Potential Bertram Communications Shutoff in Theresa

Village of Theresa President Jody Steger and Clerk-Treasurer Becky Tellier updated the village board on issues relating to the lease agreement with Bertram Communications, LLC, at its meeting on Monday, February 10.
Bertram Communications (Bertram) leases space on the water tower for its equipment. In the summer of 2023, a representative of Bertram attended a village board meeting where a new lease agreement contract with the company was discussed. The representative agreed to have Bertram’s owner sign the new contract, which included an increased lease fee; however, a signed contract was never returned to the village despite multiple follow-up communications.
In June of 2024, the village received a lease payment from Bertram in the amount designated by the old contract. The check was returned to the company with a copy of the new contract. Since then, the village has received multiple incorrect payments and no signed contract. The renewed contract and payment were due on July 1, 2024.
“I got in touch with Bertram several times, and every time I get a hold of the person I’m supposed to be talking to, everything is positive. ‘Oh, yeah. We’ll get this out in the mail. We’ll get the signed contract out to you with the new amount of money.’ Everything is all hunky-dory, and every time I talk to Becky, it’s like, ‘Well, I haven’t received anything from them yet,’” said President Steger.
“I reached out again today because I was promised on December 23 [that] a new contract with the additional check was in the mail. I have been in touch with a Bertram employee at least once a week since. Today, I got no response. So, they are in violation,” added Tellier. “I still have the check for $3,500. I’m just holding it for the additional amount, hoping it comes. At this point, she gives me every excuse, so I’m not sure what to do from here.”

The annual charge for leasing space on the water tower increased to $4,814.21 from $3,500 in the new contract.
“I am almost of the opinion that we make a motion tonight to shut it off. They’ve had more than ample time, and we’ve been more than patient with them,” stated Trustee Joe Haak.
“The problem is the PD (police department), the [public works] shop, and the treatment plant would have no internet,” Tellier responded.
“We do use hotspots... so we would be able to still function,” explained Police Chief Markus. “I would be more concerned about the residents that are using it.”
Discussion switched from turning off power to Bertram’s equipment to possible legal action that could be taken against the company.
Trustee Haak asked, “Can we cash the $3,500 check and do a small claims action against them for the difference?”
“If we cash it, that is accepting the old contract,” Tellier answered.
The conversation then shifted back to whether the village could shut off power to Bertram’s equipment if it did not receive the signed contract and proper payment amount.
“There is a circuit breaker panel that is dedicated to their stuff, so it wouldn’t be that hard,” said Director of Public Works Bill Weisensel.
Tellier stated, “We pay the bill for their electricity, so.”
“So we can give them a 30-day notice that the power will be turned off on such and such date,” added Trustee Jim Polster.
“In that 30-day time, we need to do our due diligence and make sure our people know,” responded Trustee JR Koenigs.
Trustee Haak made a motion to give Bertram Communications 30 days to send the village proper payment before shutting the power off to its equipment, starting February 11. The motion passed six to one, with Trustee Dave Brandenburg opposing.
Board Matters:
• The board discussed rescinding the motion made at the previous board meeting to charge the owner of a Land and Lease Community the ordinance-mandated minimum payment requirement for an annual license renewal. The discussion arose because the village attorney discovered that the ordinance did not follow state statutes. The motion to rescind the previous motion was made by Trustee Shawn Krapfl and passed unanimously.
After the motion was rescinded, the board considered charging the Land and Lease Community owner according to state statutes. Trustee Brandenburg made the motion to charge the owner the amount outlined in state statutes, which passed unanimously.
• The board discussed passing Ordinance 2025-02, Section 350-105–Park License Required. The ordinance amends the minimum payment requirement for an annual park license renewal to match those established in state statutes. The motion to approve Ordinance 2025-02, Section 350-105–Park License Required was made by Trustee Sandy Koenigs and passed unanimously.
• The board also discussed amending the motion made at the last meeting to approve a one-year contract with HydroCorp for cross-connection inspections. The contract the board approved during that meeting was actually a two-year contract costing $179 per month instead of a one-year contract costing $358 per month. A motion to approve signing the two-year contract with HydroCorp for cross-connection inspections was made by Trustee Haak and passed unanimously.