Village of Spencer
Village of Spencer
Regular Board of Trustees Meeting – May 12, 2025
Spencer Municipal Complex President Toufar called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Clerk Helgestad verified that open meeting laws were followed. Trustees Carolfi, Jicinsky, Hoes, Krause, White, and Toufar were present. Schafer was absent. Also present were Clerk Helgestad, public works Will Garton, police chief Shawn Bauer, and resident and Marathon County board supervisor Wayne Hagen.
Residents Joe and Jody Scidmore were also present. There were no agenda order changes. (Carolfi)(Hoes) was carried to dispense with the readings of the regular April 14, 2025, meeting minutes and approve them as printed.
Wayne Hagen expressed concerns about excessive noise and tall grass in his area. Chief Bauer thanked him for reaching out and will address the issues.
Clerk Helgestad commented that the Board of Review will hold their first two-hour meeting on May 13, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. He also shared a draft Spencerama Days poster and the date of a local blood drive at the Spencer Village Hall on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
A brief summary of recent public works activity was presented by public works Will Garton.
A brief summary of recent police activity was presented by Chief Bauer. Chief Bauer would like to remind residents of village ordinance 271-4, addressing noxious weeds and natural lawns. The growth of natural lawn more than 8 inches shall be prohibited within the Village of Spencer. After notification, if the property owner fails to abate, the village may abate the noxious weeds/long grass at the property owner’s expense.
Trustee Hoes asked Chief Bauer to review the nuisance property abatement process.
There were no president’s comments.
(Hoes)(Jicinsky) was carried to approve the 2025 Citizen Committee appointments. Harry Toufar was appointed as housing director. Cindy Borgmoen, Will Garton, and Larry Schultz were appointed to the Planning Commission. Ron Johnson and Travis Holt were appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Harry Vogel was appointed to the police commission. Clerk Helgestad commented that the Revolving Loan Fund Committee will be disbanded with the dissolution of that program. Residents will still be able to participate in the regional version of that program.
(Carolfi)(Krause) was carried to approve the village board standing committee appointments. No changes were made to the existing roster.
(Carolfi)(Jicinsky) was carried to approve the release and settlement agreement between the village, Funktion, and S.D. Ellenbecker covering the repair of the band stage ceiling.
Clerk Helgestad commented on the extremely professional working relationship between Funktion and S.D. Ellenbecker. Both companies are dedicated to providing the village with the best finished product possible.
(Jicinsky)(Hoes) was carried to approve a Planning Commission recommendation to allow a variance at 207 N. Chestnut St. for a reduced setback from North Chestnut Street to accommodate a deck and stairs to access the front door.
(Jicinsky)(Carolfi) was carried on unanimous roll call vote to award the 2025 street pavement and various patches project to American Asphalt for a cost not to exceed $59,528.20.
Clerk Helgestad reported only one bid was received for the well house #3 demolition project. The board consensus was to rebid the project in the hopes of getting multiple bids on which to base a more informed decision.
(Krause)(Carolfi) was carried to approve a proposal from Fahrner Asphalt Sealers for crack filling select village streets for a cost of $7,160.
(Carolfi)(Jicinsky) was carried to set a purchase price for 406 South Jefferson St. at $31,000.
(Jicinsky)(Hoes) was carried to set a purchase price for a portion of the Dog Park property at $10,800.
(Carolfi)(Hoes) was carried on unanimous roll call vote to approve a DNR grant agreement for the construction of a new public shooting range.
(Hoes)(Krause) was carried on unanimous roll call vote to approve a proposal from Belco Vehicle Solutions for the outfitting of the new police squad for an estimated cost of $16,126.95.
(Jicinsky)(Krause) was carried on unanimous roll call vote to approve Tri-City Contractors’ pay request #4 for the Pine and Hemlock Street Lift Station project for $317,121.97.
(Carolfi)(Hoes) was carried on unanimous roll call vote to approve to Ellis Stone Construction Company’s pay request #5 for the Well#7/WTP #2 project for $132,179.01.
(Carolfi)(Toufar) was carried to approve Resolution 2025-1, a resolution for the sale of fermented malt beverages in public parks in the Village of Spencer by officers and/or employees, to cover Spencerama Days, June 13, 14, and 15, 2025.
(Jicinsky)(Krause) was carried to approve Resolution 2025-2, a resolution for the sale of fermented malt beverages in public parks in the Village of Spencer by officers and/or employees, to cover the village hosted Music in the Park event on July 30, 2025.
(Hoes)(Carolfi) was carried to approve Resolution 2025-3, a resolution for the sale of fermented malt beverages in public parks in the Village of Spencer by officers and/or employees, to cover the village hosted Veterans Memorial Park 10th anniversary celebration on May 17, 2025.
(Carolfi)(White) was passed by unanimous roll call vote to approve current vouchers totaling $1,098,060.92.
A brief summary of clerk activity was presented by Helgestad. Finance and Personnel Committee: Chairman Hoes had no report.
Utilities and Equipment Committee: Chairman Schafer was not present.
Parks and Buildings Committee: Chairman White scheduled a Thursday, May 29, 2025, meeting to cover stream cleanup on village property behind the wastewater plant and to discuss the shooting range project.
Health and Emergency Government Committee: Chairman Krause had no report.
Economic Development and Main Street Committee: Chairman Carolfi had no report.
Streets and Sidewalks Committee: Chairman Jicinsky asked about sidewalk maintenance in the village.
Clerk Helgestad reported that he is working on assessing our inventory with the hope of having a report to present this fall.
(Carolfi)(Krause) was carried to adjourn at 8:09 p.m. Harry Toufar, village president Chris Helgestad, clerk
WNAXLP 172619 Village of Spencer Regular Board of Trustees Meeting – June 9, 2025 Spencer Municipal Complex President Toufar called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Clerk Helgestad verified that open meeting laws were followed. Trustees Carolfi, Jicinsky, Hoes, Schafer, Krause, White, and Toufar were present. Also present were clerk Helgestad, public works Ethan Perrine, and police chief Shawn Bauer. Joe Haas from Hawkins Ash CPAs attended remotely.
There were no agenda order changes.
(Jicinsky)(Hoes) was carried to dispense with the readings of the regular May 12, 2025, meeting minutes and approve them as printed. Schafer abstained.
Clerk Helgestad reminded the board of the upcoming Fire and Ambulance Commission meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 7 p.m.
A brief summary of recent public works activity was presented by public works Ethan Perrine.
A brief summary of recent police activity was presented by Chief Bauer. Chief Bauer would like to remind property owners to mow their lawns regularly. Per village ordinance, grass cannot exceed 8 inches in height.
There were no president’s comments. (Hoes)(Carolfi) was carried to approve a request by Jordan Marten to use the village property behind his house at 610 South Park St. as long as he is willing to maintain it, and builds no permanent structure on it.
(Carolfi)(Toufar) was carried to approve a request by Patrick Long to improve the alley behind his house at 302 W. Clark St., with the approval of his neighbors.
Highlights of the 2024 financial audit were presented by Joe Haas of Hawkins Ash CPAs.
Ethan Perrine presented a summary of the 2024 compliance maintenance annual report. The wastewater utility received an “A” grade. (Jicinsky)(Hoes) was carried to approve Resolution 2025-4, “2024 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report.”
(Jicinsky)(Hoes) was carried to approve a building deadline extension for Wilderness Builders at 201 W. Dove St. conditioned on the builder: (1) being special assessed 2026 property taxes, payable in 2027, based on the minimum assessed value of $170,000 referenced in the developer’s agreement, and (2) that the house will be finished by the end of 2026 so that its full property value will be assessable as of Jan. 1, 2027, and payable in 2028.
(Jicinsky)(Krause) was carried by a unanimous roll call vote to award the well house #3 demolition project to Midwest Grinding & Excavating at a cost of $11,999.50.
Discussion was had about the potential to alter the shooting range design to replace the archery range with a pistol range. Due to the requirement to submit a new design to the DNR for the change, with an approval time of up to 12 months, no action was taken.
(Carolfi)(Hoes) was carried to approve the bid documents for the shooting range project and to bid the project.
(Jicinsky)(Schafer) was carried to approve a combination Class “A” beer and “Class A” liquor license for Kwik Trip at 410 S. Pacific St. (Jicinsky)(Krause) was carried to approve a combination Class “B” beer and “Class B” liquor license for Nutz Deep II North at 103 E. Clark St., My Brother’s Place at 113 E. Clark St., and Gorst Events at 900 N. Pacific St. (Jicinsky)(Toufar) was carried to approve operator’s licenses for Tracy Ackman, Trish Aldrich, Tanya Altman, Kaelyn Anderson, Serena Bauer, Zackary Bauer, Zachary Baum, Dion Behm, Michelle Cole, Madison Cook, Mollie Dayton, Paige Dielmann, Ann Dieringer, Dawn Marie Foss, Patricia Frisch, Becky Gorst, William Gorst, Michael Hager, Tanner Hamer, Kole Herman, Marilyn Immerfall, Brittany Johnson, Stephine Kaiser, Heather Kramas, Olivia Leffel, Tammy Leichtman, Avery Manthe, Ashley Prusinski, Danielle Reuter, Nathan Rucker, Jody Sandley, Kristi Schiferl, Roberta Schneider, Maria Schoenfuss, Dayna Schutz, Kati Schutz, Kadie Severson, Heidi Strack, Amanda Vanderleest, Karen Vetterkind, Ashley Wallis, Cara Weigel, Larry Willson, and Holly Weyer. (Jicinsky)(Carolfi) was carried to approve cigarette, tobacco, and electronic vaping device retail licenses for Dollar General at 208 S. Pacific St. and Kwik Trip at 410 S. Pacific St.
(White)(Hoes) was carried to approve mobile home park licenses for 52 Properties at 300 S. Haslow St. and Willow Grove at 211 E. Willow Drive.
(Schafer)(Krause) was carried to approve a junk and salvage yard license for First Choice Recycling at 504 E. Willow Drive.
(Hoes)(Krause) was carried to approve a temporary Class “B” beer license for a Backyard Pullers event at 107 W. Cedar St. on July 26, 2025. (Hoes)(Schafer) was carried to approve temporary operator licenses for Will Garton and Joel Dietsche for the Backyard Pullers event on July 26, 2025.
(Carolfi)(Schafer) was carried to approve Tri-City Contractors’ change order #1 for the 2024 Pine Street and Hemlock Street lift station upgrades for total decrease of $24,117.40.
(Schafer)(Krause) was passed by unanimous roll call vote to approve Ellis Stone Construction’s pay application #4 for the well #7/ WTP #2 project for $269,375.30.
(Carolfi)(Krause) was passed by unanimous roll call vote to approve Ellis Stone Construction’s pay application #6 for the well #7/ WTP #2 project for $255,729.27.
(Schafer)(Jicinsky) was passed by unanimous roll call vote to approve current vouchers totaling $809,568.85.
A brief summary of clerk activity was presented by Helgestad. Finance and Personnel Committee: Chairman Hoes had no report.
Utilities and Equipment Committee: Chairman Schafer had no report.
Parks and Buildings Committee: Chairman White reminded the board of a Saturday, June 28, 2025, workday to clean up the stream and trail on village property behind the wastewater plant.
Health and Emergency Government Committee: Chairman Krause had no report.
Economic Development and Main Street Committee: Chairman Carolfi had no report.
Streets and Sidewalks Committee: Chairman Jicinsky scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
(Carolfi)(Toufar) was carried to adjourn at 8:01 p.m. Harry Toufar, village president Chris Helgestad, clerk WNAXLP 172625
