Improvements to be made at village pool

NEW BREMEN — The swimming pool in New Bremen will be seeing more improvements come next summer.

Village Administrator Brent Richter said Monday during the village council meeting that the two diving boards at the pool will be replaced for next season.

He said the low diving board has a crack in it and that it’s unrepairable while the high dive needs resurfaced as the surface has become too slick.

Richter said it makes sense just to replace both the boards.

“To buy two new boards versus buying one and repairing one is $1,500 difference,” he said. “It almost makes sense to buy new two ones with the shipping and everything.”

Staying with the pool, the state health department informed the village that the inspection that was done prior to last season wasn’t complete as they weren’t happy with the way the drain box was connected with the concrete grid and the village had to get it reinspected.

Richter said Shinn Brothers out of Celina came back out to the pool and dug the concrete out and made the connection to the grounding grid for the drain box.

“It passed inspection. The concrete was put back,” said Richter. “Now we have to get the liner repaired but we’re good to go for next season.”

Also Monday, Richter said the village has a contract with Schmiesing Tree Service to clean up portions of the canal running from Amsterdam to Canal streets this winter.

“We’re taking out the dead trees. The things that are in our way — we can’t get equipment down that path anymore,” said Richter.

“There’s a couple trees on the path that are going to be removed but there’s like 120 dead trees in there.”

In other business:

• Richter reported that the paving and resurfacing of the bike path has been completed. He said that the manholes are being fixed and the gutters will be crack sealed. There will be posts put up soon to indicate that it’s a bike path and not a village street.

• Richter said that bids will go out for the reconstruction of sidewalks, curbs/gutters and driveway approaches on Jefferson Street on Oct. 28 and the village will open it on Nov. 18. The project is to begin in 2022.

• Richter reported that a sludge survey at the wastewater plant was postponed. He said the vendor that was to complete it fell behind on other jobs and he would inform the village when he would be out.

This was done to prepare for a re

port from the EPA regarding the treatment plant.

• Council completed a first reading of an ordinance to transfer Lot 23 at the Bunker Hill Industrial Complex from the village to the Community Improvement Corporation. • Completed a second reading on an ordinance to annex property in German Township: Schnelle, 2.937 acres; Sharp, 1.65 acres and 1.083 acres and Wissman, 2.92 acres.

• Councilors completed a second reading of an ordinance to contract the lease of Komminsk farmland for 2022.

• Council suspended the rules and passed an emergency ordinance to authorize the village fiscal officer to make intrafund approbation transfers for 2021.

“This was just a recommendation that came out of our state audit. I do that throughout the year, move operating funds up to communications or training or something like that,” said Fiscal Officer Amy Speelman. “It’s permitted but recommended that we pass this resolution. We’ll do it annually from now on with our annual appropriations every year.”

• Richter reported that the new driveway to the entrance of the fire station was poured on Oct. 5 and the fire department will be able to drive on it again on Oct. 25.

• Parker reported fines, fees and forfeitures of $3,784.

• Entered executive session to discuss property. No action was taken.