SUBLETTE — Fees for snow removal are being increased in Sublette.

The Sublette Village Board held its regular meeting on Jan. 14 at the Ellice Dinges Center, where it voted on an ordinance that would increase the fee for snow removal for businesses downtown from $7 to $14.

The ordinance needed to be posted for 30 days and was posted after the December board meeting.

Sublette Village Trustee made a motion to approve the ordinance and Trustee Julie Kessel seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-1 with Sublette Village Trustee Richard Klaser voting no, and Sublette Village Trustee Jerry Leffelman abstaining.

Sublette Village President Michael Vaessen said that concrete has been poured in the new maintenance building and that electricity has been run to the building to help warm it up. He added that once the concrete has cured, the village will be able to start using the building.

Vaessen also addressed the board on demolishing the old maintenance building. He said he would like to post the job and take bids on it. He said he would like to have a committee meeting to set the parameters for what the village wants with the demolition.

In other board news:

• The board voted 5-0 to allow the water department to replace buffalo box and shut-offs, etc., at 20 properties that were identified as most important to fix. Leffelman abstained from the vote.

• Don Dinges reported to the board that he had met with the North Central Illinois Council of Governments in Ottawa. They told him they could help Sublette with some possible grants. Dinges said the possible grants could be for a path around the park, or one for some trees, or a grant to help make the Sublette Community Building handicapped accessible. Sublette would have to write the grants themselves, but they would be willing to work with Sublette on the grants.

The next Village of Sublette Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, at the Ellice Dinges Center.