Village Board

Village of Kohler Village Board Meeting October 16, 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, Mike Kitzerow and Laurie Lindow. Items of Concern Regarding the Agenda, Including Public Comment – Tom Schnettler acknowledged that members of the public would be able to speak to the parking ordinance proposed in agenda item 1 and the Village Board is willing to listen. Each speaker should identify themselves, state their address and limit comments to three minutes. Several members of the community spoke during public comment: Shannon Bullard, 680 Treehouse Pkwy – Shannon attended the combined committee meeting a few weeks ago and found it difficult to take unofficial meeting minutes that she posts on Kohler Parents facebook page. She posted an objective summary without hurtful comments. She has seen several positive changes and is optimistic about compromise from the Village Board. She still has issues with the proposed ordinance and would like to have parking restricted for a shorter time period and parking allowed on one side of the street. Jen Roatch, 153 Market Street – Is disappointed that the proposed ordinance makes no changes to the available parking spaces for the library. There are only five spaces and three are handicap spaces. Parking for the library is addressed in a different ordinance and Chief Splivalo and Tom Schnettler are working on modifying that ordinance. After these changes are made, parking for the library will be monitored. Sheila Ryan, 411 Ridge Court – Sheila doesn’t understand the timing of implementing the ordinance and curious about the timing of the announcement. She thought the school orientation day, about a month before school began, would have been a good time. From her perspective, there are many traffic considerations and pedestrian movements that should be considered. She has picked up her son on School Street in the past as he has to be in full uniform and on the ice for hockey practice by 3:30. Carolyn Reabe, 445 Audubon – Carolyn is representing the high school students who have been shoved out and forced to park at Ebben Field. Tim Kong, 153 School Street – Tim appreciates the four-way stop added at Church and School Streets which has slowed down traffic and made the intersection safer. Increasing the line of sight at this intersection has also increased safety. The proposed ordinance is needed to keep children safe and avoid someone getting hit. If the ordinance is not passed, then other ways will need to be developed to make walking to school safe for all children. Joe Walter, 1767 W. Bender Road – Joe lives in the Town of Sheboygan and chose to have his children attend Kohler Schools because one school houses K through 12th grade. Joe thinks it is not safe for students to cross Greenfield Drive, this past Friday it was raining and when it snows crossing will be worse. Students cross the street outside the crosswalk and cut across the parking lot during heavy traffic. He likes the added four way stop and believes that Church Street is best for elementary students entering school. Kelly Jensen, 530 School Street – Kelly questions why it is dangerous for high school students to cross the street, there are no problems with students crossing the street at night for sporting events held at Ebben Field. She thinks that adjusting restricted parking from all day may be feasible. There were no additional comments from the public. Approve Meeting Minutes from September 18, 2023 – Motion by Michael Wandschneider, second by Mike Zimmermann to approve meeting minutes from September 18, 2023. Motion carried. Business 1. Ordinance No. 2023-8, An Ordinance Creating Section 11.20.050 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Kohler, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Residential Parking Permit System – Tom Schnettler explained that a motion and a second to the motion need to be made before starting a discussion by the Village Board of the proposed ordinance. Chief Splivalo will also summarize the proposed ordinance. Motion by Tom Schnettler, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve Ordinance No. 2023-8, An Ordinance Creating Section 11.20.050 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Kohler, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Residential Parking Permit System. Chief Splivalo has been monitoring traffic through school parking lots and parking needs are being met. The school superintendent has designated parking in the east and west parking lots at Ebben Field and that is the school’s purview. The crosswalk from Ebben Field has also been monitored and there have been no close calls and students are not at risk. Changes to the library parking will be addressed in another ordinance which will be discussed at committee next month. John Winter asked about allowing parking on one side of the street, adjacent to school. The four-way stop and better sight lines at School and Church Streets make the intersection safer. John also asked who is responsible if a guard is needed at the Greenfield crosswalk. Shawn responded either the school or the village. Mike Kitzerow is investigating lighting that is motion activated and Kohler Schools will be adding additional lighting. It has been observed by Chief Splivalo that 85% of pedestrians are activating the light for the crosswalk. Mike Zimmermann stated that Greenfield is a dangerous crosswalk and during sports events at Ebben Field he has stood by and activated the light for pedestrians. Mike said that the tunnel was a safe option and should have been maintained. He suggested volunteers could monitor the crosswalk and activate the crosswalk lights due to the button being hard to find. He believes the crosswalk is dangerous. John Winter asked if restricted parking could be implemented for shorter hours. Chief Splivalo responded that we cannot have multiple signs and ambiguous restrictions that would be difficult to prosecute. Kohler Co. employees are restricted from parking long-term on Church Street currently. John asked what recommendations came from the joint committee, Tom Schnettler responded that no recommendations were made, just reaffirmed positions, the committee was a failure. On three separate occasions, the Village reached out and had this issue on an agenda since last spring and there was no dialogue. There was an expectation after the referendum that parking issues would be solved. Motion by Jason Kwacz, second by Mike Zimmermann to amend Section C. Implementation of system - to change the time for Residential parking permit on listed streets to 7:30-8:30 and 2:30-3:30 rather than 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. This would restrict drop off/pick up of students on these designated streets while allowing usage during the daytime hours. Kohler Co. employees and American Club deliveries would not change. Chief Splivalo said policing enforcement of the change in hours wouldn’t make a difference. The resident-only parking signs that were removed would need to be up again and having too many signs is confusing. Ordinance violations are now clear for the Municipal Judge. Michael Wandschneider questioned what problem we are solving by opening parking during the day time hours. Jason responded that some of the library, theater, youth center usage would benefit along with residents visiting with friends and family. John Winter motioned to change morning time frame to 7:30-9:00, motion died  due to no second. A roll call vote was taken on the amendment to the ordinance: John Winter – aye, Mike Zimmermann – aye, John Ewert – nay, Jason Kwacz – aye, Michael Wandschneider – nay, Brett Edgerle – aye, Tom Schnettler – nay. Motion carried. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-8, An Ordinance Creating Section 11.20.050 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Kohler, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Residential Parking Permit System as amended: Mike Zimmermann – aye, John Ewert – nay, Jason Kwacz – aye, Michael Wandschneider – aye, Brett Edgerle – aye, Tom Schnettler – nay, John Winter – aye. Motion carried. 2. Discuss and take action on waiver application-Restricted Number of Dog or Cats for Tom and Anna Teaters, 212 E. Park Lane – Motion by Tom Schnettler, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve waiver restricting number of dog or cats for Tom and Anna Teaters. Motion carried. 3. Discuss and take action on waiver application-Restricted Number of Dog or Cats for Gary and Laurie Lindow, 128 E. Park Lane – Motion by Tom Schnettler, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve waiver restricting number of dog or cats for Gary and Laurie Lindow. Motion carried. 4. The Finance Committee recommends the Village Board take action on the following: a. September Revenue & Expense reports, bank reconciliation and journal entries – Motion by John Ewert, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve September Revenue & Expense reports, bank reconciliation and journal entries. Motion carried. 5. The Plan Commission recommends the Village Board take action on the following: a. Building permit for Johnson Financial Group for new signage – Motion by Tom Schnettler, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve building permit for Johnson Financial Group for new signage. Motion carried. b. Building permit for Creative Sign Company for new signage at Sierra store – Motion by Tom Schnettler, second by Michael Wandschneider to approve building permit for Creative Sign Company for new signage at Sierra store. Motion carried. c. Building permit for Sierra, 4031 State Highway 28, for a building permit for new storefront – Motion by Tom Schnettler, second by Mike Zimmermann to approve building permit for Sierra, 4031 State Highway 28, for a building permit for new storefront. Motion carried. 6. Update on Pool project and change order – Mike Kitzerow reported that the pool project is moving along and slightly behind schedule on the brick work due to weather. Sandblasting and painting are on schedule. A change order was issued to replace the existing cast iron piping with new PVC piping, connecting to existing 6” vertical storm riser in the SW corner of pool area, including replacing roof drains and reinsulating all roof drain piping. Brett questioned where we are on contingency for the pool project, Laurie will provide details. Motion by Jason Kwacz, second by Mike Zimmermann to approve change order for pool project not to exceed $22,800. Motion carried. Correspondence Minutes from Finance Committee, Property Committee and Library Board Exemption letter to Sheboygan County Library Fund Tax Kohler Police Department – September 2023 Call Summary Report Claims List from September 2023 Adjournment Motion by Michael Wandschneider, second by Brett Edgerle to adjourn the meeting at 6:58 p.m. Motion carried. _____________________________ Laurie Lindow, Clerk-Treasurer