Cheese Curd Festival planning in full swing

ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth Village Board approved a contract at its Monday, Feb. 7 meeting with ECCO Midwest to perform the asbestos abatement needed in the former BMO Bank building at 388 W. Main St.

The cost of the removal will be $21,000 and included the removal of the ceiling tiles. The company, located in Hastings, Minn., estimates the project will take about two weeks. The board had previously received one other bid, which had come in at about $25,000 and didn’t include the ceiling tile removal.

Cheese Curd Festival

The board approved a street use permit for the 21st annual Cheese Curd Festival, for 8 a.m. June 23 to 6 p.m. June 26 for all of Crosscut, all of Wall Street, all of Broadway alleyway east of Associated Bank and the Associated Bank parking lot. The event is expected to draw 15,000 to 20,000 people.

Other approvals made associated with the festival include a temporary Class B retailer’s license to sell fermented malt beverages, a temporary Class B retailer’s license to sell wine and a street dance license. Streets that will be closed throughout the festival include Crosscut, Wall and Broadway; CCF and Associated Bank customers will have access to their banks.

Included in the trustees’ packet was a letter from concerned citizen and Broz Bar owner Jason Marks, who couldn’t attend the meeting. In his letter, he said he would like to see Wall Street not just used as a walkway for the festival, but as a venue for market vendors, music, and games. He also asked the board to consider making approving open container for alcohol beverages for the East End.

“To make it worthwhile to have people standing around doing something in front of the businesses on Wall Street, it should totally be open container, the street is blocked off completely,” Marks wrote. “People should be able to roam freely from business to business all thru east end with an alcohol beverage. I don’t see a need to try and police open container as we seen in previous years it happened anyways without incident.”

The board did not discuss Marks’ request.

Other business

•The board approved renting the Seyforth Building at the Pierce County Fairgrounds April 5, 2022 for the election. The cost is $265 per day and will allow for voters to have more space.

•The board approved hiring Pierce County Highway Department to perform the state-required bridge inspection for the bridge on East Business Way.

•The board greenlighted a $3,000 donation to the Pierce County Economic Development Corporation for its 2022 investor support. The amount increased by $300 this year.

•In January, Ellsworth police responded to 277 calls for service, Chief Eric Ladwig reported. The first call of the year was at 12:10 a.m. Jan. 1 for a fireworks complaint. A local charity provided officers with cold weather clothing to hand out to stranded motorists or citizens in need that they encounter during calls. Officer Lucas McAlpine has completed his ninth month with the police department, while Officer Mat Berg has completed his sixth.

•Village Clerk/Administrator-Treasurer Nicole Stewart hinted the board should expect a business proposal for Crossing Meadows in March.

•Public Works Director Bradley Vick reported a six-inch watermain break on South Piety Street had to be repaired Jan. 21.

•Trustee Dale Hines reported the Ellsworth Ambulance Hall kitchen renovation project was recently completed and $30,000 in hazard pay was distributed to employees from COVID relief funds.

•Trustee Mike Steele reported Brent Langer retired as Ellsworth Fire Chief after more than 20 years in the position. The new chief is Chad Peterson.