City council receives an update on progrss being made by ‘Save the Hall’ committee

By Matthew Johnson

Reporter

The Wolf Lake City Council made it official, during its Tuesday, Dec. 10, regular monthly meeting, not to increase the annual property tax levy.

The official action was the adoption of a resolution certifying the total 2024, payable 2025, levy at $25,263, which is the same amount approved in 2023, payable this year. The individual levy allocations, also the same as last year, include $15,000 for the general fund, $4,500 for the road fund, $1,513 for the fire fund and $4,250 for the dumpster fund.

Last year the same levy amount represented a 3.1 percent increase over the 2022, payable 2023, levy. 

The council also passed a motion by Councilor Cassy Makela, seconded by Councilor Cody Lake, to keep council compensation the same as last year, as well. This includes $60 gross compensation per regular meeting for councilors and $25 gross compensation per special meeting; $75 per regular meeting for the mayor and $30 per special meeting.

‘Save the Hall’ committee report

Two members of the “Save the Hall” committee updated the council about ongoing efforts to keep the doors of the Wolf Lake Community Hall open.

The committee met in mid November to brainstorm fundraising ideas. Some of those ideas include creation of a local flyer asking local churches for donations for the hall. Committee members ask that monetary donations for the hall be turned into the city office so they can be placed into a specific fund earmarked only for the hall.

Other fundraising ideas include a bake sale with proceeds going to the hall, scheduling a movie night and holding a game night for young adults. A Facebook page informing the public about “Save the Hall” activities has been created and plans include sharing the page as soon as possible.

Groups and individuals willing to help with volunteer upkeep and maintenance projects are also welcome to participate. Locals are also looking into applying for grant dollars such as for door replacements and energy savings.

In other news

• Passed a motion to, in light of a $12,000-plus deficit in the liquor store fund as of the meeting, transfer $3,000 into that fund from the general fund and the remainder of the deficit into that fund from the parks fund. The city is in the process of trying to find a private buyer for the municipal store and, in the interim, finish out the year with a net gain in that fund. 

• Received a monthly Wolf Lake Fire Department report from Wolf Lake Fire Chief Brock Anderson. Chief Anderson reported that the department, as of the meeting, has responded to 38 calls for the year. Discussion continues on how to proceed with the purchase of a new fire truck.

• Discussed anticipation of a possible grant to fund a septic survey in the process of possibly updating the city sewer. An individual has also expressed interest in possibly becoming the city’s certified septic worker, according to Councilor Lake.

• Regular monthly meetings of the Wolf Lake City Council are usually held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at city hall.