Spring Green, Wisconsin
Thursday, February 10, 2022 | Vol. 3, No. 6 FREE, Single-Copy
Inside this edition
Briefs: APT Managing Director stepping down
Page 3
Community Calendar: Live music, yoga, book club and more
Page 4
Page 6
Arena board takes up recycling fee increases, ordinance changes, sewer project updates Adeline Holte, Editorial Intern The Village of Arena Board of Trustees held its regular monthly board meeting on Feb. 1. Among some of the topics discussed during the meeting were talk of the ongoing gravity sewer project, updates on the Arena home talent baseball team and recycling fee increases. The first item on the agenda was an update on the home talent team regarding status, insurance, and scheduling. The team will be presumed to go from May 26 and estimated to go on until August 4, with the team planning on only doing a Thursday night league, with plans to do the Sunday league in 2023. The next item on the agenda was the evaluation and recommendation regarding the Gravity Sewer Facility Plan, and reevaluating the cost difference, as costs have started to rise. Andy Zimmer of MSA, the village engineering firm, stated that he and Greg Gunderson had begun with seven options on what to do, and now are down to two. The first option was to get new pumps and a new generator on the Pine Street Lift Station upgraded to 15 HP pumps, which can still fit with the existing piping, as well as some minor control panel upgrades to accommodate the pumps. The final cost would total $1,004,000. The second option was to essentially replace the entire station, by building a new one and keeping the old one but transferring everything to the new at a new location. “You can build a new one, keep the other one in service and just switch over,” Zimmer stated. The final cost for this option would be $635,000. It was said though, that
the lifecycle cost would essentially be the same over 20 years. Zimmer said that they feel the first option would be the most efficient over time. Sharon Street sewer upgrades were also discussed. In November MSA stated that until they completed the previous analysis, they would leave the gravity sewer in its current position to keep costs down. The geotechnical investigation report that had been provided to the board indicated that there was currently water between 3-10 feet below ground, compared to late 2018 and 2019, when the water was at ground level. The geotechnical investigation report also provided information that the pavement can be put back in, though they will have to deal with dewatering. The manhole number 22 was also added to the cost, with the total ranging from somewhere between $642,000 to $689,000. Also discussed was the construction budget, which was originally $840,000. With the lift station upgrades, the gravity sewer cost, and the sewer rehabilitation, the new budget comes to $1.17 million. The difference would be $330,000. Next discussed was the sewer rehabilitation. Sewer defect analysis and prioritization were televised in 2021, which provided a map and a priority table. The east of Village Edge Road was not evaluated. It was stated that they did not find much infiltration when televising the mains because it had not been an incredibly wet year, though there are two “red” areas as well as four “peach-colored” areas that are considered now as a priority for lining to be fixed. With the manhole investigation and prioritization, it was stated that up to
80% of inflow and infiltration comes through the manholes, and that there are eight manholes shown in “red” that either need to be repaired or replaced. The rehab target budget came in at $300,000 where they would be starting at the top of the priority list and working their way down. “Start at the worst first,” Zimmer explained. The updated tentative project schedule for the sewer rehabilitation has the facility plan being submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this month, completion of design plans, specs and permits in March, the bid process taking place in March and April, with the village awarding the bid in early May. Contracting and shop drawings are expected between May and June, with the actual sewer construction and rehab happening June 2022 through May 2023. The project’s DNR funding application is due in Sept. 2022 and the loan should close in Feb. or March 2023. MSA also stated that they will come back in March to confirm a detailed cost estimate to rehabilitate the red and peach lining and manholes, and how much the $300,000 budget will be able to fix these problems. The Dane/Iowa Facility Planning and the Town and Country Engineers will also be discussing the topic with them to make sure they are updated on the plans for the lift station. It was also stated that they will bring the topic back to the village for approval if costs adjust at all. A motion was made by Trustee Kathy Stoltz and seconded by Trustee Chuck Burch to accept the proposal recommendation on the first option
for the gravity sewer facility plan on the lift station options. The motion carried. Next on the agenda was new business, where a motion was made by Trustee Kristen Shea to approve the 2022 Mary Jones Memorial Celebration: Temporary Class ‘B’ Alcohol License for July 8 through the 9 for a fireworks and street use permit, which is contingent upon temporary operator licenses as well as an insurance certificate. The motion was seconded by Stoltz. Also in new business was the discussion of an ordinance relating to restrictions on Special Class ‘B’ Fermented Malt Beverage Picnic or Special Event License for the home talent games. The board discussed whether they should change the ordinances to remove the fencing requirement for consuming alcoholic beverages at the baseball games. The clerk will bring back to the board a draft ordinance that would remove the requirement for the fence, while keeping in place a requirement that ID’s need to be checked. Wristbands or hand stamps will be used at large events. Also discussed in new business was a motion to accept a resolution regarding recycling fees. The motion was made by Stoltz and seconded by Burch. The garbage and recycling fees would increase by $.05 a month. A roll call vote was made and Trustee Paul Pustina was opposed, stating that there already were too many line items on the utility bill. The motion passed 4 to 1. The next regular monthly board meeting will be March 1.