Wyanet's tax levy
WYANET – After much discussion and disagreement, the Wyanet Village Board finally decided on its 2013 tax levy.
Four different motions were made before the board agreed to keep the levy the same as in 2012 which was $112,355. The final vote was 4 to 1 with Trustee Tom Smith casting the only no vote.
The board could have raised the levy by up to 4.98 percent for a total up to $117,958, but the board could not agree on an amount. Trustee Marilyn Johnson explained why she did not want to raise taxes, saying, “We, as a board, need to learn to make cuts and save money instead of spend, spend, spend.”
Trustee Tom Odell was pleased to announce the referendum for electric aggregation of energy passed with a vote of 267 to 130. He said 67.3 percent of those who voted chose to support the aggregation of energy by Integrys Energy. Odell was quick to thank his fellow board members for their support and hard work. He also commended Bruce Yates and Greg Johnson for their work on this committee. The board approved a Plan of Operation and Governances, which outlines all the information residents need to understand the aggregation. All residents should receive a letter in January that lists the price of their energy and also gives them the right to opt out. Residents should receive their first bill with the new rates in February if they do not choose to opt out.
The week after Thanksgiving, Hoerr Construction will begin a sewer project which is funded by a CDAP grant. Workers will begin boring under the railroad tracks on Walnut Street and working on the cleaning and lining of approximately 6,000 feet of sewer. Village President Bruce Hand explained they are able to line 2,000 more feet of sewer than was originally planned due to saving money in other aspects of the project. Walnut Street will be closed during construction.
Odell also informed the board its property insurance will be increasing by $4,768 a year. The price increase is due to increases in values of properties after an audit by the insurance underwriter. Odell suggested a meeting with Building and Equipment Committee Chairman John Swarczewski to discuss estimates of village property.
In other business:
• Rita Mongan of Modern Woodmen of America contacted the board. The company has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to provide free trees to cities. The board is interested in several trees for the park.
• The board approved zoning variation requests for Jeffery DeSplinter and Kevin Sights. Both requests will be sent to the county for consideration.
• Police Chief Todd Marquis is working on an ATV ordinance that he will present at December’s meeting for the board to discuss.
The next meeting of the Wyanet Village Board is Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. in the village hall. Please note the earlier meeting time for this month.
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