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Freeburg board adopts Socket Fiber right-of-way, approves equipment purchases and reappointments
Summary
At its May 4 meeting, the Freeburg Village Board adopted a right-of-way permitting agreement with Socket Telecom (Socket Fiber), approved vendor quotes for electrical repairs and wire, authorized police vehicle purchases including a K-9 squad car, and confirmed a slate of 2026–2027 appointments and a new apprentice hire.
The Freeburg Village Board voted on May 4 to authorize a right-of-way permitting agreement with Socket Telecom, dba Socket Fiber, approved several vendor contracts and equipment purchases for village operations, and confirmed a series of 2026–2027 appointments and a new hire.
Mayor Seth Speiser opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. and the board first approved the minutes of the April 20, 2026 meeting. Trustee Tom Carpenter, chair of the Finance Committee, summarized committee business and Village Administrator Matt Trout said the year-to-date income statement had been emailed to trustees and that the village will keep the insurance stability fund active for transfers.
The board approved a Fletcher-Reinhardt quote for breaker repairs in the amount of $17,710.00 (motion by Trustee Tom Carpenter; second by Trustee James (Mike) Blaies; roll call recorded as 6 ayes, 0 nays). The board also approved purchasing 5,000 ft of wire from the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives for $17,000 (same mover/second; roll call 6–0).
The board adopted Resolution No. 25-04 authorizing the mayor to execute a right-of-way permitting agreement with Socket Telecom, dba Socket Fiber (motion by Trustee Ramon Matchett, Jr.; second by Trustee Dana Miller; roll call 6–0). The resolution enables the village to proceed with permitting for fiber installation under the terms of the agreement presented at the meeting.
Trustees approved a slate of annual appointments for 2026–2027: Bryan Vogel as village treasurer (motion by Trustee Tom Carpenter; second by Trustee Ramon Matchett, Jr.; roll call 6–0); Matt Trout as village administrator (motion by Trustee James (Mike) Blaies; second by Trustee Dana Miller; roll call 6–0); Chris Remick as public works director (motion by Trustee Ramon Matchett, Jr.; second by Trustee Robert (Bob) Kaiser; roll call 6–0); Mike Schutzenhofer as chief of police (motion by Trustee Elizabeth (Lisa) Meehling; second by Trustee James (Mike) Blaies; roll call 6–0); and Gene Kramer as ESDA coordinator (motion by Trustee Elizabeth (Lisa) Meehling; second by Trustee Dana Miller; roll call 6–0). The board also reappointed KeckBrown P.C. as village attorney, confirmed Tim Pruett as village engineer/zoning administrator, and appointed Terry Gamblin to the Combined Planning and Zoning Board (motions and roll-call approvals recorded during the meeting).
In Personnel and Public Safety business, Chief of Police Mike Schutzenhofer summarized 133 calls since the previous committee meeting. The council approved Project Request #1 to purchase a K-9 squad car from Morrow Brothers for $74,787 (motion by Trustee Elizabeth (Lisa) Meehling; second by Trustee James (Mike) Blaies; roll call 6–0). It also approved Project Request #2 to purchase a squad car for $59,350 from Morrow Brothers and three radios and an antenna for $3,215 from Used Two Way Radios (motion and second; roll call 6–0).
The board voted to hire Jack Mayer as an apprentice lineman (motion by Trustee Elizabeth (Lisa) Meehling; second by Trustee James (Mike) Blaies; roll call 6–0). Village Administrator Matt Trout also noted that Haleigh Borger will begin work Wednesday as the utility billing clerk.
The meeting closed with trustees and staff offering brief congratulatory remarks to the appointees and the new hire. The board adjourned at 8:00 p.m.; the next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
