City looks at 2018 budget

Budget set for final approval next week

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HURON — City commissioners worked through another light agenda Monday before turning their attention to putting the final touches on the 2018 budget, set for final approval next week.
After listening to a presentation, commissioners approved an agreement with Condrey and Associates of Athens, Ga., to conduct a wage study. It will cost $32,500.
It’s been eight years since the last study was done. The impetus for a new study came from the two employee unions.
Meanwhile, commissioners approved a motion to submit a State Water Plan application for sewer improvements.
A preliminary engineering study for wastewater treatment facility improvements was completed in 2016.

It recommended a series of phased projects to address the need for equipment replacement and increased capacity.
Several of the proposed projects will require funding through loan and grant requests made to the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The first step in requesting the funding for the first phase is placement on the State Water Plan.
The first phase was estimated in 2016 to cost $5.2 million. Assuming construction in 2019 and a 3 percent annual inflation factor, the funding request will be for $5.7 million.
Commissioner Bryan Smith, acknowledging that the cost of the improvements is considerable, asked citizens to become educated on the need in upcoming public presentations of the project.
Commissioners also approved a $229,207 payment request from Dahme Construction Co. of Aberdeen for water main replacement work.
They adopted a resolution to release a restrictive covenant at the request of Loren and Connie Ross, 1956 Illinois Ave. S.W.
The covenant ties their lot with an adjacent lot where they have developed an extensive garden. They needed the covenant when they built a shed on the lot, which doesn’t have a house on it.
The plan is to sell the garden lot to neighbors Thomas and Rita Baszler, 1949 Wisconsin Ave. S.W. The Baszlers will then have to get a restrictive covenant to tie the properties together.
In other business, commissioners hired Alisha Reinhart to fill a library circulation manager position.
They also approved a request from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to allow the use of shotguns at the old trap range site on Saturday for the 15th annual youth waterfowl hunt.