A NOTE FROM THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT - I thank all of our employees, board members, commission members and above all, citizens and taxpayers, for your support in my third term as your Village President. We have worked hard to provide you with the service that you have come to expect as well as dealing with the issues that affect the Village. I encourage all residents to provide feedback to the Board as to how we are doing; after all, we are here to serve you. I expect that the Board will approve the 2007 budget that will show a slight increase of 1.97% in the Village tax levy, an increase in the Village budget of 3.03%, but a decrease in the Village tax rate of 3.78%, from $9.53 per thousand to $9.17 per thousand. Overall, the property tax levy has increased just 5.4% over the last five years. Our decision to hold the line on our budget in 2006 resulted in the Village receiving $34,091 from the State's Expenditure Restraint program for our 2007 budget, the fourth consecutive year that the Village will receive those funds. As a result of our efforts, the Village will have received a total of over $150,000 in Expenditure Restraint funds over this four year period. We expect that the Village will receive Expenditure Restraint funds in 2008 as a result of our 2007 budget as well. These are funds that the Board intends to use for capital expenditures instead of towards the day-to-day operating budget. The Board continues to strive to reduce costs while maintaining the high quality of services that our citizens require. The upcoming year will also find the Board continuing to address important issues for the Village such as the proposed reconstruction of Edgewood Ave (east of Hwy 164) in the summer of 2007, possible creation of a mixed-use TIF for the development of the 1-43/Hwy 164 interchange area, as well as other future development plans. As usual, this year should prove to be both interesting as well as challenging.
A NOTE FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE -The Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Just a reminder that dog and cat license for 2007 can be renewed at this time. All dogs 5 months and older need to be licensed. The fee is $8.00 for spayed or neutered dogs, otherwise $13.00. The fee is $4.00 for spayed or neutered cats, otherwise $8.00. Proof of rabies shots and expiration date is needed. If licenses are purchased after April 1st there will be a $5.00 late fee added. Bicycle licenses are available for $3.00, which is good for the life of the bike. The 2007 Spring Primary, if needed, is on February 20, 2007, and the Spring Election is April 3, 2007. Remember, you will need to be registered before you can vote. Registration can be done in the Clerks office during regular business hours and on the day of election. Please bring along your drivers license and proof of residence. Please don't forget to exercise your right to vote. There will be three Trustee and the President's seats up for election. If you are interested in running for office, nomination papers can be picked up at the Clerk's Office during regular business hours. The papers can not be circulated before December 1st. Papers must be returned by 5:00 pm on January 2, 2007. If you have any questions, please call 662-2747.
A NOTE FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE
Tax collection hours will be Monday-Friday 7 am-3pm. Thursday December 21 and December 28th from 6-8pm and Saturday December 30th from 9am-12 noon. There is a secured drop box located on the front of the building where tax bills can be placed. Please include a self addressed stamped envelope if a receipt is needed. Please note: Tax payments placed in the drop box AFTER 12 noon on December 30th will be credited in January and post mark December 30th will also be credited in January.
A NOTE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT-COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION LIST The Police Department still has a community email distribution list. If you would like to be included on the list, call the police department at 662-3782 or email the department at bigbendpd@sbcglobal.net. VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND RENEWALS.-- You can still avoid the lines at the DMV offices because the police department still is authorized to issue license plates and plate renewals. In additions to costs imposed by DMV, there is a $17.50 fee for license plates and $10.00 for renewals. WINTER PARKING-- Village ordinance prohibit parking on any street, public highway, or right-of-way between the hours of 1:00 am and 6:00am from December 1st thru March 15th. SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL OF SIDEWALKS—Snow must be removed from sidewalks within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall. The sidewalk must also be kept clear of snow and ice. If ice forms on a sidewalk and cannot be removed, the resident or property owner must keep the ice sprinkled with salt, sand, or other suitable substance.
BIG BEND MUNICIPAL COURT is held the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 pm. If you should need further assistance, please call 662-3782.
A NOTE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS—With winter fast approaching, during a snowstorm, please set your garbage cans in your driveway, not in the street. This will make it easier for plowing operations. The Village dumpster is available to Village residents from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Be sure to bring your dump card. Brush pick up will be held the third week of October and the third week of April. Please don't put yard waste out with brush/branches. It cannot be picked up by the DPW. Please put yard waste in the compost pile located behind the ball diamond in the park. The compost pile is open 24/7 until it snows.
A NOTE FROM THE LIBRARY-Thank you to all those residents who supported the library this past fall when the possibility of purchasing the empty Dr. Asby building on Maple Ave. was looked into. After another inspection of the premises it was noted that to meet with state requirements concerning public libraries, additional steel beams would have had to be placed in the basement to support the weight of the books. To do so would increase the cost of what the estimated remodeling and purchase price would have been. The Library Board at this time feels, even though additional space is need, it is not in the best interest of the Village to purchase the building. You can log on to our library catalog from your home computer by going to www.cafelibraries.org from this site you may order your own books, dvd's or other library materials, or you may order from other libraries and have the items sent to Big Bend. Library staff will call when they come in. No home computer? Just phone in your request or come in and use one of our four public computers. Fax and copy service is available. Visit the library’s WEB page for hours, programs and much more at: www.wcfls.lib.wi.us/bigbend For additional information call the library at (262)662-3571. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
A NOTE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-Thank you to all of the community members who have supported the Fire Department this past year. Your donations of time, money and personal support have, and continue to be, very important to the successful operation of this department. We remind each resident that clearly posting your street address is extremely important to the fire department personnel to quickly locate your residence at the time of an emergency. We ask that your address numbers be displayed adjacent to your driveway and be visible by emergency responders from the road both day and night. Numbers can be picked up at the Village Hall. Open burning is allowed in the Village of Big Bend from sunrise until sunset. The fire pile should be no larger than 4ft X 4ft and no more than 3 ft high. The fire must be at least 50 ft from any building and you can not use any accelerants to start the fire. An adult 18 years of age or older must be in attendance at all times while burning and have a garden hose or fire extinguisher etc available. Only grass, leaves and wood in its natural state may be burned. The wind velocity must be less than 9 miles per hour. The Fire Department must be notified at 662-2079 on the day of the burn, leaving you name, telephone number and address where the burning is taking place. The Fire Department provides free blood pressure checks to all interested community member on the third Tuesday of each month from 10 am until 11 am at Station #3 (I-43 and Hwy 164). The Big Bend/Vernon Fire Department is always looking for persons interested in helping the community by becoming a member of our department. Application information may be obtained by contacting Chief Phil Buchholtz or any other member of the Fire Department at 662-2079.
SIBYLL YUG MEMORIAL MUSEUM. - The Sibyll Yug Memorial Museum was dedicated in July of 1981 as a living memorial in honor of Sibyll Yug. Sibyll donated many of her family heirlooms to begin a museum because she felt it was important to preserve the area history for generations to come. Sibyll’s Great-grandparents Aaron and Elvira Putnam founded Big Bend. Aaron's brother Prucuis was one of the four founding fathers of Vernon. Sibyll's family tree is widely spread throughout the communities of Big Bend and Vernon. The museum is dedicated to preserve our Big Bend and Vernon history. It has grown through the years and continues to collect memorabilia from artifacts, photos, newspaper clippings, to name a few. The museum shares its historical collection with the Big Bend Library through research assistance, vertical files, and chronological binders. The museum display case is located in the Big Bend Village Hall. Research assistance is available and donations can be made to the museum by calling Nancy Diehn at 662-2135, Big Bend Village Hall at 622-2747, or Big Bend Village Library at 662-3571.
MUNICIPAL MEETINGS
Village Board meetings are every 1st Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. They can also be viewed on cable channel 25. Plan Commission meetings are every 4th Thursday at 7:00 pm. Public Safety is every 4th Monday at 6:30 pm.
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