The Owen Common Council held their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 9. Special Event Block Party permits were approved for RedDaisyGirl for July, August and September.
Pat Kilty was on hand to answer questions about what building inspection services he could provide to the city. He works for the city of Marshfield, but started his own company in November to do inspections for other municipalities. He said there is a demand for inspectors at this time. He uses computer software to track everything. The city would get 10% of the permit fees charged. He will provide the city with a contract. He can also do cross connection inspections. The city approved moving forward with Kilty as building inspector for both commercial and residential buildings. Ray Kilty abstained.
For the Property Abatement on 2nd Street, Chief of Police Patrick Fehlman said it took three days to do. He said Haul Away did a good job. He has been told that new junk is being moved in and will check with the city attorney on their options. Can they just clean it up under the current court order or does the process have to start all over again?
Alderperson Pam Jaffke reported on the Police Committee meeting. She said they discussed the rental agreement and got updates from Officer Haugstad on the RMS (records management system) that the county is looking at for themselves and local departments in Clark County, call reports, and K-9 Jimi.
The council were given a copy of the city’s Comprehensive Plan to look over. Clerk Tracy Rau said CCEDC Director Sheila Nyberg was asking about it and felt the city might not be following it in regard to main street buildings. DPW Chad Smith said a lot of communities aren’t doing 20-year plans anymore.
It was reported that the Zoning Board of Appeals approved the zoning change required to allow Cole Szpara to build on the lots on the east edge of Owen. It was changed from commercial to industrial. The proposed contract for the sale of the property was also approved and can be signed as soon as payment is received.
An update was given on the Bike Trail and Playground Equipment. DPW Smith got a letter reminding the city about their May 2027 deadline for certain items in the project. He also said they might not be able to widen the trail to 10’. It might have to stay at eight feet. A question was asked about when the lights will be removed. Smith said they are turned off. The playground equipment is here and the mulch will be delivered soon. It will be assembled at the city garage in parts and moved to the park. It probably won’t be put up until after the Owen Jr. Fair because of park use over the summer.
Liquor, cigarette, and operator licenses were approved.
Under the Public Works Report, DPW Smith reported the following, for water, they did water main flushing, have to do lead and copper sampling at 10 locations by July and the DNR has hired Jacob’s Engineering to help municipalities keep up with lead and copper rules. For sewer, the sewer lateral under the golf course does belong to the school and it is up to them to decide what to do with it. Smith feels they should abandon that line and run their sewer to County X. The sewer plant was hit by lightning, but it only took out the surge protector. He needs to redo his hauler rules for taking hauled waste. Currently he is only doing one hauler. For streets, he said they have been working on the garage behind city hall, added on to the Hwy 29 sign by Curtiss for the DRC to do extra advertising, removed the flower bed by the Owen welcome sign, did patching on Industrial Ave. and Willow and will be getting bids for chip sealing. For Parks, Midway Steel donated some new fire rings for the campground.
The CMAR (Compliance Maintenance Annual Report) report was approved. The city got mostly A’s and one B.
Wild Hearts Daycare would like the horse shelter removed from the property she is purchasing from the city. It was suggested that the warming shelter at Mill Pond Park could be removed and it could be placed there. Removal wouldn’t take place until early 2028.
The purchase of a 2018 skid steer from the city of Stetsonville for $19,000 was approved. DPW Smith said it has an enclosed cab and tires rather than tracks. He will sell the John Deere 110 with backhoe to help pay for it, along with using funds from equipment savings. He will keep the forks and auger from the 110 but will need to purchase a snow blower and broom at some point.
Under other reports, Cindy Cardinal reported they had six vendors the first week of the Farmers Market and the train ran steady for about one and a half hours with two cars attached.
There will be no second council meeting for June as of this time.