A Message from Buhler's Mayor, Marlo D. Oltman 
July 2006

A special welcome is extended to those who have recently become residents of the City of Buhler . It is a great place to live and by working together as a genuine community, we can make it even a better place to live. Every resident is a representative of our city. The way we live and work together, the pride we take in maintaining our property, the way we treat visitors, the way our businesses treat their customers, the way we support our schools, and the way we plan and support community activities - all these influence whether or not a prospective business owner or prospective resident might choose to make Buhler his or her location of a business or his or her home.

Because Buhler is not located along a major highway, we have to work hard to give people several reasons to come to Buhler. Our business community understands this and has developed an attractive brochure inviting people to make Buhler their destination. Those of us who are not in business can support that marketing campaign by helping insure that our city is clean and attractive and making visitors feel welcome. And if we want the convenience of having the goods and services we need right here in our city, we need to support our businesses.

The Buhler Economic Development Board continues their effort to encourage new businesses to locate in Buhler. A portion of the mill warehouse is now the home of Miller Vision Care. Two or three other business sites, located in the property formerly owned by ADM are available. A Neighborhood Revitalization Ordinance passed by the city governing body is a vehicle to encourage improvement of buildings or construction of new buildings in a designated area of the city by tax rebates. Some street development is necessary to encourage the extension of our business district.

Changes in state and federal regulations controlling city water and wastewater systems continually present new challenges to the city. Engineering design work has been approved and bids are being received for a project to allow our wastewater treatment plant to meet new standards. A low interest loan has been secured for the project, but it must be paid back out of fees charged for wastewater treatment, which explains the significant increase in your charge for this service. The governing body and city staff are working on two issues that must be addressed in the near future related to our water system - the need for additional water rights and finding a way to meet the new standard of the allowable amount of arsenic in the water. Water is a precious resource, so we need to be conservative in our use of water.

Many of you are practicing good conservation of resources by recyling. Every household is encouraged to participate in this convenient program to reduce the volume of stuff going to the landfill and to provide materials that can be recyled.

Each year I remind you that every community had to depend on volunteers to give of their time and energy to help create the kind of community we envision. Thanks to all the volunteers who serve on city boards and commissions. If you have an interest in serving your community by working on a board or commission, please contact me.

Marlo D. Oltman, Mayor