Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Receive Generous Donations

The Exeter Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts recently participated in the Scouting for Food event.  The scouts distributed door hangers inviting residents to leave food out to be picked up on Saturday, April 8th.  The food was collected in neighborhoods and also at local businesses and at Exeter-Milligan school.  All of the food collected by the scouts will be donated to Blue Valley Food Bank in Geneva.

Exeter-Milligan Junior High Quiz Bowl

The Exeter-Milligan Junior High Quiz Bowl team competed in three events this year.  Front row from the left:  Peyton Pribyl, Cammie Harrison, Cameron Jansky and Madison Luzum.  Second row from the left: Jaiden Papik, Emma Olsen, Georgia Meyer and Kole Svec.  Third row from the left: Kiah Songster, Ben Bartu, Katelyn Babula, Briana Capek and Becca Krupicka.  Back row from the left: Wesley Ronne, Braden Capek, Coach Rhoda Wahl and Blake Meyer.

Exeter Village Board Meets

By Leesa K. Bartu

Chairman Alan Michl opened the Exeter village board by officially congratulating clerk Becky Erdkamp on her clerk of the year award.  The board meeting was held on Tuesday April 4^th.

The board approved the minutes and invoices from the last month before welcoming Ryan Kavan from JEO Consulting to review the current progress on the street and downtown projects.

“We are progressing really well on the street projects,” reported Kavan.  “We are doing what we can to improve the grades and drainage but it’s difficult as flat as it is.”

He reported that the estimates given earlier were “within about $5,000 of what we projected on the streets project.”  

He questioned the board as to how the estimates should be written: as individual projects or as one street project.

Michl responded, “We should have separate estimates, the three new blocks, especially.  We need to give the homeowners around those three new blocks a chance to review the costs.”

“And the main concern I have is that we need to get our finances in order.  With interest rates going up we would like to lock in now.”

He emphasized, “There would be an order in how we would like it to go because of the truck route issues.”

The board examined some lighting options to update the downtown area.

Kavan noted that the board did not need to choose a lighting option during the meeting but it will need to be made soon.  He also reported that the plans for the water project downtown is about 60 percent completed.  “We are looking at trying to bore as much of the water as possible to not disturb the concrete.”

The board passed Ordinances 586 and 587 to raise the water and sewer rates. 

Next the Board set the wages for summer help. The new hires will start at $9 per hour while returning lifeguards and other employees will get a .25 raise.

Clerk Erdkamp shared some TIF (Tax Increment Financing) information with the board.  Michl encouraged board members to research more online.

Michl brought up changing over to a paperless system for their village board meetings.  It was received well with board member Justin Harre emphasizing “The idea is to get rid of the paper.“

Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield shared how he sets up the school board packets on ipads.

Maintenance Supervisor John Mueller gave his report.  He noted that the GIS mapping project was reviewed with JEO and is almost completed.  He also informed the board that he was able to have stainless steel bases made for the diving boards at the pool for $1000 each.

Chairman Michl added that the bases have been ordered, “We figured it would cost the same amount to sand blast and powder coat them.”

Clerk Erdkamp reported that she is having computer issues and will need a new desktop computer. Also, she cashed in a Village certificate of deposit to pay for the JEO work but there was a $230 penalty.  Michl added that a short term loan would have cost the village $670 per month so the penalty was a much more economical option. Erdkamp noted that the funds in the certificate of deposit will be redeposited after the board issues bonds for the project.

Erdkamp has also had several long term camping requests but they have not called back as she informed them that there are no bathrooms or showers available.

She also reported that sales tax for January was $12,323.10 and Keno for February was $521.86.

The next meeting was set for May 3 at 7 p.m.

Exeter Easter Egg Hunt

The Exeter Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 9^th at the Exeter-Milligan school.  The event, which drew a large crowd on a very warm spring day, was managed by the Exeter-Milligan FCCLA members.  The group stuffed over 1400 eggs, hid them, and helped the many kids who came to hunt.

The Easter Bunny was present and delivered treats of goldfish filled “carrots” to all of the kids.  The FCCLA members also created and coordinated games with the children including pin the tail on the bunny, a ball toss and an egg toss.  The group also created a lollipop field for the hunters to harvest. 

This year the eggs contained fun mini prizes along with a few larger eggs with small stuffed animals.  The Exeter Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event and also provided the prizes for each age group.

Above – Hannah Horne blindfolds Mackenzie Jaeger and spins her around to play pin the tail on the bunny at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

 

 Crosby Oldehoeft shows of the goldfish “carrot” the Easter Bunny gave him at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

 Lynn Jurgensen checks her eggs during the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.  She also had the assistance of her palm frond from Palm Sunday services.

 JJ Becker helps her daughter, Gracelyn, check to make sure she hasn’t gotten too many eggs at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

  Saydee Kassik is very excited about the egg she found at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

 Savannah Horne (left) and Savana Krupicka (right) help the kids sign in at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

 Addison Foutch goes for another Easter Egg.

 The third and fourth graders take off to hunt eggs at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

  Knox Becker tosses a ball into the bunny box at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

 Gracelyn Becker shows off the lollipop she harvested in the lollipop field at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt.

Prize winners at the Exeter Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt are pictured from the left:  the Easter Bunny (Jaiden Papik) holds Paul Kallhoff, Cheyenne Krupicka, Gracelyn Becker, Micah Korf, Richard Hickman, Alex Morner, Joleen Vossler and Gabriel Wiseman (in front).

Exeter-Milligan Prom

Exeter-Milligan held their “A Night in Paris” prom in Exeter on Satuday, April 1.  The dance was held at the Exeter Legion and post-prom was held at the Exeter-Milligan High School.  Pictured are all of the attendees before the supper began.