Wilton Community Center to reopen May 1

By SARAH PARKER | County Line Editor

After a yearlong Covid-19 closure, the Wilton Community Center will again open to the public starting May 1, the village board decided Monday.

The reopening will encompass both the community center gymnasium and the adjoining complex, which includes the village hall, library, and businesses that rent space in the building. It also means the gymnasium will be available for rental.

Rachel Conner, the director of the Wilton Public Library, asked board members if they had a reopening plan and whether a mask requirement would be a part of that. Though the board didn’t appear to respond, Welch told the County Line on Tuesday that masks would still be required in the building after May 1.

Clerk/treasurer Leigha Barton noted that a few businesses in the complex might prefer that the building remain closed, but she suggested that those businesses could lock their doors to prevent foot traffic.

The building has been closed since mid-March 2020.

In February, the board decided to proceed with preparations for opening the village swimming pool this summer. 

Water-rate case

As a part of the process of Wilton’s water-rate case with the state Public Service Commission, the board agreed to raise the amount the water utility pays to the village general fund for fire protection from $25,000 to $33,000.

That cost will be spread among the users of the water utility, but it will result in less of a financial hit to the village’s general fund.

Since its last full rate case, the village has raised water rates every 18 months by 3 percent through what is called a simplified rate case. But a municipality can submit a simplified rate case to the state a limited number of times, and Wilton’s ability to do so has ended.

At present, it appears the state will compel the village to raise water rates by 87 percent.

Other business

• The village has purchased Workhorse, a type of software designed for Wisconsin municipalities, for $15,000. The sewer department, the water department and the village general fund each will make a $2,500 payment for two years.

• A new village website will be created through GovOffice.com and will include a reservation system for the village’s campground. Also, Welch noted that the site could be used to promote recreational tourism.

Having the option of paying $2,083 each year with a three-year contract or $4,450 for a one-year contract, the board agreed to a three-year contract.

• At the community center, the village will upgrade internet through Verizon Fios, though rewiring will need to be done before it’s operational. The new monthly bill will be about $400 per month, with the businesses in the community center complex expected to contribute toward the total monthly costs. MBM Logistics will not take part in the plan, as it has its own connection that it plans to maintain.

• The village now will outsource its water and sewer billing to ABT Mailcom, a Lake Geneva, Wis.-based company. The cost will be 70 cents for each bill, along with a $125 setup fee. According to clerk/treasurer Leigha Barton’s calculations, each bill costs $1.65 to send out if the work is done in house. To arrive at that figure, Barton included the cost of stamps, paper, and her time to complete the task.

• The board considered a proposal from Barton to purchase tables and chairs from the Wisconsin Surplus online auction site, and then rent them to local residents. The furniture could be used off site, and then returned.

Village employee Jeremy Likely would work toward obtaining the items.

In the end, the board did generally agree to keep pursuing the idea.

• The village still intends to sell property it owns at 702 Walker Street, but the land-contract agreement is stalled at the office of Penny J. Precour, the attorney who is handling the matter. With the hope that the transfer can be completed before the board meets again, board members gave Welch the authority to sign the contract on behalf of the village.

• The board reviewed bids for the replacement of the community center garage roof, but then decided that the specifications on the bids weren’t comparable and more research was needed to determine which one was truly the low bid. Also, Welch noted that he had received an additional verbal quote after the village had advertised for bids, though he didn’t indicate whether it would be considered with the rest of the bids.

• Welch noted that community residents are considering forming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to obtain grants for the newly created walking trail along the Kickapoo River, along with other potential projects.

Meanwhile, the village is seeking two grants for the trail project, one of which would result in $1,000, though the figure attached to the other grant is unknown.

• A baseball jamboree at the Wilton ball diamond was set for Friday, June 4, with games at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

• The board approved Lois O’Rourke’s resignation as election inspector and approved Josh Milheiser’s application for election official.

• The board approved an operator’s license for Brooke Storkel.

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