Holmen board approves water rate hike and new $3.9 million library

Water increase will average 17 percent

The Village of Holmen hasn’t seen a water rate increase since 2008. 

That’s changing, beginning in October. The village board approved the increase at a Thursday meeting. Village administrator Scott Heinig says it won’t be that noticeable.

The rates will increase for normal homeowners by 17 percent. 

Heinig says the utility was running near a deficit as the board continued to delay the increase.

Also at the meeting, a new Holmen library could be coming next summer. The board agreed with Olympic Builders for just over $3.9 million. 

“They’re looking for a fairly extravagant looking building,” Justin Yahnke from Olympic said of the project design, “a nice looking building, trying to match everything that’s in the community. A very open, shared space for community members to use.”

Village trustee Chuck Olsen donated $5,000 dollars right off the bat for the project, and will give another $5,000 over the course of the next two years. 

Construction will begin in September.