Wilton may condemn Walker Street property

 

Neighbors want a property at 702 Walker St. in Wilton cleaned up, and the village has started the condemnation process.

 

 

By SARAH PARKER | County Line Editor

The Wilton Village Board voted Monday to begin the condemnation process of a residence at 702 Walker St.

Thus far, prompting a cleanup has been problematic, as the property owners, Adam and Tracy Wallace, live in Tappen, N.D., and the village has been unable to reach them.

“They don’t check their mail. They don’t answer their phone,” said board president Tim Welch.

To qualify for condemnation, it must cost more than 50 percent of the assessed valuation of the home to bring it to “livable,” Welch said. The property is assessed at $44,900, according to Monroe County records.

About 12 residents attended the meeting to register their concerns about the property. Clerk/treasurer Lori Brueggen reminded the group, “Just so you know, the condemnation process is pretty lengthy.”

Wilton resident Sheri Sheri Laffredi said to the board, “My biggest concern is some child or teenager going in there and getting hurt, because it’s a disaster waiting to happen. An insurance company would consider it an attractive nuisance.”

Pastor Andy Wallman of Faith Congregational Church in Wilton suggested that a “small task force” could be formed to clean up the property.

Welch responded, “I appreciate that,” but added that at the first stages, the matter was the concern of the village attorney and building inspector.

Brueggen advised the residents not to take it upon themselves to clean up the property, as they could be cited for trespassing.

Village facilities to remain closed

The Wilton Community Center, playgrounds, campground and caboose near the Elroy-Sparta State Trail will stay closed for at least another month, the board decided.

Board Reina Coleman noted that the campers had been setting up tents in the campground despite the signs marking that the facility was closed, advocating for the area to be monitored.

Mary Welch of Wilton asked why the campground had to remain unavailable. “There have been a lot of people who would be using it, and I think it’s unfortunate not to have it available, plus the income we get.”

Tim Welch estimated that, with social distancing rules in place, the village could have made about $15,000 to $20,000 (only every other space would have been available this year if the campground had been open).

Connie Brueggeman of Wilton suggested that the campground stay open, but the bathrooms remain closed (such a plan would prevent tent campers from using the campground).

Board member Eli Yoder responded, “There’s way too much gray area. How do you enforce? How do you police? How do you do anything? Instead of having all of those conflicts, issues, fights, arguments, and dangerous interactions, we just decided that for the greater good of the village, we’d all sacrifice and not have those facilities open to the public. Right now, according to the Coulee Covid-19 Compass, we’re not even supposed to have more than 50 people in an outdoor location … when it does come to sanitation, how do we do any tracking of who has been here? We have to take names and numbers and everything else. It’s a logistical nightmare as well as a public health hotspot for the entire village, because we just don’t have facilities for any of these things.”

Tim Welch and Brueggen mentioned that many of those who have inquired about the campground were from urban areas that have suffered more greatly during Covid-19 pandemic.

The board will revisit the matter at its August meeting.

Other business

• Due to a faulty valve, Martin’s Warehousing recently lost about 25,000 gallons a day for 22 days, nearly doubling the village’s entire water output. That water went through the village’s sanitary sewer system.

Welch suggested that the village forgive the roughly $5,700 sewer portion of Martin’s bill, but other board members, along with Nalani Bever, argued that it would set an unfavorable precedent. In the past, the village has not forgiven high sewer bills stemming from leaks such as faulty toilets.

The board voted not to forgive the sewer portion of Martin’s bill.

• Citing Covid-19 concerns, the board denied John Hansen’s request to host a softball tournament in Wilton. The event has been moved to Ontario.

• The board agreed to hire Bart Arndt to replace the air conditioner at the village’s wastewater treatment plant for $2,995. Levy’s Heating and Air Conditioning also submitted a bid for $3,200.

• The board agreed to purchase a new voting machine, which will be able to automatically tabulate absentee ballots, for $6,600.

• The board approved two projects for its facade-improvement program. Lorrie and Larry Bever will replace the current siding with Vesetta Stone siding at 418 Main St., and Aldis Strazdins will install new windows, remove a sign and install back gutters at 400 Main St.

The Bevers will receive a $2,406 grant, which they will match with $2,406 of their own funds. Strazdins will receive a $2,500 grant and contribute $2,785 of his own funds.

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