Village likely to upgrade utilities with relief funds

The Village of Fredonia will receive more than $220,000 in federal coronavirus aid, and trustees are in agreement on how it should be spent — addressing outdated water and sewer infrastructure throughout the village. 

Village President Donald Dohrwardt and Trustee Joshua Haas said that while the Village Board has made no formal decision as to how the funds will be spent, he expects the $222,710 in relief aid will be used to replace outdated water infrastructure the village can’t afford in its annual budget cycle. 

“We’re putting these funds towards items usually on our budget that we’re not able to accomplish,” Haas said. “It’ll be a public works project, more than likely a road or water main fix.” 

While the village modernizes water mains and sewer lines whenever there is a road project, Haas said the funds will allow for larger projects than could typically be completed in a budget cycle. 

In addition to ensuring water mains last for decades to come, replacing dated infrastructure would also improve water-use efficiency. Currently, leaks in water infrastructure throughout the village cause unnecessary pumping. 

“We are pumping a ton of water that is not getting to the homes,” Haas said. “We have water leaks somewhere.”

Haas said when cast-iron pipes were first installed throughout the village, they were placed directly into the ground, which can shift over the years and cause damage to the pipes. 

Modern main installations surround pipes with gravel to lessen strain from shifting ground.

The village will also be able to spend funds to improve infrastructure such as water, sewer and broadband, to increase the pay of state workers to $13 an hour, or to assist private nonprofits or benefit corporations involved in the transportation of cargo or passengers. 

The Town of Fredonia is expected to receive $214,110 in coronavirus relief funds. 

Ozaukee County municipalities receiving the most funding include the Village of Mequon at $2,410,173, the City of Port Washington at $1,177,409 and the City of Cedarburg at $1,146,963. In addition, the county will receive $17.3 million.

The payments are available through the American Rescue Plan Act; Families First Coronavirus Response Act; Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act; and the Consolidated Appropriations Act. 

According to the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the federal funds can only be spent to address specific needs in municipalities. 

The funds can be used to address financial losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic, either by supporting households, small businesses, nonprofits, impacted industries or government services that lost revenue because of Covid-19. 

The federal funds cannot be used to offset tax revenues or be deposited into pension funds. 

Local governments have until the end of 2024 to spend the payments. 

Haas said the pandemic relief funds will not be used for any wishlist items the Village of Fredonia has been eyeing, and the one-time payment will only be applied to projects that benefit the village as a whole. 

“We’re trying to be really practical and conservative with the money we’re getting,” he said.