Village against CO2 Pipeline
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MT. AUBURN — The Village of Mt. Auburn held a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 7:00 pm. at the Village Hall.
At the meeting, the Village Board unanimously decided to approve a resolution to oppose the CO2 Pipeline project being proposed to the County Board. The Village Attorney, Dennis Atteberry, was working with a group to oppose the project, and asked the Village to be willing to sign the resolution going against it. He cited many concerns, including a potential for lower property values should the pipeline be allowed and waited water from the aquifer being damaged.
“The goal of this resolution is to stall the project long enough to get an expert in here to see what it will do to the communities and the aquifer,” Atteberry explained to the Board. Every Trustee agreed with him and no one voted against the opposition.
On the water project, Mayor Mike Whitehead had a few updates. The new hookup date to the new water treatment plant was moved back to July 1, but Whitehead said he kind of expected that. He also stated that he was still not satisfied with the tidying up from the Phase II water main project within the Village. Some areas were still experiencing extreme erosion. Water Superintendent Skye Trudeau said he did not know when they could or would come back to fix the issues. Whitehead said he wasn’t worried about it, because the Village still had their final payment.
Whitehead also shared that the issues with the Motor Fuel Tax Forms dating back to 2015 had been resolved, and asked the Board to approve the completed audit. The Board did so Unanimously. The Board also agreed to fund the repairs of the overhead door at the water plant, which needed new rollers, seals, and springs. Whitehead said it shouldn’t be more than $980.
Problems persist in the Village, though. Ordinance violations continue, with grass growing wild, dogs running loose, and people ignoring stop signs. Whitehead had written up letters notifying residents of violations and got Atteberry’s approval to have the Board sign them and send them out.
However, Whitehead does not hold much hope for things to get better. Trustees and audience members alike expressed concern for children on four wheelers and dirt bikes zipping around town dangerously.
“This may anger people when it comes out of my mouth, but we need a cop,” Trustee DeeDee Carey shared. When the Village abolished the police position two years ago, Carey was one of only two Trustees at the time to vote against it. Audience member agreed with Carey, saying that the county couldn’t be trusted and it was difficult to find security for the Mt. Auburn Picnic without a village officer.
Whitehead said he would try talking to Sheriff Kettlekamp again.
The dog situation in town is especially wearing on Whitehead. “Facebook is not the place to be complaining about dogs to me!” Whitehead stated during the meeting.
The issues with animal control had still not been resolved as of the meeting, either. Whitehead explained that the vicious dog who had killed another dog a year ago was still with its owner and had not been removed. Whitehead had also seen multiple dogs running at large despite their owners being told to leash them. He wasn’t too hopefully something would be done, but shared that he was trying his best. He once again asked Chairman Matt Wells to put them on the agenda for the upcoming County Board meeting to try to get something figured out.
In more positive news, the Village is working towards acquiring the Community Building. The building was already moved onto the Village insurance plan, and the Village was preparing to meet with the buildings current owners to finalize the handover. Whitehead said the Board would likely need to make a new committee to handle Community Building issues, and would keep everyone informed going forward.
Also approved at the meeting:
– Treasurer’s report
– Paying May bills
– May 3 regular meeting minutes
– May 12 special meeting minutes
