Frederic board accepts recommendation to stop private plowing and sanding

The Frederic Village Board voted Feb. 11 to accept a Public Works Committee recommendation to discontinue private plowing and sanding services.

R Lillehaug, presenting the committee's recommendation, said the change was driven by time and material constraints and noted that other local businesses already provide private plowing. The board approved the recommendation on a motion by Committee member B Harlander with a second from R Lillehaug; the minutes record the vote as "Carried." The motion carries operational implications for residents who previously contracted with the village for private plowing and sanding.

President Amanda Blackmon said the board would incorporate the committee recommendation into operations; the minutes do not record additional implementation details such as transition timing, notice to affected residents, or whether any fee or refund process would be required. The recommendation memo, as summarized at the meeting, also noted that surrounding communities have discontinued the service.

The board also discussed a mass-text communications service called Textmygov. J Schott described the system's ability to send mass alerts and to receive and respond to resident texts about ordinances and reports, and asked for feedback before spending further time on research. Board members expressed interest and requested additional information; no purchase or contract was authorized at the meeting.

In other business, the Chamber President reported community events including an Easter egg hunt on April 4 and a National Night Out event planned for August, and said the Coon Lake Classic was successful. Public Works reported crews have been monitoring and jetting sewer lines because of recent cold weather and built a portable pressure washer from spare parts.

The board approved checks numbered 194272 through 194340 and the associated journal entries on a motion by Committee member B Harlander, seconded by R Lillehaug (vote recorded as carried). The meeting briefly moved into closed session on a motion by B Harlander (second by B Morris) and later reconvened; the minutes state there was no action from the closed session. The board adjourned at 7:46 p.m.

The minutes do not provide details on implementation steps, notice procedures for discontinuing private plowing and sanding, any affected contracts or refunds, or a timetable for when the change will take effect. Those details would typically be addressed in follow-up materials or a future meeting agenda.