State aid boost helps keep Rib Lake levy steady for 2024

The Rib Lake Village board discussed the 2024 budget at their board meeting on October 11. President Bill Schreiner said, “Overall the budget is looking good.” Schreiner also added, “the extra $60,000 the state gave us really helped.”

The total amount needed from the 2023 tax levy is $204,528 in the proposed budget. This is an increase of $1,509 compared to last year’s levy. The board approved the budget summary for publication and public meeting. The public meeting is scheduled to take place during the next board meeting on November 8th. The board meeting will start at its usual time at 6:30 p.m., but the public meeting regarding the budget is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

The village website was also on the agenda to discuss during the meeting. Village Clerk Kristen Lueck said that, “the website is ten years old and the coding is outdated.” She was quoted to update the website would cost between $3,000$5,000, depending on any improvements that the village would possibly want to make to the website. Lueck would also be getting access to some of the social media pages, so that it is not such a hassle to post something. Currently, Lueck has to email it to a third party who then creates the post. Schreiner asked, “could we wait until after the first of the year and take it out of the tourism budget?” He explained that there is not a lot of room in the tourism budget for the 2023 year because of different projects in the village this year, but there is room in the 2024 budget. President Schreiner said that his thinking is that since the end of the year is so close, it would make sense to wait until 2024 to redesign the website. All of the board members were in agreement that they would like to look at a redesign of the website after the first of the year.

A village resident recently spoke with President Schreiner about a dead tree that was near his property, but on the village right of way on Lakeshore Drive in Rib Lake. President Schreiner told the board that he did measure the tree’s location from the center of the road and it was on the Village’s right of way, meaning that it was their responsibility to take it down. The board agreed that it was the village’s responsibility and that the tree should be cut down.

Lakeview Park

Trustee Cliff Mann gave an update to the board on the Parks, Lake and Rec. Department. He stated, “Water will be turned off at the park soon. But that they need to pick a date.” Mann continued, “Money coming in has been outstanding, and that he has been hearing a lot of good things about the park.”

Rib Lake receives AED

Trustee Russ Bullis gave an update on the Fire and Recycling Department. He told the board that the Taylor County Health Department is donating an AED to the village. He explained that at a recent County Fire commission meeting, Taylor County Health Officer, Michelle Cahoon asked if any of the departments had a use for an AED. Bullis expressed interest for the village and he received a call last week from Cahoon stating that the village would be receiving the AED. Bullis explained, “It is going to be ours to use as we see fit.” It was decided that they would be placing the AED in the Ice Age Pavillion for the winter, and then revisit the AED’s location in the spring.