Colfantastic Events planning “Christmas in the Village” Dec. 3
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — Heather Logslett and Jeanna Berge, the masterminds behind Colfantastic Events, are planning “Christmas in the Village” for December 3.
At the October 24 meeting, in support of “Christmas in the Village,” the Colfax Village Board authorized Lynn Niggemann, administrator-clerk-treasurer, to apply for a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to close state Highway 40 that day.
The village board also approved waiving the fee for the use of buildings at the Colfax Fairgrounds.
Logslett and Berge are requesting that Highway 40 be shut down for a parade, Niggemann said.
The parade route will be the same as the parade route for the Colfax Firefighters’ Ball. At first, Logslett and Berge thought they would hold the parade on back streets, but then they realized there would not really be anywhere for people to sit to watch the parade, she said.
Niggemann said she was unsure of how WisDOT would respond to the request for shutting down Highway 40 because the application will be for a longer period than the street is shut down for the Firefighters’ Ball parade in September.
On the other hand, Highway 40 has been shut down for longer periods for street dances, she said.
Highway 40 also was shut down for more than 12 hours for the Colfax Sesquicentennial celebration in 2014.
The parade route for the Colfax Firefighters’ Ball begins in the parking lot at Colfax High School and ends at the Colfax Fairgrounds.
Do they want Highway 40 closed all the way to Kyle’s Market, since part of the celebration will be at Kyle’s Market? asked Gary Stene, village trustee.
Logslett and Berge want to use buildings at the fairgrounds and then go to Kyle’s Market for the tree lighting later, so the parade route is not all the way to Kyle’s Market, Niggemann said.
The Colfax Village Board unanimously approved the authorization to apply for a permit to close Highway 40 on December 3 and to waive the fee for use of the buildings at the fairgrounds.
Voting in favor were Jody Albricht, village president, and village trustees Margaret Burcham, Carey Davis, Anne Jenson, Jeff Prince, Jen Rud and Gary Stene.
Jenson asked if Christmas in the Village would also include the Christmas light decorating contest and street tour of the lights, as was done last year, but Niggemann said she believed the parade was replacing the Christmas light decorating contest.
Dec. 3
“Christmas in the Village” begins with an event to meet Santa Claus and his reindeer at Kyle’s Market on Saturday, December 3, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Local vendors are expected to be set up in the parking lot, according to information included in the village board packet.
The “Light Up Colfax” parade will begin at 5 p.m. and is expected to feature holiday-themed floats entered by local businesses and community organizations.
A Love Light Tree ceremony will be held near Kyle’s Market following the parade. For $5 per bulb, people can honor the memory of a loved one or can honor a friend or a family member.
Information included in the village board packet did not include any details pertaining to activities at the Colfax Fairgrounds.
Logslett and Berge were unable to attend the October 24 village board meeting.
For many years, the Colfax Health and Rehabilitation Center has had a Love Light tree.
The Colfax Messenger sent an e-mail message to Kenzie Galetka, CHRC administrator, to ask about the Love Light tree.
Galetka responded, “We are doing it together, and Colfantastic Events has offered to allow us to collect the proceeds for the program.”
Evergreen Cemetery
In years past, Don Berg has opened and closed vaulted graves in the winter at Evergreen Cemetery in Colfax.
Berg was injured in an accident last spring and has sold his frost-thawing equipment, said Rand Bates, director of public works.
According to a letter dated October 10 from Berg included in the village board packet, “a fall incident in the first part of April of this year has left me with some significant injuries.”
Berg can still do the cremations and will continue to do those as long as he can, Bates said.
Berg’s equipment has been sold to Scott Boehm, the letter states.
The funeral homes would contract either with Berg or Boehm, depending upon the grave, Niggemann said.
Boehm has been working in the vault business for more than 15 years, and his knowledge of the process will be an advantage for him in taking over thawing grave sites for winter burials, Berg said in his letter.
“I began helping an uncle open graves by hand when I was about 13 years old. I’ve always considered it an honor to serve you and families in time of need and strive to maintain integrity to every grave and cemetery I visit. Leaving one of my passions behind on medical terms is my least desire,” he wrote.
The Colfax Village Board unanimously approved the modification of services for Evergreen Cemetery to include Scott Boehm.
Tax settlements
The Dunn County treasurer’s office collects property taxes for the Village of Colfax and for many other municipalities in Dunn County.
In the past, the treasurer’s office paid out “special charges” in the August settlement, regardless of whether the treasurer’s office had actually received the money.
Special charges refers to fees added to a property tax bill, such as charges for shoveling snow, sewer and water utility bills, or charges for mowing a lawn, Niggemann said.
Previously, the treasurer’s office paid out “special charges” in the August settlement, regardless of whether the treasurer’s office had actually received the money.
The Dunn County Board approved a resolution in September changing the policy so that the treasurer’s office will only pay out, with the August tax settlement, those special charges for which the treasurer’s office has actually received the money.
Any outstanding payment will be paid monthly if or when the money is received by the Dunn County treasurer’s office, according to a letter from A. Sifia Jevne, Dunn County treasurer, dated October 3.
The Colfax Village Board unanimously acknowledged the change in policy.
Other business
In other business, the Colfax Village Board:
• Received an introduction to Brett Sajdera, the village’s new public works employee. Sajdera officially began his duties in the village on October 17.
• Approved an estimate from Cramer Consulting in the amount of $2,074.78 for a new laptop computer and docking station for Niggemann. The purchase is included in the budget for this year, Niggemann said, noting that her old computer has been failing a little bit at a time.
• Learned that Brian Longdo, 503 E. Third Avenue, has been in contact with George Entzminger, building inspector, for a building permit for a fence around his business property. Niggemann said she had a discussion with Longdo about the village’s ordinances and rules for fences.
• Learned that the person who is helping David Felland to clean up his property at 609 Pine Street has paid for a roll-off so that additional trash and rubbish can be removed from the property. The clean-up of the property is expected to be finished soon, Niggemann said, noting that tackling the pallets will be the next step.
• Learned that only the “punch list” remains at the Colfax wastewater treatment lagoons on the project to stabilize the Red Cedar River bank so the river does not wash out the lagoons. The hydro-seeding has been completed, a fence has been put up, and most of the equipment has been removed from the site, Bates reported.