Post Messenger Recorder -

The New Glarus Village Board met on September 3rd; all trustees were in attendance. The meeting was held in the Community Room due to the large number of attendees.

The board approved spending an estimated $125,000 after a break in the sanitary main on 2nd Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue was discovered during the televising of sanitary mains. Mandress Excavation will be installing a new sewer main which will consist of increasing the existing 8-inch sanitary sewer main to a new 10-inch sanitary sewer main. The existing sanitary sewer lateral would be reconnected to the new main. A new sanitary sewer manhole would be installed at the 2nd Street and 4th Avenue intersection. The existing asphalt pavement would be removed on 2nd Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue. Finally, new asphalt will be placed on 2nd Street. The project will be funded by remaining funds from the 3rd Avenue project, as well as funds from the wastewater lateral replacement fund.

During the Public Comment section, a number of residents stepped forward to show their support for the Library’s request for $1.5 million towards the library facility. Although one audience opposed the idea, the majority approved of it.

Linda Hiland, New Glarus Library Board President, gave a brief presentation regarding their request for commitment of $1.5 million toward funding a new estimated $3.5 million library facility. She noted that as building costs continue to rise each year, a commitment is needed as soon as possible and will restore faith in the project and help the fundraising to move forward. Her presentation included wording that said if donations do not reach the desired level, the library will adjust their plans. Dave Ferris of Ehlers and Associates gave a brief presentation regarding borrowing for the library project, comparing debt limit calculations and debt capacity at various levels of borrowing.

During the discussion, Trustee Tammy Newberry questioned the ability of the village to fund a crisis should the village borrow $1.5 million for a library, bringing the village above its self-imposed debt limit. Trustee Mike Ganshert noted that the village has already committed to $1 million in funding, and there is another $1 million to be raised. Discussion led to the question of whether the resolution still stands for the initial $1 million commitment. Village Administrator Drake Daily said that he would need to research the minutes to see if that $1 million commitment was still applicable. Village President Roger Truttmann said that regardless, the village has always budgeted for $1 million for project funding. Trustee Petra Streiff stated that the library would be an asset to the community, and that there is heavy lifting to raise another $1 million but added that the library board will adjust plans if fundraising falls short.

Streiff made a motion to approve the resolution to commit to the Library Expansion Project with the $1.5 million-dollar request. However, the motion failed due to lack of a second. Trustee Chuck Phillipson said that while he is in favor of the library, he wants to know the financial impact to village property taxpayers if the village commitment is increased by $500,000. He pointed out that he was concerned about increased growth on the levy limit, as he doesn’t foresee active growth in the village.

Streiff wondered that if with a future TID closing, how would that impact financials in the future? Phillipson again noted that he wants to see the impact on property taxes for a typical home in the village, being responsible to the taxpayers, and would then seek a vote after he has all information.

Trustee Peg Kruse added that she would like to know if an operational budget for the new building can be supported by the current budget? She indicated that the impact is always on the same group of people, that being property taxpayers, and there is no expansion in the village currently.

It was decided that there would be a resolution placed on the agenda for the next Village Board meeting on September 17, 2019. Daily will provide additional information that had been requested by the board members.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.