EVB Report for November 2012

Elmwood Village Board Approves


Water and Sewer Rate Increases



Submitted by Rick A. Talford

Citizen Journalist



ELMWOOD, WI - The Village Board meeting was held on Monday evening, at the Village Auditorium. All the board members were present for the meeting. A Public Hearing started the evenings agenda. Ordinance 7-1 “Licensing Dogs-Regulation of Animals” had a change that was being approved. There have been complaints about the feral cats within the village, and the needs to have all cats registered. The board reviewed past information in regards to cats, and found that they had changed the Ordinance verbally, but not in writing. Cats will no longer need to be registered within village limits. There are still regulations that cat owners need to know, but registering their pet will not be required. Trustee Neil Boltic brought the information forward to the board. “The enforcement against cats is hard to do, and officers have better use of their time.” He added, “Owners should still be responsible, with getting their animals vaccinated properly.” There was no public input received.



The regular board meeting then began after the hearing was closed. In Public Input, Trustee Trisha Knops spoke to the board about the Library President position that was open. A public release for “Letters of Interest” will be published in upcoming weeks. One “Operator’s License” for Rebecca Baumgartner, at the Longbranch was approved. A five dollar increase on the sewer rate was also approved. The current thirteen dollar charge will increase to eighteen dollars. It was stated, “We have been in the red for twenty years.” The amount in red, is thirty-seven thousand dollars. Trustee Mike Sand provided the figures. “In order to get future grants that will be needed for the upcoming sewer plant updates, we need to be in the black.” This increase will begin February 2013. Trustee Brian Buck told the members, “We have had no big increases for years and years, only slight increases.” Village Clerk/Treasurer Amy Wayne explained an increase, that was approved a year ago. The board then moved ahead to the water rate increase. Trustee Mike Sand asked the board to approve a 3.2 percent increase, and that was approved.



The Financing for the Elmwood Fire Dept. Truck Purchase was next on the agenda. Mike Baker came to the meeting as a representative of the Fire Dept. He explained that the current Chevy Truck was gotten from the DNR back in 2000. The truck has many issues, including bad rear seals, ring gears and poor exhaust system. Two men in gear, take up the cab of the current truck. The DNR discontinued the program, were they would get a used military truck for use. When the new truck is received, the current truck will be returned to the DNR. Village President Bill Stewart then spoke to the members. He explained that the village would do well, by taking it’s turn with a loan for the Fire Dept. There are seven municipalities that make up the Corporation that the Elmwood Fire Dept. works under. The Fire Dept. will also use “Benefit Funds” to get the new truck set up. A 2.5 percent interest rate, through the WI State Trust Fund would be used for this loan. “This is a guaranteed pay back, with no high risk for the village,” he added. A “Roll Call” vote was required for this approval, and a unanimous “yes” was received. A thirty-five thousand dollar loan will be granted by the village board.



In Committee and Board Reports, Trustee Knops spoke on behalf of the Nursing Home and Library. A meeting was held on October 9, 2012 at the Nursing Home. The driveway was completed, and some updates inside have been getting done. The Library Committee met on November 12, 2012. “Strategic planning has been in process recently, with approximately two-thousand books being removed from the library. 160 new products have been brought in at the same time. A new book club is beginning this week, as well as teen advisory meetings.”

Trustee Brian Buck then provided information from the Personnel and Finance Committee. “We are working on the budget, and trying to figure out what projects to get done. We are dealing with Insurance issues, and everything is still on the table. There is grant research being done in regards to the police squad, and we could receive up to thirty percent towards replacing our current vehicle. I am pretty sure we will get the grant. We also have twenty-two thousand still in the outlay budget. It should not cost any additional funds to update our vehicle. The car is at the stage, where it is starting to go.” The members then started discussing the possibility of getting a F-150 Truck, or an Explorer. Both these options would have all-wheel or four wheel drive capability. The F-150 is a one ton, V-6, four door. The discussion made it sound like they had no interest in getting the newest squad car available. The new Taurus was considered to be too small. Buck then added, “We still need nineteen thousand for the auditorium roof repairs as well.”

Trustee Knops then asked about the budget, and what funds the Library may receive. Buck then explained there is a possible cut of five to seven-thousand dollars, to the funds the library will receive. Buck stated, “The library has a fund with one-hundred and thirteen thousand dollars in it, that can be used for materials by the library. They need to use some of these funds.” This began a bit of a discussion by itself, with Knops explaining the many requirements for using those funds. “We need more money to run the library correctly.” She then told the other members that she felt they needed to look at things more seriously. “We’re playing catch-up after being in the red for many years.” It was noted that the village may be required to have a referendum, so the community could evaluate the greatest needs. “The previous boards did not save properly, and a referendum may be in our near future,” stated Trustee Neil Boltic. There will be more need and shortfall coming in the near future, when the county starts replacing HWY 72 through the village. The costs for sewer, water, lights, signs and sidewalks will all be at village costs. This is all due to state mandates.

Trustee Mike Sand then spoke about the Public Works Committee. A group from Elmwood went to Spring Valley to look at their sewer plant system. The village’s needs would match closely to Spring Valley. “It is an efficient running plant, that handles up to 157,000 gallons per day. It has a twenty-year life span, and an alarm system that contacts the village immediately with any failures. This would exceed all mandates.” Sand then added, “This is in the planning stage, so we are looking over our options.”



Payment of the bills was approved, then the board adjourned at 7:35 PM.