By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
SUAMICO – The village was reimbursed almost $1,800 more than its original allocation from the State of Wisconsin to pay for unbudgeted expenditures incurred this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Village Administrator Alex Kaker reported Monday, Dec. 7, to the Suamico village board.
Kaker said Suamico was allocated $207,040 through the state’s Routes to Recovery grant program, which was funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, with the expenditure period ending Nov. 6.
However, he said the village was notified Nov. 4 by the state in an email about being able to submit expenses above its allocated dollar amount, but with no guarantee the additional expenses would be reimbursed.
Kaker said Suamico ultimately received $208,808.
A breakdown of the reimbursed expenses he provided the board showed more than 45 percent, ($94,782) covered telework and information technology, such as for laptops and computer server/firewall enhancements.
Seventeen percent ($35,493) went for services and supplies, such as for cleaning services and a new polling location setup.
More than 14 percent ($29,467) was reimbursed for personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and protective clothing.
Another 13.62 percent ($28,444) covered emergency operations, such as a legal review of policies and Emergency Operations Center staffing.
Almost 10 percent ($20,621) went for paid leave with public works staff alternating shifts in April and May.
The Howard-Suamico School District also requested a portion of the village’s reimbursable expenses be donated to the district because the village didn’t anticipate using its entire allocation.
Kaker said $18,962 was used to purchase cafeteria tables and Wi-Fi equipment for HSSD.
UTV agreement, sale
In other action, the board agreed to sell the Suamico Fire Department’s 2010 Polaris six-wheeler utility terrain vehicle (UTV) with a skid unit and trailer to the Town of Winchester Fire Department for $20,000.
The Suamico Fire Department will be able to use $6,000 from the sale for a new aluminum trailer and medical skid unit for a 2021 Can-Am Defender Pro XT HD10 UTV Ken’s Sports of Suamico will loan to the department free of charge for a year with the UTV in a demonstrator program.
After a year, Ken’s Sports indicated it would provide the fire department with another UTV in a demonstrator program.
UTV/ATV subcommittee
Board members also agreed to create an ATV/UTV subcommittee to research the use of those vehicles and report to the village’s Health and Safety Committee, which will then make a recommendation to the board as to where ATV/UTV usage should or should not be permitted along with a draft ordinance, if a recommendation is made to allow usage in any area.
The seven-member subcommittee will be comprised of Health and Safety Committee Chairman and Trustee Dan Roddan, a village direct enforcement officer, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources representative, Suamico Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Joe Bertler and three village residents.
Kaker, who will also attend the subcommittee meetings when available, said the village’s website and Facebook page will be used to recruit three citizen members.
Village President Laura Nelson has called for the citizen members to be chosen from different areas of the village.