Fowler Mayor Ray Wards opened Monday evening's Fowler Town Council meeting thanking the public for their input concerning recent issues the town has dealt with. “I want to thank everyone for coming in and voicing their opinions. We appreciate the input,” Wards said. “With this much interest I think we will have a large turnout for the upcoming election of a mayor and trustees, as well as participation on the police advisory council. I would appreciate it if everyone would get out, run for office and take on some of this responsibility.”
Council then went on to work through a long list of items under New Business.
Trustees gave Town Administrator, Wayne Snider permission to apply for a $100,000 Community Facility grant through the United States Department of Agriculture. Funds would be used on the Park School project. Snider was also given the go ahead on a smaller USDA Community Facility grant to be used at Cottonwood Links Golf Course. Coupled with rebates from Black Hills Energy the total cost to install a solar unit at the club house with a backup diesel generator would be covered. That amount is $50,000. The club house would then be designated as an emergency shelter for the community.
Trustees were advised a contract with Vibrant Solar had been reviewed by Town Attorney, Dan Hyatt, and minor changes had been made. Trustees approved the final contract. The company will be installing solar units in the Fowler area to power town owned facilities and equipment. Vibrant Solar was able to lock in rebate rates with Black Hills Energy in the amount of 11 cents before that rate was reduced by half at the beginning of February.
The issue of increasing monthly remuneration for the mayor and trustees was discussed. Trustee Randy McKown asked the board to consider raising the amount to $50 per month for each trustee and the mayor. Currently it is $25 per month for the mayor and $1 per month for trustees. McKown pointed out a considerable amount of time and resources are spent by each trustee reviewing information, printing emails and relevant paperwork, taking phone calls and researching current issues. “There is some expense involved,” McKown stated. He also noted an increase might make it easier for younger citizens in Fowler to become involved. “I'm not doing this for me,” he said, “I'll be gone after April.” (McKown's trustee term expires this year and he has not indicated he will be running again.) McKown researched a variety of other communities comparable in size to Fowler and felt the amount he presented was reasonable.
