SILVER CREEK - Summer was on the minds of Silver Creek Village Board members Monday.
At its meeting, the village board made several resolutions in preparation for the coming season.
The board approved the closing of Park Place for the Garden Fair May 18 and 19 as well as for Memorial Day ceremonies May 28. In addition, the board approved a parade on Memorial Day to run from Central Avenue to Babcock Street between 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
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OBSERVER Photo by Nicole Gugino
The Silver Creek Village Board prepared for the summer season at its meeting Monday. Pictured are Mayor Kurt Lindstrom (left) and Trustees Amy Romanik and Nick Piccolo.
A member of the garden club, Joan Berner, also came to speak at the meeting, asking the board if it would consider funding the garden club as it did in the past.
Mayor Kurt Lindstrom thanked the garden club for its village park cleanup and all the gardening it does for the village and said the board would look into it.
Wayne Hotelling was also in attendance to address the village board. He asked the village if it would once again approve the 16th Annual Laurel Run, and have the highway department help out as it has in the past.
"It's not just a run and a walk, it's an event," Hotelling said, adding it is a time for people with disabilities to take ownership of what they can do.
Trustee Nick Piccolo also mentioned to the board it would make sense to bring on the part-time summer help early this year in order to get "chores" done so the full-timers can get bigger projects done.
The highway department has money in its budget for the extra time, however the water department does not. Lindstrom said the board will approve the help for the highway department when a person is chosen for the position.
The village board also passed a resolution to advertise for bids on Phase II of the water project. The bids will be accepted until end of business May 21 and opened at the board meeting later that day. Lindstrom said the bids will be tabled for consideration at the meeting and a bid will be accepted May 22 at 5 p.m.
In addition the board will also have a public hearing on May 21 at 7:45 p.m. about the new gutter law, with the regular meeting to follow. The workshop that night will also begin early at 6:45 p.m.
In other business:
Silver Creek School Superintendent David Kurzawa also attended to present the school's proposed budget at the meeting. He explained cost drivers, like insurance and pensions, have increased almost 17 percent. Between this, the $2 million in state aid that was cut in 2008 and never recovered and the tax cap, the district had to cut nine teachers, two support staff and 7-12 grade summer school.
Trustee Amy Romanik asked why the middle school principal was not cut instead of teachers. Kurzawa explained the middle school team model provides a safety net for students and helps with the drop out rate.
He explained the proposed tax levy increase is 2 percent or $108,000, for a total budget of $19.8 million. At current assessed values the full value tax rate would be $17.69.
The village also declared a Ford F-350 excess equipment and will accept bids on the truck.
The board authorized Lindstrom to enter into a commitment to purchase a fire truck for the fire department.
