New Bremen council approves emergency depository resolution, designates fiscal officer as Sunshine Law designee and approves $1.78 million in expenditures

The Village of New Bremen council on March 23 approved several routine items and a set of administrative measures, including an emergency resolution setting the village’s depository arrangements and designation of the fiscal officer as the village designee for Sunshine Law and public-records training.

In roll-call business, Council member Larger moved to approve the agenda; Hurley seconded and the motion passed 6-0. The council approved minutes for Feb. 23 (motion by Larger, second by Condon; vote recorded 5 ayes with Hurley abstaining) and March 9 (motion by Larger, second by Hurley; vote recorded 4 ayes with Bertke and Maurer abstaining). Larger moved to approve the finance report and reported March expenditures of $1,780,709.36 and total receipts for February of $1,864,460.68; Bertke seconded and the motion passed 6-0.

On ordinance and resolution business, Council passed Third Reading Ordinance 2026-02-04 to designate Amy M. Speelman, the village fiscal officer, as the designee for public-records and Sunshine Law training (motion by Burnell; second by Maurer; vote 6-0). Council also heard that current depository contracts with First National Bank and Minster Bank expire March 31, 2026; after a motion to suspend the rule (moved by Bertke, seconded by Burnell) the council adopted Emergency Resolution 2026-03-04 to establish depository arrangements for the period 4/1/2026–3/31/2031 (motion by Condon; second by Maurer; vote 6-0).

Administrative reports and capital items were also reviewed. Village Administrator Richter told council the Second Street Reconstruction Project, originally planned for 2026, will be postponed to 2027 because CenterPoint cannot install required gas lines until 2027; Richter said the village is coordinating with OPWC to extend project funding to the later schedule. Richter also presented a second-reading resolution to replace a 2003 bucket truck with a Versalift model VST6000 (maximum work length 67 feet) at a purchase price of $365,670; the smaller bucket truck would remain in service. That purchase was at second reading and was not finalized at this meeting.

Council moved into and out of executive session to discuss personnel matters. At 7:00 p.m. Council member Larger moved to enter executive session to consider appointment, employment, dismissal, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee; Bertke seconded and the council voted 6-0 to enter. The council exited executive session at 7:28 p.m. (motion by Larger; second by Bertke; vote 6-0); the minutes record that no action was taken during executive session. Larger then moved to adjourn at 7:28 p.m.; Bertke seconded and the motion passed 6-0.

Votes at a glance: Larger — motion to approve meeting agenda (passed 6-0); Larger — approve Feb. 23 minutes (passed 5-0, Hurley abstaining); Larger — approve Mar. 9 minutes (passed 4-0, Bertke and Maurer abstaining); Larger — approve finance report and March expenditures of $1,780,709.36 (passed 6-0); Burnell/Maurer — Ordinance 2026-02-04 designating the fiscal officer as Sunshine Law/public-records designee (passed 6-0); Condon/Maurer — Emergency Resolution 2026-03-04 establishing depository arrangements 4/1/2026–3/31/2031 (passed 6-0).

The council did not finalize the bucket-truck purchase, the tax-exempt use and reimbursement policy (second reading), or the medical insurance renewal (first reading). Those items remain on a future agenda for final action.