ELLSWORTH – Main Street improvement delays, old junior high demolition updates and library tax exemptions were all addressed at the Ellsworth Village Board’s Aug. 7 meeting.

The board discussed steps moving forward on Main Street sidewalk, curb, gutter and catch landing repairs and replacements, as the project will now be delayed until at least after the winter.

Village Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Brad Roy said the bid had been in the newspaper for two weeks, and no bids came in. After questions of why there were no offers, Roy believes it was because the project not being large enough.

“I believe it was sent to some local companies,” Roy said. “We got a quote from one of them, so we knew about what the budget was going to be for this project, but they didn’t submit the bid.”

Moving forward, Roy said after speaking with public works, that action will be deferred and the budget will be looked at after the coming winter.

Roy said the sidewalks and curbs and gutters probably should have been repaired when Main Street was redone last year. Roy also said some asphalt patch work should help the street make it through the winter.

“We had a snowy winter at the start of the year, if we get another one at the end of the year, our snow budget will go over,” Roy said. “There’s some supply issues with the sand and salt… At this point it probably just makes sense to wait.”

Roy said if it is still in the budget after the winter, this may come back to the agenda.

Roy was asked if there were safety concerns of trip hazards due to the sidewalk's condition, but Roy said this project is primarily for the preservation of the street. No action was necessary for the item.

Old Junior High

The village held a pre-demolition meeting with CBS2 regarding the old junior high. In the meeting, questions were raised about the handling of contaminated materials such as asbestos.

The contract between the sides includes a statement that third party consultants will be involved in the process of asbestos, soil boring and lead paint removal and it will be at the village’s expense.

CBS2 agreed to bring in Cooperative Educational Services Agency 10 (CESA 10) for the project, and the board approved the $23,165 expense.

“Once they’re in and get out of here, there’ll be no questions as to what needs to happen before removing the contaminated material,” Roy said of the consultation.

Trustee Andrew Borner trusts CESA, mentioning they oversee the Ellsworth Community School District’s pavement projects.

Other Business

• The board unanimously approved a resolution that would allow the Ellsworth Public Library to spend enough to be exempt from the county library tax. Village President Becky Beissel said this exemption is not something new, as the village has been hitting this threshold in order to receive a tax exemption annually.
• Linda Christiansen spoke to the board about an $800 water bill that was caused by what Christiansen believes to be an animal that chewed through a water line. Christiansen would like the bill to be reduced due to having to pay a sewer fee despite the water not going to the sewer. Roy advised that issues like this have not resulted in reduced bills in the past, but the board ultimately agreed to add it to the September meeting agenda, first proposed by Tony Hines.
• Brad Sonnentag also had concerns about a water bill. As a laundromat owner, Sonnentag has had an incorrect bill in the past of $13,500 due to a fraudulent reader, and believes a current bill of over $1,500 may also be incorrect, as it is around five times the usual bill. Roy said the previous bill was corrected because of evidence of the reader being wrong, but this time there has not been evidence of a faulty reader. Sonnentag said there has been a leaking toilet for an extended period of time; however, it has been leaking for a long period of time and this bill is still five times higher than usual and could cost up to six months of profits. The board also agreed to add this to the September agenda.
• County Board Supervisor Sheila Lorentz commented that the anaerobic digester proposal, which will be discussed at a special board meeting on Aug. 14, should be taken slower. Lorentz had questions about the effects of digesters and was told by multiple board members to do her own research on the internet and attend the coming meeting.
• The board unanimously accepted the resignation of Steve Georgakas from the Plan Commission.
• The board unanimously approved (with the exception of Hines who abstained due to conflict of interest) the hiring of Gary Young as a facility attendant at the compost site. Trustee Tom Schultz said he has heard of people dumping items at the compost site that should not be dumped there. The board was directed to stick to the agenda by Beissel after a brief discussion.