GAYS MILLS - The Gays Mills Village Board began their meeting in a closed session discussion with Evan Chambers, the engineer planning the construction of the new village sewer plant, and the village attorney, Eileen Brownlee. 

However, when they reconvened in open session, the board took no action on purchasing property, which was the stated purpose of the closed session discussion. 

Later, Evan Chambers, a Town and Country Engineering employee, gave the board a brief update on the situation with the new and existing sewer plants. The engineer noted that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had responded to a revised phosphorus reduction plan submitted in October for the old plant.

The engineer described Town and Country’s revised phosphorous plan as an attempt to reduce major commitments at the current plant in lieu of the planned construction of a new plant. The original plan submitted by Davy Engineering had committed the board to much more action on phosphorous reduction in the effluent at the current plant.

The DNR response struck a middle ground between the two phosphorous plans, Chambers explained.  The actions that were called for would be the same as would be required by USDA Rural Development, Chambers explained.

The engineer told the board that the firm was readying to submit a plan for the new sewer plant for  a mid-course review by the DNR. He explained the purpose was to get some buy-in from the agency before the plan was submitted for final review.

In another report, village librarian David Gibbs provided the board with an update on the Gays Mills Public Library. There was good news and some not-so-good news.

Gibbs in his fourth year as the local librarian noted he had a ways to go to catch former librarian Maura Otis, who served in that position for 28 years.

The librarian began by acknowledging the work of others. He recognized the work of assistant librarian Don Lampert, who has worked at the library for 12 years.

Gibbs also acknowledged the important contributions of board members beginning with the work of treasurer Marla Heisz. He also recognized village trustee Lee Ruegg, who represents the village on the board, and longtime board member Rebecca Eby for their contributions. 

The librarian seemed especially pleased with two newer board members, who volunteered for the board after seeing advertisement and publicity for the open positions in the Independent-Scout.

Gibbs also praised the efforts of the Friends of the Gays Mills Library for their support. He singled out JoAnn Gonos for her work in the organization and Craig Anderson for his commitment to ‘movie night’ The librarian also thanked their village office staff for their ongoing assistance.

The annual library reports to the Wisconsin Department of Instruction were due March 1. Gibbs noted that circulation, the basic measurement of libraries everywhere, was down in Gays Mills and across almost all libraries. 

Circulation is based on people checking out books and DVDs at this point. The use of eBooks and other electronic usage of the library is not currently recorded. Circulation is about physical checkout. And, visits to the library were down from 6,000 in 2020 to 4,000 in 2021.

However there were some bright spots for the library. Programming for the library, which is an increasingly important feature was up. Programs include lots of the things from story hours to book review meetings, to fitness hours, reading challenges and host of other events. Gibbs noted there were 34 programs in 2018 and 61 programs in 2021. In addition to the library, programs occur in a variety of other places including the board room, the community meeting room, outside the building, at 212 Main Street building, the swimming pool and North Crawford Schools to name just a few of the other place.

Currently, Gibbs said the library board is working on creating a strategic plan for the library.  

Activity at the library may increase as we move closer to National Library Week in the first week of April.

Gibbs also talked about another benefit of the library to the community.

“People come in and they're impressed by the library,” Gibbs said. “In some cases, the library has influenced people’s decisions to move here.”

Village trustee Lee Ruegg praised the work Gibbs has done at the library since taking over the position

“I think he’s done a terrific job,” Ruegg said. “The programs coming in are really amazing. He’s done really well.”

Oh by the way, this Friday’s movie at the library, hosted by Craig Anderson, is Fahrenheit 451–that’s Friday at 7 p.m. in the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center on Highway 131.

Harry Heisz reported that Friends of Gays Mills decided to have fundraiser for the new roof and a host of other improvements on the ‘Old Mill Building’ at the dam.  Heisz told the board the small group needed lots of help in this effort and urged village trustees to do what they could to help. In addition to the new roof, some of the improvements contemplated include: tuckpointing, improving the railing, a new deck and windows.

The board heard the public property and cemetery committee recommendations for increasing prices at the cemetery and approved them.

During the public input portion of the meeting,  Bob Lomas asked about the people renting the old office space at the Gays Mills Community Building at 212 Main Street.

Gays Mills Village President Harry Heisz assured Lomas that the $200 rent was covering energy costs, including heating for the whole building. In answer to a question from Lomas, Heisz said that none of those renting the buildings are living there, but hey tended to work at night on music and recording.

The board decided to table the proposed recycling fee and public fire protection charge, when they learned imposing a fire protection charge on village residents who don’t use municipal water would only lower the village’s levy limit. Lowering the levy limit would be defeating one major purpose of both moves to increase available revenue to the village.

In other business, the Gays Mills Village Board:

• approved CDA services and a contract for work on administering funding for the new sewer plant

• approved two Class B Liquor Licenses to serve wine and beer at Driftless Area Art Festival fundraiser planned for June 2 at the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center

• approved Class B Liquor License for the McCormick Rose American Legion Post for July 1 and 2 at 388 Railroad Street

• approved Don Lampert as a chief election inspector and Roseanna Gunderson as an election inspector

 • approved moving a $500 contribution to the village board’s development committee from the Gays Mills Economic Development Association, where it had been appropriated for the last many years

• tabled action on a resolution authorizing the purchase of real estate

• approved spending $250 on the North Crawford Athletic Schedule Poster for next year

• approved placing advertising for lifeguards and bathhouse employees for the Gays Mills Swimming Pool

 The board adjourned to closed session to discuss the 2022 Swimming Pool Manager. However, they took no action when the returned to open session and adjourned.