Neighboring municipalities need to come to some sort of understanding

Unfortunately, boundary lines don’t always run straight, especially when it comes to municipal maps – sometimes, a road is split right down the middle, with each village or town responsible for their share of maintenance. Normally, that works quite well, but this year, there’s been a lack of communication and a lapse in proper procedure, between the Gilman Village Board and the Town of Aurora, which was discussed June 12, at the regular village board meeting.

The town is crack filling on Gilman Drive and wants the village to reimburse the town for half of the project. Village clerk Candice Grunseth sent an email to Aurora chairman Brian Phelps, stating they couldn’t sign off on the work, until a few things had been cleared up. He then contacted village president Jane DeStaercke, who basically said the same thing.

“There’s nothing in our budget for this year, he was informed,” said DeStaercke. “We need a response from the Town of Aurora, before we can go ahead with any budget amendment or anything like that.”

However, that’s not the half of it. Grunseth pointed out that for something like that, which is above the mandated minimum expense, both boards need to have competitive bids to compare, which requires publication in the local newspaper and approval by the boards upon receival of the bids. According to DeStaercke, Aurora was going ahead with the project anyway.

“They can’t just make the decisions and dictate what’s going on, it’s got to be joint,” said village trustee Cheryl Rosemeyer.

Village trustee Ericka Motte feels that the roadwork should be at their expense, as the village has been left out of it, while village trustee Russell Baker wants to update the intergovernmental agreement between the two entities.

It was agreed that is necessary, as they do share roads, so Rosemeyer suggested the boards meet in a joint effort to work on that, so Aurora is not left out of the conversation like Gilman was.

Resident Butch Gonia was also present, to question why millings that came from recent street improvements, were disposed of the way they were. Per the contract with the company, the village gave permission to “dump” the millings, but Gonia thinks they should have been sold instead.

“People will pay money for that,” said Gonia, who estimated it could have made the village as much $15,000.

He also felt that if they didn’t sell the millings, they could be used for side streets on shouldering, but Grunseth said they were informed the millings are not the type that can be used and the village would have to pay for a roller.

Gonia still felt it was inexcusable and said someone on the board should be held accountable.

“When we hire a company, we expect them to know what to do,” said Motte.

DeStaercke acknowledged that the board does not know as much about the road projects as they could and promised to be more aware of alternative options next time.

Also brought up by Gonia, was the brush at end of the road by his property, as he feels it’s a safety concern for EMS to travel, with the brush hanging over the road. At a previous meeting, public works director Dave Kroeplin explained to Gonia that the brush is on his neighbor’s property and that they do not want it cut, and that was reiterated at the latest meeting.

“If there’s an ambulance or a fire department call – because it’s past your house – he’s (neighbor) the one that’s going to be affected by that,” said police chief Tom Tallier.

DeStaercke said Gonia’s comments will be passed on to Kroeplin.

Hearing comments of her own from the public, DeStaercke brought up that residents are wondering what the status is of the old bowling alley, as it is something of an eye sore on Main Street. Building owner/ village trustee Dee Bornheimer says she and husband, Steve, have worked on the property, as they can, and did remove objects that were hanging. They also want to paint the front and have the steel for the sides.

“It’s not like we’re trying to avoid it,” said Bornheimer, the owner of two operating businesses in the village and co-owner of a third. “We’re trying to get one thing done at a time.”

DeStaercke sympathizes, but the matter was brought up a public meeting she attended and felt she had to mention it.

“It is on people’s minds,” said DeStaercke.

Village trustee Bob Preston thinks people need to leave the Bornheimers alone and let them work on the building as they are able.

“Cut them some slack, that’s the way I feel,” he said.

Rosemeyer said no matter how the village deals with the matter, they want to be consistent on working with businesses, while Motte said the previous owner had a lot of leeway when attempting to fix up the building. DeStaercke reminded the board that the Bornheimers have no restrictions or violations, only comments from the public.

It was agreed the board or several members need to meet with the Bornheimers, to see what their plans are and what the timeline is for completion.

DeStaercke did say that she has heard nothing but praise for the businesses the Bornheimers opened, the public is simply wondering what’s going on with the old bowling alley.

“I’m doing my best to get on it,” said Bornheimer.

In that vein, Bornheimer questioned what happened with the resident in the former laundromat. No one on the board ever heard anything, after a board-ordered inspection to make sure the resident met the variance requirements of a working kitchen and water/sewer. Members said they need to follow up on that issue.

DeStaercke also shared that a resident contacted her, concerned over what they felt was an inflammatory and improper poster hung at an entity on Main Street. They also spoke to Tallier, who informed them that the village does not have the jurisdiction to ask to remove the poster, as it is free speech.

“This resident also talked to the person, personally, and asked that it be taken down, and the person said they would consider it,” said DeStaercke.

Now that summer is here, Gilman’s farmers market is held every Wednesday, until Oct. 25, from 2-6 p.m. Because of that, the road will be closed those times, on Third Avenue South. If anyone has questions or wants to be a vendor, they can contact Lynn Rosemeyer, at 715-8270027.