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Employee insurance, tax levy discussed at
Williamsville village board meeting
By Linda Hughes
Williamsville employees will have the chance to choose between health insurance programs that could save
the village almost $20,000 a year and employees with dependents $300 a month.
Mayor Bill McCarty said at the village board meeting Monday that he and Office Manager Karen Humphries met
with a third party insurance seller that offers both Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Health Alliance policies. The village
has been going through a group insurer for local governments.
The new plans were to be presented to employees at a meeting Tuesday for their decision. McCarty said he
expects the new policy would begin coverage Dec. 1.
In another matter, Village Attorney Randall Segatto said the board needs to look at the 2008 tax levy at the next
meeting so that it can enact an ordinance to that effect at a meeting after that.
Segatto suggested a levy of $75,057, which is the maximum allowed to be below 5 percent over last year’s levy.
The levy the last two years was $72,347. If the village levies the $75,057 and there is no new construction, it may
just get a Cost of Living increase, Segatto said, reminding the board that the village is under tax caps.
“Every year you don’t increase the levy, you are losing tax money,” the attorney added.
That could crimp future village boards.
McCarty said the board promised not to raise taxes for two years, which it did.
But, “We have to keep up. We don’t want to handcuff ourselves and future boards.”
Keeping up with CPI will mean “pennies to homeowners.” The board will discuss the levy at the next meeting,
he said.
Police officer Donnie McIntire resigned and moved to Alaska, McCarty told board members. Officer Bruce Smith
was moved from part-time to full-time, still leaving the village with three full-time officers. The village will look for an
officer to work half-time on weekends.
In other matters:
--Sewer inspection reports and the videotapes are available for anyone to examine, Trustee John Swinford
said. He encouraged people to do so.
--Water and Sewer Superintendent Kent Thompson reported that public restrooms have been winterized and
secured for winter.
--Trustee Larry Barregarye said that while it was suggested that trees be planted near the sewer plant as a
shield, he noted that planting prairie grass would be less expensive and he would look into it.
--Barregarye said he would get someone to wax the dance floor in the Community Center.
--Trustee Mark Esker said the storm sewer work along Carter Street is completed.
--Thompson reported that drainage improvements on the west end of Lake Williamsville are finished, and he
will work on the east end, where the emergency overflow system is.
--Esker will look into snow fences at the east end of town, where there is bad drifting.
Williamsville village board meeting
By Linda Hughes
Williamsville employees will have the chance to choose between health insurance programs that could save
the village almost $20,000 a year and employees with dependents $300 a month.
Mayor Bill McCarty said at the village board meeting Monday that he and Office Manager Karen Humphries met
with a third party insurance seller that offers both Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Health Alliance policies. The village
has been going through a group insurer for local governments.
The new plans were to be presented to employees at a meeting Tuesday for their decision. McCarty said he
expects the new policy would begin coverage Dec. 1.
In another matter, Village Attorney Randall Segatto said the board needs to look at the 2008 tax levy at the next
meeting so that it can enact an ordinance to that effect at a meeting after that.
Segatto suggested a levy of $75,057, which is the maximum allowed to be below 5 percent over last year’s levy.
The levy the last two years was $72,347. If the village levies the $75,057 and there is no new construction, it may
just get a Cost of Living increase, Segatto said, reminding the board that the village is under tax caps.
“Every year you don’t increase the levy, you are losing tax money,” the attorney added.
That could crimp future village boards.
McCarty said the board promised not to raise taxes for two years, which it did.
But, “We have to keep up. We don’t want to handcuff ourselves and future boards.”
Keeping up with CPI will mean “pennies to homeowners.” The board will discuss the levy at the next meeting,
he said.
Police officer Donnie McIntire resigned and moved to Alaska, McCarty told board members. Officer Bruce Smith
was moved from part-time to full-time, still leaving the village with three full-time officers. The village will look for an
officer to work half-time on weekends.
In other matters:
--Sewer inspection reports and the videotapes are available for anyone to examine, Trustee John Swinford
said. He encouraged people to do so.
--Water and Sewer Superintendent Kent Thompson reported that public restrooms have been winterized and
secured for winter.
--Trustee Larry Barregarye said that while it was suggested that trees be planted near the sewer plant as a
shield, he noted that planting prairie grass would be less expensive and he would look into it.
--Barregarye said he would get someone to wax the dance floor in the Community Center.
--Trustee Mark Esker said the storm sewer work along Carter Street is completed.
--Thompson reported that drainage improvements on the west end of Lake Williamsville are finished, and he
will work on the east end, where the emergency overflow system is.
--Esker will look into snow fences at the east end of town, where there is bad drifting.
Issue Date: Oct. 30, 2008