Edgar will research commercial lawnmowing

The Edgar Village Board on Monday voted to gather quotes from commercial lawn mowing businesses as it figures out how to budget for village mowing in 2023.

Currently, the village owns a $40,000 lawn mower and hires an employee to cut lawn in the village’s numerous parks. Trustees said, however, they were open to seeing what it would cost to have a private firm do the work. “I’d rather have numbers in front of us,” said trustee Jon Streit.

The trustee said he wanted the village to explore options now rather than wait until April 2023.

“I want our back sides covered,” Streit explained.

At present, the village hires village resident Donna Denfeld to mow the village’s parks. Village administrator Jennifer Lopez explained that Denfeld wishes to transition to other maintenance duties.

Lopez said other neighboring municipalities contract with private businesses for lawn mowing. “It’s a pro and con thing,” she said. “If you use an independent contractor, you lose some control.”

In other village board business:

n The village board set Halloween trick or treating hours for 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. Village president Terry Lepak voted no.

n Board members agreed to close off a section of Willow Rd. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 3-7 p.m. for an Edgar High School cross country meet. The village office will contact Frombach Construction and a local farmer to make sure the meet doesn’t conflict with use of the street.

n Board members agreed to have Crane Engineering repair a submersible pump at the intersection of Chesak and East Limits Rd. for $6,500.

n Trustees voted to renew the village’s employee health insurance plan through Wisconsin Retirement Service (WRS) with a 5.4 percent increase. It also agreed to offer employees WRS accident insurance and life insurance at no cost to the village.