Three-way split of costs leads to alley paved near Gilman Fire Department

In a three-way split of costs between village of Gilman, Jim Hendricks and the Gilman Fire Department, a bid from American Asphalt was approved at the village board meeting July 8, for paving on the alley by the fire department. The bid for $13,609.95 will be broken down to $4,835 for each of the three parties.

A bid also came in from Jensen & Son Asphalt Paving for $14,505.

Paving will take place just in the alley space, as the rest is a private space. Fire department representative Fred Romig and Hendricks agreed there were both happy with the accepted bid, and the scope of work to be done.

The bids were chosen, based on the same mix and same thickness, as was requested at a previous meeting.

“I think we have apples-to-apples now,” said trustee Greg Steinbach.

The board also approved a bid from West Taylor Fabricating for replacement of the east stairs at the village hall, on recommendation of public works director Rick Johnson. A bid also came in from Scott Copenhaver, but Johnson preferred the work be completed by West Taylor Fabricating.

The steps will be zinc-coated and powdered, and will be set on cement.

“Personally, I think that’s the way to go,” said Johnson. “They’re good looking steps, will be there forever.”

Looking ahead to the fall election, members also approved purchasing new election booths. The village’s current booths are falling apart and made of cloth dividers.

“Due to COVID, you can’t use those,” said clerk Candice Grunseth.

Grunseth says the village can use the money they spend on the booths to put toward the Routes to Recovery Grant, which helps fund expenses incurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost of the new election equipment is $245 per booth, for four booths, not including shipping.

Through the recovery grant, Grunseth is also looking to purchase portable hand sanitizer stations that can be installed in the village hall, as well as other cleaning tools.

“They are all items we’d be looking at putting toward the Routes to Recovery Grant,” she said.

The village also received notice from Taylor County, that the ballfields could be opened for sports use.

“…It didn’t take long after Candice sent out an email, to get reservations for the park, for the fields’ usage,” said village president Jane DeStaercke.

Although it was expected to be completed some time ago, outside landscaping for the library expansion has stalled, as companies have not been able to finish the work.

“I do not have a time frame for the landscaping,” said Grunseth.

As part of his police report, Gilman police chief Tom Tallier informed the board of something cool that happened during June, which was that endurance runner Coree Woltering passed through Gilman, in his quest to complete the 1,200-mile trek of the Ice Age Trail. The Gilman Police Department gave Woltering an escort as he ran through Main Street.

“To me…to have the Ice Age Trail in our back yard…it’s beautiful,” said Tallier, who admitted he hadn’t fully appreciated the trail before. “There are so many segments of it that are interesting.”

Woltering set the record fastest time running the trail, at 21 days, averaging 60 miles a day, even on a sprained ankle incurred during his journey.

“It was very impressive,” said Tallier.