Stratford opens STH 97 and 153 to ATVs/UTVs
The Stratford Village Board on July 11 approved village resident Steve Steiner’s request to open STH 97 and 153 for ATV/UTV use where the speed limit is under 35 miles per hour so he and others can access nearby trails. The village will also remove the speed limitation of 20 miles per hour in its ATV/UTV ordinance.
In other news:
Stratford police chief Tom Koontz told the village board he had Stratford Building Supply produce a floor plan for the village shop on Larch Street for remodeling this building into the new Stratford Police Department. Koontz said he’s still waiting to receive a cost estimate from Stratford Building Supply.
Jeff Aschebrock, village of Stratford water plant operator, paid a visit to village resident Dean Liska this summer to alert him that he’s depositing too much water into the village sewer system. Liska then filed an appeal with the village of Stratford for the village to forgive his extra sewer charges.
Liska spoke during the public comments period at the July 11 village board meeting that he normally uses about 1,800 to 2,000 units of water to irrigate his garden. His last village utility bill stated that he used 10,000 units of water, which is far above normal.
“We have a large vegetable garden in our backyard and as you know we’ve been in a drought,” Liska told the village board. “There was excess water used from either a leak in the hose or the sprinkler operating too fast, but either way I can assure you the excess water all went into our garden and not into the sewer.”
Keith Grell, Stratford Village president, told Liska the village would “go through the due process” of reviewing his appeal. “When it gets on the meeting agenda, we’ll give you a copy,” Grell said.
Liska discovered that village residents can rent a meter that goes onto the water hose from the house outdoor faucet that measures the amount of water usage. He said village residents can ask Scott Dennee, Stratford director of public works, to rent a water meter.
The village board approved a $150 deposit for village residents and nonresidents to use any of the village facilities. The person will receive their $150 deposit back if they clean up the facility after they are done using it, otherwise the village will keep the $150 deposit to cover the cost to clean the facility themself. The current $50 fee for village residents and $100 fee for non residents to use any village facility remains in place.
Village resident Jon Ulrich asked the village board if a DOT speed study has been conducted on STH 153 west in Stratford. Grell told Ulrich a speed study has already been completed on STH 153 east but not on STH 153 west because of road construction this summer. Grell said the DOT will conduct a speed study after the reconstruction of STH 153 west of Stratford is finished at the end of this month, and then the village should learn the DOT’s speed study findings sometime this winter.
The village board approved the full-time hire of Andrew Reseburg in the public works employee.
Village board members approved the purchase of two storage containers that will house village public works equipment that is presently stored in the garages on the lot the village is selling to Klemme Sales. The storage containers will be located behind the village shop. Purchase of the storage containers will be a 50/50 split in cost between the village and the village utility. The village also approved the purchase of a new paper folding machine for the municipal center.
The village board approved a quote from L.W. Allen Pump Systems for $11,864 for the purchase of two new pumps in the wastewater treatment plant.
Dennee told the village board the new village plow truck from Western Star did not come with the curbside camera for the wing and a heated windshield like he wanted. Dennee said he ordered a curbside camera for the wing for $2,129 from Kafka to be mounted to the new plow truck.
Troy Wieman, Stratford Village Board fire commissioner, informed the village board that Stratford Area Fire Department wants to have a long range planning committee composed of non-firefighters and commissioners. The long range planning committee would report to the fire commission. Fire commissioners for each township SAFD serves are talking to their residents to see if anyone is interested in being a member of a new long range planning committee.
The village board approved to change the mobile home park lease agreement to July 1 through June 30 of each year.
Village board members met in closed session and then reconvened back into open session to vote on approving a $1 per hour wage increase for the village water operator/assistant department of public works job. The village board also approved a $3,000 years of service award to Jeff Aschebrock. He is returning in August as the village’s water operator. The award is in appreciation of his 28 years working for the village.
Stratford regular village board meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the municipal hall. Village residents may contact clerk Jamie Heindl at either 715-687-4166 or stratfordclerk@stratfordwi. gov.
