Granton Village Board Discusses Dollar General Proposal

Monday, August 15th, 2022 -- 8:02 AM

The Granton Village Board heard an update on the sale of a parcel of land to Dollar General.

According to the unofficial minutes from the meeting, the Dollar General provided an updated proposal. Three concerns were noted. The contract states: “The Village will approve the prototype building plans without modification.” This was addressed at the meeting on July 18th.

The Village did not receive any prototype building plans and therefore cannot agree to approve them. Concerns noted at the meeting include the parcel must be properly graded so as not to create negative water run off, the parking needs to be blacktop or concrete, identifies exterior lighting, and identifies that the building design is the standard Dollar General prototype.

Also, the new proposal states “The Seller (Village) will at its sole expense construct, extend, install and connect municipal water and sewer to the property.” And “The buyer (Dollar General) and the property shall have no cost or expense obligations related to the Water and Sewer Project.”

The Village will run water and sewer laterals to the parcel line. Dollar General will install a lift station and incur the cost of running the water from the parcel line to the building. Concern here is the loose verbiage.

Identifying the “Water and Sewer Project” as from Granton Road to the proposed Parcel and “Property” as the proposed parcel line will solve this concern.

Finally, the new proposal states the Seller (Village) will provide to the Buyer (Dollar General), as related to the Water and Sewer project, the plan preparations to include elevations, labor, materials, supplies, tools and equipment, plan preparations, engineering, consulting, construction, governmental approval, project administration, supervision, insurance, installation, and connection.

The Village has hired Suda Plumbing to professionally run the water and sewer laterals to the property line, an estimated 200 feet. This project is estimated to cost $6,500 and will not require engineers. It has been proposed this be scratched from the contract. The Board intends to sell the parcel and sign the contract once adjustments are in place.

The Board also discussed updating the animal ordinance. The Board was able to review the proposed updated ordinance, submitted by a resident committee, which will change the Village Ordinance currently prohibiting farm animals to allowing farm animals to residents owning 1.5 acres or greater to have 1 farm animal per acre.

Multiple items were discussed to include fencing, manure clean up, property line setbacks, and slaughtering of animals. The proposed ordinance included fowl in the 1.5 acre requirement. After further discussion it was decided that fowl would not be subject to the parcel requirement. The committee will update the proposal and resubmit for consideration.

The Board also discussed the Road Project with Cedar Corp and the CDBG Grant rejection. The Village received a letter from the State of Wisconsin stating the CDBG Grant, submitted by Cedar Corp, for $6,500, was rejected.

The Village cannot move forward with the Water/Sewer project planned for 2023 without the Grant. The State identified the rejection was due to the obsolete Fair Housing Ordinance attached with the application.

The Village met with Cedar Corp in April and updated the 1987 Ordinance. The Clerk had on hand the original ordinance, the ordinance updated in April, and the rejection letter. A 7pm, phone meeting with Lynn McIntyre, the Cedar Corp Grant Administrator, identified that Cedar Corp submitted the CDBG Grant Application with the Ordinance from 1987.

It was asked they be reimbursed the $6500 fee the Village paid to have the application submitted. Moving Forward, the Village can apply next year for the CDBG Grant however, it will be at a substantially higher cost due to the new requirement to include the engineering and design plans.

It was advised that these plans will be required to apply for the Safe Drinking Water Loan available next year and the Village could apply for both. The Clerk noted that the Covid relief funds have to be spent by 2024 and the Village needs these funds to offset project costs.

It was estimated the engineering and design fees would be $209,000 and suggested we use the Covid relief funds on that prior to the 2024 deadline. The Clerk noted that this project was originally to be completed in 2022 but was stalled when Cedar Corp could not meet the 2021 Grant deadline date.

The Board also heard a request to have the parcel at N4602 Romadka to be annexed into the Village. However, no action was taken as the owner advised he is moving.

The Board also approved to reallocate $15,393.25 of the Ford Pickup truck costs from the Road/Equipment fund to the water and sewer funds respectively to allow additional funding for the road project.

Also, the Annual Joint Library Board meeting was August 1st . The Board did not realize the 10 year contract was expiring and no prior notice was given. The Board approved a ten year renewed contract. The Library costs the Village an average $32,000 per year.

The Board also discussed the $251 Fuel Surcharge charged by Waste Management. Waste Management applied an $87 fuel surcharge to the May bill, a $188 fuel surcharge in June and $251 in July.

A 1% charge of the contracted rate is added for each $.10 increase over the Fuel set price of $4.50. A $.52 fuel surcharge was added to the 2 nd quarter utility bill to offset the May bill. The Board approved to increase the fuel surcharge to $1.85 for the 3rd quarter billing to cover costs already incurred. The Fuel surcharge will be re-examined at the end of the year for further adjustments.

The Board would also like to look at a couple of Ordinances each month. The Clerk suggested looking at the Parking Ordinance and Building Codes since these have been most relevant.

The Board also heard the President’s Report. He attended the Annual Joint Library Board meeting. All agreed that the collaboration is working well and no changes need to be made. The Board heard the Library Update. August 18th is the 10 year anniversary celebration of the Joint Library.

The Board also heard the Water Report. Water was shut off at apartment 3 for non payment, they flushed valves, painted cemetery signs and the fishing dock. They removed the dirt pile on 5th street and general maintenance on well houses and the blower building was done. They attended the Northwoods Collection Seminar in Mfld., prepped the ball field, and put guards around trees.

The Board also heard the Waste Water Report. They took a maple tree down on Parkway, Worked on a pump, and ordered a new repair kit. They sickle mowed ditches and around pond, and ran sewer vent pipe out the roof on the old bathroom.

They also built up the road in the alley behind Rogers, talked with Brian Duelle about possible funding of roads, dug cremation grave for Mark Crothers, oil changes on equipment, Scott’s Construction took down condemned house, and they installed 2 new slides in the park.

The Board heard the Clerk’s Update. She sent out 50 Utility bill reminder texts and made 12 reminder calls prior to billing due date. After the due date, 15th, ten day courtesy letters were sent out. The PC-226 Tax exempt report was complete and filed with the State. Election was on August 9th.

They had a little trouble with the counter and that kept them later than expected. They also began training 2 new election workers. They will go through the official training in October and then will then have 6 election workers.

They received a building permit application for a driveway at 307 West 3 rd . The owner requested removing a small portion of curb and gutter and would professionally recurb to match the color and angle of the other side. No water shed problems with this identified and the Board approved.

Finally, the Board heard the Treasurer’s Report. The Deposit and Expense report was presented. The Checking balance is $109,004.27, the Fund balance is $635,391.46, the Cemetery CD is $16,927.29, the CDBG balance is $10,578.60. $21,620 CDBG funds assisted with siding, windows, soffit, fascia, and step replacements. The Library balance is $31,542.26, ARPA balance $18,002.99.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.