By Leesa K. Bartu
The Exeter Village Board called their regularly scheduled meeting
to order on Wednesday, July 8th without board member Mitch
Schlegelmilch.
The board approved the minutes and invoices before Fillmore
County Zoning Commissioner Jennifer Slezak presented a conditional use
permit and building permit that the zoning board had approved. The permit was
for Craig True who answered a few questions for board members in regard
to the garage . The board passed the building permit unanimously.
The next item agenda was Resolution 15-06 in which the board
accepted the donation of the Tag Factory building, Chairman Alan
Michl noted that the agreement is “basically stating that it is going to be
torn down.”
Board member Kathy Erdkamp quoted the resolution that the
board would ”demolish existing buildings.”
The Board moved and passed to approve the resolution to
accept the tag factory as a donation. Clerk Becky Erdkamp noted that
there would be additional paperwork and legal documents before the building
officially became the property of the village.
The board reviewed the Hazard Mitigation plan that FEMA
requires them to complete every five years. Clerk Erdkamp reviewed a list of
items and jobs to be completed as part of the emergency plan.
Village Marshal Mark McFarland gave a brief report
indicating that he has opened the job position for an officer and the position
will be open for several weeks.
Michl asked McFarland if he had made any progress on some of
the residents with multiple junk cars. Michl advised that the board to
begin to think about towing some of the junk cars
McFarland’s response to the car owners in violation was,
”Show me some progress, we will work with you I gave him a deadline of
July and it’s not happening. He’s had warnings and been contacted so he
is well aware of the situation going on.”
Board member Justin Harre asked McFarland, “In the past, how
many hours have officers dedicated to Exeter a week?”
McFarland and Michl agreed that there had been no agreement
with set hours but with a new officer they are looking at having an officer who
dedicates 30 hours a week in Exeter and then fills in the other 10 hours in
Friend. This would begin after an applicant completes training.
Commenting on the current applicants, McFarland noted, “I
have a couple of locals and that is why I would want to do some interviews with
everyone.”
Maintenance Supervisors report was given by Michl in the
absence of John Mueller. He reported a minor issue at the pump house
because the wireless antenna was removed during roof replacement This
signaled a message to Michl but the equipment was fine. Mchal also reported
that summer employee Jarrett Maxson took care of a problem at the lift station
and has been keeping up with the list that Mueller left him.
Clerk Erdkamp reported that the people who own the care
center building were in town. She indicated that they were shocked at the
condition of the building. They are paying the village to mow the facility and
are up to date with their water bill. She noted that they hired a realtor
out of Lincoln to list the property.
“If the building were in better shape I think it would be a
different story,” said Michl. “The best shot would be a Senior Living
facility down the road. To be quite frank when the people left the rest
home they left the rest home. Elderly people in town aren’t going to live
in anything that isn’t better than what they are living in now. It’s too
bad because when it was built in the 60s was one of the best in the state.”
Clerk Becky Erdamp gave her report noting that keno
receipts for June were $998.82 and May sales tax was $9173.49. She also
showed the board the new copier that the village will be leasing to replace the
old one.
Superintendent Paul Sheffield reported that Rogge
Contractors were awarded the bid for the JPA project. He reminded the board
that they were the general contractors for St. Stephens parish hall in Exeter.
The next meeting was set for August 11 at 7 p.m.
