New Lothrop OKs Confer Park game bin, plaque for Dave Schnell

Kids and families using the pavilion at Confer Park will find a bin of games there: the New Lothrop village council voted Sept. 9 to let the Downtown Development Authority put one in, with the DDA agreeing to "check on game bin and replace games as needed." The motion came from Trustee Birchmeier with support from Besaw and carried, according to minutes the village posted Oct. 8.

In the same stretch of the meeting, the council approved a second DDA request — to buy a memorial plaque in memory of Dave Schnell. That motion was made by Birchmeier with support from Olk and also carried. The minutes do not say what the plaque will cost, where it will go, or give any further detail about Schnell. Mike Milks appeared for the DDA on the game bin request.

The other item a New Lothrop household may want to follow got only one line. Superintendent Jay Larner "was present to address council in regards to community conversations regarding a Bond proposal," the minutes say. That is all the record contains: no dollar amount, no project list, no election date, and no indication the school board has placed anything on a ballot. A school bond is borrowed money repaid by district property taxpayers, so the figures matter — and none are in this document. The Current reported in August that the board extended Larner's contract through June 2029, and in a separate August story that trustees approved a resolution to refinance part of the district's 2014 bonds.

Mayor Pro-Tem John Maksimchuk called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. The minutes list Maksimchuk, Birchmeier, Gauthier, Ustishen, Olk and Besaw present. Only the motion to pay the bills was taken by roll call — "all yeas," per the minutes. The minutes record no dollar total for those bills. On the other motions, the record names who moved and who supported and says the motion carried, without listing how each member voted.

Three pieces of village housekeeping were discussed without action. Commissioners "will work on contract for full time employee, Andrew Hobson." The street commissioner and DPW were asked to look at possible sidewalks for repair; the minutes name no streets. And on road millings, the direction was plain: "hang on to them, we are not selling any at this time." The minutes give no reason and no quantity. Police, DPW and zoning reports were listed as on file rather than summarized.

What happens next: the council passed out insurance renewal information for review, with recommendations due back at the next meeting. The Hobson contract and the sidewalk list are also unfinished. The posted minutes do not give the date of the next meeting, and they do not say what the bills totaled or what the plaque will cost — questions for the village office at 810-638-5600. The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.