Ellinger Residents Meet to Hear Incorporation Plan
Concerned residents of the Ellinger community turned out for a meeting about the proposed incorporation. Folks gathered in the dining hall at the Ellinger Community Center on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1.
Advocates for incorporation presented their plan. They conducted a town hall/question and answer session following their brief introduction of the proposal. The plan is to use the boundaries of the original incorporated township of Ellinger. An official five year plan will be drawn up after the November election. This was a concern of some of the participants. Questions were also raised about restrictions on livestock, chickens, pets; some had concerns about possible increases in property taxes, loss of the small town atmosphere and an influx of city-dwellers changing the demographics. It was noted that no action would be taken on any such issues without the approval of the citizens of Ellinger.
Organizers of the proposal stressed that most of the monies collected would benefit the Ellinger Sewer and Water Supply Corporation. (EWS is currently seeking funding for a filtration system to eliminate arsenic from the public water supply.) The water and sewer system was established in 1969 and is in need of many upgrades, such as new water and sewer lines, fire hydrants, new aerators for the WWTP and electrical upgrades at the east side lift station to name a few. As a municipality, Ellinger would be able to request funding for various projects through grants. As the Board members for the EWSC know, it takes a lot of money to make improvements on the system. Corporation members can’t continue to absorb the increases by paying higher and higher rates. We, the residents of this community, must think of our future and our children’s future. We agree that we want to continue living the small town life, but we need more ways to pay for the infrastructure and improvements our community needs.
Registered voters in the community will have the opportunity to mark their ballots for or against incorporation at the November 3 election. Voters will vote to establish Ellinger as a Class C city and the residents will elect an interim mayor and two commissioners. Candidates named on the ballot include: Matt Mikulenka for Mayor; Joe Lamer for Commissioner; and Kenny Stojanek for Commissioner. If Ellinger becomes incorporated, these three men will serve as the city’s leaders until another election can be held in May 2021.
Craig Moreau, Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator, was also present at the meeting. He noted that he is currently involved in applying for funding for Fayette County, which includes Ellinger WSC. He is currently collecting income surveys from Ellinger/single family households in order to establish criteria for funding. Someone will be calling or visiting residents to gather the needed information for the surveys. Competition is tight for these funds, and it is urgent that 100% of the residents comply with the surveys. The information is due by the end of October, unless an extension is granted.
Bartosh Retires from FWSC
Larry Bartosh has officially retired from his duties at Fayette Water Supply Corporation. He was surprised with a lunch at Robert’s Steakhouse in Flatonia on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 11:30 a.m. on his birthday.
All of his co-workers, board members and his immediate family were in attendance. He received a plaque for thirty-two years of service. Gene Kruppa, FWSC board president, thanked him for the countless hours, dedication and hard work over the decades.
On Friday evening, Oct. 2, Larry’s family and friends honored his birthday and retirement with a shrimp boil at his home in Ellinger.
Roast Beef Fundraiser
St. John Lutheran Church of Ellinger, located at the corner of W. Fayette St. and Grover St., will be sponsoring its annual fall fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 11. There will be a limited number of tickets available for the roast beef and sausage dinner. It is advised that you purchase tickets by calling the following numbers: Lucille Koehl at (979) 966-7710; Maxine Brugger at (979) 966-3225; or Sheila Brugger at (979) 966-3174. You may also contact any church member. Plates will cost $10; there will be a drive-thru lane from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The menu will include roast beef and sausage, buttered potatoes, gravy, pinto beans, cole slaw and dessert. The meal will be catered by Peters BBQ.
St. John’s 125th Anniversary
St. John Lutheran Church of Rutersville is celebrating its 125th anniversary in ministry this year. Bishop Mike Rinehart will officiate a parking lot worship on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. This will be a joint worship for the Shared Lutheran Ministry. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs and socially distance if that suits you.
A major part of St. John’s mission is helping others in the community, so they are asking all worshippers to bring donations for AMEN Food Pantry on that Sunday. Donations of Progresso healthy canned soup, bagged beans, jelly, boxed cereal, hamburger helper, peanut butter, evaporated milk, wheat pasta and oatmeal are items needed. You may also write checks as a donation; they can be made out to SLM and they will write one check to cover food donations. The goal is to raise $125 and 125 lbs. of food.
Ellinger VFD
The Ellinger Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle accident on State Hwy 71 near Zapalac Road on Thursday morning, Oct. 1. An 18-wheeler loaded with limestone had a blowout and overturned, dumping rock over the bridge and roadway.
The Ellinger Fire Department held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ellinger Fire Station. It will drill on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.
Sewer and Water
The Ellinger Sewer and Water Supply Corporation will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Ellinger Fire Station.
Birthdays
Birthday wishes are extended to the following celebrants: Kristi Divin - Oct. 10; Laddie Ripple - 11; Dustin Horndt - 12; Kathy Swoboda - 13; Dawn Horndt Cardenas - 14; Crystal Thomas - 15; Braxton Smidovec and Sheila Brugger - 18; Maxine Brugger - 21; and Allen Mueller and Paul Michalsky - 23.
Have News?
If you have news for the correspondent, please call (979) 966-3275 or email bartoshcarolyn@gmail.com.