By Sue Moore
Manufacturing noise complaints keep returning to the Vicksburg Village Council as residents continue to hear loud sound with some regularity even when doors and windows are closed for cold weather.
Maple Street resident Linda Brenton felt the citizens would have a different opinion if they just knew the full story of what the owner of MLC, the business determined to be responsible, was contending with in trying to run his machinery, yet keep the noise contained. He has had to completely get rid of his original machinery and buy all new equipment to stay in business.
Ron Wolak, a V Avenue resident, has attended the last few meetings to keep reminding the council to keep the pressure on so that when spring comes, people will feel comfortable going outside and not hear the nearly continuous noise.
Village President Bill Adams said he has been in contact with the business owner and assured the audience that everything was being done to figure out the problem and take action on it.
Budget amendments were high on the list of needed council actions for Village Manager Jim Mallery. He cited state law requiring municipalities to spend no more money than has been authorized and approved by the governing body. He presented council members a long list of budget amendments for the second quarter of the fiscal year.
“There was a structural deficit of approximately $100,000 identified within the general fund of the original budget,” Mallery said. “The 2016/17 budget as presented in June listed total revenues of $1,910,300. With the proposed amendments, the total revenues would be $1,404,081 with expenditures at $1,402,284. These adjustments would serve to eliminate the deficit,” he told the Council.
Mallery also instituted a purchasing review for village department heads and staff under an ordinance passed in 2015. “There will be greater detail required in making sure that public money is spent in a prudent fashion,” he said. As a courtesy to his staff and the board, he said he expects any committee or community members requesting an expenditure from the village to submit request to his office 21 days in advance of council action so the request can be researched.
In other action, Mike Swartz, an engineer from Prein & Neuhof, walked the council through the initial results of a study, funded by a state storm water, asset management, wastewater (SAW) grant, conducted over the last two years in the village.
It showed that 77 percent of the village’s sewer lines are in good condition. There are root problems in the clay lines that were installed prior to 1945.
The trustees discussed the many committees that the village has formed over the years as they get ready to reappoint volunteers to participate in village government. “We don’t have enough staff to attend all these meetings,” Mallery said. “We have lots of volunteers serving the village which gives us insight to bounce things off of them and in turn get a lot of good work done.”