There were concerns from the Blanchardville Village Board about spending more money on a water quality trading project to help with the phosphorus influent flow but after hearing more information from Brian Berquist from Town and Country Engineering, they ultimately approved the project at their meeting on Monday, July 6.
Berquist informed the board that the Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC team (RES) through Wisconsin Water Quality Trading Clearinghouse is proposing to deliver enough phosphorus credits for the purposed of the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) program through the Wisconsin DNR to eliminate the amount of money the village has to pay the county due to the amount of pounds of phosphorus it discharges a year. Right now, the project that was just completed at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) reduced the amount of money and the amount of phosphorus being discharged by a substantial amount but it did not reduce it down to zero. This project could effectively eliminate that cost.
The cost of the project is $103,000. The board was hesitant with agreeing to the project since the village just went through the facility upgrades to the WWTP. When the facility project began, the village was paying around $52 per pound of phosphorus discharged to the county. That dollar amount as increased to around $66.62 per pound. That amount will continue to increase over time. Berquist stated that the project at the plant did lower the payment but didn’t remove it. Brick and mortar solutions will not eliminate the amount that has to be paid to the county. This project is estimated to eliminate payments for 20 years. The amount of water quality trading credits being given is accounting for future population increases and/or any inflated effluent phosphorus discharge. Other alternatives such as filtration will not be needed, which come with a large capital cost. The success of the water quality trading site will be monitored and maintained by RES for the entire 20- year term with no additional costs to the village.
Board trustee Greg Waldoch asked what happens in 10-years when the amount increases or decreases. Will this still cover the village’s portion to pay the county? Berquist stated he didn’t know.
“All treatment plants in the state are on a five-year cycle. Whenever the powers that be make a change, it is whoever’s permit is to expire nexts has to follow that rule,” Berquist explained. The limits that are in place right now, the DNR states that they are not going to make up a number for each village to have to comply with when it comes to the amount of phosphorus that can be discharged from a WWTP. Berquist felt it was unlikely that phosphorus could get any lower or safer then it is now.
Kimmie Marty mentioned that members of the public have complained to her about their water bills. She wanted to make it clear that in order for the village to follow the DNR’s strict guidelines on water, they need to pay for certain things like the facility upgrades that just took place and the village can’t pay for all of that themselves. It has to come from the village residents.
Berquist stated that Blanchardville has done really well at capitalizing on grants that help pay for good portions of projects.
Discussions were had on how it was going to look to have the village spend an additional $103,000 on this when they spent so much on the facility upgrades. Berquist stated that the upgrades were never intended to take the village down to zero but to lower the amount being paid to the county.
Clerk/treasurer Kathy Drake explained that the village has still putting money away in an account at a higher level for phosphorus credits. There is now $200,000 in an unrestricted account and that money will be used to pay for the project so that additional $103,000 will not impact the tax payers in the village. The $103,000 is a one time payment.
Joe Cockcroft made the motion to approve the project with Neal Klassey seconding. The motion passed.
Sidewalk whoas
Berquist talked about work on Main Street and fixing the wedge piece on Mill Street. Cockcroft asked about who inspected the sidewalks on Main Street. Berquist stated it was a contractor called CORRE. Cockcroft commented that the sidewalks pitch toward the middle and pool up. He said it was some of the worst work he has seen. Many of the board members and audience members were also concerned about what will happen when winter comes and the sidewalks retaining the snow and creating ice.
Cockcroft also brought up when they did the saw cutting, they did not protect the buildings on Main Street so several business owners were frustrated and extremely upset when trying to get material off of the buildings, especially the brick building foundations. Paul Saether of Saether Funeral Services and Blanchard Hall stated that he will have to have his doors re-sanded and resealed. Berquist asked Saether to wait and that should be dealt with by the subcontractor to repair. He stated that any damages that business owners have be directed to him and he will have that taken care of and completed.
Cockcroft wanted to make sure that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation know that they are not happy with the work that was done. Berquist wanted to make sure the project has been walked through before all things are officially called done.
At the Committee on Committee meeting on Monday, June 22, complaints and requests were made to re-pour the sidewalk on the south side of Mill Street. Customers of the businesses along that side of the street were complaining about the terrace along the sidewalk where it was becoming a tripping hazard and holding water. At that meeting, business owner Diana Kaiser was extremely frustrated by the job that was done and concerned with the water pooling that was also taking place in front of her building on the street. A few days after the meeting, the sidewalk was repaired.
Lot acquiring tabled
There is a tax parcel on Maple Street that is owned by Irene Blanchard. The land hasn’t had anyone paying taxes on it for years. Residents brought up this issue at the Committee on Committee meeting and asked that the village board look into seeing that can be done about this very small parcel between 425 Maple Street and 501 Maple Street. It was discussed at the board meeting that it could take about three years for the village board to acquire the land due to having to look at records and find next of kin to see if they lay claim to the property. The village felt they should purpose looking into purchasing the land but tabled the discussion back to the committee to get more information. This process will take time.
Other reports
The Father’s Day Chicken BBQ was very successful. They only ordered 450 and sold out. The pickleball tournament also had a great turnout. Music in the Park is going great. The next one will be July 23.
Cassie (Colson) Perenchio spoke to the board representing the Pecatonica Area School District discussing public relations with the district and keeping open communication between both. She also spoke at the Iowa County Board, Hollandale Village Board and will visit the Lafayette County Board.
Things at Mckellar Park are going well. Gene Kolb will be making and donating railing for the stairs. The swim pond bathhouse is almost complete.
Other items
The board also approved: – amendments to Chapter 520 Zoning (occupation ordinance).
– wage adjustment for the Deputy Swim Pond Director to $19 and a returning lifeguard to $15.
– extending the interim financing for the STH 78 project to cover reimbursable project costs.