11/27/2023

COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS November 27, 2023, 6:00 p.m. Budget Hearing and Special Council Meeting Mayor Jeff Hauser, Presiding Present: House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Ben Pierce, Trempealeau County Times; and Clerk/Treasurer Witte Absent: Morris, Sendelbach The budget hearing was called to order at 6:00 p.m. No members of the public were present to speak on the 2024 proposed budgets. The hearing was closed at 6:01 p.m. The special council meeting was then called to order. Council Member Johnson moved to approve the 2024 Electric Utility Budget. Council Member House seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 Included is a truck that is currently on order and should be delivered in 2024, purchased with a loan from the Development Account and paid over a 7-year period. Council Member Juresh moved to approve the 2024 Water Utility Budget. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 The following items are included in the 2024 operating budget: a new handheld for installing water meters (cost shared with the sewer utility); completion of a pilot study to look at plate settlers, reducing the amount of water used to complete the backwash process, thus reducing chemical charges and the sewer charge paid by the water utility; replacement of vents on two of the water towers as required by the DNR; installation of safety cables on two of the water towers as required by the DNR; resealing of the 350,000 gallon reservoir; and touch up rust spots on the roof of both the 125,000 and 500,000 gallon reservoirs. The following are items to be completed in 2024 with the utility borrowing the funds: painting the inside of the 125,000 gallon and 500,000 gallon reservoirs. Council Member Johnson moved to approve the 2024 Sewer Utility Budget. Council Member House seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 The following items are included in the 2024 operating budget: a new handheld for installing water meters (cost shared with the water utility); and completion of a facility plan that will look twenty years into the future and at the options we have to meet DNR imposed limits, taking into account any cost-effective alternatives. Council Member Juresh moved to approve the 2024 General Fund Budget. Council Member Mathson seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 Included in the 2024 budget for the general fund as capital outlay items to be borrowed for is the purchase of the following: a new diving board and vacuum for the Whitehall Aquatic Center; the purchase of a new police squad (Dodge Durango); the purchase of a new ½ ton Ford F150 to replace a current 2005 truck; and a pro-turn mower for the parks and cemetery. The purchase of a new backhoe is also included as a capital outlay with the cost allocated to the electric, water and sewer utilities as well as the general fund. The uniform allowance for the police department will increase from $600 per year to $650.00 per year. The salary for the mayor will increase to $5,000 per year, the council president to $3,700 per year and alderpersons to $3,600 per year. The increase in salary would not become effective until each member’s new term begins. Council Member House moved to approve the 2024 TID #2 Budget. Council Member Juresh seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 Council Member Mathson moved to approve the 2024 TID #3 Budget. Council Member House seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 Council Member Johnson moved to approve the 2024 Development Fund Budget. Council Member Juresh seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 The remaining $16,750 of ARPA Funds will be spent in 2024. A loan will be provided to the Whitehall Electric Utility for the purchase of a new truck, upon delivery, which is expected in the fall of 2024. The 2024 approved budgets contain the following wage increases effective January 1st, 2024, as follows with no change in insurance benefits: Electric Utility $4.00 Director of Public Works $1.57 Assistant Public Works Director $1.25 Operators $ .52 to $2.00 Laborer (part-time) $2.00 Brush Site Attendant $2.00 Police Chief $1.18 Officers (full-time) $1.92 Officers (part-time) $1.00 Police on call $3.00 Clerk-Treasurer $1.57 Deputy Clerk-Treasurer $1.25 Schedule change for employees – the year-round schedule will be: Each week the electric, public works and office staff will designate one employee to work Monday through Friday – eight hours per day. Other employees in that same department may work four nine-hour days Monday through Thursday and four hours on Friday. Council Member Mathson moved to approve an application for a Temporary Class “B” Retailer’s License for the Friends of the Whitehall Public Library for an Art Sale on December 1st, 2023, at 36351 Main Street. Council Member house seconded, and the motion carried on a voice vote as follows: Ayes – House, Johnson, Juresh, Mathson Nays – 0 On motion by Council Member Mathson and seconded by House, the Council moved to adjourn at 6:22 p.m. The foregoing reports, resolutions, motions, These minutes are the true and correct original ordinances, etc. contained in this are and consist of three pages. herewith approved by the undersigned. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Jeff Hauser, Mayor Karen Witte, City Clerk/Treasurer