The chip and crack seal is moving forward on Gilman Drive in Gilman. Meeting Wednesday, July 9 in the village hall, the Gilman Village Board opted to go with the village finance committee’s recommendation, once again choosing Scott Construction for a 2025 quote of $37,000, split between Gilman and Aurora. The Gilman Village Board also approved a recommendation from the finance committee to pay $29,754.25 to Scott Construction for the village’s $11,254.25 portion of the 2024 crack fill and $18,500 in chip seal work on Gilman Drive.
Also in news from Gilman meanwhile are a library cost share agreement for in-kind costs, campground bridge maintenance, and pickle ball court.
As to the library cost share, the village board approved a 2025 in-kind cost share of $14,179.99, split between building costs, insurance, and administration. The remainder of the approximately $25,000 in library cost will be made in actual dollars.
As for the campground bridge it needs redecking, with more information sought by the board on how to proceed.
As for the pickle ball court on Riverside Avenue, the choice was made to change the court direction, thereby allowing for more courts.
As for reports, Village Clerk Candice Grunseth had several board updates.
Writing in the Clerk’s Report, Grunseth reported that the liquor and operator licenses had been hand delivered, and that the budget cycle was approaching.
That wasn’t all.
“We received some complaints at the Village of lawns not being mowed and junk on properties in the Village,” Grunseth wrote. “President DeStaercke met with Police Chief Tom Tallier to discuss the village junk ordinance and this is on the agenda.”
The village board later gave direction for Police Chief Tom Tallier to speak with Mike Slaghter regarding Slaghter’s property.
Grunseth further wrote that she had competed the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Report as well as Quarterly and Unemployment Reporting. Grunseth also reported that she had attended an EPA meeting along with Public Works head Dave Kroeplin, the Department of Natural Resources, and Brooke Klingbeil from the Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA). The village had been approved for an EPA Technical Assistance Grant but Klingbeil had since resigned and the village was thus waiting to hear back on the next meeting date.
Closing the Clerk’s Report was a thank you to those who had donated their time in concessions for June Dairy Days.
“Thank you to all the board members and staff that volunteered their time for June Dairy Days in the concession stand!” Grunseth wrote.
Closing out the July 9 Gilman Board update, meanwhile, Village President Jane DeStaercke reported that the 10th Avenue issue had been resolved, related to a resident’s garage near Delos Street.
“The issue of the exact location of 10th Avenue seems to be resolved,” DeStaercke wrote in the President’s Report. “The owner of the structure in question at this time seems willing to apply for the proper permits and will move the structure that has been determined to be on a village road right of way.
DeStaercke further wrote that she had tried to reach the manager of the trailer courts to relay some concerns but was unsuccessful.
“After last month’s meeting, I tried to reach the manager of the trailer courts to relay concerns about the installation of the new mobile homes, etc.,” she reported. “I was unable to reach the person whose name I was given. I will keep trying so that we can maybe receive some positive information about when we can see some improvement.”
DeStaercke also gave the board an update on TID matters.
“I met with representatives from the school district, technical college, county, and Fred Romig, our local representative, for our yearly meeting to review the TID,” she wrote. “There was no disagreement with how things were progressing. As you are aware this is a relatively new district so it will be a while before returns start to accumulate.” TID stands for Tax Increment District and refers to a special tax district.
Closing out DeStaercke’s report was a call from Butch Podolak.
“I received a call from Butch Podolak regarding a statement in the Star News about re-surfacing of the old bridge,” she wrote. “I would like to state that any advice Butch has offered the Village regarding what needs to be done has been welcomed. He has always had the best interest of the Village at heart, and we certainly appreciate all his help and advice.”
The next Village Board meeting is August 13 at 6 p.m. in the village hall. The public is invited.