Vanlue council approves five-year well-field lease, adopts county solid-waste fee changes

Vanlue Village Council on Dec. 23 approved a five‑year lease for the village well field and adopted a county solid-waste fee schedule update, while completing routine financial business.

Mayor Robert Wells called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and council approved the Nov. 25, 2024 minutes and the meeting agenda. Council approved recurring expenditures with two abstentions — Council members Becky Nye and Jeri Wenger abstained because of payroll conflicts related to Robert Wenger and John Nye — and approved non‑recurring November bills and the financial statements.

The council approved Resolution 06‑2024, proposed modifications to Hancock County solid‑waste disposal rates and charges, by a 6‑0 vote. In separate action, council accepted the single well‑field bid received: Dennis Altvater offered $3,025 per year for a five‑year term. The motion to award the lease passed 6‑0 after a motion by Becky Nye and a second by Amy Wiseley.

Village Administrator Leo Hendricks told council a resident had asked what would happen if a minimum bid were not met; he said the village would re‑advertise the lease in local newspapers. Council also set the next meeting for Jan. 27, 2025 at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

The motions and vote tallies recorded in the minutes: minutes approval (6‑0), agenda acceptance (6‑0), recurring expenditures approval (4‑0 with two abstentions by Nye and J. Wenger), non‑recurring bills (5‑0), acceptance of financial documents (6‑0), Resolution 06‑2024 adoption (6‑0), and approval of the well‑field lease (6‑0).