By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

SPECULATOR - Village of Speculator Superintendent of Highways Roger Blanchard Jr. says the addition to the highway garage is nearing completion.

He told the Board of Trustees last week that as a result all highway equipment is now inside and out of the weather.

Stephen Miller General Contractors, Mayfield, was the low bidder for the job at $62,600.

The addition is being paid for with funds from the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program.

Blanchard said he is trying to get at least one more bid before presenting the board with his choice of a vendor from which to purchase a wood chipper.

Blanchard expects the wood chipper to also be paid for with CHIPS funds. The village got about $167,000 in CHIPS money for the current fiscal year.

In other business, Clerk / Treasurer Bonnie Page reported she has been talking with the bank on how to go about setting up direct deposit of paychecks for employees who would like to have that option.

The board approved small pay increases for some of the employees at Oak Mountain Ski Center, as well as Ken Kristiansen’s membership application to Speculator Volunteer Fire Department.

Trustee Cheryl Paestella reported the uphill snowmobile races at Oak Mountain held Dec. 17-18 started off well, with 280 entries the first day, but fell off dramatically the second day because of internal management problems of the promoter, Snowmobile Hill Climb Racing Association.

The Board of Trustees will next meet Monday, Jan. 9, starting at 7 p.m. in Village Hall.