Government

The Village of Mazomanie awarded a $722,500 contract to Bill Lepke Trucking and Excavating out of Viroqua for the project to clear Black Earth Creek of debris and clean up the channel. The Village will be reimbursed for up to $1.1 million for the entire project due to a grant their received. Lepke’s was the low bid by a good margin. 

The Village of Prairie du Sac eliminated a curiosity from their ordinances at their last meeting, when they officially deleted language about a municipal lot containing five spaces near Sentry.

The Village of Sauk City’s municipal water supply tested below safe thresholds for PFAS, the board found out at their meeting last week. The village had to pay $500 for the test. Starting next year, there will be required quarterly PFAS tests.

Residents who watched last Wednesday’s budget workshop for Black Earth got to see how the sausage is made when it comes to municipal budgets. The board members faced the prospect of cutting $190,000 from their proposed 2023 budget to balance things out.

Shellie Benish, Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer for Black Earth, had her last day with the village of September 23^rd. Village President Mitch Hodson said, “We thanked her for her service and wished her the best going forward.” Benish said, “I like to believe I have left the Village in a much better place than when I arrived!”

At their September 27^th meeting, the Mazomanie Village Board voted to purchase a use transformer for $30,000, for use as a backup. New transformers can cost as much as a million dollars. 

The village will be using the firm Axley Brynelson as a planning and zoning resource, including for flood issues.

The Sauk City Village Board voted to allow 6:8 to rezone its property from general industry to limited industry. This will allow 6:8 to build an addition onto a structure on their property, as the setbacks are relaxed with the new zoning. In other rezoning news, the board elected to postpone another rezoning request at 431 Water Street.

The Village of Prairie du Sac is looking for a new board member, after former member Abby Dinger-Zach recently moved out of the village boundaries. Village President Cheryl Sherman recommended those interested in finishing Dinger-Zach’s term, which expires in April 2023, contact the village in writing.

Judge Isaiah Crowe from the Mazomanie/Black Earth Joint Municipal Court updated the Mazomanie Village Board at their last meeting and a break of a few years. He spoke about when the municipal court started. 

“Court has changed a lot in those years [since 2013],” said Crowe.

ATV/UTV users will eventually be able to ride on all Sauk City streets, and for the first time Prairie du Sac is considering them. The Prairie du Sac board discussed ATV/UTVs at their last meeting and after about 15 minutes of discussion, it was decided that the Code Committee would first take up the matter.