VILLAGE OF LA FARGE

                        Public Budget Hearing and Special Board Meeting

                Monday, November 29, 2021

                                                          

*President Cheryl Purvis called the Public Budget Hearing of the La Farge Village Board to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Emergency Services building.          

         

Roll Call - Present at the meeting:

Board Members: Cheryl Purvis, Terry Jensen, Aaron Nemec, Barbara Melvin, Karen Leis, and Frank Quinn. Absent was Aaron Appleman. 

Also present: News reporters Lonnie Muller and Bonnie Sherman, Public Works Manager Wayne Haugrud, Utility Clerk Greg Lawton, and Clerk Kimberly Walker.  

   

*Verification was given of meeting posting at the Bank, Post Office, and Village Office on 11-24-2021 and of publishing in the La Farge Episcope on 11-9-2021.  

   

*The board waited ten minutes. No one from the public showed to oppose the 2022 proposed budget.

Closed the hearing at 6:10 p.m. and immediately began the special meeting.            

                    

*Jensen moved, Nemec seconded to adopt the 2022 proposed village budget. (Carried).

  

*Clerk Lawton reviewed the proposed sewer increase for 2022. He gave a review at the November 8th meeting, and the Streets & Utilities committee met and are recommending applying for step 2 of the 4-year increase. In 2020, we did a 7% increase to the monthly fixed cost and 30% to the volume charge. In 2022, this will be 6% and 25%. If approved, it would go in effect in January and show on the February billing. Cheryl remarked there were several years of no increases. Working on getting the revenues up for the future. Projections from the auditors is it’s looking good. They also evaluate this yearly, so it may not be as big in the future. Melvin moved, Leis seconded to approve the sewer rate increase as proposed for 2022. (Carried). Greg will send out a letter in January to the users and it will be in the newspaper.

 

*Wayne discussed a new skid steer purchase. This would be used for brushing, snow removal, ditch cleaning, etc. and save on our current tractors. The cost would be split between both entities. One quote received with a bucket and no attachments at the current time is $55,545. We are looking into applying for a USDA grant, that could fund 55%. Looking to get another quote and have Vierbichers apply for the grant for a cost of $500-$600. The board agreed to pursue this. More info will be presented at a future meeting.

 

*Jensen moved, Nemec seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

 

Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer