Public Safety Committee

VILLAGE OF HORTONVILLE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MARCH 20, 2024 MEETING MINUTES Chairperson James Moeller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Center at 531 N. Nash St., Hortonville, Wisconsin. Members present: President Jeanne Bellile, Shauna Keel, Pat Lund-Moe, and Jane Olk Officials/Staff present: Administrator Nathan Treadwell, Clerk-Treasurer Jane Booth, Chief of Police Kristine Brownson Others present: Claire Abitz, Grace Abitz, Jack Kuhnke, Therese Abitz, Kathy Gruenewald, Julie Arendt Vanden Heuvel, Sergeant/SRO Brian Bahr Motion [Bellile/Lund-Moe] to approve the Public Safety Committee meeting minutes from September 14, 2023. Unanimous voice vote, motion carried. Pat Lund-Moe asked a question about this, how did this come to be placed on the committee meeting? Chairperson Moeller said because he asked it to be placed on the committee meeting. Lund-Moe said doesn’t that go against what we talked about back in May about citizens being involved. We had this big application process. Chairperson Moeller said that it doesn’t preclude them from being involved, Pat. Lund-Moe asked does this preclude them from speaking during the meeting? Because that was the idea that we sit like this and we all are able to talk, as opposed to a board meeting where they speak, and we can’t talk back. Grace Abitz stated that she was under that impression too from the May 18th meeting. Chairperson Moeller said that he put this on the agenda so that if anyone wants to discuss something that is not on the agenda, they can. If any of the candidates came and wanted to voice that they are running, they could, because it is not on the agenda. When we have a discussion about items that are on here, it is somewhat a controlled discussion because it is limited to items that are on the agenda. This allows citizens to talk about anything they want. Lund-Moe said but are citizens that are not on the committee allowed to participate in the discussion, because that is what we agreed to at the May 18th meeting. It was kind of a compromise if you recall. Chairperson Moeller said I recall. Citizens are always welcome to participate if they stay respectful and they stick to the agenda. Grace Abitz stated that this format doesn’t support that. Chairperson Moeller said yes it does. He said that this is not a debate about whether or not this is on the agenda, it is on the agenda. Grace Abitz said but you created something different. Chairperson Moeller said no, you have this on every board meeting. Grace Abitz said what about after that. She said this is not a regular board meeting, this is a committee meeting. Chairperson Moeller said this is not a discussion about what is on the agenda. There is nothing on here that says to discuss the agenda. We have had that discussion already, Pat voiced a concern, I have addressed the concern, input is still welcome. I have answered the question, and you need to listen to the answer. Preregistered Citizens to be heard Jack Kuhnke, 325 Lakeview Avenue, I am here on behalf of the fire department as the Chief. It has been brought to my attention about house numbers, building numbers, downtown and resident houses as well. How do we make sure the numbers get put on? Chief of Police Brownson said we do have an ordinance now, and that would be a good job for Officer John Stephens to go around and check every house. It was done years and years ago. Jack Kuhnke said that Lakeview is messed up and there is no particular order. Discussion and possible action on Parking on Olk St, specifically the 200 block. The Chief of Police said that we have been receiving complaints from the residents that live on Olk street regarding parking. The vehicles are blocking driveways, and they can’t put out their garbage. The school does encourage staff to park in the school lot. We have been issuing parking citations to those that we see. We have called Sergeant/SRO Bahr a couple of times to ask them to move their vehicles. We have discussed different things that we could do. We could do a two-hour parking, however, that would be odd. I think it would be better to paint lines on that area, so they can’t park three cars where only two cars should be parked. The signs on Cedar are very faded. We sent out letters to the residents on Olk Street, and they could have attended the meeting tonight if they wanted to. Sergeant/SRO Bahr said that there have been changes with the design of the school and HASD Todd Timm wants to be a good neighbor. There is a safety issue also with those residents. Issuing parking tickets isn’t always a sustainable thing. Giving them clearly identified lines will remedy the issue and guide them as to where they can park. [Bellile/Keel] made a recommendation to the Village Board to paint the lines for parking on Olk Street. Discussion on Parking on Towne Dr Chief of Police Brownson said she would like to remove the two-hour parking signs and notify the homeowners. SRO Bahr said this goes back to when the school had this as a main entrance. Just for the general parking we had just vehicles parking out there. I would agree that we should talk with the residents and see if they have any issue of us removing those signs. Discussion as to maybe also painting lines for parking on Towne Drive. Sergeant/SRO Bahr will collaborate with the school facilities employee and bring something back to the next Village Board meeting. Discussion on Parking on Nye St Chief of Police Brownson said that she has spoken to officers on this. Parking is an issue with the Black Otter Supper Club when they have their busy times and when vehicles park on the north and south side of the street, especially when there is snow, you will not be able to get a fire truck through there. My suggestion would be to only allow parking on the North side of the road, and no parking on the South side. Jack Kuhnke said he would rather see the parking on the North side. Chief of Police Brownson said that over on S Nash Street, you can go all the way to Bricks Hardware, and we are constantly getting complaints that there is no visibility when backing out of residents’ driveways and they are blocking driveways. Administrator Treadwell said that they we could paint parking lines and yellow by their driveways. Chairperson Moeller said that the road is narrow on Friday and Saturday nights. Chief of Police Brownson said we would have to put stalls for parking. Consensus was to have parking eliminated on the South side and then bring it back to the Village Board for approval. Discussion concerning intersection of Lincoln and Bath St Grace Abitz said she had a couple of residents ask her about this. I am concerned for kids on bikes for their safety when they are flying down that hill. There is nothing slowing the traffic down. Shauna Keel said that the issue is that there aren’t any lines down Bath, it would help designate turning lanes. There is no sidewalk on Lincoln. This won’t solve the speeding though. Moeller said his issue with putting a stop sign there, the traffic will still cut the corner. That doesn’t solve the problem. Consensus was to paint the lines on Bath and see if that helps. Discussion of Speed Limit W Main St, currently 35 mph Grace Abitz had a resident bring this up. Chief of Police Brownson said that it is a residential area and currently is 35 mph from Charlies Place. You have to keep in mind that when the downtown is done, that speed will drop down to 25 mph at that time. Administrator Treadwell said that the county already knows that the speed limits will have to be looked at after the downtown is done. Consensus was to address this once the reconstruction of Main Street is done. Discussion on Nash Street Parking South of the Nash St Bridge This is in regard to the parking in front of the Old BMO Bank. Jack Kuhnke said that is very narrow and if there is a car parked there you cannot get through with a fire truck. He said it is a safety issue for the Fire Department and has been for 28 years. Administrator Treadwell said that there is currently parking allowed there now. Grace Abitz said it would be nice to free up parking for the downtown businesses. Chief of Police Brownson suggested that this be tabled until the summer and they can watch this and report back to her in the summer. Administrator Treadwell said that if it is a safety issue for the Fire Department is needs to be addressed. Chairperson Moeller said that this could be put on a Village Board Agenda for discussion and Jim will ask the County if they have had this issue and see if they have a recommendation. Discussion on Nye Street Speed Limit Pat Lund-Moe said this is just getting worse and worse. The speed limit goes from 45 to 35 to 25 and it seems people just keep going 45 mph. Administrator Treadwell said that if the speed limit were 45 to 35 that would be more reasonable. Julie Arendt Vanden Heuvel asked about having an informational flyer sent out to notify the residents in that area, since they are the bulk of the speeders on Nye. Consensus was to send to Village board that we shift the speed limits and discuss a notice to be sent to residents. Any other topics for future discussion None Comments and suggestions from citizens present None Adjournment Motion [Bellile/Lund-Moe] to adjourn. Unanimous voice vote, motion carried. The Committee adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Minutes submitted by, Jane Booth, WCMC Village Clerk-Treasurer