Village Board

OFFICIAL MINUTES – MEETING OF October 21, 2024 Village of North Fond du Lac – BOARD OF TRUSTEES Board Present Staff Present Mike Streetar – President Nick Leonard- Administrator John Duffy- Trustee Pete Vergos-Police Chief Chuck Hornung- Trustee Jake Flaherty-EMS/Fire Chief Ann Price – Trustee Mitch Vis-Director of Public Works Mike Will-Trustee Kris Ruch- Treasurer Others present: A. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS Streetar called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Duffy, Hornung, Streetar, Price and Will present. B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE C. CITIZENS PARTICIPATION D. ANNOUNCEMENTS E. PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS AND STAFF REPORTS 1. Administrator Leonard and present Department Heads gave a summary of the weekly report along with some updates from County Board members. F. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the following Village Board Meeting: 10/07/2024. 2. Approve invoices and authorize checks to be drawn on the respective funds as indicated. 3. Approve the following operator licenses: Thomas Kroeze-Permanent-GPM Jonathan Galle-Permanent-GPM Investments 917 Fraser Lane 1210 Magnolia Avenu Waupun, WI Oshkosh, WI Daniel Salaja-Permanent- R-Store Sarah Schaeffer-Permanent-R-Store 1128 Wagoo Avenue 566 Bragg Street Oshkosh, WI Fond du Lac, WI Motion to approve by Will, second by Price. 5 ayes. Motion carries. G. ADMINISTRATIVE 1. The Board discussed the use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). Trustee Hornung presented a plan for holiday decorations at Yellowstone Park. Hornung explained that this would be commercial grade decorations that would last longer. Motion by Streetar to approve up to $5,000 of SLFRF funds to purchase new holiday decorations as proposed, second by Duffy. 5 ayes. Motion carries 2. The Board discussed allowing the placement of a nativity cut out at Yellowstone Park as part of the holiday decorations. Trustee Hornung would donate the cut out and place it there with the rest of the decorations. Trustee Will thought this shouldn’t be allowed and that he appreciated the offer from Hornung. The rest of the board thought as long as it was a part of all the decorations and other inquiries would also be considered, it was ok. Motion to approve the nativity cut out at Yellowstone Park by Hornung, second by Duffy. 4 ayes, 1 nay, motion carries. 3. The Board discussed and reviewed 2025 General Operating, Debt Service Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Spillman Library, Outdoor Rec., EMS Fund, and Tax Increment District #2 Budgets, and  setting the Tax Levy for the Fiscal Year. Leonard presented the final sections of the budget. The Board also discussed the EMS proposal to add 2 full-time staff to provide 3 on all shifts. The EMS budget also included increases to ambulance services. Duffy was in support of the proposed EMS budget. Will asked if the EMS has paid off the debt to the General Fund. Kris Ruch affirmed that at the end of 2025, they will have paid the General Fund back. Will asked about the option of adding 1 full-time member instead of 2. Flaherty thinks the 2 additional is more beneficial because all 3 shifts will have 3 staff members. Streetar asked what would happen if call volume falls off. Flaherty didn’t increase run volume for the proposal and he felt very comfortable with his future projections. Streetar asked that we continue to review call volumes and revenues to keep a pulse on the budget. Flaherty said they could definitely do that. The Board instructed Leonard to include the proposal for the budget adoption. Leonard proposed a 3% tax rate increase for the general fund which provided a balanced budget with a small surplus. Leonard mentioned that looking ahead to 2026 the Village could expect to see some increases in expenses for wages and the Library fund balance would be used up and potentially require additional tax levy. The increase of 3% would equate to $40/year for a $200,000 home and this is the same rate as 2023 as the Village had a 3% reduction for 2024. Hornung supported the proposal and liked the smaller step now to reduce the potential larger step next year. Duffy supported this also and thought the $40 increase for the average home was affordable. Price asked about the fund balances and Leonard explained the General Fund balance was healthy, and the Capital Fund balance would likely get utilized to assist or reduce future borrowings. Price agreed that the additional tax would help reduce future increases in some capacity and supports it. Will also supported the proposal, but thought we need to make sure we are budgeting only for 2025. The Board thanked staff for all the hard work and successful budget process. 4. The Board discussed the 5-year Capital improvement plan. Leonard explained that currently, the 2- year CIP (2025-2026) is about $400K over the goal for the 2-year borrow amount of $1.6M. Leonard also mentioned the Village does have a $1M capital fund balance. Leonard also mentioned some grant opportunities for some of the projects and that we will continue to focus on borrowing $1.6M for the two years. 5. The Board discussed the contract for the purchase of a replacement fire engine in 2029. Chief Flaherty explained that he had 3 proposals and all 3 were very close. The build time from Pierce would be about 53 months and needed to be ordered by Nov. 1 to avoid another increase. Will asked what would happen if it wasn’t completed on time. Flaherty was assured that it would be on time and that we wouldn’t take delivery early. Streetar asked about the ISO ratings and how it would potentially impact the Village if we kept the current engine past the NFPA standard and wondered how some other departments were able to use older equipment. Flaherty said ISO rating was primarily based off of the available fire flows, but it could have implications on the rating. Flaherty would prefer to follow NFPA standards so the equipment is reliable and ready for service. Duffy mentioned that the Board needs to consider what level of service and equipment needs we have here. Also, he mentioned that every year we wait the price goes up. Streetar asked when the next vehicle in the Fire Department would need replacement. Flaherty said the current 503 would need replacement in 2036-2041. Will asked what the difference between this proposal and the 2016 engine. Flaherty said it is 2 feet longer and will be able to have the extrication equipment added to it. The Board discussed the need for the truck in 2029 and asked Leonard about the funding. Leonard was confident that between capital fund balance and also moving other projects around, that the Village could still stay within their proposed Capital borrows in the future. Motion to approve the contract with Pierce for a new fire engine in 2029 for the amount of $1,225,000 by Duffy, second by Hornung. All ayes. Motion carries.  6. The Board discussed the purchase of 718 Wisconsin Avenue. Leonard mentioned that the old bank building was for sale and the Village had entered into an option on the property. After inspections, Leonard recommended purchasing the building for the contract amount of $100,000 and using available TID #2 funds for the purchase. Motion to approve the purchase of 718 Wisconsin Avenue for $100,000 using TID #2 funds by Hornung, second by Will. All ayes. Motion carries. H. UNFINISHED BUSINESS I. NEW BUSINESS L. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Price with a second by Duffy to adjourn at 8:12 P.M.- 5 ayes. Respectfully submitted, ______________________________ __________________________________ Michael Streetar, Village President Nick Leonard, Village Administrator