Present: Roger Spindler, Jon Ebensberger, Terry Johnson, Norm Baker, Sara Schutz, Chris Zenner, Kim Lunda, Sandra Goulette, Brenda Kelly, Jesse & Nick
Call meeting to order: 6:30pm
MOTION to accept April 9, 2025, Meeting Minutes by Ebensberger / Johnson, motioned carried
DISCUSSION: Chad with BevComm not present.
DISCUSSION: Brenda Kelly with the DNR – Did a presentation on the Dredging project. Jesse & Nick with Newt Marine joined her. She talked about the WRDA (Water Resources Development Act) federal program that provides essentially funding revenue to do things like ecosystem and navigation services. She noted that DNR was able to tap into those funds under two different programs. Section 1122 which is a beneficial use of dredged material and the navigation and ecosystem sustainability program or references NEC. Two projects are occurring simultaneously with two different contractors. Some features on the project include island construction and wetland that started was initiated at the end of 2023 and continued into 2024. There is some equipment that’s out in the landscape building out at wetland berm. The pipe brings the material into the wetland. Bringing the ground up makes for shallower water, which is going to be beneficial for things like waterfowl and shorebirds. Last year some dredging occurred from the boat launch out to the project site. That created a corridor out to the project. We have capitalized on last year getting folks out on site. We have done several tours with Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, Village of Bay City, and several groups from Wisconsin DNR. The main feature for the 2025 construction season is Island Four. Newt Marine is the contractor. They have mobilized equipment and started to initiate construction. DNR is ensuring that they are not only creating habitat and doing good things for wildlife but also paying particular attention to wildlife that are already on the landscape and what disturbance might cause or create for them. One of those are the national icon eagles. This one piece might cause a delay in work. If active eagle nests are out on the property. You must adhere to the national bald eagle management guidelines and think about what kind of disturbance we’re causing to the landscape and how that might impact them. Especially paying particular attention to the breeding season, the egg laying season, hatching of those eggs up until those eaglets are fledged. Right now, there are four active eagle nests right within the project area that we’re paying close attention to. There is a lot of activity on the main channel of the Mississippi River. With the heavy equipment out there, this may pose some safety concerns with people wanting to know what’s going on. There’s also equipment that has been mobilized to the actual construction site. We have an underwater crossing. Look for the navigation markers because they’re building an island from material that has been brought up from Reed’s Landing. It’s been barged up and they are mooring on the main channel. That material is dumped into hoppers and it’s being transported via a large pipe out to the construction site. That pipe runs aquatically underwater, not visible and then across the island. There are navigation markers out there to notify the public that that pipe exists. The underwater crossing is north of the island above the Lily pad. There will be underwater crossings with red and green buoys with a sign that says pass between red and green buoys. The stakes are geographical reference. That is the physical footprint of the island. The NEC program is fully 100% federally funded. We are currently at 95% design. I think 2 weeks or less of my final review of what the project will look like. We are looking at backwater restoration, flood plain restoration, island and shoreline protection and again island creation. With a lot of fund federal programs cut this is one of them. We are hopeful that there’s going to be a fiscal year 2026 budget and because of it setting at 100% design ready to roll it will ideally go to contract. Drone use over a state wildlife area is not allowed and illegal. Katrina cut is not open currently because of an active eagle’s nest. The projects that the guys are working on will not be completed until 2026. LS Marine is a sub-contractor. Updates will be drafted to put on the kiosk at the Bay City campground boat launch.
DISCUSSION: MAS car show on June 14 from 11am – 3pm will block off the West end of Main St.
PUBLIC WORKS – Chris Zenner said the skid loader was delivered, and he is trying to learn and get used to it. Did a Lead and Copper Survey, received an email that we passed everything. We have 2 dead trees in Saratoga Park that we would like to remove. We will replace them with 2 new ones. Call Glen Anderson to fix the storm drain at the campground. Travis from Backwoods will take care of the expense. Looking into doing stump removal this fall at the campground for $2000.00. Meixner only has until June 1st to get everything back in order. We can figure out what you want to start with down there. Maybe cut some of the small stuff and taking the brush hog and kind of widening out the old road to the spillway. There may be options for adding more tent sites back there. I did annual meter testing and the two meters at the campground failed. That’s about $3500 for the two new meters. We will look at replacing them in the fall or early spring. But we should order them now, so we have them in case they get back ordered. Talked to the guy from Excel. They want to put a new pole and a new transformer down at the campground. Will try to expedite it.
DISCUSSION: New Copier for the office. 5 Year contract is up and will save $60.00 / month
MOTION to get the new copier by Ebensperger / Baker, motioned carried
Discussion Approve/Deny: Operators License for Rachel Albrecht, Richelle Thole & Jordyn Bach
MOTION to approved Operators License for Rachel Albrecht, Richelle Thole & Jordyn Bach by Baker / Johnson, motioned carried
DISCUSSION Village Hall Window Replacement. $36,000 for vinyl windows with a 20-year warranty and $50,000 with a 10-year warranty for aluminum. Look into Grant for both windows and brick tuck pointing work.
DISCUSSION Sand Island. Ryan Simatic is supposed to come up with a couple options for us. He hasn’t gotten back to me yet.
DISCUSSION Pierce County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Left a message for Christine McPherson. Bay City and Maiden Rock are not listed on the municipal Wastewater treatment plants within Pierce County. Just want to make sure we are covered in case of a catastrophic event. It appears to be updated every five years.
DISCUSSION Cemetery – Sara is still working on the cemetery. She will walk through the cemetery to see if trees are in places that have been sold. There were a couple rows of trees removed and waiting for that area to settle before selling them lots off.
MOTION to Approve Bills
ADJOURN