New Berlin board approves ordinance proposing up to $1.5 million in sewage revenue bonds

The Village of New Berlin Board approved Ordinance 2025-04 on Feb. 24, 2025, proposing the issuance of sewage revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1.5 million to defray the cost of acquiring and constructing improvements to the village sewage system.

Trustee Stephen Knox moved the ordinance, and Trustee Cindy Morris seconded. The motion passed with four yes votes — Trustee Cindy Morris, Trustee Stephen Knox, Trustee Sue Spalding and President Krall — and three trustees absent (Chris Neuman, Greg Lokaitis and Stephanie Synder). The meeting record notes the board took the vote after public comment and recorded the outcome as "Motion carries." The ordinance is listed as Ordinance 2025-04 on the meeting record.

Public comments at the meeting raised concerns about the village's prior expenditures on a village Internet installation and questioned whether a bond for a lift station pump replacement was necessary. The comment section noted that pumps can be rebuilt, that the pump in question had been rebuilt previously and is over 40 years old. The board's formal action on Ordinance 2025-04 was recorded separately from public comment; the record does not show a detailed response to the specific budget concerns raised by audience members.

The board's vote authorizes the ordinance proposing the bond issuance; it does not, in the meeting record, finalize sale terms, financing schedule, or a closing date. The next steps recorded at the meeting included engaging bond counsel to pursue financing options, including an EPA loan for the lift station (see separate action).