SOLDIERS GROVE - At their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 3, the board of the Village of Soldiers Grove continued to move ahead with repairs and upgrades to their sewer system, and to the fire department building.

Director of Public Works Brian Copus reported that the manhole covers needed to secure the pipes after they are jetted out and prevent additional material from re-entering the system have been ordered. The covers will cost the village $1,100.

Copus also reported that the sludge beds will need to be cleaned out at the sewer plant. He said that he could get some of it down with the skid steer, and the board approved hiring Digger Don to use his excavator to finish the job up. Copus also reported that they have GPS locates called in for the jetting work that needs to be completed to seal off the old sewer laterals in the old part of town that have been leaking into the storm sewer system.

Trustee Shayne Chapman told the board they need to work on the drainage issues on New Well Road. Copus said that his team would be working on getting everything switched over from the old dump truck onto the new one, and would appreciate assistance with that if possible.

Also taken up were needed repairs to the Fire Station. The village received two bids  with a break down of costs for upgrades to the station’s electrical system. One bid was from Forkash Electric for $3,315, and the other from Strang’s for $3,671.80. Trustee Campbell moved, and Nicholson seconded a motion to look into purchasing the electrical reels for the fire station and to have Forkash Electric do the installation work. The motion was approved unanimously.

In other business, the board:

Heard a CDC report from Village Clerk Tamera Kepler, and that there are individuals from the village interested in joining the Community Development Corp;

Approved paying for flowers for the park and area businesses out of the CDC funds;

Approved signing up for Crime Coverage Insurance for $600 per year;

Heard a report from Village President Steve George about his committee appointments, with the only changes being to add Harrison Heilman to the Public Works Committee, and to make Tamera Kepler the CDC Representative;

Approved picnic licenses for the Soldiers Grove Lions Club/BMW Motorcyle Rally, May 18-20; for Dairy Days, June 15-17; and for the Driftless Art Festival, September 15-16.