The Daily Standard
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A drone captures a picture of a weather radar system on the water tower in Pine Hill, Ala.
Source: Climavision
ST. HENRY - St. Henry village councilors on Monday voiced frustration over delays in the installation of a weather radar system atop the village water tower, a project originally scheduled to begin in late 2024.
The radar, part of a $1 million agreement with Climavision of Louisville, Kentucky, was intended to help fill the coverage gap between National Weather Service radars in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Indianapolis and Wilmington. Under the agreement, Climavision would cover the project's costs while providing the village full access to radar data.
Once the radar is installed village officials will undergo training to read the information provided by the radar.
"Our local fire department, police, county EMA, they would all have access to this data, too. We would have access in our office, too," Sutter had previously told The Daily Standard.
However, little progress has been made on the project and no significant updates were available as of Monday night's meeting.
Workers install weather radar on the top of the water tower in Wendell, Minn. St. Henry officials inked a $1 million deal with Climavision for similar technology.
Source: Climavision
"Climavision (is) still working on some contracts with state agencies and trying to get them nailed down before moving (forward)," said village administrator Stan Sutter.
Councilor Tim Mescher expressed concern about the delays, noting that time was already running down on the village's five-year contract.
"Our contract with them started the day we signed," Mescher said. "And we're already a year into that five-year contract, so they've burnt a year up already. We've all been tired of asking them about it."
Councilors authorized the lease agreement with Climavision in May 2024. With no clear timeline from Climavision, councilors are left waiting for further developments.
In other business, the council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the sale of surplus village property via internet auction. The property in question is a 1997 Ford dump truck, which has been replaced with a 2025 model, along with a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe formerly used as a police vehicle. Sutter tempered expectations regarding the sales, stating that due to the vehicles' age and high mileage, they were unlikely to generate substantial revenue. The resolution was passed as an emergency measure, bypassing the standard three-reading rule. The vote was unanimous, with the exception of Mayor Steve Koesters and Council President Doug Rindele, who were absent.
Councilors also held a first reading for an ordinance which outlines appropriations for village expenses and other expenditures for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2025.
Sutter noted that some of the "big ticket items" are a hydro excavator truck and a street sweeper. The ordinance, which sets budgetary guidelines for the coming year, will require additional readings before final approval.
Sutter also reported that the Kremer-Hoying water line replacement project had recently been completed satisfactorily.
The St. Henry council meets next at 6 p.m. March 10 in the village chambers at 121 W. Washington St.
