By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
After putting off the project for a year, the Village of Union Grove is set to see significant savings in the installation of new lights at the Village Hall and Department of Public Works building.
Using grant money from the state, the village will install new LED lighting in the village, inside the DPW and also in the parking lots of both places.
The cost of the village hall project to the village dropped by more than $4,000 to about $6,645, due to an increase in grant money and a decrease in costs, according to DPW Director Mark Osmundsen at Monday’s administration meeting.
“We waited till this year to see what would go on,” Osmundsen said. “We really hit a sweet spot this year on this building.”
The grant money jumped from $2,500 to $7,500 as well.
While grant money dropped by a few hundred dollars for the DPW building, the cost went as well. Instead of spending roughly $13,400, the village will spend just $7,572.84.
“I think it’s a good deal,” said Village Board member Adam Graf. “It worked out that we waited.”
The village will also realize savings with its utility costs.
“It would cut our energy cost in half,” Osmundsen said.
The committee approved the spending for the Village Hall, and made a recommendation to the Streets Department to approve the spending for the DPW building.
It was a meeting to clear several items Monday, as the committee also discussed new accounting software – and the ability to take credit card payments.
Village Clerk Jill Kopp was instructed to reach out to a number of different groups, including the current software provider Civic Systems, as well as Payment Services Network.
If the software used for bill can be universally upgraded for all departments, it would make life easier for Kopp, said Village Board Member Gordon Svendsen.
Kopp agreed, though she was wary about wanting to make the leap.
“I’m just waiting to see what we want to do,” Kopp said.
In the meantime, the village will look into obtaining a “Square” credit-card swiper to take card payments.
The committee also set priorities for 2016, with working out the software issues a top goal.
The village also wants to update the budget process, with each department submitting information by July, as well as update the village website and possibly create an app that people can use on their phones or tablets.
The fourth priority is finding a formula for the library budget so both the library and village can get an earlier handle on costs for the budget year.
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