Elk Mound Village Board approves term sheet for Settlers Ridge
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By Cara L. Dempski
ELK MOUND — On February 15, the Elk Mound Board of Trustees approved a term sheet for a proposed development on the east side of the village, known as Settlers Ridge. The Board has been working for several months on the proposed development, and creation of a second Tax Increment District. After voting unanimously to approve the terms, the Board moved on to other items on the agenda.
No one was present for a public appearance, and no one was registered for a citizens forum, which allowed the Board to move on to approving vouchers for the general fund, water and sewer utilities. Up next was building permits and applications for service and permits; there were none to consider. Next, Public Works Director Mark Levra reported he and his staff have been checking frost lines daily via the village manholes. So far, he reports the coldest water temperature in the water distribution system is 47°. He also reported frost lines have not yet reached a depth where they are problematic.
Police Chief Chad Weinberger informed the trustees that one case that took up a lot of his time was a juvenile sexual assault case. He also said there have been other activities the department has been working on such as damage to mailboxes, eggings and a drug investigation from November 2020. Weinberger’s most unusual case in his report regarded a dog-at-large, which required the assistance of the Dunn County Humane Association. He said Humane Association staff safely live trapped the dog; Weinberger also reported the dog in question was slated for adoption later in the week. He also informed the Board that traffic continues to be at the top of the board for the department’s work, along with public relations. He indicated cases are spread out pretty evenly geographically in the village.
The Police Chief updated the Board on attempts to remedy a junk vehicle ordinance violation at a home on Railroad Street. A letter was sent to the homeowner on February 9 asking for the vehicle to be removed and the space be cleaned up by February 17. He also said, “if it’s not done, the village attorney will take it to the next level.” Weinberger did not indicate what the next level would be.
Next, the Board was updated by Greg Kipp, of the employee Relations Committee, that the committee would like to find another police officer. As Kipp explained it, “we better find the money to get another police officer.” The Employee Relations committee wants to refer the matter to the Property and Finance committee to figure out if the 2022 budget could support another officer.
Then, the Board heard some miscellaneous information and communications. Pres. Steven Abraham asked if anyone had heard any updates on Dollar General. There were no updates available, but one participant said the last he had heard was that there was an access issue with the Department of Transportation.
Abraham then asked Levra if there were any security issues with the Elk Mound water system. He brought up the question in light of a recent report that someone had hacked into the water system for a municipality in Florida and started pumping an outside substance into it. Levra indicated he does not have any concerns about the system’s security right now.
Discussion then moved on to possible action on renting or purchasing a truck for Public Works; the board eventually approved spending $1,600 to upgrade the village end loader to be used for plowing streets.
As one final item of business, trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Rebecca Livingston to the Joint Review Board.
The next meeting for the Board of Trustees will be held at 6 p.m. on March 1.