Community input for vision of Ellsworth sought

ELLSWORTH – At the March 7 Ellsworth Village Board meeting, Village President Becky Beissel provided an update on the village’s Comprehensive Plan process. Now that the community survey is complete, the next phase includes a series of town hall meetings.

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee reviewed the 622 survey responses received, which UW-River Falls Assistant Professor of Conservation and Environmental Science Christopher Holtkamp said is a good number. The survey ended Feb. 4.

The next step is inviting the community to participate in a town hall meeting to share ideas, wants, concerns and a vision for the next 20 years. The meetings will be similar to those held during the Design Ellsworth initiative in 2018. Holtkamp will make a brief presentation at each town hall, followed by breaking into small groups for brainstorming and ending with voting on the ideas.

All town halls will be held at Ellsworth Middle School Library:

•10 a.m. Saturday, March 19

•6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22

•6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 Plan Commission

The village board approved the following recommendations from the Plan Commission:

•A conditional use permit for Richard Sweig, 404 Pleasant Ave., for a second unattached garage on the property. The primary home already has an attached garage.

•An amendment to an ordinance, making aquaponics a permitted use in light industrial and business park districts.

•The architectural design and site plan for Controlled Environmental Farming Inc. for 598 Lucas Lane, where an aquaponics facility is planned in the former Shopko building.

•A certified survey map for LeAllan and Mary Jo Huppert in the town of Trimbelle, Section 24 with Jared Murphy as the authorized agent. The property falls within in the village’s Extraterritorial Subdivision and Platting Boundary.

Other business

•The board approved Donna Taranto as a poll worker from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023.

•The board okayed a street use permit for 9:45-10:15 a.m. on May 30, 2022 for the American Legion Post 204 Memorial Day parade.

•The board voted to make changes to the ATV and UTV ordinances to align with Pierce County and the Department of Natural Resources regarding hours of operation on village streets, head gear exemptions and age of operation. ATVs/UTVs can cross highways 65 and 10.

•On the recommendation of the Salary & Labor Committee, the board approved splitting the foreman job into two lead positions: Tim Rundle as lead for Water & Sewer and Brady Murphy as lead for Public Works. The pay is $75 per month.

•Upon the recommendation of the Salary & Labor Committee, the board approved an annual Health Savings Account payroll deduction authorization form, moving all employees to direct deposit, and a performance review form. Some employees are against direct deposit, Village Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Nicole Stewart said.

•The board approved a temporary Class B retailer’s license for the Ellsworth FFA Alumni’s Showdown in Curdtown event June 11-12.

•Police Chief Eric Ladwig reported 236 calls for service in February, down from 277 in January.