Cadott Village Board; Referendum for street maintenance heading for April vote
By Julia Wolf
The Cadott Village Board approved moving forward with a $125,000 referendum, during a special meeting Jan. 9, to help with the cost of street maintenance projects.
Board members were able to see the tax impact of a $125,000 referendum. The allowable levy before a referendum is $630,710. The referendum would be a 19.8 percent increase to the levy, with the levy after a referendum, coming to $755,710.
“It’ll be an ongoing one,” said clerk Sandy Buetow, who says the levy would be $125,000 extra each year, starting in 2024, if the referendum passes.
The breakdown for residents on a $125,000, is $8.93, per thousand dollars of assessed property value. That means those with $100,000 in assessed value, would see a $147 increase.
“Are you comfortable with how this is all proceeding?” asked Randy Kuehni, board member. “I don’t want this a rush job.”
Buetow says that is why they called Quarles & Brady, a law firm, and feels more comfortable with it, after talking to them. Anson Albarado, board president, says it only seems rushed, because of the timeline for when everything needs to be published.
Albarado says the board will also probably want to plan to hold public hearings, so members of the public can have their questions about the referendum answered.
“I don’t like seeing a tax increase...and I realize, we don’t have any money,” said Bart Chapek, board member. “We need to get some more revenue.”
Board member Eric Weiland says he thinks it is a nobrainer to try for the referendum.
“I think if people want better roads, want better services of different things, they need to realize we need to pay for it,” said Weiland.
Board members approved moving forward with putting a $125,000 referendum question on the ballot for the April election.
Albarado also says he asked if building fund money can be used for roads. Buetow says she heard back that the money can be used for roads, as long as it wasn’t slated for something else.
Upcoming street maintenance was also the topic of the regular board meeting held Jan. 3.
Brian Chapman, Cedar Corp., was on-hand to talk about BIL program funding for Tower Drive, Dina Court and Lavorata Road. He says the village received an email in mid-December, that the grant is available, after another municipality passed up the funds.
Chapman says the maximum amount the village is eligible for through the 80/20 grant, is $379,588.
“That project, in our typical engineered estimates, we’ve got that project at about $400,000,” said Chapman.
However, the program requires the project to go through the DOT bidding process, which adds about 20 percent on top of those estimates. Chapman says the DOT estimate for construction and engineering is $558,293, which he noted is a significant difference.
The village would be responsible for about $180,000, if the project bids at the DOT estimates. Chapman says they are very conservative on their estimates and thinks the projects will come in lower.
Albarado asked if the project would be slated for work in 2025. Chapman says it is for 2025 or 2026.
“I have some other ideas of projects for this year and next year, and I don’t want to have all of these projects in the same year,” said Albarado.
Albarado also said he doesn’t think the village would be able to get that project done for less cost any other way.
Chapek says the Tower Drive, Dina Court and Lavorata Road project is not the most pressing one on their list, and asked if there is a possibility of switching projects.
“It doesn’t hurt to ask,” said Chapman, who said he would follow up on the question.
Board members voted to pursue the grant, for whichever project they can get it.
During the special meeting, Albarado reported they heard back from Chapman on potentially switching the BIL grant project, where they learned the switch is not possible.
Board members also approved timelines for upcoming road projects they intend to do, so engineers can begin planning for the work. The list started with Brown Street in 2023.
“We can do it this year, and not borrow any money,” said Albarado, since they received clarification that they can use some of the building fund for the project.
Next on the list are County Hwy. X and State Hwy. 27 in 2024, and Tower Drive, Dina Court and Lavorata Road, in 2025 or 2026.
An ordinance on board meetings and remote participation was also approved, during the regular meeting. Albarado says the remote participation does not apply to snowbirds, who are gone for longer periods of time, and it is frowned on to call in for convenience from home. He says it could be nice for those on a vacation or in the case of Weiland, would allow him to listen in from work if he is not out on a call.
After voting to suspend the second reading of the ordinance, board members approved the ordinance on remote participation.
As a reminder to the public, village ordinance requires residents to clear sidewalks of snow within 24 hours of snowfall, or they may be ticketed by the police department.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 23, at 6:30 p.m.
