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South Range council approves preliminary budget, transfers $20,000 to garbage fund and OKs wage increases
Summary
At its Feb. 3 meeting, the Village of South Range Common Council approved a preliminary budget, transferred $20,000 from the general fund to the garbage fund, authorized targeted wage increases for public works staff, approved updates to water-billing software with online payments and scheduled a Feb. 24 special meeting.
The Village of South Range Common Council met on Feb. 3, 2022, and approved a preliminary budget, a $20,000 transfer from the general fund to the garbage fund, and a series of wage adjustments for village employees.
Village President George Eakin opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Trustees voted unanimously to accept a $2,000 offer on the village’s surplus garbage truck from Mr. Witz. The council then authorized a $7,000 survey and site plan by UPEA to address local drainage issues, after Trustee Justin Marier moved the item and Trustee Cody Bonini supported it.
The council approved updating the village’s water-billing software (El Dorado) and later voted to add online bill-pay capability. Trustee Justin Marier moved to approve the software update; Trustee Kerry Jutila moved to add online bill pay and Trustee Cody Bonini seconded. Both actions passed without recorded opposition.
On personnel matters, the council approved compensation changes for several employees. Trustee Kerry Jutila’s motion (supported by Trustee Justin Marier) established 3% increases for Craig Burkman and Kyle Raffaelli; no increase was provided at this time for Mike Derenzo unless he obtains a commercial driver’s license (CDL), in which case he would receive a $1.00 increase plus 3%. The motion also provided a 1.5% increase and a $50 monthly cell-phone stipend for Kristen Archambeau. Wage adjustments were scheduled to take effect the week of Feb. 7, 2022.
Trustees voted to approve the preliminary budget as presented; Trustee Paul Saaranen recorded an abstention on that item. The council also approved an MDOT resolution letter as presented and agreed to transfer $20,000 from the general fund to the garbage fund.
The village will post a vacancy notice for a public works employee; the council set the application deadline for Feb. 24, 2022, at 5 p.m. The council scheduled a special meeting for Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. to consider budget amendments and to review applicants for the public works vacancy.
Administrative notes included a clerk’s report listing hall rentals, a Portage Health Foundation grant amendment that Trustee Justin Marier agreed to complete, PPE distribution arranged through WUPHD, and a request for signatures on annual MDOT paperwork. Trustees approved payment of old bills totaling $80,410.62 and new bills totaling $24,165.27.
Trustees also noted local matters including zoning activity in Adams Township and recent calls involving the South Range Village Fire Department (one carbon-monoxide alarm and one mutual-aid call that was canceled). The meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m. Minutes were submitted by Kristen Archambeau.
Votes at a glance — key motions from the Feb. 3 meeting: • Accept garbage truck offer ($2,000): moved by Trustee Kerry Jutila; seconded by Trustee Justin Marier; yeas recorded: George Eakin, Therese Pararne (Parolini), Kerry Jutila, Cody Bonini, Justin Marier, Paul Saaranen; outcome: approved. • Drainage survey/site plan (UPEA, $7,000): moved by Trustee Justin Marier; seconded by Trustee Cody Bonini; outcome: approved. • Update water-billing software (El Dorado) and add online bill pay: moved by Trustee Justin Marier (software) and Trustee Kerry Jutila (online pay); outcome: approved. • Wage adjustments (specific staff increases and conditions for CDL-related increase): moved by Trustee Kerry Jutila; supported by Trustee Justin Marier; outcome: approved. • Approve preliminary budget: moved by Trustee Kerry Jutila; seconded by Trustee Therese Parolini; abstention by Trustee Paul Saaranen; outcome: approved. • MDOT resolution letter: moved by Trustee Kerry Jutila; seconded by Trustee Justin Marier; outcome: approved. • Transfer $20,000 from general fund to garbage fund: moved by Trustee Kerry Jutila; seconded by Trustee Cody Bonini; outcome: approved. • Post public works vacancy and set deadline (Feb. 24 at 5 p.m.): moved by Trustee Justin Marier; outcome: approved.
Next steps: The council will consider budget amendments and public-works applicants at a special meeting set for Feb. 24, 2022, at 6 p.m.
