The position of Fire Chief at the Soldiers Grove Fire Department will remain vacant until after the November elections.

The village board accepted Chief Jim Cox’s letter of resignation at the Thursday, April 3rd meeting.

First Assistant Chief Ben Clason and Second Assistant Chief Brian Copus will be in charge of the fire departments operations until that time.

“We decided these two are very good 1st and 2nd chiefs who could do the job together with co-authority,” according to Village President Jerry Moran. Moran added that the board wanted to allow the fire department to stabilize so they could choose their own chief in the November election.

Clason reported that the fire department plans to research grants to help purchase a new brush truck. The current truck has a leaking rear main seal and will need to be replaced at some point. The department hopes to find a good, used vehicle to replace it.

The board plans to revisit the issue once brush fire season is over.

Vicki Campbell has been chosen to fill the vacant trustee position created when Jerry Moran was chosen to fill the position of Village President.

Four people had contacted the village clerk to have their names included as a possible appointment as a Trustee - Vicki Campbell, Diane Coleman, Jim Mindrum, and Gary Nelson.

Campbell was approved with a 5-1 vote, with trustee Shayne Chapman opposing.

Chapman had motioned to appoint Gary Nelson, but did not receive a second to the motion, causing it to fail.

Moran noted that Campbell has served on the board previously and brought experience with her appointment.

Problems with the lift station pump again on Highway 61, closest to Sannes Skogdalen Nursing Home will hopefully be resolved with the installation of a basket, according to Public Works Director Brian Copus.

Copus said the basket would need to be checked and emptied on a regular basis. If that failed to resolve the issue, a grinder pump would need to be installed.

Guy Nelson, owner of Country Gardens Motel & Lounge, was present to discuss the use of room tax revenues by the Community Development Corporation (CDC).  Nelson suggested the formation of a special committee to discuss and budget room tax expenditures. 

Nelson opposes using the revenues to support the Driftless Area Art Festival, which he felt should be charging incoming vendors to offset expenses. He also said advertising should be used to promote overnight stays at the hotels and motels paying the tax.

The Board expressed favoring a committee to discuss the issue.

In other business, the Soldiers Grove Village Board:

• heard that the fire department will hold their annual Pancake Supper on April 12;

• heard that the fire department is seeking new members;

• approved the purchase of a backflow preventer for the sewer plant from B&M Technical Services for $550;

• tabled the appointment of a member for the CDA and KVA Committees;

• went into closed session, then reconvened without action or discussion.