Cadott Village Board; Akar brings up business idea

John Akar brought his business idea for an online gun sales business before the Cadott Village Board Nov. 21, as part of a regular meeting. Akar says he needs a letter from the village, in order to get a license through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF will contact the village to share what is needed. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

John Akar brought his business idea to the Cadott Village Board, during a regular meeting Nov. 21, to see if the village would be able to help him get the business going. Akar, who is originally from Turkey, said he would like to sell guns imported from Turkey, primarily through online sales.

He says he is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), to get the needed permissions and licenses.

“I have a small car dealership located in Eau Claire,” said Akar.

Akar says he originally applied to sell the guns from the same property as his car dealership and the ATF asked for a letter from the City of Eau Claire. When Akar approached the city for the letter, he says he was told he had to pick one business for the location – car sales or gun sales. He decided to stick with the car dealership for that location and began looking for properties for his gun sales business idea elsewhere.

Akar says he is interested in the former medical center building, on Cadott’s Main Street, next to the pharmacy.

In order to get approval for the location, Akar says he needs a letter from the village.

Clerk Sandy Buetow says if the ATF approves everything, the security and such falls on the business owner, not the village.

Russ Falkenberg, board member, asked what the village from the letter needs to say. Akar says he does not know what information the letter needs to contain.

Board member Les Liptak said he thought it would be best if an ATF representative would contact the village directly, to discuss what is needed.

“I’d like to have that information,” said Liptak. Akar agreed he can ask the ATF agent to reach out to the village to go through what is needed from the village.

The board did approve underground cable and cabinet inspection from Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC), in conjunction with EPS Engineering, for $8,720. Jeremy Kenealy, director of public works, said they would like to finish the study, so the information can be put together for grant applications, to help with the cost of updating the village system to 7,200 volts.

Tim Miller, Waste Management, was also in attendance to talk about the village’s contract with the company.

“The current agreement that we have with the Village of Cadott is up at the end of this calendar year,” said Miller.

Miller began by discussing expected price increases for each of the cart sizes. Anson Albarado, board president, asked if the increases were 3 percent.

“That is not 3 percent,” said Miller.

Liptak said they were 10 percent or more, each. Albarado pointed out that the contract automatically renewed 90 days before the end of the year, for a 3 percent increase on a one-year term, and would automatically renew for the year 2024, as well, if no action is taken.

“If you wanted to come back, and re-negotiate or whatever for the second year, any written notices have to be by certified mail, 90 days before the contract expires,” said Albarado.

Miller agreed and said it will be a 3 percent adjustment for another year. When he plugged in the numbers, Miller said they were falling short of keeping up with CPI. He says they will see what the prices are next time around.

“I guess we just anticipate notice next year,” said Liptak.

Buetow also took the time to state that Waste Management has an exclusive contract with the village, so everyone in the village is supposed to use Waste Management services.

Katherine “Cookie” Kaste, library board president, shared a sketch of the proposed library floor plan and shared an update on how the planning process for a new library building is going, during the meeting.

“I don’t feel that that’s the final copy,” said Kaste. “There’s going to be more.”

She says they are hoping to have a more definite sketch available by January, and to meet with the village board for another update after that.

Kaste says there is a fundraising plan, but they have not actively started fundraising yet, because they wanted the sketch first. They also have an updated brochure in the works and information with naming rights, and how different donation amounts will be recognized.

“We’ve done a lot of the background work,” said Kaste.

Kaste also mentioned they would like to talk to the village about potentially using the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the library project.

“We don’t have any deadline,” said Kaste. “We know it’s going to take time to get the money.”

Albarado also asked if the library board would want the contact information for the person at Cedar Corp., who normally works with the village on block grant applications. Kaste said that would be good.

Buetow also says another question that has come up, is whether donated money can be used for matching grants, adding that would be a good question for Cedar Corp.

A discussion about the village ordinances on topography preservation, in regard to the Glenn Schofield property, was again on the agenda, after more land was disturbed on Schofield’s property than is allowed by ordinance. No agreement was reached to bring the grade and slope into compliance, during the discussion.

Up and coming clerk/treasurer April Bruhn was also on-hand during the meeting for introductions, as Buetow’s retirement nears.