The Argyle Village Board was presented at their regular board meeting on April 1 with a layout of counters and walls that are being proposed to get demolished and constructed inside the former First National Bank and Trust building, to make it a more flexible community space as the new Community Center/Argyle Public Library.
Jen Detra, chair of the Friends of the Argyle Public Library, came to the meeting with a layout of the building and focused on certain areas of the space that they would like to be removed and built to make it more inviting and accessible.
Demco is a furniture company that created a layout of their own, showing what furniture pieces could go where, filling the space as much as they could. Detra stated that they want to have mobile bookcases so the space is flexible for the community. They will not be ordering all of the furniture that Demco designed in the space but it helps them get an idea of what spaces could look like.
Not very much furniture will be coming from the current library into the community center. The building is a small space so not much furniture is there to move. They will not be moving the bookcases as they are not mobile. They will be bringing over kids items and furniture and they recently ordered new chairs.
There are several items within the former bank building that need to be removed, such as office chairs, desks, filing cabinets, etc. Those items will be up for sale during the second Open House on April 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The proposed floor plan will be unveiled and a “Cash and Carry Sale” will be taking place to move those excess furnishings.
Items that need to be fixed and demolished/constructed would be to fix the bathrooms, making them ADA accessible. The bathrooms will be all gendered, having changing tables in each and able to be used to all. All of the tellers counters will be taken out and a window frame replaced. The half wall going down to the basement will be built up into a full wall, not only for safety but to create a donor wall for those walking into the space to see.
They did get construction quotes for all of the proposed construction items. Detra was not asking for any money from the board but just approval to get started on the demolition and construction.
Joe Schutte added that he received a quote from Tyler Ritschards, Audio Visual Solutions, to put up two TVs in the community room/board room in the community center to have use of during meetings. The TVs could be used to post agendas on during the meetings and talk to individuals via Zoom instead of having them drive down to the meetings, costing the village money for their travel time. Schutte ask that the quote of $2,592 come out of the Community Development fund. Village president Tom Moore asked if Ritschards was able to put up cameras on the outside of the building to be used to surveil the area for the village, since the building is central to the village. Schutte stated he would talk with Chief Hayley Saalsaa and Ritschards about cameras and bring back a quote to the village.
Dustin King made the motion to approve the beginning of construction and demolition at the new community center with Helfvogt seconding. Helfvogt made the motion to approve the quote for the TVs and labor for the community room with Lisa Johnson seconding. Both motions passed unanimously.
Driveway permit
The board previously talked about creating a driveway permit after a village resident asked to put in a driveway and they found out they don’t actually have a permit specified for driveways. The driveway ordinance the village has stated that a person looking to do anything with a driveway needed to talk to the clerk or street department about getting a permit and paying a fee.
The permit consists of filling out an application for what is being done on the driveway: new construction, reconstruction, alteration or enlargement. They also need to have a drawing of said driveway, measurements, inspection and approval by the Street Department, and paying a fee.
Deputy Clerk Mallory McGuire stated that some villages don’t have an ordinance and have the building inspector take care of it all. She said an estimated fee was around $30-$40 for the permit.
This permit was being waited on by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation so a homeowner could put in a new driveway on STH 78 within the village.
King made a motion with Garry Rossing seconding to adopt the permit with a $30 fee. The motion passed unanimously.
Village parking lot/concrete wall
The daycare located on the old school lot is starting to take shape. Keith Ritschards told the board that there will be construction starting on the block wall on the south side of the building. Davis Foundation will be pouring the concrete wall. They had looked at different options but ultimately chose the poured concrete. Stacked blocks would have cost the village around $90,000. Poured concrete only cost the village $52,470. That will be part of the parking lot loan.
Ben Heidemann from Town and Country Engineering will be helping in creating a design for the parking lot. The village employees will be preparing the parking lot. The village wants to have as much parking as possible. King asked about lights in the parking lot. The village plans on having some lights. To cut costs, Electric Superintendent Dan Koch will be putting up the lights.
Discussion items
The board again discussed the Recycling Center hours for Wednesdays. The current hours are 9 a.m .- 12 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. The Saturday hours will stay the same. Gary Mckibben would like to change his hours from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and not have to work the last shift. The village feels they need to keep the late hours for those residents who can’t get to the center during the daytime. Mckibben also stated he doesn’t want to mow the park but still plans on doing other smaller mowing jobs. The board has discussed having someone, possibly the summer mowing person, to mow the park and also sit at the Recycling Center during the late hours on Wednesday. The board still would like more information on the issue and tabled the discussion.
Helfvogt talked with a company who does headstone restoration to look at restoring headstones at the Old Argyle Cemetery. They stated they would need to come onsite to give an accurate bid. A village employee has been tasked to call and set up a time to get an official bid.
Building Inspector Scott Jelle got back to the village about questions pertaining to the property at 811 Monroe Street. The homeowner has removed the deck and is in the process of getting other renovations done. Jelle stated that things are moving in the right direction. Helfvogt was concerned that a building permit was never obtained and paid for. The previous homeowner stated they did get a permit for the renovations on the inside of the home but the village was unsure if any permit was obtained for the porch nor was it paid for. More investigation will be had on this issue.
Rossing stated that student engineers would be giving a presentation at the next Planning Commission and invited the entire board to the meeting. It was previously scheduled for May 6 at 6 p.m. but the date has been changed.
The new wastewater treatment plant permit has been received and goes into effect until 2030.
Moore thanked the village for allowing him to be president for eight years, on the board for 10 and for working as an employee for 28. He thanked the village board for making the right decisions for the village because it takes the entire board to make everything work. He thanked the Chief Saalsaa, Sandra Flannery and McGuire for working with him as well.
Action items
The board approved: – 2026 bid for mowing the Old Argyle Cemetery to Bryce Slater for $200 for 12 mowings.
– property & liability insurance with League Mutual Insurance.
– the Soccer Program Coordinator agreement for Randy Russell.
– the Argyle Beavers 2026 Home Talent Park agreement.
– Memorandum of Understanding for Legal Services with Attorney Jacob R. Gardner.
– signing a Letter Transition of Legal Services and transfer of village files to Attorney Jacob R. Gardner.