Curtiss Village Board improves security
Security was the main topic of discussion at the Curtiss Village Board meeting on July 11.
The board discussed options to put camera systems on all village properties after a theft incident that occurred in June. They reached out to Computer TR out of Abbotsford and got a quote for putting in an extensive, local camera system.
However, the estimates came in well over what the village was willing to spend. The board discussed the need for the cameras and agreed that they should install some sort of system but wanted to explore cheaper options before anything was agreed upon.
Public works director Larry Swarr said the cameras that Computer TR suggested would be professional grade and would allow the village to store the footage from the cameras locally while not requiring a battery hookup.
He said the board might want to look into storing footage on the cloud so that it would be easily accessible. The other benefit is the cameras could be monibenefit is the cameras could be monitored live or using motion detection systems.
The board got a quote from a local contractor to replace doors that were damaged during the break in and are in need of replacement at the village hall. The estimated cost of the door replacement was $3,520.65 which included a steel insulated entry door and a solid core door.
The board also talked about putting in a safe in one of the village properties to store valuables. Board president Betty Rettig said she was going to be talking to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to see what the department could do in terms of increased police presence in the village.
The board was also notified of an incident that occurred with the Village Clerk’s computer system in early July. Carol Devine said her computer was hacked and someone was taking control of her computer before she was able to unplug it and call a representative from Computer TR to look at it.
Other business
n The board discussed purchasing additional floats for the wastewater lagoons or potentially going with a new system. Swarr said the floats he had been using at the rock filter failed several months ago. He said he then installed new ones but they were deemed defective and the village got a refund for the defective floats.
Swarr said the floats were used to automate the plant and keep wastewater from overflowing the system. He said because the automation isn’t working, he is required to go out to the plant and manually turn the pump on and off to ensure the plant doesn’t overflow.
“It is a major inconvenience but I can run the plant without it. I have been for the last three months,” Swarr said.
When digging into the problem with the floats, a WM Metering employee who was out at the wastewater plant working on a separate issue, found that it is not permissible to use mercury in floats in Wisconsin and therefore, the floats cannot be bought in the state. Therefore, none of the new floats have been working well.
The employee told Swarr about a system that is called a FOGRod. Instead of using floats, you are using continuity testing between multiple electrodes on a rod. Swarr noted that this method seems to be much more reliable and suggested the village go with the new system.
“I feel like this is a better option,” Swarr said.
New alderman Mark Kunze said the village should probably “bite the bullet” and get the new system to help keep the plant automated.
“It’s obviously not feasible for Larry to go out there every day,” Unruh said. “And do we really want to spend $260 to keep buying floats that might not work?”
The board decided to go with the new system which was estimated to cost $2,740.
n The board approved a motion to go with WM Metering for the calibration of meters for this year.
n After a recent accident that occurred on Meridian Street in early July, a deputy with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office suggested the village put up “No Parking” signs near a dangerous intersection. Board members said the incident occurred when cars were parked and where driver visibility to the sidewalks and pedestrian area were limited.
The board voted to buy the “No Parking” signs for that section of Meridian Street by Front and Green Streets.
n The board agreed to go with Weld Riley, S.C. for the village’s extraterritorial zoning measure. Attorney Dean Dietrich sent the village a memo which said the firm would be interested in representing the village in its quest to pass an extraterritorial zoning regulation.
