Village Board

Village of Withee Phone: 715.229.4319 Fax: 715.229.4451 511 Division * P.O. Box A * Withee, Wisconsin 54498 The Withee Village Board met on October 24, 2022, at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, Conference Room for a Budget Meeting. ROLL CALL President Lindgren called the meeting to order. Roll call was answered by Trustees Lindgren, Shelton, Gehrke, Frankewicz, and Kalepp. Clerk Niemi recorded the meeting. Also, in attendance were DPW Troy Hatlestad and Library Director, Brandon Hardin. LIBRARY BUDGET PRESENTATION Hardin presented the 2023 budget for the Withee Public Library. The library has returned to regular hours, offering the latest books and movies. LEGO club, activity kits, kid games, magician performance, and movie showings are some of the activities offered. The county has made cuts and will be giving the library about $7,000 less from the county budget. He said they plan to use 2022 carryover funds, Jean Brown Memorial book funds, some library savings, and the Village appropriation at the same amount to work for their budget. USDA RECONNECT BROADBAND GRANT SUPPORT Clark County is applying for a grant to expand broadband to the rural area in the Northeast corner of Clark County. A Frankewicz/Kalepp motion to sign the USDA ReConnect broadband grant support letter carried with all ayes. GARBAGE AND RECYCLING RATE INCREASE FOR RESIDENTS IN 2023 Waste Management increased the garbage and recycling rate by three percent for 2023 which is $11.97 per month per residence. In the past, the recycling grant has been used to offset some of the cost to the residents. However, due to the increase in fuel costs, the Village has been paying a fuel surcharge and may have to continue paying the fuel surcharge in 2023. A Gehrke /Shelton motion to increase the garbage and recycling fee to $11.97 per month per residence effective January 1, 2023, carried with all ayes. REVIEW OF 2023 BUDGET The board reviewed the budget proposal for the year 2023. The increase for the tax levy this year will be .10% for net new construction. TIF amounts are not known yet. Elections were decreased due to two elections in 2023. The assessor cost is the average price over the next three years for the revalue scheduled for 2024. Insurance premiums are predicted to increase about $3500. Office expenses increased as the various software fees increased. Cemetery apportionment increased last year from $5 to $6/resident. The police line is unchanged until the next police meeting when the utilities and rent will be included and increase the amount. The fire assessment increased due to wage and fuel increases. The health insurance was increased 6% until the new rates are released and the wages for the clerk and DPW were put at a 2% increase. The pension percentage increased from 13% to 13.6%. The budget continues the trend of setting aside monies into the savings accounts for the fire department, police, ballpark repairs, and Progress Street development. Although there won’t be as much going into savings because of paying off the Industrial Park. The debt service is increased due to paying off the Industrial Park loan in 2023. Money was added to engineering savings for either updating the comprehensive plan or paying the TID #1 termination costs. Monies were set aside in preparation to pay the MSA consultant to work on our behalf in pursuit of the special legislation for TID#1. DPW Hatlestad mentioned that the streets are in very good condition, so can budget less for street expenses and get by with chip sealing which extends the life of the street approximately five years. He would plan to overlay a street every other year instead of every year. Hatlestad also mentioned the great condition of our equipment. He has ordered the LED bulbs for the Focus on Energy program for the municipal building that can be inserted and then can be wired in when the ballast fails. A Shelton/Kalepp motion to accept the proposed 2023 budget carried with all ayes. CLOSED SESSION PER §Ch. 19.85 (1)(c) CONSIDERING EMPLOYMENT, PROMOTION, COMPENSATION OR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION DATA OF ANY PUBLIC EMPLOYEE A Kalepp/Frankewicz motion to convene into closed session at 6:32 p.m. carried with all ayes. A Kalepp/Shelton motion to reconvene into open session at 6:45 p.m. carried with all ayes. A Kalepp/Frankewicz motion to approve a 9% wage increase for Troy Hatlestad, a 3% wage increase for Ellen Niemi, and a 3% wage increase for the David Laabs effective January 1, 2023, carried with all ayes. NEXT BUDGET MEETING A Kalepp/Frankewicz motion to set the next budget meeting for November 7th at 6 p.m. and the budget hearing for November 30th at 7 p.m. carried with all ayes. A Kalepp/Shelton motion to adjourn at 6:54 p.m. carried with all ayes. Ellen Niemi Village Clerk