ELLSWORTH – Village President Becky Beissel announced at the Oct. 4 village board meeting that the mill and overlay portion of the U.S. Highway 10/Main Street project has been delayed until Spring 2022, thanks to a water line installation needed at the new Ellsworth Public Library site.

The library, which will move to the former BMO Harris Bank building at 388 W. Main St. early next year, needs a new water line for its fire suppression system. The plan had been to bring that water line in at the building’s rear; however, the water pressure needed for the system from the rear water line is not up to code. The new plan is to bring a water line into the building’s front from Main Street.

In an email dated Sept. 28 to Ayres Associates Transportation Project Manager Brett Hollister, Beissel asked the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to alter its Main Street project timeline to accommodate the unexpected water line installation.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t timing out great with the Main Street project,” Beissel wrote. “As it stands now, once we go through the bidding process, the water line project won’t happen until Oct. 22. Which looks to be two weeks after the mill/overlay project is scheduled to be complete.

“I’m sure you can agree that to mill and overlay our Main Street, only to have it dug back up two weeks later is not the most productive of solutions.”

Hollister said WisDOT would pause the Main Street portion of the project until Spring, with the condition the water line service installation be completed by then. The Highway 65/Main Street intersection will be done at that time as well.

Work began on the Highway 65 portion of the project last week, running from roughly Kinne Street to the Pierce County Fairgrounds entrance.

Election wards

The board approved an ordinance establishing the village’s electoral wards. This process occurs every 10 years after the census. The wards’ boundaries are:

•Ward 1 (part of District 12): Bound by U.S. Highway 10 on the south, Grant Street on the west to West Cairns Street, west on West Cairns Street to Highway 65 (North Maple Street), and the village limits on the north and east.

•Ward II (part of District 11): Bound by U.S. Highway 10 on the north, Piety Street on the west, and the village limits on the south and east.

•Ward III (part of District 12): Bound by U.S. Highway 10 on the south, Grant Street on the east to West Cairns Street to Highway 65 (North Maple Street), and the village limits on the north and west.

•Ward IV (part of District 11): Bound by U.S. Highway 10 on the north, Piety Street on the east, and the village limits on the south and west.

The designated polling place is in the Village Hall lower level boardroom and/or the Seifert Building at the Pierce County Fairgrounds.

Other business

•The village’s fall clean-up will be held the week of Oct. 18 with pick up on Oct. 25.

•The board approved a mobile home park operator’s license for Peak Holdings One, LLC. The LLC will operate the mobile home park at Evergreen Estates.

•The board approved a cigarette and tobacco product retail license application 5-1 for Tobacco Outlet & Vape Outlet Plus located at 121 W. Main St. The license is for Oct. 4, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Trustee Lance Austin voted nay. Trustee Dale Hines was absent.

•The Community Development Authority authorized Clerk Administrator/Treasurer Nicole Stewart to send a letter to the property owners of 254 S. Chestnut St. (the former junior high) inviting them to attend a CDA meeting.

•The board went into closed session to discuss Public Works Director interviews/applications.