Information that aldermen get for each meeting of the New London Common Council is now available to the public online through the city’s website.
For the first time, Mayor Gary Henke told the council at its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the entire council packet was posted on the city website.
Monthly agendas have been posted online. Now, minutes from council and committee meetings, as well as documents related to agenda items to be discussed are also available online at newlondonwi.org.
State law requires the city to provide a copy of the council packet to anyone who requests it. Posting the material online makes access easier — and saves trees and paper, Henke noted.
The agenda and attachments can be found under Resident Information, then Meetings — Minutes and Agendas.
Housing Improvements
Two members of the New London Housing Authority board told the council that its website, nlha.org, would be operational by the end of the month, allowing people to apply for apartments online.
Arien Herminath said he hoped the city’s website would link to the housing authority’s page.
Herminath said there was a waiting list for the 62 units in the Franklin Park Apartments. The housing authority also has 97 housing options scattered throughout the community; 67 are currently filled, according to Herminath.
Mary Christ, a former educator who is chairwoman of the housing authority, and Herminath updated the council on recent projects at Franklin Park.
They include roof work, new water heaters, new flooring in some kitchens and bathrooms, new carpeting, ceiling fans and updated fire alarms; as well as updates to the common room, sunroom, lobby and entrance.
Some of the work was bid out, some was done by housing authority staff.
Herminath said the authority has one fulltime employee, its director; and four part-time maintenance employees.
The authority’s one-year plan includes replacement of 1984 heating units, which Herminath said would be paid “out of pocket” by the end of the fiscal year. The five-year plan focuses on modernizing the 1969 elevator.
As of Sept. 30, Herminath said, the city-owned housing authority had income of $321,398 and expenses of $309,147, a difference of roughly $12,250.
“Our goal is to be as close to zero as possible without going under,” he said,
Construction
City administrator Kent Hager mentioned two construction projects in the city.
New London Building Supply is adding a 7,040-square-foot warehouse with loading dock to its property at 1718 Mill St.
Mike and Candi Janke, of Sleepy Creek Kennels, are planning a 6,600-square-foot commercial building for a dog kennel and dog training facility at 1406 Handschke Drive.
The planning commission approved site plans for both projects on Oct. 15.
Work on the New London Public Library roof began last week. A portion of the parking lot is being used as a staging area, and some entrances may be inaccessible during the work, according to parks and recreation director Chad Hoerth.
He said new frames for the inside of skylights at the New London Aquatic and Fitness Center were under construction. He estimated a Dec. 2 start to that project, which will close the pool from morning till 3 p.m. for about two weeks.
Other Council Business
In other business, the council gave final approval to:
• An increase in the annual pay for the city attorney to $20,000. The pay raise will take effect in May, after the spring election. The attorney’s pay has been $13,000 since 2008.
• A contribution to employee Health Savings Accounts of 75 percent of the health insurance deductibles, which will be $2,000 for single coverage and $4,000 for families in 2014.
• Moving two polling places. Residents of aldermanic district one will vote at the First Congregation UCC Church, rather than the New London Public Library. Those in district four will vote at the Crystal Falls Banquet Facility, due to the destruction of Trinity LUtheran Church by a tornado last summer.
• The 2014 budget of $6,351,951. The budget ordinance lists a tax levy of $2,665,019 to be paid by property owners in the city. No one attended a public hearing on the budget held before the council meeting.