By Joseph Back

The Gilman Village Board met on Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the municipal building. On the night’s meeting agenda were many items, including an assessor’s contract, crosswalk, AC quotes for the PW Davlin building, park closure, and follow-up on a public nuisance declaration.
As for public nuisance property matters, the village board gave the owner of the Slaughter property on Seventh Street another month to clean up but noted that things were going well and that the owner was working well with local law enforcement on the matter. The property in question was declared a public nuisance last month.
As for the assessor contract, the village board approved Robert J. Prokop as duly certified city assessor for 2026, at a cost of $4,860. The assessment year per contract is set to run from January 1, 2026, until the board of review adjourns “sine die,” or without a set date to reconvene. The assessment for the village will include all eligible real estate and personal property in the village as of January 1, as well as a TAR Report, TID reporting, and other assessment work. All property in the village will be assessed at or within 10 percentage points of the 100 percent equalized value of the village as specified in state law.
In order to accomplish the assessment Prokop will do on-site inspection of the exterior of all buildings, verify measurements of all buildings, reconcile the existing property record card with updated information, mail property owners a new assessment letter with reasons for any increase, hold an Open Book meeting, and attend the Board of Review. Prokop will also assess all new and used trailers as necessary for move-in at the trailer court and attend all individual property assessment hearings by the department of revenue as laid out in Section 70.85 of the Wisconsin state statutes.
Also covered September 10, the village board discussed DOT permit approval for a crosswalk, with the improvements committee wanting to know where things were at.
The village board has been discussing a crosswalk for several months, with Main Street and Fourth Avenue settled on for the location. The signs have arrived while set-up still awaits the DOT permit. The crosswalk was chosen for Main and Fourth as this is where traffic would be slowest.
As for AC quotes, the village board approved a $9,850 bid from Romig’s Hardware for AC/Furnace at the PW Davlin building/shop, following recommendation by the Finance Committee. The village board also approved a request for a campground rental for a wedding, while in a separate action it gave Village Public Works Director Dave Kroeplin authority to close the park as he sees fit for the season, the bathrooms closed once freezing starts.
Contained in the President’s Report, meanwhile, Village President Jane DeStaercke reported that she had called Rapid Housing and Gina Holz on the lack of progress at the Palmer Street Trailer Court. DeStaercke had been assured that things would change beginning the week after her call, which had not happened.
Also in the President’s Report, DeStaercke reported that she had received a letter from Northwest Regional Planning about the schedule for the turnover of existing Community Development Building Grant loans, as the program is in the process of being regionalized. DeStaercke also stated that she had attended the Tree Board meeting for discussion on replacement of trees and what will be needed when the sidewalks are replaced. It was decided that future replacements would be smaller, ornamental type trees less likely to cause problems.
Closing the president’s report, DeStaercke said that she had been contacted by Randy Madlon of the Village of Lublin to find out what Gilman was thinking of doing about its wastewater treatment issues. DeStaercke informed Madlon that Gilman was facing the same issues as Lublin, with the only suggestion from DeStaercke to seek the help of surrounding communities that have the same problems and form a consortium to bring their shared concerns to the attention of the DNR. The Village of Gilman has new phosphorous and bacteria levels for its WPDES permit and is looking into how to meet the requirements as these relate to an EPA grant.
As for the Clerk’s Report, Gilman Village Clerk Candice Grunseth reported that there has still not been an update from the Town of Ford on the cemetery agreement. This was despite repeated calls, texts, and emails to the town clerk. Grunseth said she had followed up with the town chairman and let him know the village would not be paying any bills due to trying to get the agreement in place for over a year. The item had been removed from the village board agenda.
Also in the clerk’s reports, Grunseth reported that she and the public works director had attended two more Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) meetings with Tony Roche from Wisconsin Rural Water Alliance (WRWA) and Ezra Johnson from the Department of Natural Resources, as well as representatives from the EPA and engineering firm AECOM. An onsite visit had been scheduled for August 29 but cancelled, with a kick-off meeting scheduled September 11.
Also in the Clerk’s Report, Grunseth reported that she had met with Tony Roche of WRWA on the village’s sewer use ordinance, stating there was a lot to try and work through. Ezra Johnson of the DNR was trying to get the village an assistance grant to help.
Grunseth also shared that the village had to have an updated website by April 2027, and that she had been referred to Cricket Designs.
Other items in Grunseth’s report include the suggestion of a grant for the RLF funds the village has, and work on transition to be the Clerk/Treasurer with Valerie Kulesa as the deputy clerk treasurer.
“I am working on the transition of being the Clerk/Treasurer and Val being the deputy clerk/treasurer,” Grunseth wrote. “We are discussing what duties I will take on and Val will be doing.” With the process ongoing Grunseth expressed hope in a smooth transition.
“We are hoping the transition goes smoothly,” she wrote.
Last but not least, curbside pickup of bulk items is scheduled for October 6, with more information sent out in the newsletter and with quarterly water and sewer bills this month. The Finance Committee meets October 6 to develop and construct a 2026 budget proposal, with a budget hearing November 12 at 5:45 p.m. in the municipal building.