NORWAY — The city of Norway has again received an unmodified opinion for its audit of the fiscal year 2023-24, the highest rating a municipality can receive.

Scott Sternhagen of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP of Green Bay, Wis., told the city council he didn’t find any major problems and that despite changes in the treasurer’s department the audit process went smoothly. The city’s unassigned general fund balance is up from the previous year — going from $274,494 to $511,432 — within the recommended 15 to 20% of a city’s general fund operating expenditures.

General fund revenues were budgeted at $1,697,160 and the actual total was $1,681,219 — a difference of only $15,941. The city budgeted $2,893,151 for expenses and the actual expenses were $2,537,641 — $355,510 less than budgeted.

Water utility revenue stayed consistent from 2023 at $999,751, while expenses trended up at $785,499 with a change in net position of $468,983. Sternhagen said that the city is not really generating enough cash should any capital needs come up. However, there is repair, replace and improvement money set aside for such expenses as a condition of bonds the city has.

Sewer utility revenue also remained stable last year at $1,018,251, while expenses were up to $863,115, with a change in net position of $184,093. With payments for debt the sewer utility had a negative cash flow.

Sternhagen said that while the utilities as a whole were in pretty good shape, an increase in sewer rates may be needed.

In other business, the council Wednesday:

– Discussed a possible cross-connection survey project. A cross-connection survey is the process of inspecting the water connections of residences and businesses to ensure no contamination is backfeeding into the city’s water system. Some businesses are considered high risk and need to be inspected yearly, while residential properties may only need to be inspected every five or 10 years.

In the past the city had done the inspections, but documentation of these inspections cannot be located and the city may have to start from square one. Representatives from Hydro Corp. of Troy, Mich., were on hand to give a presentation on what they could offer the city in the way of inspections and documentation. No action was taken.

– Approved the 2025 city council meeting schedule. Meetings will remain at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays for February through April and September through December. Summer meeting hours will be 7 p.m on the first and third Mondays May through August.

With New Year’s Day on a Wednesday, January meetings will be moved to Jan. 8 and Jan. 22.