After much discussion at the Sept. 21 Redgranite Village Board meeting, the board voted to open the quarry for swimming, effective immediately. The roll call vote was 4 to 2 in favor of opening the quarry for swimming.
Village President Belinda Passarelli, who voted in favor of opening the quarry, said “I’ll be the first to shut it down if COVID escalates significantly and we see actions that took place in 2020, if there are problems facing our police officers policing the quarry, or if there is disrespect to the quarry property.”
There was also a discussion about whether the quarry is considered an artificial body of water or a lake. Village Attorney Daniel Sondalle, who was present at the meeting, told the board he is waiting for a return phone call from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to get an answer about the status of the quarry. However, he told the board that the village owns and operates Quarry Park and it is up to the board to determine how they want to operate it.
Jonathan Schatz, Municipal Advisor with Ehlers Public Finance Advisors, attended the meeting to give a presentation regarding the village’s debt and encouraging them to consolidate their loans. After discussion, the board approved consolidating 3 loans: the 1994 USDA -RD loan, a 2012 bank note, and a 2017 bank note.
Public Works Supervisor Jim Fredrick said he wanted the board to know that Sobieski Brothers, Berlin, generously donated approximately 5 hours of their time and equipment recently for ditch repair at Willow Creek Park. Frederick estimates that it would have cost the village approximately $2,500.
In other business, the board approved:
*Hiring Corey Sutton as part-time maintenance worker.
*Hiring a consultant to help administer the COVID funding programs, which had been tabled from the August 17 board meeting. The board approved $11 to $15 per hour for rate of pay, depending on experience. The job, which, at this point, is not a permanent position, will require 20 to 25 hours per week and will be advertised in the Waushara Argus.
*The appoint
ments of Jim Erdman and Sandy Lyles to fill member vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Sandy Lyles to fill the member vacancy on the Planning Commission. The board also approved Ellen Caswell to attend the Municipal Joint Court Committee Budget meeting September 30 and October 4.
*Sending out requests for proposals for garbage pick-up service within the village, beginning January 1, 2022. The current contract is expiring at the end of this year.
*The mobile home park license by Redgranite MHP of Cedaredge, CO, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
*Class B Beer, Class B Liquor, and Class C Wine licenses for the new owner of Rick’s Irish Pub (daughter is new owner).
*Operator’s licenses for Nicole Kasch (Sanicker’s Pub), Susan Missel (Redgranite Shell and Lambeau Lanes), and Sierra Schutten (Dollar General).
*Village employees and board members switching to e-mail using .gov or wi.gov domains for security reasons.
*Set Oct. 6 and Oct.12, at 6 p.m., for Budget Workshops, and Nov.16, at 7 p.m. for the Budget Hearing meeting.
*Community and businesses decorating outside for Halloween; decorations may not be obstructing the sidewalk and cannot be attached to stop signs, stop light poles, and other municipal signs.
*Updating the village website.
*Trick-or-treating in the village on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The next regular Redgranite Village Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at the municipal building.
