Cadott Village Board; Bond sale frees up borrowing capacity

Sean Partridge shared quotes for a five-year garbage and recycling contract, through GFL Garbage Services, during a regular Cadott Village Board meeting Aug. 21. Board members will see proposals from another company at a future meeting, before making a decision. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

Multiple months of efforts came to a close, Aug. 21, as the Cadott Village Board approved a resolution, during their regular meeting, to authorize the issuance and sale of $1.485 million in electric system revenue refunding bonds to Baird.

Josh Low, Ehlers, gave a brief history of the process to the board, reminding them that the purpose of the work was to shift general obligation debt to electric revenue debt, to free up the village’s borrowing capacity for future roads projects.

Low delivered the results of the electric revenue bond sale, after they received bids earlier in the day. He says the lowest bid they received was from Baird, at 4.45 percent, which was lower than the estimates in the pre-sale report. They also received an additional bid from Northland Securities, Inc.

“So, you’re definitely in good shape to fund this through your existing revenue charges,” said Low. “No need to change rates or anything like that.”

A public hearing on a Floodplain Ordinance, was also held during the meeting.

Clerk April Bruhn says the changes to the ordinance were around public safety, and had to align with the DNR and FEMA’s requirements.

“The DNR did it,” said Bruhn. “They actually did the changes, according to what had to be changed.”

During the public hearing on the Floodplain Ordinance, resident Mary Jo Bowe said she would like to see an updated map. Bruhn says she plans to request an updated map and will let Bowe know when it is available.

Following the public hearing and a reading of the Floodplain Ordinance, by title, board members voted to suspend the second reading and approve the ordinance.

As a notice to the public, the next Cadott Village Board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 5, because of the Labor Day holiday.

The board also approved Matt Gindt attending two wastewater exams.

“That’s to get him fully certified,” said village president Randy Kuehni.

Board member Terry Licht says his concern is that employees could take those certifications and go anywhere with them. For the certifications he needs for his job, Licht says he pays for certifications that accentuate his wage himself, since they are for his personal development.

“Something to consider down the road,” said Licht. Bart Chapek, board member, says he thinks it is in their best interest to have more than one person certified, so he thinks it is fine to pay for the certifications, as they have in the past.

Kuehni suggested they could also look into something, where employees would have to stay a set number of years, after earning a certification paid for by the village.

Sean Partridge, GFL Garbage Services, was also on hand during the meeting, to show the board quotes for village residents, based on a five-year agreement. One option presented, was to bill recycling to the village and trash to the resident. The second option was to bill the trash and recycling to the resident, and the third option was to bill both services to the village. The prices for each of the options, along with a fuel surcharge that begins at $4.25, per gallon, and a 4 percent CPI increase, each year, were included, and board members were given time to ask questions.

Bruhn says, right now, the village is billed for recycling, while residents are billed for trash, though the drive-by fee is always on residents’ bills.

Waste Management is coming to a future meeting, to share their quotes.

The board will compare the options, after they see all the proposals.

Chapek also says he has heard from people who live near the new A& W, that people do not seem to realize that is a dead end street, and turn around in their driveways. He says those people were wondering if another dead end street sign could be put in just past A& W. Bruhn says she can bring the issue up with the public works department.

Licht also shared information that the Lions plan to build a grill and storage shed on the east side of Riverview Park, hopefully, this fall.

Licht also suggested the Park Committee revisit the topic of pickleball courts again.

Kuehni also reported he and director of public works Jeremy Kenealy met with a representative of the railroad. The railroad is redoing the Poplar Street crossing sometime before it freezes over and they will notify the village when that is scheduled to happen.

“That street will be closed from [County Hwy.] X to Front Street, when they do do it,” said Kuehni.