Gilman to wait and see what happens before taking action on wastewater

The last couple months have been worrisome for the Village of Gilman officials, after the DNR set down new directions to improve levels at the wastewater plant. The DNR is insisting that something has to be done within the next few years about the E. coli, while in nine years, they have to deal with phosphorus.

That might not be unreasonable, if Gilman’s levels were out of control, but they are at the same level as always. It’s all on the DNR’s end, as they lowered the level standards dramatically.

“Nobody can meet those standards,” said village clerk Candice Grunseth.

At the village meeting Feb. 12, village president Jane DeStaercke met with Rep. Rob Summerfield, who advised the village to hold off on moving forward with any plans, as the legislative picture is changing.

“We all know, that down the road, we’ve got some big decisions to make,” said DeStaercke.

For now, Gilman is weighing options, such as going back to ponds to try to dilute the waste enough to meet levels, or by using a UV light and water quality trading.

“We really don’t know which way we’re going right now,” said Grunseth. “There’s really no correct answer right now.”

The board did agree to provide a letter of support for Mosiac Technologies, who is writing a grant application to bring fiber to under-served parts of Gilman. The company claims there are 36 locations in the village not served by broadband.

“They have to have seven points to get this (grant),” said Grunseth.

Members also gave permission to the Gilman Lions Club to extend the food building in the park to the east. Along with CBA support, the Lions are collecting estimates and intend to apply for grant money, to fund the project, no cost to the village.

Also discussed, was a possible crosswalk located in the village, since the Taylor County Commission on Aging will provide a grant up to $5,000 to install it. If the village goes with a lighted sign, they have to get power to both sides of the road. Gilman Police Chief Tom Tallier met with the Medford utility department, who went through the same thing, sharing that the village will need to bore under the highway to provide the power.

Tallier will continue to work on that project and hopefully, receive the grant for a fully-funded crosswalk.

DeStaercke also mentioned that the Comprehensive Plan the village has worked on for some time, is almost completely done and that they are just waiting on a few revisions. The board will approve it in the next few months, after a public hearing for the community to review.

“It’s not going to be quite as daunting as the last one,” said DeStaercke.

Something that’s been on everyone’s mind, was the condition of several of the trailers at the mobile home court, that could be considered a public nuisance. Tallier made contact with the management of the mobile home court and all three trailers have been removed, with four new ones ready for staging.

“They did that within the timetables that were given,” said Tallier.