Elk Mound village board approves $5,500 contract
By Cara L. Dempski
ELK MOUND — The Elk Mound Village Board has approved a municipal assessor contract in the amount of $5,500 with Bowmar Appraisal Inc. of Altoona for 2017 assessment services.
The village board approved the contract with Bowmar at the September 7 meeting.
“They always do a good job,” village clerk Pat Hahn said. “They’ve been our assessor for quite some time.”
Bowmar Appraisal will also provide maintenance and revaluation assessments for the village as necessary.
Board member Tony Schrantz asked Hahn if the village was in need of revaluation, and Hahn responded that market value in Elk Mound is currently 110 percent. She clarified a revaluation would not need to occur unless prices moved more than 10 percentage points away from 100 percent of fair market pricing.
Public works director Mark Levra informed the board he is searching for a public works crewmember. Former crewmember Dan Lew resigned his position August 22, and his last day was August 29.
“The position has been posted and will close September 14,” Levra said. “We have six applications so far.”
There was no update regarding the search for a new part-time police officer.
Village president Andy Peterson gave an update on the former Bremer Bank building. Eric Knutson, the new owner, has begun working to divide the building into four office spaces.
Knutson will use one office for his insurance business and rent out the remaining spaces. Peterson stated an attorney and a realtor had spoken for two of the other spaces.
“There was also talk of putting in a small coffee shop,” Peterson said.
In other business, the Elk Mound board:
• Approved an operator license for Torri Anne Gundun, contingent on a clean background check. Police Chief Travis Hakes will complete the check.
• Discussed schedule changes for September and October meetings. The second September meeting will be held the 28th. The October 5 meeting was moved to October 12, and will be the only board meeting for the month of October.
• Learned the employee relations committee met August 31 to get to know the village’s municipal attorneys from Bakke Norman.