Bridgeport board decides on Sanitation Position
By Steve Van Kooten
After the Bridgeport Village Board adjourned from their Dec. 27 meeting, members departed into the cold morning, assured issues were settled through the end of the year. The meeting, called at 8 a.m. as opposed to their usual evening time, put to bed a few matters and pushed off a few others into 2024.
The first issue was to find a replacement for Vicki White, Bridgeport’s Sanitation Utility Cashier. Instead of a resolution to seek out a new candidate for the job, the board approved a motion for the Town Clerk, Kate Krachey, to assume White’s duties after she left the role.
“And if, down the road, we think of anyone that would fit into this situation, we’ll take a look at them at that time,” Mike Steiner, the Village Board’s Chair, said.
After the meeting Steiner said the dynamics of the Village Board and White’s tenure were deciding factors: “The biggest reason is the cohesiveness of working together more than anything because, you know, we’ve already got Vicki, who has been here since 2002, so basically the whole group has been here the same time.”
According to Steiner, if the board brought in another person it could be more difficult than consolidating tasks under Krachey’s onus. He noted the board has worked well because the members are present in the community.
“The majority of people here have skin in the game,” Steiner said. “They pay the taxes here and that was the reason behind it [the decision to transfer the duties to the Town Clerk].”
Other News
-The board were notified Collins & Associates would no longer work on Bridgeport’s Public Services Commission (PSC) end-of-year water report. Collins also has performed similar services to Eastman, Wauzeka and other small townships in the past.
-Johnson Block, Mineral Point, WI, gave an estimated $6,500 for auditing services. White stressed this was an estimate and could be “extremely high.” Collins had provided the same service for $3,100 for water and $1,300 for sewer previously. Steiner suggested Bridgeport look at the possibility of buying the necessary software to complete the report independently. White noted the report was due at the end of March 2024. The board agreed to revisit the issue in January.
-The water and sewer bills were only $500 less than October’s bill (a total of $22,729).
-The board agreed to have several library books found in the Town Hall’s cabinets inspected then donated to individuals or a library.
