BOSCOBEL - The Boscobel City Council met last Monday, March 7 for their usual monthly meeting.

One of the exciting topics covered was the announcement that with the final ordinance approving of the traffic code the ATV/UTV route across the bridge will reach its final stage before the official grand opening.

“We’re still looking at mid-April for opening,” shared City Administrator Misty Molzof. Molzolf and City Attorney Ben Wood both explained that the final approval of the traffic code in regards to the ATV/UTV route was the result of the city and the DOT going through everything “with a fine toothed comb” in preparation for finalization. “They want a more definite definition,” Wood quipped of the final works.

It was noted that although the route will be approved, it will not legally be open until the permit is in place and signs are up for the route. It was also noted that between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. it can not be utilized as an ATV/UTV route.

Alderman Brian Kendall questioned the closed times, citing hunters who may have wanted to utilize the routes on their way to their hunting spot. However, it was explained that this time period is in the state statues and can not be changed.

Police Chief Jaden McCullick suggested a meeting with the local ATV/UTV clubs to help pay for the signs. It was further noted by another that the Grant County ATV/UTV Club has offered to pay for signage and that there has been some issue with current signage ordered for Boscobel not being legal.

City Engineer Mike Reynolds finally noted that the DOT would be ordering the signs for the city, and that the city would be billed for them.

The measure was approved.

Also approved during the meeting was a borrowing resolution for Capital Improvements.

“We had planned to try and hold off as long as we could on borrowing,” Molzof explained to the council. “But right after the last meeting the banks reached out to me to tell me that the interest rates had jumped and if we contracted we could get it locked in.” Molzof noted that the rate that was locked in was 1.6 percent with Community First Bank, and at the time of the meeting it had already increased to three percent.

Discussions for the need for the funding began in December according to the resolution, when the City discussed future planning and the need to borrow funds for the capital projects and to meet city needs during their annual budget hearing and adoption. On February 22, the Finance Committee  recommended approval of borrowing $1,000,000 in funds at the lowest interest local bank, which would be used to cover the next three years of capital projects and department needs, with the City having five years to pay it off.

On March 7, at the council meeting, the council discussed that the funds would be used for the boat landing project, various street projects, equipment, maintenance, heating and cooling at municipal buildings, pool painting police department needs and other projects that may arise. The monthly payments will begin on June 1, 2022.

“We have a lot of good things going on and one million doesn’t raise the taxes that much,” noted Molzof.

Later in the meeting, during a brief update from Chief of Police Jaden McCullick, it was approved to hire Nate Massey as the new full time police officer for the City of Boscobel.

In other council news:

•It was approved to advertise for a new airport caretaker.

•The sesquicentennial celebration team are looking for more volunteers

•Class B operators license was approved for Smoke in the Valley

•Street/Alley closing request was approved for the EMS Benefit Tractor Pull.