for the payment. But it was learned that village policy requires two separate water lines into the building, one for each unit. In order to do this the property owner would have to install a second line from the curb stop to allow for the village to shut one of the lines of because off non-payment.

After discussing the item for some time and trying to come to some way to allow this to happen, the board finally moved to allow the zoning change, but only if there are two water lines into the building.

In other action the board approved having the village’s payroll done with direct deposit beginning in September.