North Lewsiburg’s 2022 is largely unchanged from the previous year, with the exception of an $150,000 infusion from of American Recovery Act funds.
Village Administrator Andy Yoder presented the budget to council Tuesday night and it was approved 4-0, with members John Collier and Matt Warner absent.
The budget estimates revenue of $1.38 million next year and expenses of nearly $1.4 million. The village will also bring $1.58 million into 2022 from carryover funds and investment money.
Yoder explained that the American Recovery Act funds are earmarked for expenses in the water and sewer departments. Yoder said the nature of the projects is yet unknown as officials work to determine what type of projects can be covered by the funds.
The budget earmarks an additional $70,000 of the money for repair and maintenance projects in the water department. The remainder of the money is set for the sewer fund, with $50,000 built into the capital outlay line item and another $30,000 in contract services for any engineering that might be needed for the projects.
The budget also spelled out the annual debt payments of the village, totaling $214,500. Of that number, $179,500 is to service debt on the village sewer plant while the remainder is tied to water and street projects.
Council also heard an update on the Champaign Countywide Communications Center’s new capabilities involving texting and 911 services.
The center is now capable of receiving 911 texts, but council learned it comes with some drawbacks. A release from the center indicates that location information accompanying texts is not as accurate as phone calls to the 911 center.
“9-1-1: Call if you can. Text if you can’t,” the release reads.
The texting option is also not available if the user’s phone is using “roaming” service. The release indicates that photos and video can’t be sent along with a 911 text and additional recipients can’t be included in the text.
The release indicates that the best uses for texting 911 for callers who are hearing or speech impaired, or for situations when speaking could put the caller in danger.
In other business, council:
•Learned that the North Lewisburg Fire Association parade forms at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at the village park, with a start time of 5 p.m. Other festivities will be occurring in the downtown area beginning at 3 p.m.
•Approved a payment of $200 to the Maple Acres Garden Club for decorative flowers placed around the village in the summer and during the holidays.
•Approved an agreement with the Champaign County Commissioners to provide legal counsel for indigent persons charged under village ordinances.
•Learned that the new cruiser is in operation for the village police department.
•Heard a pair of requests from Liz Fundergurgh or the Triad Junior Baseball and Softball Association. One request involved trimming trees in the village park near the waterway, because they were hanging into areas where people park when they watch ball games. The other request involved working to find funding sources for restroom improvements at the park.
•Held executive session to discuss personnel.