Rib Lake to install cameras in downtown

EMILY GOJMERAC

REPORTER

Rib Lake Police Chief, Derek Beckstrand discussed with the Rib Lake Village Board on Wednesday night about putting security cameras along McComb Ave. This idea was discussed due to a vehicle that was parked on Main Street and ended up damaging the Ed’s IGA building a few weeks prior.

Beckstrand said “I figured because the new light poles will be going up this summer, would be the perfect opportunity to get them installed as well. It would be $500 for the DVR recording device and then $300 for every camera that is purchased. The board decided that getting four cameras total, two for the north end and two for the south end of main street would be a great start then if more would want to be purchased, then they can be.

Response times for the Taylor County Ambulance Service have become a concern due to lack of local EMTs.

Beckstrand said “I was on a call last week and I was there for 35 minutes before the ambulance got there, because they had to come from Medford.”

Russ Bullis added “I know that Price County is having the same issues because our ambulance is up in Prentice more often than not.”

There are 13 vacant buildings on Main Street that could be used to improve community development.

The person who donated the weed harvester that was used to clear weeds from 100 acres of the lake this past fall, would like to donate it to the Village. Rib Lake Fish and Game Committee would like to have a say in what gets done with the weed harvester, before any decision is made.

In other business: The board made a motion to donate $2,000 to complete the electric wiring for the library picnic shelter. The $2,000 is to cover the cost difference from the original estimate of the increase for materials. The library will cover the rest of the cost to complete the project.

The village is going to donate $1,000 to help cover the cost of advertisement for the annual Ice Age Festivities.

To help with the cost of flowers for the walkway, the village will donate $150. Other funds have come from various donators in the past.

A furnace estimate in the amount of $22,035 by Ziembo Plumbing and Heating to replace the system in the Village Hall/Library, along with a 10 year warranty on each of the four furnaces. This estimate was approved by the board.