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Town of Mountain approves equipment purchases, hires firefighters and approves four‑year loan for tractor
Summary
The Town of Mountain board on Aug. 12 approved multiple equipment purchases and personnel hires, accepted sealed bids for public‑works equipment, and passed a resolution to finance a tractor with a four‑year loan from Laona State Bank. Several infrastructure items and permitting matters were tabled for more information.
The Town of Mountain Board voted Aug. 12 to accept vendor bids for public‑works equipment, hire two fire‑department personnel and adopt a four‑year loan to finance a new tractor.
Chair Carey‑Mielke opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Bill Lazansky Community Center. After routine approvals, the board accepted a $131,700 bid from Miller‑Bradford & Risberg, Inc., for a Case 580SV backhoe and a $1,251 bid from Scott Thompson for a 2001 International Harvester dump truck; Supervisor Wydeven was recorded as abstaining on the dump‑truck acceptance. The board also reviewed two bids for salt‑shed repair ($49,900 and $84,650) and tabled warranty verification and follow‑up questions.
The board approved hiring Michael Herzfeldt as a firefighter and Erica Murphy for an assistant position after background checks were completed. Both motions were made by Supervisor O'Barski and seconded by Chair Carey‑Mielke; both motions carried.
To finance a tractor purchase, the board adopted a resolution selecting Laona State Bank for a four‑year loan and agreed to levy a tax as needed to secure repayment. The motion passed on a recorded roll‑call vote: O'Barski — Aye; Wydeven — Aye; Carey‑Mielke — Aye.
Clerk/Treasurer Lynn Kauzlaric presented the July financial summary and checks #19546 through #19609 totaling $178,477.03; the board approved the Treasurer's report and the disbursements.
Why it matters: the accepted bids and loan authorize near‑term capital spending and vehicle/equipment replacements that affect the town's 2025–26 capital plan and tax levy assumptions. Board members flagged questions about bid variances and warranty coverage on repair work that the board left for staff to resolve before final contracting.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the Treasurer's report and disbursements totalling $178,477.03; accepted Miller‑Bradford & Risberg's $131,700 backhoe bid; accepted Scott Thompson's $1,251 dump‑truck bid (Wydeven abstained); and approved a four‑year tractor loan from Laona State Bank (roll‑call vote recorded, all Aye). The board approved a $422 budget amendment moving funds to General Government–Legal and approved several routine licenses and renewals, including a short‑term rental renewal for Akey Investments and an agent appointment for GPM Southeast, LLC.
Board members said they would seek additional warranty and scope details regarding the salt‑shed repair bids before awarding that contract. Town Foreman Melton updated the board on road grading, brushing and patching work and said crews are preparing for paving questions and continued maintenance.
The meeting also included nonbinding updates from the ambulance service (37 calls in July; 20 to date in August), lake‑district cleanup plans and community‑center maintenance needs. The board waived facility rental fees for an upcoming UW‑Extension Strong Bodies program for senior citizens.
The board tabled several items pending more information, including a DNR wetland determination for South Shore Drive public access, WI DOT input on ATV/UTV routes, and Plan Commission follow‑up on Ordinance #2025‑01 (Plan Commission Request Submission Policy).
