Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Mercer board approves building improvements

By TOM LAVENTURE

[email protected]

MERCER, Wis. — The Town of Mercer Board of Supervisors approved a new snowplow loan, bids for roof and siding, and a mowing contract at its regular meeting Thursday.

There were 32 people who attended the virtual meeting via GoToMeeting. This is the third public meeting that the board has held since the Wisconsin Attorney General’s office said the format would not violate open meeting laws during the coronavirus shutdown order.

The board 5-0 approved an $8,844 bid for a roof replacement for Mercer Fire Station No. 2. The bid, which went to Chaney Construction L.L.P. of Mercer, will come from town reserve funds.

The Section 24 roof replacement is where a new fire truck will be stored, according to town supervisor Eric Snow. The fire truck purchase was approved in March.

The board 5-0 approved an $8,159 bid to Chaney Construction L.L.P. to replace the siding on the Mercer Town Shop No. 2. 

The board approved the annual town lawn mowing contract for $21,500 to MTG Outdoor Services of Mercer. The approval included an agreement that the contract would add the additional Section 24 area of town. 

The contract may be awarded to the previous contract holder as long as the bid does not increase more than $500, said John Sendra, board chair.

According to board members the 2019 contract was for $21,000. The 2018 contract was for $16,800.

At the previous meeting the board approved the town maintenance department’s request for a 10-year $161,787 loan to purchase a new snowplow at 2.75% interest. On Thursday the board re-approved the request 5-0 to ensure the language of the action was consistent with a requirement of the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.

The board 5-0 approved a resolution, notice, and lis pendens notice to discontinue platted roads for a privately owned secluded sanctuary in the town of Mercer. Costs incurred with the process are to be paid for by the property owner, according to the language of the board’s action.

The board 5-0 approved the summer hours for town road crew. The Monday through Thursday four day schedule, with 10-hour days from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

“We have to deviate from the handbook which is why this needs to be approved by the board,” said Charles Schroepfer, town supervisor.

Jake Saarnio, road crew foreman, said his workers were agreeable to the plan. The workers will rotate on-call Friday duties for two workers each week, he said.

The new schedule will start on April 27 or possibly the first week of May, he said. The schedule will continue until the on-call snow plowing schedule starts.

The board 5-0 approved a buyout purchase of a portion of Lot No. 2 in the Mercer Business Park. The potential buyer is also looking to purchase a portion of an adjacent lot that doesn’t present a septic line issue but it may create a compliance issue with a minimum acreage requirement that will be investigated through the Planning Commission.

The board 5-0 approved a request to delay the decision on the status of Lot No. 12 in the business park. The delay was to seek an agreement on reimbursements to the original owner for improvements made to the property.

The next regular meeting of the Mercer Town Board of Supervisors will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16. The meeting will be virtual with a GoToMeeting app link and optional phone number access available prior to the meeting on the town website at townofmercer.com.

 
 
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