Board clears way for Ice Age Days

The Rib Lake Village Board at its meeting on July 14 approved street closings and several other requests in preparation of Ice Age Days August 6-8.

The following streets will be closed to traffic from 4 p.m. on August 6 until 8 a.m. on August 9: All of Mc-Comb Avenue and the alley to the west, Landall Avenue from Pearl Street to Mill Lane, part of Mill Lane to True Value Hardware, Railroad Street from Third Street to Lake Street, Mill Lane from Hwy 102 to Railroad Street, and Second Street from Railroad Street to Church Street (Saturday only from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

The open container law will be waived on the following streets and/or areas: McComb Avenue from Fayette to Hwy 102, South McComb Avenue from Hwy 102 to Railroad Street (Saturday and Sunday during daylight hours only), Second Street from Railroad Street to Church Street from one hour prior to the parade to one hour after the parade on Sunday, Railroad Street from Third Street to Lake Street on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. if needed for the car show, Landall Avenue from the alley between McComb Avenue and Pearl Street to Mill Lane, Mill Lane from Hwy 102 to Railroad Street from one hour prior to the mini-rod pulls until one hour after their completion on Friday, and Fayette Avenue from McComb Avenue to Tannery Ballpark during games and one hour after completion of the last game each day.

No alcohol or soda carry-ins of any type will be allowed on any of the designated streets and areas. Open containers will not be allowed on any other village streets or alleys.

The board approved picnic license applications for Ice Age Days from the Rib Lake Lions Club, Rib Lake Fish and Game, Ice Age Committee, Rib Lake Fire Department and American Legion. It also approved temporary operator licenses for William Hackbarth, Todd LaBrec, George Tesch, Lester Fliehs, Jarrett Knutson, Gerald Thieme, Terry Pocock, LuAnne Yanko, John Quednow, Paul Dums, Theodore Eisner, Bryan Thums, Jamie Heiser, Greg Thums and Krist Punzel.

Pat Morrow from MSA Professional Services gave an update to the board on ongoing projects. He said spray foam insulation and silicone sealant coating has been added to the exterior of the sludge storage tank and that the tank cover had arrived and should be installed by the end of July. Morrow said they should find out in August if Rib Lake’s application for grant funding for the McComb and Landall Avenue project has been approved.

During the treasurer’s report, clerk Kristin Lueck told the board the village had received a first payment of $45,164 through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act and that the village would receive a second payment in the same amount next year. At a meeting earlier in the year, the board agreed that any ARP funds the village receives would be put aside to go toward the cost of the water tower rehabilitation project.

Following a brief closed door session, the board approved hiring Jessica McGregor as a cleaning person for one hour a week at the senior citizen center and one hour a week at the village at $10 an hour. The board also approved hiring Benjamin Greiner as the community service officer for a minimum of 10 hours a week at $10 an hour.