Public Service Commission considers water rate hike
By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
Village Administrator Diana Dykstra presented a report to the Darien Village Board on Jan. 20 summarizing the accomplishments of the village in 2013.
Highlighting the list was securing financing for a new village hall and other downtown rehabilitation.
“2014 will prove to be a year with many changes as the village will embark on some amazing downtown redevelopment,” Dykstra said in her report.
The village created a Community Development Authority to help oversee the Village Hall project and solidified funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program to help fund the project. The village also received a $50,000 grant for downtown rehabilitation from the Wisconsin Economic Development Authority, the first grant issued by the new organization under Gov. Scott Walker.
Other events mentioned in Dykstra’s report included:
• The formation of an ad hoc fire station committee to review the location for and then purchase land along Gerry Way for a new fire and emergency medical services station;
• The village became a corporate member of the Delavan-Darien Rotary Club;
• The Emerald Ash Borer was found at the library parking lot and efforts are under way to eliminate affected trees;
• Sewer lateral rehabilitation continued in the village, especially along Sharon and Walworth streets;
• The board approved backyard chickens with several restrictions;
• The village moved forward with codifying municipal ordinances, a process that had not been done in nearly 10 years
PSC hearing
The Public Service Commission held a public hearing today at the Amnicon Falls Hearing Room at 610 North Whitney Way in Madison to consider an application by the Darien Water Works and Sewer System for authority to increase water rates by 31 percent. Residents and the village were allowed to participate in the meeting by telephone at Village Hall.
According to the application, the rate increase is being sought to “provide the utility with reasonable income, cash flow and rate of return.” Dykstra said the PSC reviews water reports around the state and tells utilities they must increase their rates to meet their debt and operational needs without actually visiting the municipality. Dykstra said the PSC was looking for an increase of more than 50 percent until the village argued for a lower increase. Dykstra said the village will argue at the hearing for the increase to be even lower.
Dykstra said one reason the PSC thinks the utility needs to raise its rate so much is because the new water tower along Interstate 43 was built in anticipation of new development in the village that never occurred. She said the PSC still considers that development a need for the village. She also said the village’s tax incremental finance district still owes the utility money and the utility has two more years of debt payments to make.
Inspection services
The board approved extending an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Delavan to provide the village with building permit and inspection services through Feb. 28, 2015.
The Delavan Common Council approved an extension of a short-term intergovernmental agreement with the village on Jan. 14. The original agreement was entered into in October and was due to expire this month. The extension the council approved continues the agreement through Feb. 28, 2014. The council will discuss extending it again through Feb. 28, 2015, at its Feb. 11 meeting.
The village used PBI Inc. for building permits and inspections before October. The contract ended and PBI chose not to renew it. The agreement with the city provides a 60/40 split for permits and a $48 fee per hour for code enforcements. The village had an 80/20 split with PBI and paid $50 per hour for code enforcements.
Family Connections
The Family Connections committee is being re-organized as its two staff members, Alice Davis and Marilyn Larson, are both moving on to other endeavors. Dykstra said Davis is now running a business in the village, and Larson is going back to school.
Dykstra said neither employee will be replaced as employees but they will both be replaced on the Family Connections Committee. Melody Bartel and Trustee Phil Putman are also listed as members of the committee.
Dykstra said the committee will continue to meet though probably not on a monthly basis as the village explores options in dividing its functions among other entities within the village. The newsletter will continue to be offered and will be prepared and printed by village staff.
Dykstra said the annual Easter Egg Hunt will most likely be taken over by the Community Club. The Halloween event may be taken over by the EMS department. The Delavan-Darien Park and Recreation Department may expand Movies in the Park to Darien and provide indoor walking options. The senior dinner may be taken over by the local senior card group or a park and recreation group.
Building sale
Trustee Jim Abbott questioned an agreement the board approved Dec. 16 to sell the Chaney Tire Building next to West Park for $75,000 to Fettig Industries.
Abbott, who did not attend the Dec. 16 meeting, asked when the sale had been approved and said more discussion should have been had before it was approved. He said he did not think it was a good deal for the taxpayers.
Board President Kurt Zipp said the building was given to the village about a year ago, and the village was only interested because it was adjacent to West Park.
Dykstra said the building is in poor condition and has been used for storage since the village acquired it. She said the village is not in the real estate business, and the property can now be returned to the tax rolls.
Zipp said Fettig Industries will have to invest about $400,000 in the building, so holding out for more money on the sale may have cost the village the sale.
Where to vote
Because of the construction of the new village hall, the board approved moving the polling place for the April 1 election to the Senior Center. The primary election Feb. 18 will still be held at Village Hall.
