Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
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The Village of Osceola met for a Regular Board meeting on June 14, 2022 at Village Hall. Village President Jeromy Buberl called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Buberl, Van Burch, Bill Chantelois IV, Bruce Gilliland, Brad Lutz, Deb Rose, Holly Walsh
Staff present: Benjamin Krumenauer, Frank Pascarella, Frances Duncanson, Todd Waters, Rick Caruso, Shelby Friendshuh, Ron Pedrys, Paul Elfstrom, Anne Miller, Rebekah Palmer
Others present: Bruce Hughes, Kyle Weaver, Ruth Sattler, Joey Cutts, Addie Buberl, Jessica Buberl, Marsha Hovey, online was Neeley Corcoran and Paul Smith
President Buberl introduced interim Village Administrator Frank Pascarella.
Motion by Walsh and seconded by Gilliland to approve the agenda
Motion by Rose and seconded by Lutz to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting dated May 10, 2022 and Special meeting dated May 26, 2022
Public input and ideas (Limit 5 minutes per speaker) Addie Buberl of 717 No Cascade Street spoke in favor of a skateboard park being constructed in the Village.
Library-Friendshuh: This is her last meeting before going on leave. The Library Board approved the leave plan from July 1st-early October. Other staff members will fill in the duties. Last month saw a dip in circulation, somewhat normal right before summer. May had 3,470 in circulation, fifteen new patrons, and 169 new collection items. Keep an eye out for the book bike with a dedicated collection just for the bike. Summer reading has kicked off. Dawn Tracy held a watercolor painting class last week. They are looking for a new high school age student for ten hours a week this summer.
Fire-Elfstrom: The Dept. had eleven runs, seven in the Village, two in Farmington, one mutual aid in Dresser, and one in Somerset. They tried out the new pump by drawing water from the St. Croix River. The Dept. did a walk through at the schools to show where the boilers and other equipment are located. The hangars inspections are complete, with business inspections ongoing. The flagpole just came in, Bernie Miller’s family donated funds.
Building Inspection-Krumenauer: There were twelve new permits issued with an estimated $2.57 million in new value.
Administration-Krumenauer: Presented a list of forty-four items the admin department is working on.
Police-Pedrys: Dept. administrative staff member Jennifer Giller did a great job on background checks last month. The background checks and fingerprinting are done for the new Village IT provider. Officers Bach and Lehmann did fingerprints, a great job. There are no applicants yet for part time officers. Long gun qualification shooting was held by our two in house firearm instructors, Officers Bach and Lehman. The Dept. received a grant for Narcan and attended the required training. Chief Pedrys met with Osceola School District representatives about a parental educational event to be held in August.
Public Works-Waters: Seasonal part time help has started work. Asphalt repair and construction was worked on last month using over 10,000 lbs. of asphalt. The Memorial Day storm took down four trees around Oakey Park. The Dept. collected leaves to add to our compost pile and brush chipped about fifteen yards of material. The Cascade Falls overlook had a nicer looking semi temporary barrier and new signage. Grist Mill park has an excellent makeover with help from the Wild Rivers Conservancy. Oakey Park has restroom upgrades.
Utilities-Caruso: Dept. staff is reading meters today. The CMAR report is due at the end of the month. Flushing hydrants is on schedule with a map on the website. The utility GIS map system is live and information being inputted. It is a lot of walking and a good way to learn the system.
Chamber of Commerce/Mainstreet-Ruth Sattler: Just got ambassadors going again. Chamber chat twice a year, be doing a social mixer. Done with Celebrate Osceola Awards. Main Street organization leadership was in town. Harvest Bazaar. New website is coming together. Getting current members loaded first. BID District still being worked on, Main Street staff was helpful. If they do not get it will have problem maintaining the Main Street Program. They needs 51% of building valuation, are almost there.
Other business – discussion and possible action re:
Osceola Skatepark update and location identification
PW Coordinator Waters stated fundraising continues, and to apply for grants they need a designated location. The Public Works Committee approved the southwest sector of Oakey Park near 405 Oak Street. Marsha Hovey presented where they are at. Is a Chamber Main Street project and they have raised $42,000 to date. The proposed area provides parking and room for expansion. They need grants, and do not expect the residents to fund it. With location approval, they can go to businesses to request contributions and apply for grants. $200,000 is the goal for the park. Rose asked about rescinding a resolution from a year ago to sell the property and is glad we did not sell it. We need to get the cost of taking the house down and getting a parking lot, so we are careful we do not spend what we do not have. For tonight they are asking the Board to say proposed area is favorable. The Tony Hawke Foundation needs an address and design in the next couple of months.
Motion by Burch and seconded by Walsh to support a skate park in 409 4th Avenue the SW sector of Oakey Park.
Krumenauer commented the proposed CSM if part of a long list of items to be completed to develop the old hospital (Bluffs) site. This will combine the existing five parcels all in to one lot. It does not change boundaries or approve the development. The Planning Commission and Village staff recommend approval.
Motion by Lutz and seconded by Burch to approve the Certified survey map for the Bluffs development site
Caruso stated the bluff tower needs paint and some mechanical work. 2008 was last time is was coated . The tower will be offline for about three weeks and a mixer will be installed. It is funded partly from budget set aside and as part of the capital improvements plan.
Motion by Burch and seconded by Chantelois to approve the Bluff tower maintenance agreement with KLM Engineering for $75,149
Motion by Gilliland and seconded by Burch to approve the 2022 Sewer rate study contract with SEH for $22,500
101 N. Cascade/Cascade Falls trailhead update
A small group of Village officials met for a listening session with the property owners. They are still looking into the financial costs of a viable building; it is expected that cost would be exceedingly high. They are requesting funding assistance from the Village of 25-30% of the projected costs. The Village group did not support this. Another meeting will be held at the end of June or beginning of July. They are looking to get the building down and solidify/stabilize the site. Buberl stated discussion on this private issue is only happening because of the location and impact to the stairs down to Cascade Falls. The early December 2021 Village inspection action was in response to the safety of the structure, long term it must come down and it cannot be used or occupied.
Motion by Burch and seconded by Rose to approve the proposed National Park Service Agreement with the Osceola Fire Dept. for mutual aid with verbiage changes.
Motion by Rose and seconded by Gilliland to approve a Special Events permit for the St. Croix Valley Christian Community Choir for a Patriotic Concert on June 30, 2022
Motion by Walsh and seconded by Gilliland to approve Cigarette Licenses as listed.
Motion by Rose and seconded by Chantelois to approve Operator’s Licenses as listed.
Motion by Lutz and seconded by Gilliland to approve Alcohol Licenses as listed.
Motion by Rose and seconded by Chantelois to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Adoray’s Treasures from the Heart
Motion by Burch and seconded by Rose to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Coffeebark LLC d/b/a The Chocolate Gnome
Motion by Walsh and seconded by Chantelois to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Coming Home
Motion by Rose and seconded by Gilliland to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Croixland Leather Works
Ayes-6 (Buberl, Burch, Chantelois, Gilliland, Rose, Walsh)Nays-1(Lutz)Motion carried
Motion by Rose and seconded by Lutz to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Janie’s Cottage
Motion by Chantelois and seconded by Rose to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Karita’s
Motion by Rose and seconded by Walsh to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Style Escape
Motion by Lutz and seconded by Walsh to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for The Sleepy Thicket
Motion by Burch and seconded by Chantelois to approve the Conditional Obstruction Permit for Osceola Lanes contingent upon administrative approval in accordance with Village code.
Ayes-6 (Buberl, Burch, Chantelois, Gilliland, Lutz, Walsh) Nays-0 Abstain-1 (Rose) Motion carried
Motion by Rose and seconded by Gilliland to approve the Board, Committee, Commission and Agency Reports:
a)Historic PreservationFebruary 28, 2022(Commission approved May 26, 2022)
b)Library BoardApril 14, 2022(L. Board approved May 12, 2022)
c)Water & Sewer CommitteeMarch 1,2022(Committee approved May 31, 2022)
d)Airport CommissionApril 18, 2022(Commission approved May 16, 2022)
e)Room Tax Committee April 18, 2022(Committee approved May 23, 2022)
f)Plan CommissionMay 3, 2022(Commission approved June 7, 2022)
g)Admin & FinanceMay 6, 2022(Committee approved June 3, 2022)
Motion by Gilliland and seconded by Burch to approve vouchers payable
Any other business as permitted by law Rose: thanked a whole group of volunteers for their work in Gristmill Park. Burch: stated we need to follow up on getting signage posted about our air brake ordinance. Buberl: commented on the signage change on the building. The Board also thanked Administrator Krumenauer for his service to the Village and wished him well on his new position.
President Buberl adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
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