Cadott Village Board; Booya Days requests to bring sound system downtown

Julie Yeager, Booya Days Committee, came before the Cadott Village Board Nov. 1, to ask board members’ thoughts on bringing a sound system to Main Street. The speaker system could be used to announce events, like parades, or to play music in the downtown area. Board member gave approval for the Booya Days Committee to move forward with the project. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

Cadott’s Main Street could get a sound system, after members of the Booya Days Committee requested support as they move forward with the project, during a regular Cadott Village Board meeting Nov. 1.

The speaker system would be used for events like parades and could also be used to play music on a regular basis.

Julie Yeager, Booya Days member, says she looked into what other towns with speaker systems do. She says Stanley has their speakers on light poles along Main Street, with the hub for the system in one business and another business in charge of running the system each day.

Yeager says they think mounting the speakers on the light poles sounds like a good option and that they would probably place about five speakers along the section of Main Street with businesses.

“The hub of it can be anywhere,” said Yeager, adding she has a business in mind to ask.

Yeager asked what the structure of the inside of the light poles are, so she can get options from businesses who install the systems. Rolly Tichy, public works, says the poles just have coated wire going up the hollow pole, with power to plug-ins for the Christmas lights.

Booya member Crystal Thom says their group plans to raise the money for the project.

Yeager says the company is willing to come to Cadott, to answer questions. Board members agreed would be good for the company to meet with the Public Works Department to discuss which options are possible with Cadott’s setup, before giving approval for Booya Days to move forward with the project.

“It’d be kind of nice to have some music playing,” said board member Bart Chapek.

The board also revisited a discussion on a proposed ordinance on standards for portable storage units, as a second reading. Clerk Sandy Buetow says commercial and industrial areas are allowed to have the containers under the potential ordinance, as well as temporary use at construction sites.

“I don’t think it should be completely out,” said board member Eric Weiland. “I think it should be worded differently in here.”

He says he would like to see an approval process for people to bring one in, because some people need extra storage to keep their yards clean.

“It’s better than junk all over,” said Weiland. There will be a hearing on the proposed ordinance in December.

Randy Kuehni, board member, also reported that the village has received $25,000 in Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP) funds. The funds are matching funds to be used for road surface improvement projects.

Len Schreiber, Cedar Corp., met with Tichy to discuss which road or roads to put the program money toward and they came up with the options of Kelly Street, Brown Street, South Elm Street and Snyder Road. The projects could also be combined.

Weiland asked if Brown Street should be a priority, since it is gravel.

“I would like to take and see Brown Street get done, but at the same time, Elm Street is in real rough shape,” said Tichy.

After further discussion, the board decided they would like to see the gravel gone and voted for the LRIP funds to be used on Brown Street improvements.

Schreiber also asked for guidance on whether to apply for LRIP-S funds, a 90/10 grant, LRIP-D funds, a 50/50 grant, or both, for 80th Avenue/North Road and 250th/Boundary Road.

“You can do both, but I’m just saying, there’s probably a good chance that maybe you’re not going to get the 90/10 then,” said Schreiber.

Schreiber says they worked to get the price down on the project, to make it more likely to get the funding. Members voted to only pursue the LRIP-S funds for the project.

Board member Russ Falkenberg also talked about the costs of networking equipment for the village’s SCADA wireless network. He says the network can be used for other things, like video, but before they do that they need to segment the network.

“So we can prioritize the traffic,” said Falkenberg. The board has talked about putting security cameras out before.

“This is the next step,” said Falkenberg, explaining the updates will allow the network to grow.

The board approved moving forward with the networking equipment, working with Krista Computers.

Members also approved a Class “B” malt beverage license to Mary Scheidler at The Village Scoop.

The board also approved a resolution authorizing the placement of special assessments, special charges and delinquent utility bills on the tax roll, which clerk Sandy Buetow explained is a yearly occurrence.

During reports, Chapek said the committee did bring up the village’s budgeting suggestions at the Fire Committee meeting. He says the group voted to stay with the same budget as last year, but lower the apparatus contributions by $5,000.