SHULLSBURG — Nathan Russell, attorney for Jack and Susan McCoy, presented the preliminary plat map for the Parkview Development to be approved by the council at the Shullsburg City Council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
    After many questions were answered and discussion regarding the development. Particularly establishing ‘what comes next’. After the plat map gets approved, the next step is for the Dept. of Administration to approve. Then it goes to the Lafayette County Register of Deeds office to be registered. First the plat map is registered, then each parcel will be recorded, including covenants, association agreement and finally the deed, in that order. It will need to go to the planning commission for zoning approval. Target date for starting work on the development is March 1, 2018.
    The preliminary plat map was approved by a vote of 2-1, plus 1 abstain. The final plat map and with the addition that the vacated Carnak Clun right-of-way is included in the same motion was approved by a vote of 2-1, plus 1 abstain. The votes went Reilly – no, Paquette – yes, Wedige – yes and Ritterbusch – abstain.
Advance Shullsburg
    Dan Morrissey and Jeff Doyle – president, representing Advance Shullsburg, LLC were at the meeting asking the city for a contribution. Advance Shullsburg’s mission statement is to provide economic development for Shullsburg and further the community in anyway possible.
    The group is asking the city to donate $5,000 in 2017; $7,500 in 2018 and $10,000 in 2019.
    Morrissey  said, “If anyone comes to the city and asks for economic development help or to promote Shullsburg, we would take care of that for you, help do that. Every dollar that the city contributes to Advance Shullsburg will be matched by us in promoting Shullsburg. Whether it would be billboards, helping businesses, whatever we would be doing in Shullsburg to help Shullsburg grow as a community.
    J. Doyle said, “The nice thing about Advance Shullsburg is there are twenty to twenty-five persons on the board and they are separated by committee’s. Next year we have targeted signage. A lot of our funding is from private donations, businesses or families. Our annual budget is $60,000.” Reilly asked, “If we would donate $5,000 in 2017 and $7,500 in 2018, we will be providing more that 10% of your budget?”
    Morrissey said, “We’ll be spending $14,000 to $15,000 in wages for our director.” Reilly said, “So you’re paying wages for your director. Who is your director?” Morrissey answered, “Kory Ritterbusch.” J. Doyle said, “A lot of our resources this year went to becoming a 501(c)(3).”
    Reilly made a motion to donate $5,000 to Advance Shullsburg, LLC in 2017. Approve with Ritterbusch abstaining. Then clerk-treasurer Marsha Einsweiler was asked if it was in the budget and she answered yes.
Utility Committee
    Chair, Jim Paquette called the Utility meeting to order.
    The first item was the need for a part-time person to cover weekends at the sewer and water departments to check the gauges and miscellaneous duties for three hours on Saturday and three hours on Sunday. The committee approved the item and it will be sent to the council.
    •Water - Steve Staver, Water Utility Director, brought up needs for the Water Department. A new Pool Chlorinator, the Pulsar 4 System at $6,300 from Carrico Aquatic Resources of Jefferson was approved and sent to the council.
    Staver also stated the valve at the bottom drain will need to be replaced eventually.
    The next item that the water department needs is a Water Chemical Tester. The tester they are using is not functioning correctly. Staver stated they have priced them out and one that is the best fit will cost $4,300. Approved and will be sent to the council.
    Two water boxes were found to be under the new street on Esty Street. This happened during the summer street project. These need to be moved. Staver told Delta 3 and Maddrell Construction about the issue and Maddrell came and fixed the problem and also sent a bill for $1,474. Staver said, “I was under the impression that they would be paying for it.” The committee decided to pay the bill.
    Having trouble starting the two generators at the Wells. Tuescher Electric of Darlington suggested adding a soft-start starter system, those will cost $5,000 - $8,000. This will be needed down the road.
    Garage door and front door were replaced.
    Staver gave notice of his retirement to the committee.
    •Sewer – Nick Doyle – Sewer Utility Director, suggested the committee start looking at a sewer plant operator trainee. The committee will move this forward and advertise for the position.
    Have you smelled the air near White Hill Cheese? N. Doyle said, “There is a serious issue with White Hill Cheese, it’s the worse we’ve ever had.” N. Doyle stated he is totally frustrated and wasn’t very nice to the company. I’ve contacted the DNR, I’ve contacted White Hill Cheese, I’ve contacted Delta 3. Right now it’s a waiting game. The DNR is closed until after the first of the year. We’ve scheduled a meeting for after the first of the year. Something needs to happen.
    N. Doyle said, “Two week’s ago they dumped 3,000 gallons of whey on the their plant, it killed everything at their plant and when it came down to me it was not good. Our numbers were borderline violation. Now we have rebounded and are in okay shape. Their mixer on top of their take went down (which keeps the foam down), their solution was to shut the air off. I told them three days in a row to turn the air back on. Paquette said, “What’s happening, I thought they were doing pretty well.” N. Doyle said, “They were, they had some equipment that broke down and human error. 3,000 gallons of whey come down, that shouldn’t happen.”
    Paquette asked about fines. N. Doyle said, “Last time, we gave them the option, we would hold off on the fines, if they did something and they did. That’s an option. The fines are going to have to start again.”
    In public comment the terrible smell at White Hill Cheese was brought up.
    •Electric – Mel Kreul, Electric Utility Director reported they need a new electric crimper, as the old one is not functioning correctly. The committee approved purchasing a new one for $2,134.
    Discussed extended warranty for mini excavator and tabled it.
    Kreul asked if he could get mapping from Delta 3 on the new subdivision so he can start planning for it.
    In other business:
    •Mark Doyle of Delta 3 presented the council with options in regards to fixing problems the city has with storm drainage basin near Union Street. The council will review the options and bring this back at a future meeting.
    •Dan Morrissey, now representing Shullsburg Schools, informed the city they will be having a referendum in April. They are going for a reoccurring $400,000 and they feel it will not increase the school tax. Morrissey stated they will have an informational meeting.
    •Approved the election inspectors for 2018-2019.
    •Approved advertising for a part-time weekend duty sewer/water operator.
    •Approved hiring a sewer plant operator trainee,
    •Approved purchasing an electric crimper for $2,134.
    •Tabled the extended warranty for the mini excavator.
    •Approved the purchase of a pool chlorinator – Pulsar 4 for $6,300.
    •Approved the purchase of a chemical tester for the water department $4,300.
    •Approved two operator license applications.
    •Approved the 2018 Utility budgets.
    •Approved the bills for general, water, sewer, electric, pool, museum, library and TIFF funds in the amount of $21,625.
    •Swenson announced the city received a $6,000 grant for the Carnak Clun from the Local Roads Improvement Fund of Lafayette County.
    •Approved two operator licenses.