PUBLIC CONCERNS … Even though the concerned citizen came in near the end of the meeting, the Montpelier Village Council decided still to let his voice be heard, even though the time for community participation in the meeting had already passed. Councilor Kevin Motter shared to Law Director Bohmer afterward that it was “important to give people the chance to speak.”
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Village Council met on Monday, February 26, 2024 at 6 p.m. Present were councilors Heather Freese, Don Schlosser, Nathan Thompson, Kevin Motter -who was presiding over the meeting in place of Mayor Yagelski, who was absent- Melissa Ewers, and Chris Kannel.
Also present were Deputy Manager Justin Houk, Law Director Robert Bohmer, and Director of Finance Nikki Uribes.
After the agenda was approved, council approved the minutes from their February 12, 2024 meeting before councilor Ewers brought up a crosswalk at the Williams County Fairgrounds.
Three crosswalks are looking to be installed currently, and Ewers asked that administration look into the feasibility of adding an additional crosswalk at the entrance of the fairgrounds to increase safety.
A memorandum of understanding was then approved so that the village may participate in a county-wide program, which enables municipalities to use county infrastructure for utility transmission for an annual rate, and then Ordinance 2271, limiting cannabis within village limits, was approved on its third reading.
The water department is hard at work looking for funding, and the village is looking into remedies for many low lying areas that see themselves flooding, with stormwater prevention being looked at for the Iron Horse River Trail.
The board was then addressed by a concerned citizen, who shared that they are wanting help investigating a matter recently wherein a woman was sexually assaulted.
Allegations are that the officers taking the initial report for the assault dismissed the woman’s concerns, as well as tried to sway her from reporting the incident.
As a result to the mental trauma suffered during the attack, and (the citizen claims) by the negligence of the police department, the woman committed suicide earlier this week.
Emotional, the citizen left before any other questions could be asked of them, sharing that if something wasn’t done to reprimand the officers responsible, the department should expect to see “legal action,” before leaving the meeting.
It was shortly after that incident that council moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:17 p.m.