PRESIDENT=S MESSAGE
I would like to welcome Dean Otte to the village as the new Administrator Clerk/Treasurer. Dean has had 27 years experience as the Clerk/Treasurer of Slinger, Wisconsin as well as a very strong accounting education and back round. I am looking forward to working with him and I feel he will serve Deerfield very well in his new position.
As 2005 comes to an end I am compelled to think of all that the village has accomplished during the year and look forward with many visions to the future. Some issues have been challenging and we have had to meet them with the best possible efforts. I would like to thank all the citizens, village board members, numerous committee members, and village staff for their outstanding work and vital input over the last year. Because of their collective hard work and dedication, many endeavors were completed, resulting in a better community.
The future holds many new challenges that I look forward to facing and with continued dedication and hard work we will be able to meet these challenges and take advantage of new opportunities.
Best wishes to all for a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Arnie Evensen, Village President
SIDEWALK SHOVELING AND SNOW REMOVAL REMINDERS
Property owners are responsible to keep their sidewalk clean and the Public Works Dept. remind residents that all sidewalks must be shoveled or have iced removed by 5:00 p.m. the day after the snow has stopped. Sidewalks not cleared will be done by the Village Public Works crew at a minimum charge of $80.00 which will be billed to the property owner. Also, please do not push or shovel snow into the street but place snow in the terrace or lawn area.
WHAT=S HAPPENING????
MPI-Fineblanking is expanding their facility in the Business Park and are adding 80 employees to their operation in Deerfield. As part of the expansion, MPI will be using the municipal auxiliary parking lot for additional employee parking, and they will be covering the costs for new lights and snow removal for the parking lot.
A AJoint Interactive Committee@ has been created with two representatives each from the School , the Village and the Township of Deerfield, as a means to improve communications between the entities and look at opportunities for cost sharing of services and resources.
Construction permit bonds for driveway approaches, sidewalks, curb and gutter and other infrastructure, increased to $2,000 effective January 1, 2006. Property owners will have one year to complete the construction, receive satisfactory acceptance of the work and submit their reimbursement forms. If bonds are not claimed within the one year period, the money will forfeit to the Village.
The Deerfield Public Library is investigating the purchase of additional land to the north of the existing library as an option for future building expansion.
Public Works will be receiving a new one-ton truck and a water utility van to replace old trucks in the fleet.
An ordinance is being reviewed that will ban outdoor solid fuel fired heating devices effective January 1,2006. Regulations will be adopted to monitor existing units in the Village.
Liberty Street Florals has opened in Liberty St. Commons. Cuda Café officially opened for business October. Congratulations and best wishes to both businesses.
Phase III of Morningside Estates is complete along with Phase II of the Heritage.
Two new faces are a part of the public works staff. Jarrett Jones and Derek Anderson were hired to replace employees that left employment with the Village. Both have had previous work experience with the Village.
Work has begun to update the Village=s disaster and emergency plan, with assistance from J. McLellan from Dane Co. Emergency Government.
Brink and Associates, an architectural firm, is working with the Village, Township, Fire Department and EMS to look at possible expansion of the Fire Station.
BUDGET NUMBERS FOR 2006 AND MILL RATE FOR 2005 TAX BILLS
The Village board approved its local 2006 budget on November 28, 2005, resulting in a general levy for 2005 of $753,566 and a mil rate of $5.55, which along with the budgets from other taxing authorities resulted in a total mil rate of $20.35, a decrease from 2004 of thirty-four cents.
2004 Levy
2005 Levy
Increase
% of Total Taxes
2004 Mil Rate
2005 Mil Rate
Decrease/ increase in cents
STATE
$ 25,836.24
$ 28,177.51
$ 2,341.27
.96%
$.205
$.207
.00185
COUNTY
$344,975.17
$377,822.20
$ 32,847.03
12.84%
$ 2.74
$ 2.78
.03647
VILLAGE
$660,207.21
$801,839.95
$141,632.74
27.25%
$ 5.25
$ 5.90
.65030
VATE
$169,540.31
$190,270.49
$ 20,730.18
6.47%
$ 1.35
$ 1.40
.05173
SCHOOL
$1,570,697.17
$1,544,211.68
$-26,485.49
52.48%
$12.51
$11.38
-1.1312
TOTAL
$2,771,2566011
$2,942,321.83
$171,065.73
100 %
$22.07
$21.68
- .39088
Less State Credit
$ 1.38
$ 1.32
NET MILL RATE
$20.69
$20.35
$-.034
This means that taxes on a $150,000 house in 2004 were $3,103.50 and for 2005, taxes will be $3,052.50, a decrease of $51.00. The lottery credit for 2005 will be $96.63 for those who occupy their primary residence as of January 1, 2005.
Assessed value of the Village for 2005 increased over $10,152,400 from 2004. Value for 2004 was $125,542,300 and for 2005 it is $135,694,700 and is attributed to the new housing growth.
TAX PAYMENT INFORMATION
Tax collection for December payments: Until December 30 until 4:30 p.m. at the Village Hall or postmarked by December 31, 2005. January payments: January 31 until 4:30 p.m. at the Village Hall or postmarked by January 31, 2006. Payments after January 31,t are made to the Dane Co. Treasurer. Qualify for a lottery credit if you owned and lived at a property since January 1, 2005.
MEET THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR, CLERK-TREASURER! DEAN OTTE
On October 31, 2005, the Village hired me, Dean Otte, as the new Administrator, Clerk-Treasurer to replace Cindi Gotthart who is moving. I would like to thank the Village Board and the residents for allowing me to serve in this position.
Previous to coming to Deerfield, I worked 27 years in the Village of Slinger as the Clerk, Treasurer and Finance Director. I am married with one 13-year old daughter. My entire family is excited about my new position and moving to the area.
With just over a month on the job, I have found that the Village employees are all dedicated to serving the Village residents to the highest level possible. I have also learned that it will be very difficult to replace Cindi and her over the 20 years of knowledge.
One of the major reasons for my leaving Slinger is that I wanted to work for a smaller community that was growing at a controlled pace.
Priorities that I will recommend to the Village Board are to try and lower water and sewer bills, a challenging task, expand the commercial development in the downtown, work with developers to construct elderly housing opportunities in the downtown area, investigate various ways to supply Village residents with a higher level of services at lower costs to decrease taxes.
The residents of Deerfield have many things to be proud of from the historic downtown, a Public Works Department with well-maintained facilities, a flourishing Business Park, outstanding Library and Fire Department with its modern equipment and dedicated volunteers.
I look forward to this great opportunity!
VOTER REGISTRATION REMINDER
During the month of December, don=t forget to stop in and register to vote at the Village Hall. Make sure to bring along a driver=s license or social security card. You must be 18 years of age, a resident, a U.S. citizen and have no felonies, to register to vote.