New fire-rescue contracts are ready for townships

By Michelle Scheuermann for the Daily Times
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 1:35 PM CDT

JOHNSON CREEK - The village of Johnson Creek Board of Trustees voted to send out, again, the newly revised village of Johnson Creek fire-rescue contracts to the surrounding townships. The board has had several meetings with the townships regarding the contracts and has exchanged memos with the town of Watertown's attorney over the last months on contract revisions. The townships must decide by Dec. 31 to either sign a contract with the village, or go off in a different direction, as the Joint Fire Department is dissolved on that date.

Village president Fred Albertz said that during the last Fire Board Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on Oct. 18, the group never even got to discuss the fire budget because the evening's main topic was on the contract itself. “We have a few minor modifications (from the townships), we just need to send out the contracts,” said Albertz.

Trustee Dale Theder agreed, “We are bargaining in good faith. Just send it out, if they don't want to sign it, then don't sign it.” Albertz continued that he thinks the village went “above and beyond our end of the bargain. We are going about it the right way.”

Village administrator Paul Moderacki reported on the search for a new fire-rescue chief. The village has received 15 applications as of Friday, but they have not all been reviewed as of yet. Moderacki noted that several applications were from out of state. The village board will begin the initial screening process this week.

The location of the proposed new village fire-rescue station is also still unresolved. Village engineer Craig Kunkel reported five soil borings were conducted to a depth of 10 feet at the proposed facility site on Aztalan Street, just west of the old village garage. Kunkel said he hasn't seen a formal report yet, but doesn't think there will be issues. His only concern was if there was fill dumped on the site from prior constructions in the village. If so, past contractors may have dumped poor soil on top of black soil. And if that's the case, costs will rise to excavate the “good” soil out from the “bad.”

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Kunkel also reported the West Street project should be done by Friday. He wanted to especially note to the village that the streetlights might not be lit in time for Halloween. WE Energies knows about the issue and they are working on it, he said.

The board agreed to ask the Jefferson County Highway Commissioner to lengthen the 45 mile per hour speed limit on County Highway B east of state Highway 26 another 2,300 feet, or just beyond Mark Drive. The county performed a traffic study on County Highway B as per a request from Grey Hawk Subdivision.

In other subdivision news around the village: The berm in Pioneer Heights-North separating it from the old Pioneer Heights is one foot too short for proper drainage into the retention pond. Moderacki reported it would be rectified by middle of November as well as other minor repairs around the subdivision's retention pond. He also expects dedications by the end of November for Tanner Ridge, Quiet Meadows and Whispering Woods subdivisions. However, there was a recommendation from the Plan Commission committee to the board to stop the sale of lots in Tanner Ridge that are affected by a poor retaining wall construction. The Union Street bridge had its bi-annual inspection by Kjohnson Engineers. According to Kunkel, the firm's report shows “no structural deterioration,” but that there are a few “hairline longitudinal cracks on the bridge deck.” According to Kjohnson, it was nothing that required maintenance.

The board approved a first reading of the revised Public Works Department fees ordinance, which now has a separate fee structure for governmental agencies and organizations. The new fee structure was brought about because MATC requested to hold classes at the community center instead of their current place in a church basement as the center is ADA accessible. State statute only allows MATC to pay a very minor fee for space rental. Also, the board revised the lawnmowing fee to read “$150 per hour, on-hour minimum per taxed lot.”

he board minimally discussed the potential relocation of Archie Monuments to the west side of state Highway 26 and Spruce Drive on the John Gahler farm. Albertz commented that it was nice to see such advanced notice of possible construction, but now the village will have to “wait and see what happens.”

Trustees approved a business application for Floyd Loper of The Gourmet Popcorn Shoppe to open a second retail location in the old Park Hotel.

The board also approved Comfort Suites to move ahead with its new three-story addition, which will house 29 rooms and a 400-seat ballroom and kitchen. Kunkel pointed out there are still some conditional uses that have to be met, including finalization of a storm water easement agreement. Resolution 48-06 denying approval of the proposed Centennial Heights Preliminary Plat was unanimously approved by the board. Albertz said there “several things that won't allow it to comply.” The resolution states that requests for more information were made to the developer during Plan Commission meeting on Sept. 21, but the information “has not been submitted to the village.”