Board members present: Bill Hamm, Don Dohrwardt, Chris Kunstmann, Bruce Laabs, Larry Palm, Joe Short, and Larry Waskiewicz. Staff members present: Allen Neumann and Jo Ann Wagner. Also present: Rodney and Jennifer Clark, Frank and Laurie Bauer, Ed Oehme, and Mark Jaeger.

The public hearing on the proposed 2006 budgets was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Hamm. The proposed levy rate increase is 16.75%. This will increase taxes by $190.30 on a house assessed at $150,000. A portion of the increase is because of a mistake by the assessor in reporting the value of the tax incremental district in 2004. Rodney Clark, Jennifer Clark and Ed Oehme spoke at the public hearing. Areas of concern included why the tax increased so much, was the assessor being held accountable for the mistake, how does Fredonia’s tax rate compare to other communities, what type of planning is being done for the future and what types of cuts could be made to the budget. Board members noted that the tax rate has been kept low for many years and projects and equipment purchases have been put off. The proposed budget includes reconstruction of a portion of St. Rose Avenue and construction of Martin Avenue as another east/west road in the village.

The public hearing was adjourned and The regular village board meeting was called to order at 7:48 p.m.

Minutes of the October 20, 2005 village board meeting were approved as presented on a MOTION by Waskiewicz, seconded by Short, and carried.

The General Fund, Water and Sewer bills were approved for payment as presented on a MOTION by Waskiewicz, seconded by Short, and carried.

Kunstmann requested that the Fire Department budget for 2006 be voted on separately. A MOTION was made by Dohrwardt, seconded by Short, to approved the Fire Department budget for 2006 as presented and recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion carried with Kunstmann recused.

The proposed budgets as recommended by the Finance Committee establishes a tax levy of $676,598. Dohrwardt proposed four changes to the budget:

Making these changes would result in a decrease to the tax levy of $50,258. This would reduce the proposed 16.75% levy increase to just over 8% and reduce the proposed tax on a $150,000 house by $75. All projects reasonably expected to be completed in 2006 are still in the budget.

Discussion followed on the proposed changes:

After further discussion a MOTION was made by Kunstmann, seconded by Waskiewicz, to approve the 2006 general fund, debt service, capital, water, sewer and T.I.D. budgets as presented. Dohrwardt moved to amend the budget by the four items submitted reducing the levy by $50,258. Three times a second was requested and not received. Motion to amend budget by $50,258 failed for lack of a second. Hamm stated he was concerned with parking if an additional soccer field is added. He noted that the soccer field could still be constructed with park impact fees instead of the tax levy. A MOTION was made by Laabs, seconded by Waskiewicz, to amend the proposed budget to exclude $15,000 for the second soccer field, thereby reducing the tax levy from $676,598 to $661,598. Motion carried with Kunstmann opposed. Motion then carried to approve the proposed 2006 budgets as amended with Kunstmann, Laabs, Palm, Short and Waskiewicz voting aye and Dohrwardt and Hamm voting nay.

Ordinance No. 2005-13 increasing the 2005 budget for the Fire Department by $4,750 was adopted on a MOTION by Waskiewicz, seconded by Dohrwardt, and carried with Kunstmann abstaining.

Bid opening will be December 8, 2005 at the Fredonia Village Hall. Language has been added to the bid notice noting that this is an LRIP funded project. The consensus of the board is to add an option allowing the project to be completed anytime in 2006 rather than during June, July and August.

The memo from the village marshal regarding the Mid-Moraine Municipal Court was reviewed. More information will be available in December.

A MOTION was made by Short to table discussion on Celebrate Fredonia. He then rescinded his motion. Kunstmann stated that the Parks Committee will be meeting next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and this will be first on the agenda. Members of the Lions Club and other groups will be invited to attend.

A MOTION was made by Short, seconded by Dohrwardt, to remove the assessor contract for 2006 from the table. Motion carried. Short asked if we go with a different assessor if we have the information available – is the information ours? Hamm noted that we should have each assessor meet with either the village board or a committee to discuss their proposal. Short stated the committee also needs to discuss if there are any legal repercussions. Palm noted that we have had the same assessor for many years and this was the first problem we had.

A MOTION was made by Waskiewicz, seconded by Short, to return to agenda item 6. Motion carried.

A MOTION was made by Waskiewicz, seconded by Short, to have the Finance Committee meet to discuss the underreporting of the tax increment value by the assessor to determine what happened, why and the ramifications of it, how it can be fixed and if it is covered by insurance or other possible liability. Motion carried.

A MOTION was made by Short, seconded by Waskiewicz to table the assessor contract. Short then rescinded the motion and this was agreed to by Waskiewicz. Hamm questioned if we want to meet with the assessors before a contract is approved. A MOTION was made by Waskiewicz, seconded by Short, to have the Finance Committee interview the potential candidates for assessor and make a recommendation to the village board. Motion carried.

A MOTION was made by Waskiewicz, seconded by Dohrwardt, to send to the Public Works Committee for evaluation the possible outsourcing of branch chipping and grass cutting with a report to the village board by the end of February 2006. Motion carried.

EMPLOYEE STAFFING: Neumann reported that the employment ads have been placed in the paper. Temporary help has been sporadic. A MOTION was made by Waskiewicz, seconded by Short, to have the Director of Public Works review the job applications already received and if possible employ one temporary person, and if no good candidates can make a 40 hour per week commitment to contract with SEEK (with approval from the village president and chairperson of Personnel Committee for a total dollar amount allowed) by Wednesday of next week for the temporary position. Motion carried.

LRIP: A MOTION was made by Dohrwardt, seconded by Palm, to designate the Director of Public Works as the designee for the LRIP application. Motion carried.

Correspondence received include the report from the Clerk-Treasurer, a letter from the Public Service Commission approving the water rate increase effective December 30, 2005, and a notice of the Newburg Plan Commission meeting on November 3, 2005.

Waskiewicz requested:

Short requested:

Hamm requested:

Kunstmann requested:

Dohrwardt noted that the county Finance Director is checking to see if the village can recoup the gas tax for all our vehicles.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. on a MOTION by Dohrwardt, seconded by Short, and carried.