Waters rising

It's been awhile since I gave a piece of my mind of the in's and outs of the goings-on in the City and lately there's a lot to speak to.

Pray for his full recovery

Third Ward Alderman Terry Hight

First and foremost, Third Ward Alderman Terry Hight suffered a
stroke recently. He's at home and recovering. In his words, “I feel very lucky to still be alive.” While he is lucid and upright, he is dealing with some physical limitations at the time being. When he comes to mind please pray for him. We are all hoping that he will respond well to physical therapy and be back soon enough to fill his Third Ward chair. Again, he'd like us all to know that he may be down but he's not out.

The Second Ward

Trevor and his family

Second Ward Earl Grover has sold his home on Knapp Street and he and Kathy have bought a home in the First Ward. At the February council meeting he tendered his resignation as Second Ward Alderman effective February 28. He is challenging current First Ward Alderman Scott Bachowski in the spring election. Earl has represented the Second Ward for five years having been originally seated by mayoral appointment when the previous Second Ward-person relocated out of state. In Earl's tenure on the council he has served as the council's representative on the Chetek Area Fire District commission as well as on Utilities and formerly on Parks & Rec.

When a ward-person vacates their seat, it is part of the mayor's responsibility to recruit a member of that particular ward to fill it. Trevor Dysland is a husband and father of two who lives in the Second Ward and after some thought, and the council's approval, has been appointed to complete the rest of Earl's term. At the end of this year, if he finds he enjoys serving in this capacity, he may take out papers to get on the ballot of the Spring Election in 2026 to represent the Second Ward. But hail and well-met, Trevor, and thank you for your service to the Second Ward.

The Water Tower Arises

At long last Maguire has arrived in town and began assembling our new water tower right next to our current water stand. I spoke with crew chief Jake and he asserts that all things being equal they should be done in 60 days (or sometime in mid-April). The thing will be painted as soon as good painting weather arrives. We've never had a pedestal tower and this one we're assured will be seen from the highway.

From the Complaint Department

Nobody who serves in elected office can escape criticism. Whether rightly or wrongly deserved, it comes with the territory. Recently someone posted at the City of Chetek's FB page their ire at the increases in their property taxes as well as their garbage, water and sewer bill.

Exhibit #1: The Martins' 2024 tax bill (slightly altered for privacy's sake)

While I can't address why this person's property taxes went up, when I review our own tax bill from 2024 I find that 11.2% was paid to Barron County, 14.6% went to Northwoods Technical College, 21% went to the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Area School District and only 1% went to the City of Chetek. One percent! Depending on where you live, the square footage of your home and other variables that affect your bottom line the percentages are the same for everyone. In my opinion, holding taxes to a one percent increase by a governmental agency is commendable to say the least.

Overview shot of the new WWTP (courtesy of Mark Peterson)

Now with regards to the higher garbage, sewer and water bill, yes we are all feeling the pinch. Unfortunately, the City has very little say about these things. If the DNR tells you that your current waste water treatment plant is over 40 years old and is aging out and will never meet the new standards of phosphorous-limits, you shall replace it. And we have – to the tune of nearly $16 million dollars (not counting the $10 million in grant money we received from the feds). While it's true water rates are going up on account of the water tower project, there's a few things to keep in mind. Namely, we do not set our water rates; rather the Public Service Commission (PSC) does. Water rates were last increased in 2021. Ehler's and Associates is a financial service company that we get counsel from and they recommend a 1-2% increase annually so that it is not quite such a big leap when the PSC does their full rate review. That may sound like “pass-the-buck”-speak but it is what it is.

Ward 1 is the blue area and home to our most recent TID

A few weeks ago, a former school board member of the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser School District posted a Letter to the Editor in the Chetek Alert blaming higher school taxes in part on the City of Chetek for creating the Tax Increment District (TID) in which the new waste water treatment plant, the water tower and the new development that S.C. Swiderski will break ground on later this year. A financial expert I am not and personally I find trying to simplify (or, if you prefer, “dumb-down”) Tax Increment Financing (TIF) challenging to say the least. What I do know is that all municipalities create TIDs as a way of development. The north industrial park that includes Sugar 'n Spice, Core Products, Parker-Hannafin, and Ahers Tech used to be a TID. To create that, the City Clerk and the then Mayor attended a hearing to make their case and upon approval for the next 20 years all the taxes in that TID stayed there to lay the water and sewer lines and build the roads and infrastructure that service the north industrial park. I think we all agree that it's been a good thing for the city. As this current one will prove to be and help pay for the Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Water Tower which paves the way for the new development which promises to bring tax revenues in the six digit realm back to the city. More residents in the city means more revenues in order to spread the love around. So in the long run, the City feels that the creation of this TID is a very good thing.

Finally, about last Tuesday

I want to apologize on behalf of the council for the lack of decorum and respect that was exhibited by all council members, save Alderman Hight who was not present, at last Tuesday's council meeting. It was embarrassing to say the least. There were moments when the adults in the room were acting in a juvenile fashion. Tempers flared and things were said. Having a robust, spirited debate about certain matters is fine – healthy even - so long as it stays about the matter at hand. When it becomes personal, however, each one of us has to take a breath and determine if restraint is the better course of valor. In a council meeting the mayor serves as the referee. I'll be the first to say I need to do a better job of keeping the meeting on task and operating according to Robert's Rules of Order. I know every member of the council wants to see the city develop in a fiscally prudent way. Getting “there”, at times, is where the fault lines develop. Here's hoping we each do some personal inventory and fence-mending where necessary.