MARATHON CITY CAPSULES
The Marathon City Village Board dealt with these issues at last week Wednesday’s regular meeting:
_ Boy Scout Troopmaster Steve Krautkramer asked the village board for use of both the village hall community room and board room for future scout meetings. He said a girl’s troop would join the Boy Scouts. The combined scouting group, he said, will meet together in an opening ceremony and then continue activities in separate rooms. The troop now has 28 boys and five girls.
Board members took no action. No other organization has been given permission to use the village board room.
Trustee Mark Ahrens said he could support the proposal. Board member Keith Paul said he could also support the plan with adults being present in the board room. Board member Connie Ruplinger said she didn’t want to see the board room used for messy craft or arts projects.
_ Village administrator Andy Kurtz told village board members the Marathon City Police Department continues to try and integrate its records with a sheriff’s department Superion system. He worried whether the village’s cost to use Superion would be greater than anticipated and whether the Superion system had a long enough useful life.
_ Administrator Kurtz said Wix Filters would pay for a new engine in the village’s police squad after a faulty filter caused a “complete engine failure.” The new engine will come with a 100,000 mile warranty from Ford. Kurtz said he was happy Wix Filters took responsibility for its defective product. “The company is not claiming responsibility, but they are paying the bills,” he said.
_ Administrator Kurtz reported Marathon City did not receive funding through the Department of Transportation’s $75 million MLS program to develop a frontage road north of STH 29.
_ Administrator Kurtz said he will request the Marathon County Highway Department fix sections of STH 107 in Marathon City that are “sections of concern.”
He told trustees that an experiment to have that department lay down brine on sections of Market Street, East Street and MaraTech Ave. has showed promise. He suggested the village may want to mix its own brine and spray all of the village streets in the future.
_ Administrator Kurtz reported Marathon City has been designated as a “snowmobile friendly village” by the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs.
_ Administrator Kurtz said he will budget $7,000 to replace six personal computers at the Marathon Fire Station. Some board members questioned the cost of the machines. “I am getting the cheapest ones I can get,” replied Kurtz.
_ Board members approved buying a utility van from Ewald Automotive Group, Hartford, on a state bid for $27,947. The vehicle will be available within three months.
_ Board members renewed its contract with the Edgar Fire Department for ambulance service in 2020-21 for $6,008. The charge includes a $3 per capita fee for ambulance replacement and an .82 cent per capita stand-by fee.
_ Board members tabled action on paying $1,572 (one dollar for each village resident) as dues to join McDevco Investment. Administrator Kurtz recommended paying the fee, arguing the village gets benefits from McDevco. Board members, however, wanted to know whether the fee was a one-time payment or annual dues.
_ Board members agreed to have administrator Kurtz negotiate a five-year garbage/recycling contract with Harter’s without going out to bid. Board members agreed with administrator Kurtz that the firm earned further business with the village. “I agree with you,” said board member Paul. “Harter’s has done a nice job.”
_ Board members approved an annual lease with the U.S. Post Office for space in the village municipal building for $28,417.
_ Board members approved a commercial snow removal policy. Starting next year, the village will charge commercial businesses to haul away snow at the rate of $2.02 per cubic yard.
Village board member Ahrens said it was “ridiculous” for the village to spend an estimated $27,000 a year hauling away 11,000 cubic yards of snow from private properties. He said the proposed village rate was “pretty reasonable.”
Administrator Kurtz said the policy will impact businesses that either push snow from their property into the street or haul it atop village snow piles.
