Village Board

PROCEEDINGS OF THE OXFORD VILLAGE BOARD The Village Board of the Village of Oxford, Marquette County, Wisconsin met in regular session at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in the Council Room of the Oxford Village Hall. The meeting was called to order by President Drinkwater at 6:30 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. The following Board Members were present: President Drinkwater; Trustees: L. Drinkwater, Holtz, Sorensen, Wastart, Zacharias, and Martin. Also in attendance were Police Chief Kowalski, Clerk-Treasurer Maier and Deputy Clerk- Treasurer Kongslie, Oxford Fire Dept. Chief Zacharias, Andy & Julie Henschel, Brian & Rita Goodhue, and Kathy Terwelp. Motion made by Wastart/Holtz to approve the agenda as printed. Motion made by L. Drinkwater/Wastart to accept the minutes of June 11, 2025, regular board meeting; motion by Zacharias/Martin to approve the minutes of the Public Works Committee on July 8, 2025. Motion made by Wastart/L. Drinkwater to approve the Treasurer’s Reports for June 30, 2025. All the above motions carried. Citizen Inquiries: None New Business: Brian Goodhue – Update to Property Lines: A lengthy discussion was held regarding the “alleyway” on the Goodhue property. Brian has been to Marquette County Register of Deeds and the Village Clerk’s Office searching for information on their Vrooman Street property and the way it was sold by Coddington to Kick years ago including the “alleyway” but cannot be sold that way now. Lengthy discussion amongst board members and the Goodhue’s, with Brian stating he will be selling part of it to a resident of the Village and placing the property with the trailer on it up for sale as well. Brian and Rita departed at 6:54 PM. Act on Marq. Adams Phone Coop – brief discussion regarding the clerk and police dept. offices and wi-fi. The clerk’s office wi-fi is very weak due to the brick walls and hallway in between the library and office. The police wi-fi needs to be hooked up again, as when the new computer was installed at the clerk’s office, it was disconnected. Motion by L. Drinkwater/Holtz to approve both the clerk’s office and the police department’s office to be connected by MAPC with a direct connection and at a maximum of $5.00 each per month to the phone bill. Motion carried. Johnson Block – approved at the January meeting, just need President Drinkwater’s signature. Website Updates – Trustee Sorensen showed the board other area municipalities websites through Town- Web with a presentation on the T.V. in the council room. Brief discussion regarding the upcoming upgrades and cost for the website, with a motion by Sorensen/L. Drinkwater to approve the quoted amount of $1,220.00 to continue with Town-Web as our website provider for 2026. Motion carried. Committee Meetings Recommendations Possible Action: Public Safety – Discussion regarding the Burning Permit Ordinance written by Fire Chief Zacharias. The committee approved to send it to the Board at the June 4, 2025, Public Safety Meeting – Village of Oxford Ordinances: Sec. 30-24. Open Burning: (d) Burning on Streets: No materials may be burned upon any street, curb, gutter, sidewalk (adding) or alley. Brief discussion regarding the Open Burning Permit with a motion by Sorensen/Holtz to adopt and replace the existing Burning Ordinance with the addition of “alley” in part (d). Motion carried. Motion by Wastart/Sorensen to approve the Clerk expenses to post this in the paper. Motion carried. Trustee Wastart is not finished with the ordinances regarding setbacks. Chief Kowalski has had no computer wi-fi or the time to work on the Nuisance Ordinance but will as soon as the wi-fi is fixed in the Police Dept. Office. Public Works – A lengthy discussion was held regarding the finishing mower purchased for the tractor. It was used a couple of times, cleaned up and has been in storage since the new Grasshopper mower was purchased. It is no longer needed and is worth roughly $9,000.00 according to the John Deere dealer in Westfield, Riesterer & Schnell. The Street Sweeper needs to be replaced and PW Director Mullens feels that a broom for the tractor would better serve the Village’s needs. A quote has been received from Riesterer & Schnell for the equipment needed for the new broom. Motion by Wastart/Zacharias for the Public Works Department Chairman and Director to get an appraisal for the Street Sweeper, decide on the minimum accepted for bids on both the sweeper and finishing mower, and place them on the Wisconsin Surplus site. Motion carried. Parks & Recreation: President Drinkwater would like to form and AD/HOC Committee to make sure the Food Stand in the Park doesn’t fall through the cracks and not get completed. This committee will be non-paid for all involved; consist of three Board Members, two Lions Club members, and two Community Members. Kathy Terwelp and Julie Henschel volunteered to be community members; President Drinkwater, Trustees Zacharias & L. July 9, 2025, Cont’d Drinkwater will be the Board Members; the Lions Club members will be Steve Mullens and Amy Maier; and Chief Zacharias will appoint two from the Oxford Fire Dept. Notices will be placed in the same places as the Village Board Notices. Building Permits: None currently. Approval of Operator’s Licenses for the following: Operator License applications from: Kay Walters and Jessica Kratz, both approved by Chief Kowalski. Motion by Wastart/Holtz to approve both operator licenses. Motion carried. Committee Reports: Public Safety – Chairman Sorensen stated that the Committee has not met since the June 4, 2025, meeting. Minutes are attached. Municipal Court – Chairman Sorensen stated nothing to report. Police Report – Chief Kowalski’s June 2025 Police report was distributed to the board. Chief Kowalski is still working on the Nuisance Ordinance. Several citations were issued regarding fireworks over the 4th of July weekend, but overall the 4th of July went well. Parks and Recreation – Chairman Drinkwater reports that the only mishap for the 4th of July Celebration was that the camera by the bathrooms was damaged by someone throwing a football. The phone company will fix this and there should not be a charge. Director Mullens planted the tree that was donated by the Lions Club in honor of Zona Head. This is located behind the 1st base bleachers. The storage building in the park has been cleaned out, the fence cap on the outfield fence has been replaced (it lasted 15 years), and everything has been cleaned up from the 4th Celebration. Library Report – Chairman Drinkwater reported that the library had 6 new cards issued again in June. There will be a Library Campaign where people can fill out cards stating what this “Library Means to Me” so that they can be sent to Federal Elected Officials in the hopes that Library funds will not be cut. Please fill out your cards and deposit them in the container in the library. Kimmie has a young high school student who she has trained and is very happy with her work. The book sale and brat fundraisers were a big success. The new door counter has been installed, and our numbers look very good. The summer reading program has begun with the theme “Color My World.” There are 12 eggs in an incubator in the library, numbered so the kids can sign up and guess which one will hatch first and win a prize. There is also a container where the chicks will live for a short time until they’re given away. Rocks that the kids painted and hid around town have turned white, so bring them back in and Kimmie will start a new program where they will repaint them and get treats afterwards. Let Kimmie know if you find one of the rocks. Public Works Report – The lift station pump failed on E. Wood Street. B&M Mechanical Service replaced it with a new one we had in the shop. The old pump has been sent out to L&S Integrated Solutions to be rebuilt so we have a spare pump available when needed. The sink holes on County Road I and Oxford Street have been filled. Director Mullens believes the storm sewer pipe has separated. Country Plumber will televise next week to determine the problem. It shouldn’t be more than $350.00 for the televising. The tornado siren will be looked at sometime this month and he will have more information for the August meeting. All the weeds have been sprayed at the wastewater plant, the park, and on Ormsby Street. The sewer generator has been tuned up and serviced. Kathy Terwelp departed at 8:02 PM. Motion by L. Drinkwater/Zacharias to pay the bills. Motion carried. Motion to Adjourn at 8:19 PM by Zacharias/L. Drinkwater. Motion carried. ____________________________________ Amy J. Maier, Clerk-Treasurer Village of Oxford Marquette County, Wisconsin Page 2 of 2