From The Mayor's Desk - March 15, 2026

Good afternoon residents of the Village of Hartsburg,

The Village Board held its March meeting on Monday, March 9. As always, we appreciate the residents who attended and participated in the public comment portion of the meeting. Public input is an important part of the meeting process and helps ensure the Board remains aware of community concerns.

Several topics were raised during public comments and discussion, and I would like to provide some clarification for residents.

Ordinances and Property Maintenance

Questions were raised regarding Village ordinances related to property maintenance and nuisance conditions. While some ordinances may not have been enforced consistently in the past, the Village established the position of Ordinance Officer in late 2024 to help ensure ordinances are applied fairly and consistently across the community.

Maintaining and enforcing these standards helps protect property values, safety, and the overall quality of life in Hartsburg.

Water Billing Update

A resident also asked about water billing timing. The Village recently transitioned to a new water billing system, Rural Utility Billing. Because of this transition, along with February being a shorter month that overlapped with the March meter reading schedule, bills were mailed slightly later than usual.

The billing cycle itself has not changed, and the regular due date remains the same. However, to assist residents during the transition, late fees were not assessed on February balances and disconnection notices related to February payments will not be issued. This was done to provide a reasonable grace period while the new system was implemented.

We are excited about the improved reporting and capabilities this system will provide for both residents and the Village moving forward.

Roadside Gravel from Snow Removal

Residents also asked about gravel and rock that may have been pushed into ditches during winter snow removal. Our maintenance department is continuing to work on moving this material back onto the roadway and clearing grassy areas as weather allows.

Public Meeting Participation

We continue to encourage residents to attend Village Board meetings. The Public Comment portion of the agenda was recently moved toward the beginning of the meeting so residents can participate without needing to stay for the entire meeting if they wish.

To ensure meetings run smoothly and the Board can complete its business, comments from the public are taken during that designated portion of the agenda. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping maintain a respectful and orderly meeting environment.

Staying Informed

As always, residents are encouraged to rely on the Official Village of Hartsburg Facebook page and DiscoverHartsburg.com for accurate information and updates about Village business.

If you would like to receive Village updates directly by email, you can subscribe on the Village website by clicking “Subscribe” at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for your continued engagement in our community.

The next Village Board Meeting will be held Monday, April 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM.

We look forward to seeing you there.

With sincerest regards,

Darien Ritterbush

Mayor, Village of Hartsburg