Norwalk: Up with sewer rates, not down with buildings

By KAREN PARKER

County Line Publisher Emeritus

Norwalk sewer rates are going up, the board decided at its meeting Tuesday. But not exactly. And buildings destined to be razed will not come down. But not exactly.

It was all a bit confusing at Tuesday evening’s meeting, as the board continued to wrestle with problems shared by other communities across the state: an aging infrastructure and a tax base that can’t keep up with escalating costs. In this case, the sewer plant is showing its age. The structure is literally beginning to crumble as the concrete ages, and it is not able to meet increasing operational demands, such as managing phosphorous loads.

A committee of the board agreed to begin the process of applying for grants what is estimated to be a $1.9 million project. While rates are not expected to increase immediately, a surcharge will be added to multiple housing units of $30 per unit. For example, a building containing four apartments would be billed the usual fee, but $30 would be added to the bill for each additional unit, for a total of $90.

Property owners could either absorb the bill or pass it on as increased rent.

It is estimated that increase could generate $8,000 a month toward the cost of a new sewer plant. After one year, the plan would be reviewed by the board and could be changed or eliminated.

“We’ve kicked the can down the road long enough,” noted Board President Levi Helgren, making reference to many years of patching up the plant and postponing any major projects.

As one board member put it, “Don’t call it a raise; call it a surcharge.

Also, three Norwalk buildings were spared the ax. All three are considered dilapidated, and a letter was sent to inform the owners of the village’s intent to raze the structures.

One building is used as storage by Alvis Strazdins at 209 Main St. and is valued at $9,400. The second building, the old D&J Bar at 105 Main St., is owned by Richard Kast of Cashton and is valued at $12,300. The structure was badly damaged by fire a number of years ago.

Finally, the old Norwalk Creamery is owned by Scott Rogers of Ramsey, Minn. It consists of two buildings, one valued at $14,300 and the other at $29,000.

Strazdins and Kast were given until August to repair and renovate their structures, while Rogers was asked to produce a plan for the creamery.

All of this caused a bit of a tussle between board president Helgren and Norwalk resident Butch Johnson, who accused Helgren of a conflict of interest. Johnson said he believed Helgren should have abstained from any vote on the matter because he is also president of the Norwalk Lions Club.  Helgren argued that was not his intent, and that while some Lions members might have expressed an interest in the creamery property, there was never any formal discussion about acquiring it, and furthermore, he (Helgren) had never contacted Scott Rogers.

Johnson also questioned why a statement by Bill Degenhardt at a board committee meeting that the Lions funded the community $40,000 was left to stand when he said the Lions treasurer, Mike Karis, told him that was not true.

But later Helgren told Johnson $40,000 was what the Lions would lose by not having a tractor pull, not what was donated to the village.

Other business

• A bid for removing a number of trees in the park and cemetery was set aside until more bids could be solicited and the request for bids put in a more formal form.

• A long discussion on a lawn ordinance finally ended when the board realized it could not alter the ordinance until the old one was revoked. Plans are to impose $25 fines for unmowed lawns. Trustee Kim Nofsinger called that “chump change” and suggested a far higher fee.

• The board approved removing the bark mulch at the old school playground and replacing it with sand while also planting grass to reduce the play area. Improvements in the other playground were deferred until drainage problems are solved.

• The board hopes to have a community action committee set up by May and is seeking volunteers for the committee.

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