Exeter Village Board Meets

by Leesa K. Bartu

The Exeter Village Board met on Wednesday, September 7, at 7 p.m.

The Board quickly moved through the agenda approving minutes along with the invoices.

First on the list the board set the budget hearing for Sept 14 at 7 p.m. 

Chairman of the Board Alan Michl reported that the village received a grant from the state to do sanitary sewer mapping updates for the village.  The board approved the contract with JEO Engineering to do the project.  The cost will be $13,500 with the grant covering all but $3500.

Village Vice Chair Tim Wilbeck noted , “This really needs to be done.”

Another project the board discussed was finishing off the south side of the village building where the adjacent building was removed.  The bid to finish off the exposed part of the building from one contractor was $2743.

Michl reported that there have been some black mold issues in the city building.  The board was concerned about the health of the employees who currently work in the building.  To start, the board has purchased an air purifier for the facility and is looking for a company to inspect the building.

The board heard an update on the progress of resurfacing the ball field.  Board Member Justin Harre has been working with the vendor and researching the process.  Chairman Alan Michl announced that the Exeter Area Community Foundation will grant $7500 to the project. 

Harre explained that the vendor recommends that sprinklers are installed as part of the process.  First, however, the field has to be properly graded.  Harre has talked to Exeter resident Jim Horne who has volunteered to bring a skid steer and laser level to move the dirt at no cost to the ball association or village. 

Harre noted that the vendor, “Recommends covering home plate and the pitcher’s mound after each game with a tarp.  We are just waiting to hear on a sprinkler bid and then we can get started. It would be nice to be done before November.”

Clerk Becky Edkamp reported that she had applied for a grant from the Fillmore County Foundation for funds for the field upgrade.

Village Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller  reported that he had done some work on sewer lines on the north side of town.  He noted that they found some issues with some of the main lines and had to have some of them cleaned out.

Village Clerk Becky Erdkamp gave a brief report which included the sales tax figure for June which was $9779.72 and the Keno funds for July which were $312.02 

Paul Sheffield reported on the Joint Public Agency  construction project, “The Fitness center is now open and we have sold about 15 memberships.”

Sheffield added that the  landscaping is mostly done and the siding contractor came to work on one entrance and will get to the other entrances soon.

There was a discussion on some issues with water on the road near the addition and some possible solutions before the road is repaved.

The Board entered Executive Session at 7:50 to review employee compensation.  The board returned at 8:10 and Wilbeck made a motion to give employees  John Mueller, Becky Erdkamp, Jessica Votipka, Sharon Cudaback,  Jodee Mika and Keith Mathiesen a three percent increase.  The motion passed and annual raises were completed.

The board set the next meeting for Wednesday, October  5 at 7 p.m.