Village Board Meeting

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM Kronenwetter Municipal Center - 1582 Kronenwetter Drive Board Room (Lower Level) 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Village President David Baker called the May 12, 2025 Village Board meeting to order at 6 p.m. A. Pledge of Allegiance Those in attendance were invited to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. B. Roll Call PRESENT: Village President David Baker, Trustee Ken Charneski, Trustee Aaron Myszka, Trustee Craig Mortensen, Trustee Sandi Sorensen, Trustee Dan Joling, Trustee Jessica Stowell STAFF: Police Lt. Chris Smart, Fire Chief Theresa O’Brien, Interim Finance Director John Jacobs and Clerk Jennifer Poyer 2. PUBLIC COMMENT Ariel Scheftgen, 2384 Old Highway 52, Kronenwetter, WI 54455 –Comment read by village clerk and attached to minutes. Paul Jaeger, 1900 Seville Road, Kronenwetter, WI 54455 – Comment read by village clerk and attached to minutes. Bernie Kramer, 2150 Highway 153, Peplin, WI 54455- Kramer commented on the new board setup. He said it is “so calm and everyone seems to be relaxed.” He said he anticipates the board meetings will not be long. He also commented on Village representatives meeting with Riverside Fire District ambulance personnel. He said he hopes the differences between the two departments (VOK and Riverside) can be ironed out. He said he thinks the board members will make the right decision for the better of Kronenwetter. 3. REPORTS FROM STAFF AND VENDORS C. Police Chief's Report Police Lt. Chris Smart appeared in place of Police Chief Terry McHugh. D. Fire Chief Report Fire Chief Theresa O’Brien presented her report. She said burning permits are no longer valid in the Village while there is very high fire danger. She answered questions about burning restrictions. E. Interim Finance Director Report Interim Finance Director John Jacobs gave an update on the audit, PC report for the water utility and financials for 2024. He said he wanted to have a check register for the 2024 4th quarter by the May 29, 2025 Village Board Meeting, as well as the 2024 financials. F. Village President Report - Additional Assigned Duties Village President David Baker conveyed his conversation with Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard. He listed the five things he proposed to Leonhard that he would like to see if the county moves forward with the County Highway Department Facility. He said Leonhard has characterized their meeting as very good and has said the “county needs to be a good neighbor to Kronenwetter.” 4. NEW BUSINESS G. Marathon County Bike/Ped Subcommittee Member Representing Kronenwetter Minutes prepared by Jennifer Poyer. Page 1 of 5 Approved on May 29, 2025.  The County Bike/Ped Subcommittee is looking for a member from Kronenwetter to represent the Village and their interests. Three residents were suggested as possibilities. Clerk Poyer was tasked with contacting the suggested residents regarding their interest and availability. H. Ordinance Amendment 25-06 Chapter 496 - Vehicles and Traffic Amending Article II. -ATVS, UTVS and Off-road Recreational Vehicles, 496-7-Operator and Rider Requirements Motion by Charneski/Sorensen to approve Ordinance Amendment 25-06, changing the speed limit of ATVs and UTVs to 35 mph in the Village. Motion carried by roll call vote. 7:0. Discussed the history of the ordinance amendment. It was approved by both the Community Life, Infrastructure and Public Property Committee (CLIPP) and the Plan Commission (PC). Lt. Smart was asked to comment on the change. He said it would correspond to state laws and neighboring community speed limits. He said he does not anticipate a problem with the new speed limit for ATVs and UTVs. I. Riverside Ambulance Contract Meeting Proposal Motion by Mortensen/Sorensen to set up a meeting with President Baker, Fire Chief O’Brien, Fire Chief Briggs and a Riverside Board member to discuss issues and ambulance contract. Motion carried by voice vote. 7:0. Discussed the fire chief’s contract issues being presented in the Community Life, Infrastructure and Public Property Committee (CLIPP); Riverside chief’s delay in meeting with board because of 2025 Spring Election; Riverside chief’s wanting to meet in closed session; and a future meeting with Riverside to discuss presented issues with contract. Faye Buchberger – 824 Nelson Road, Kronenwetter, WI, 54455 – spoke regarding action in CLIPP and actions of Riverside chief. J. Election Review Motion by Charneski/Sorensen to have Community Life, Infrastructure and Personal Property Committee (CLIPP) research and review election procedure and bring recommendations to the Village Board. Motion carried by voice vote. 7:0. Discussed adding guidance to the Village’s election ordinances to clarify election process and the Village Board’s ability to refer items to standing committees. K. Review of Code of Conduct Motion by Charneski/Joling to refer the Code of Conduct review to the Administrative Policy Committee (APC). Motion carried by voice vote. 7:0. Discussed past suggested changes that were not included in final edit. L. Harter's Service Contract-Refer to Appropriate Committee Motion by Charneski/Mortensen to send garbage collection issue and potential request for proposals (RFP) to the Community Life, Infrastructure and Public Property Committee (CLIPP) with action to be referred to the Administrative Policy Committee (APC). Motion carried by voice vote. 7:0. Discussed the advantages of having agenda items discussed in multiple committees. M. Potential Sale of Kronenwetter Drive Properties Motion by Charneski/Mortensen to refer the potential sale of Kronenwetter Drive properties discussed in the Community Life, Infrastructure and Public Property Committee (CLIPP), followed by the Administrative Policy Committee (APC) and the Plan Commission (PC), with the appraisals being discussed in CLIPP. Motion carried by voice vote. 7:0. Discussed the history of the properties in question; advantages of being discussed in multiple committees; discussed the purpose of each committee being involved in the procedure; and Denyon Home’s intentions. 5. CONSENT AGENDA N. Revised March 24, 2025 Village Board Minutes O. April 28, 2025 Village Board Meeting Minutes Motion by Mortensen/Joling to approve the consent agenda items, including the Revised March 24, 2025 Village Board Meeting Minutes and April 28, 2025 Village Board Meeting Minutes. Motion carried by voice vote. 7:0. Minutes prepared by Jennifer Poyer. Page 2 of 5 Approved on May 29, 2025. 6. PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES P. April 7, 2025 CLIPP Committee Meeting Minutes Minutes acknowledged by the Village Board. 7. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA The following agenda items were presented by board members: • Chicken ownership in the Village • Preliminary outline of needs the county will require for their facility project (Invite Lance Leonhard to present at the next meeting.) • Auditor request for proposals (RFP) • Revisit Maple Ridge and Martin Roads speed limit change 8. ADJOURNMENT Motion my Joling/Stowell to adjourn the May 12, 2025 Village Board Meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m. Minutes prepared by Jennifer Poyer. Page 3 of 5 Approved on May 29, 2025. I am Ariel Scheftgen and my current primary residence is at 2384 old highway 51 Kronenwetter WI. We are the little property left to be purchased on our block across from the power plant on old 51 by the county for the county highway department development. Since we were here previously, we had the opportunity to speak with Lance Leonard and express our fears and financial concerns. He stated that the county would "work with us" and that there is time left in the project to discuss options. The option to move our home has been entertained and discussed but not entirely investigated to make sure that we are not worse off financially. We cannot afford to pay off our current mortgage, move our house, purchase land, have a full basement dug and everything else that comes with that for what we were initially offered. We were quoted 134k-180k to move the house unit, establish grade and rehook up the house. That quote did not include land cost or costs to dig and build a full finished basement. With interest rates high, we are in the same condition we were in to purchase an equitable house in the current market. We plan to continue to communicate with Lance. We hope in communications with Lance about our property that we express our concerns well enough for more consideration of a higher dollar amount in order to not put us into a financial predicament. We are thankful to be a part of Kronenwetter and have trustees/commitees/staff that support the residents. We will continue to keep the village informed as things develop. Please feel free to reach out with ideas you have to my email- atootiem@yahoo.com. Thank you. Ariel Minutes prepared by Jennifer Poyer. Page 4 of 5 Approved on May 29, 2025. Trustees, 1. Please review the following correspondence I had with Dave Baker, president. Telling me, a mere taxpayer, to cite statutes to "prove it" is grade school defensiveness. On a higher level it is disingenuous and disrespectful. The village has a treasurer allegedly experienced in municipal accounting. APC has an attorney member who has served as village (town) attorney. All is compounded by Dave blaming the previous administration. Again, a grade school defensiveness. 2. OPEN RECORDS request. This is an open records request for a check register printout as of today, May 12, 2025 certified by the village clerk, by no later than May 15, 2025. I further request it be distributed to the board. A MERE TAXPAYER, Paul Jaeger 1900 Seville Road Minutes prepared by Jennifer Poyer. Page 5 of 5 Approved on May 29, 2025.