Stetsonville continues work on clean-up ordinance

Property maintenance continues to be an issue within the Village of Stetsonville and was discussed during the board meeting on Monday, September 8.

“I’m trying my best to have the village look its best but we keep writing complaints and nothing happens when supposedly, according to your ordinance, there are repercussions,” said Stetsonville resident Marsha Duellman.

The board reported that they discovered the wording in their procedures would not likely hold up in court and they have requested that village attorney Ruthann Koch check on correct language for an updated ordinance. Duellman stated that she, and other members of the community, have brought this issue to the board for two years. She said that she believes the current village ordinance gives the clerk the power to notify the owner and if the appropriate corrections have not been made, the village could file action and the violator would be subject to fines each day the correction remained incomplete.

The current ordinance, 300-8-2017, does allow the clerk to compile a letter to notify the property owner. Subsequently, if no remedy is made, the board may file action with Taylor County. The board reported that they have been attempting to work with the county over the last two years to see if the county would send official notices, but now the village understands that they need a representative on the village board delegated for these duties.

“The county police said they would not deliver any letters for the village,” said board president Greg Brunner.

“Why did it take two years for Bob to figure out he didn’t have a leg to stand on?” Duellman asked, referring to building inspector Bob Christensen.

“I can’t answer that question,” said Brunner. “So it was two years of a waste of time,” Duellman said.

Brunner reiterated that attorney Koch was checking into verbiage. He also stated that the board has sent multiple letters to residents within the community.

“We asked Bob if we could tack on some of these to the tax bill at the end of the year, and he said we could not,” said trustee Will McCarron.

“We don’t have the authority to do what we used to do years ago,” said Brunner.

The board discussed designating someone among them to enforce the village ordinances on their behalf, with public works director Jay Jochimsen and McCarron debating which of them would be the better fit. The board did not take any action as they would like clarification on the duties and responsibilities of the designee for property maintenance enforcement, as well as appropriate verbiage for an updated ordinance.

In other business, the board:

• Heard that the surveying contract on the proposed force main connecting the village’s sewer system to the city of Medford was three-quarters complete, but they are waiting for the utility company to respond, though the survey remains on schedule. The board expects to utilize the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s clean water loan program which includes principal forgiveness, but they are likely not eligible for a community development block grant from the DNR, which they had originally hoped for, as the income level in the community falls above the threshold for the grant. The board will have to utilize interim financing to get the project going. They also discussed coming up with an abandonment plan for the village’s current lagoons, which will involve hauling away the sludge.

• Discussed the completed memorial dedicated to the veterans and firefighters within the community. The village board, American Legion Post 519 and the Stetsonville Fire Department split the cost of the memorial three ways, with each entity donating $675 to the project.

• Discussed a possible plan to take over the maintenance of the Jean M. Thomsen Memorial Library building with library board president Beth Wesle stating, “We are very interested in moving forward with that plan.” The library currently receives a levy in the amount of $36,300, and with this new plan, 20% of that levy amounting to $7,260 would be earmarked for maintenance with the village responsible for completing the regular maintenance, including major repairs like that of the furnace, which is currently malfunctioning. “There’s a lot of big ticket items that are coming up, we don’t know how we’re going to replace those,” said Wesle. The village did not take any action.

• Heard from concerned residents about clogged ditches on the west side of Cherry St. to the north, Powell St., and possibly on Finch Ave. with the board reporting they plan to check all areas and correct flow where they are able.

• Heard from resident Travis Blume who asked for a contingency for an ordinance within the village which requires driveways not to exceed a maximum width of 24’ for single-family homes. The board reported they would discuss it with the zoning committee.

• Decided to keep their tax incremental district (TID) loan with Prevail Bank as the board is agreeable with Prevail’s interest rates.

• Agreed to continue their propane contract with Medford Co-op at a rate of $1.31 per gallon. Last year, the board paid $1.29 per gallon.

• Discussed the Tax Increment Funding (TIF) lots in the Forest View Subdivision. There may be a buyer for one house, but the village may also see duplexes constructed in the spring, with four duplexes on a side. The board stated that driveway installation would likely be the responsibility of the homeowner.