BREAKING: Weston puts fire fee on the back burner

The village board and HR Finance Committee both tabled the fire fee for a month to gather more info

NOTE: I try not to publish multiple stories in a row on the same topic, but it was hard not to publish a short update following Monday’s decision. But this is the last one on the fire fee for a while.

The village of Weston Board in front of a packed house Monday night decided to put a proposed new fire fee on the back burner as residents railed against the idea.

To recap, the fee is being proposed to help make up for shortfalls in funding the village’s portion of the SAFER Fire District (shared with Rib Mountain) and to help pay for a grant that would fund nine new firefighters in the village.

The Wausonian reported earlier that the fee came after the board had approved a referendum on raising the levy limit to pay for fire services. That referendum ultimately never happened and residents at Monday’s meeting asked for answers as to why.

Administer Jami Gebert said she is still gathering information on whether or not they can implement a fire fee for only part of the costs needed, and whether the board could impose an annual limit on the fee increasing.

Village President Mark Maloney said in light of that, the committee’s tabling, and the number of people concerned about the fee, he thought it made sense for the board to also table the item.

The board’s next meeting is Sept. 15, but Gebert explained a special meeting could be held prior to that. Board Member Barb Ermeling asked staff to bring info to the board as early as possible so they had time to digest the information.

For The Wausonian’s investigation into the disappearing referendum, see the story below: