Village Board

Village of Kohler Village Board Meeting September 18, 2023 Village President Thomas Schnettler called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call was taken: Tom Schnettler, John Winter, Mike Zimmermann, John Ewert, Jason Kwacz, Michael Wandschneider and Brett Edgerle were present. Staff members present: Shawn Splivalo, Gary Lindow, Mike Kitzerow and Laurie Lindow. Items of Concern Regarding the Agenda, Including Public Comment – Tom Schnettler explained that an ordinance regarding restricted parking on streets adjacent to Kohler School has been moved out to allow for more discussion. The Village Board is interested in hearing new ideas and input. There were no items of concern regarding the agenda, but several members of the community spoke during public comment: Shannon Bullard – Read a letter to the board which is attached to these minutes. Stephanie Hoskins – A Kohler graduate. The village used to be an integrated community with collaboration between the Village, School and Kohler Co. and should be again, not adversarial. We need to work together to find new solutions. Tim Kong – Lives on the southeast corner of School Street and Church Street and has witnessed unsafe conditions at this intersection during school hours. The buffer zone that was added near the intersection has increased safety and visibility due to slowing down traffic. He has a stake in the safety of the intersection as he has children attending school and friends playing after school. He has been parked in and not able to access his driveway several times. Tim appreciates the safety measures in place and is OK with a four-way stop. He thinks the Village could look at other alternatives and understands the past social activity on kindergarten corner but we have to look at what is safe and best for our children. Kevin Jensen – Lives on Church Street and expected more traffic during school drop off/pick up after parking lot construction, but not chaos. The restricted parking on Church has helped with Kohler Co. hospitality employee parking. Church Street is a delivery truck route and shuttles run back and forth, it is not a safe area for drop off/pick up of children. Stephanie Price – Lives on Market Street and has two young children walking to school, they often walk with three other children. Safety has been greatly increased by implementing better site lines at the intersection of Church and School Streets. Kelly Kasten – Parents live on School Street and has observed the congestion of traffic that the new parking lot configuration was supposed to alleviate. She appreciates the restricted parking around the school making it safer for children walking to school. Jenny Roatch – Concerned that the five parking spaces reserved for library usage is not enough. Jenny is asking if library parking spaces can be increased for times not at drop off/pick up times. She is also concerned about the safety of students parking in the new lot at Ebben Field. There were no additional comments from the public. Approve Meeting Minutes from August 21, 2023 – Motion by Michael Wandschneider, second by Mike Zimmermann to approve meeting minutes from August 21, 2023. Motion carried. Business Update on Church Street and School Street parking – Tom Schnettler explained that the Kohler School remodeling project had been reviewed and approved by the Plan Commission and Kohler Co. At that time, Kohler Co. recommended that a traffic study be completed to ensure that the parking lot plan would work although it was not required by the Plan Commission or Kohler Co. for approval. The ordinance for restricted parking on streets around Kohler School has been put off for now and a committee will be meeting and discussing the issue. The committee will consist of Tom Schnettler-Village President, Cory Bouck-School Board President, John Ewert-Finance Chair, Shawn Splivalo-Police Chief, Lisa Greene-School Superintendent and Tarra Mikolyzk-School Board member. The Village Board provided lots of opportunities to work with the school on this issue and made the changes to get action. Kevin Jensen approached the Village Board in March 2023 regarding problems with parents dropping off and picking up children on Church Street. Problems included double parking in the road, parking across private driveways and parking on the east side of the street which is a no parking area. Daily observations by the Police Chief, Superintendent and other School Board members of the school traffic flow will be discussed in looking at alternatives. Police Chief Splivalo commented that logistically temporary signs have been posted limiting parking around school and parking permits have been issued, two per home. While observing traffic flow during the first two weeks, there are short times when the school parking lot experiences overload but for only five to seven minutes and the time was less this past week. The nearby intersections adjacent to the parking lot are working and there is little delay. The restricted parking has eliminated most vehicular traffic on the south side of the school making this area much safer. Concerns have been raised about parking for library usage and theater events, these issues will be worked out. There is some interest in reinstating the kindergarten corner entrance by some parents but this does not provide safety and security for the students or school population. This is a school issue to be worked out. At times there has been a slight backup on Greenfield, high school students using the east Ebben Field lot may relieve that delay. The committee will be reviewing and discussing working out these issues. Jason Kwacz – The post-construction issues will be worked out between the Kohler School and the Village, there has been cooperation between the two parties during construction. The Village closed Upper Road and deeded to the school to enhance the parking lot. The committee will work together to resolve the issues. 1. The Finance Committee recommends the Village Board take action on the following: a. Ordinance No. 2023-7, An Ordinance Amending Section 11.14.010 N. of the Municipal Code of the Village of Kohler, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Regarding Stop Signs – This ordinance adds stop signs at the intersection of Church Street and School Street. Tom Schnettler is not in favor of adding stop signs, he thinks it is premature and we should look at other possible alternatives and analyze how the new signage has helped. Residents will encounter the stop signs all the time, not just on school days. The school will be reinstating safety patrol that will help with safe crossings of School Street. Jason Kwacz resides on South Road and believes the stop signs are needed. Visibility has been increased at this intersection for drivers and children walking and he is in favor of adding stop signs. Mike Zimmermann is also in favor due to stop signs slowing down the traffic. A roll call vote was taken: John Winter – aye, Mike Zimmermann – aye, John Ewert – aye, Jason Kwacz – aye, Michael Wandschneider – aye, Brett Edgerle – nay, Tom Schnettler – nay. Motion carried, not unanimously. b. August Revenue & Expense reports, bank reconciliation and journal entries – Motion by John Ewert, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve August  Revenue & Expense reports, bank reconciliation and journal entries. Motion carried. 2. The Property Committee recommends the Village Board take action on the following: a. Approve amount not to exceed $30,000 for Lost Woods Park Phase I, work to be completed this fall – Lost Woods Park Phase I work includes ball diamond grading, new bleachers, improved drainage of fields, score board, benches and concrete base under the bleachers. This project was budgeted. Motion by Jason Kwacz, second by John Winter to approve amount not to exceed $30,000 for Lost Woods Park Phase I, work to be completed this fall. Motion carried. 3. Collaboration Agreement for fire protection and emergency response services between the City of Sheboygan Falls and the Village of Kohler – This five-year agreement has been in place for about 15 years and mainly addresses manpower needs. Mike Zimmermann is concerned about item number 4 in the agreement which states “The Village is responsible for the cost of parts, materials, labor to repair, and insurance attributable to the Village’s vehicles and equipment and each Fire Department shall be responsible for the storage, maintenance, repairs, and updating of all other firefighting equipment kept at their respective fire stations.” There was a discussion at the Property Committee meeting last month regarding replacement of a boat for the Fire Department. The committee discussed cost sharing the purchase with the other area fire departments, developing a resource sharing agreement with other departments or possible grants that might be available. John Winter explained that the Property Committee wanted to explore cost sharing of equipment that is used outside our jurisdiction. Tom Schnettler added that an existing mutual aid agreement is in place now and changes can be discussed but would have to be agreed on by all parties. Gary Lindow explained that within the jurisdiction of the Village is nine miles of rescue coverage on the Sheboygan River that requires a boat. The Sheboygan County Heads of Government meetings have begun to discuss this issue and a committee has been set up by the Sheboygan County Emergency Management department. Gary Lindow is on this committee and they are meeting October 11. Motion by Tom Schnettler, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve the Collaboration Agreement for fire protection and emergency response services between the City of Sheboygan Falls and the Village of Kohler. Motion carried. 4. Kohler Preliminary Financing Plan 2023-2027 Update – Laurie explained that Ehlers was asked to update the Preliminary Financing Plan 2024-2027 due to a large increase in the equalization value published by the State on August 15. Equalized value increased 19.07% or $101,324,900 from 2023 to 2024. The updated plan projects an average tax rate of $2.62 per thousand from 2024-2028 and decreases the G.O. Debt capacity from 82% to 72% in 2027. Large capital spending will be restricted in the next five years due to the 100-year projects completed in the last few years. 5. Update on Pool project – Phase I involved renovations of the guard station and locker rooms and has been completed. Phase II the roof of the structure will be taken off, beams repaired and mechanicals replaced. The existing pool was built in 1955 and at the time was a top notch facility but now was in need of refurbishment. Historically the pool is only open seasonally due to usage and the glass doors nor being energy efficient. Correspondence Minutes from Finance Committee, Property Committee and Library Board Invitation to Ebben Field Grand Opening Ceremony – Friday, Sept. 22 at 6:00 p.m. 2024 Operating and Capital Outlay Budget timetable Kohler Police Department – August 2023 Call Summary Report Claims List from August 2023 Adjournment Motion by Michael Wandschneider, second by Jason Kwacz to adjourn the meeting at 6:53 p.m. Motion carried. _____________________________ Laurie Lindow, Clerk-Treasurer