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Soldiers Grove Village Board wraps up 2019
Soldiers Grove

SOLDIERS GROVE - AThe Soldiers Grove Village Board wrapped up calendar year 2019 at their meeting on Thursday, Dec. 5. There was a public hearing before the meeting started. After receiving no public input, the board acted in their regular meeting to approve the 2020 budget and tax levy ordinance.

The approved budget for 2020 calls for total revenues of $633,711, and total expenses in the same amount. 2019 budgeted revenues were $431,815, and projected revenues are $624,604. Budgeted 2019 expenses were $431,815, and projected are $624,604.

Budget footnote

In a footnote to the budget, it was noted that the tax levy approved for 2020 comes in a $25,725, an increase of less than one percent over the 2019 levy of $25,636. The village’s general obligation indebtedness is $0.

Water and Sewer budgets for the village were also included as footnotes in the budget. The 2020 budget for the water utility calls for $116,491 in revenues and $105,425 in expenses. For the sewer utility, $158,250 is budgeted for revenues and $156,851 for expenses.

2019 year end

Village Clerk Tammy Kepler was authorized to pay the year-end bills for the village. The board heard a CDC report that indicated that payments on both of the loans the village has made are current, and that room tax payments are also current. Country Gardens is the only business currently paying the room tax in the village.

Fire Department Chief Roger Olson told the board that the department would hold its annual Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Soldiers Grove American Legion. Members of the board were invited to attend. The dinner would be catered by Desperados Wonder Bar.

Public Works

Public Works Director Brian Copus reported that a meeting about the proposed joint sewer plant project was planned for Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.

Copus also requested that Kepler contact the Turnmire estate to notify them of the requirement to clean up the mattresses and other debris left sitting in the yard from a previous tenant of the property.

The board passed a motion to notify the Turnmire estate that, by village ordinance, they would have 15 days to clean up the property. In the motion, the board approved placing a dumpster at the site if necessary. The expense of the dumpster would be added to the Turnmire estate property tax bill if the dumpster is required.

Copus also reported that work on a new gazebo for the park has been completed. The new gazebo was built so that it can be moved if there is a threat of high water.

Other business

In other business, the board:

• heard that the fire department had responded to a silo fire that had been ongoing for several weeks

• agreed to sell two village lots to Ryan Campbell for $500. Campbell will build storage lockers on the lots.

• heard that Tanya Forkash and Morgan Murf had been appointed to the library board

• approved employee Christmas bonuses of $125

 • discussed applicants for a full-time public works position in closed session.