Ladd Village Board
LADD — The Ladd Village Board took action on the following items at its meeting Nov. 27:
• Heard a presentation for village liability insurance from representatives of Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Association.
• Heard Pohar is working on the punch list items for the Cleveland Street Combined Sewer Project. Later in the week the defective installation of some of the sidewalk ramps would be corrected and the contractor would be removing the fabric from the inlets. The remaining issues brought to the board for discussion included a 30-foot long puddle on the north side of Cleveland Street between Iowa and Hennepin Streets, manhole number 7 on the Fox property and the wet, sunken area between two homes in the project area.
• Heard the Water Main Rehabilitation Project remains open due to the contractor, JBR Earthscapes, not meeting with Engineer Larry Good to finalize the figures.
• Approved the purchase of a 2013 GMC 3500HD pickup truck for the Street Department from Jeff Perry in the amount of $26,262.11.
• Received estimates from Good for the introduction of SeaQuest into the water distribution system. He was directed to proceed with the permit application.
• Received the water tower inspection report from Central Tank Coatings. They recommend the replacement of the dump valve in the 150,000 gallon tank and exterior cleaning in two years and again in five years. They also recommended the repainting of the 100,000 gallon tower and that the tower is blasted prior to painting. This would require the tower be curtained which would be a significant expense. Good was directed to review the report and to give the board direction on a future plan.
• Tabled the 2013 contract with TEST Inc. for the Certified Operator in Charge of the water and wastewater plants pending further review by attorney Pat Barry.
• Heard that LED lighting had been installed at three different intersections in the village and asked board members to check them out and give their opinions.
• Heard the installation of LED lighting in the village buildings and on Main Street has resulted in a significant savings. Ladd received a $25,000 Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant along with funds from the IMEA’s Energy Efficiency Program to perform the upgrade.
• Discussed the possibility of constructing a 270-foot retaining wall at Kennedy Park to replace the railroad ties.
• Heard the outdoor weather warning sirens will need to be upgraded for narrow banding.
• Passed an “Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding Access to the Comptroller’s Local Debt Recovery Program.”
• Approved holiday bonuses of $100 to full-time employees and $50 to part-time employees with the exception of part-time police officers. Police Chief Bill Gaefcke did not recommend bonuses to them due to the high turnover rate of his part-time officers.
• Heard many compliments have been received on the holiday lights, but vandalism has occurred to the lights in the park and on the Main Street trees.
• Heard that Santa’s Workshop would be held at Ladd School on Dec. 8. Nearly 500 children were registered with Project Success to receive Christmas gifts through the program.
• Approved bills in the amount of $154,954.51.
• Entered closed session to discuss the collective bargaining agreement.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Village Hall.
