Village Board meeting

MEETING MINUTES Village of Palmyra REGULAR VILLAGE BOARD MEETING Monday November 3, 2025 Village Hall 100 W. Taft Street 6:00 P.M. The meeting was called to order by President Gorsegner at 6:00 pm. Roll call: Ball, Deichl, Gorsegner, Petruska, Tucker, Wallace-present. Smith arrived at 6:50 pm Pledge of Allegiance Communications: President Gorsegner announced upcoming events. Monthly Reports: Public Works, - Halbrucker reported that the root cutter on the sewer cleaner was stuck for a couple of days, it had to be dug out. There was a water lateral break on N. First St., the parks and beach have been winterized, they are working on repairing some manholes, 2 more yard waste dates left. Public Safety, - Public Safety Director Paul Blount reported that they have been very busy with traffic stops, 2 felony charges and some other matters involving a child are a few of the things they have been dealing with. Recreation Dept., - typed report was submitted Library,- Trustee Petruska reported that circulation is up 6.7% YTD over last year. The book sale and other fundraising events have raised over $1,000 Clerk/Treasurer-typed report was submitted. Public Forum: subject of 287 (g) some do not wish to speak just gave their opinion. Josh Gajewski- not here representing the town of palmyra board. Gajewski said that the preliminary figure for 2026 for the fire/ems contract is roughly $374,000. He wants mutual aids out of the calculations. There has been correspondence to Tim Gorsegner and Gajewski is asking that the 2 boards get together to listen for the reasoning behind some of the Town’s requests. His fear is that the out and out rejection will ruin the work for this contract. He is asking that the Village seriously reconsider the proposals. Amanda Merkwae- Milwaukee address, She is with the ACLU opposes 287 g program. Juli Miller- Taft St, Palmyra. Miller read Shellee Lubus’ resignation letter out loud. She is opposed to the 287g, she thinks it will divide the village and hurt families. Megaly Cervantes- Main St. Palmyra. She grew up and went to school in Palmyra. She sent a packet with funding resources were sent to board members. She does not support 287 g. Hispanics are hard working people that support their families, not criminals. Jenny Rule- Whitewater resident and used to work at Standard Process. She is strongly opposed. Financial risks associated with joining into 287 g. costly civil rights violations and litigation examples. Urges the board to reject the agreement. Anjie Kokan-outreach chairperson for the United Methodist church. Resided in Palmyra for 25 yrs. Strongly opposed to the 287g program. Mary Geraghty-a Village of Palmyra resident for 30 yrs. She is also a social worker and has seen how ICE tears families apart. Speaks of how back this would be for the Village of Palmyra and it’s Hispanic families. John Ciccarelli- Fort Atkinson resident. Strongly opposes the 287 g program Mari Strasser- Town of Palmyra resident. She is also part of the Palmyra area concerned citizens group. She feels that the Police Chief and Village board are going against their own Municipal code. The Fire & police commission was not pulled into this decision.  Charlie Warren- Village of Palmyra resident. He says that government money isn’t always good money. He raised his family in this community. He is strongly against the 287g program and urges the Village Board to not apply for these funds John Ebbott- Town of Sullivan resident. He grew up here and lives on a farm north of town. Moral question-is this right or is this wrong. The 287g program is like a bounty hunting system. Strongly opposed. William Ousley- Village of Palmyra resident. He references the referendum that failed. So we want people to move to this village using this money from ICE. Opposed 287g. Chistine Neumann Ortiz- Milwaukee resident and the Executive Director of voices De LaFrontera. People fear deportation so they won’t report crimes to the PD. Strongly opposes 287g. Lisa Heffner-Whitewater resident, Whitewater school board member and a mother of a bilingual son. She doesn’t want him or his friends to fear driving through Palmyra. She strongly opposes 287g. Public comments are closed at 6:57 pm 1. Consent Agenda: All items listed are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent agenda and be considered on the regular agenda. A. Petruska/Smith motion to approve the minutes from October 20th, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, and October 30th, 2025 budget and finance meeting, with a correction to the time the budget meeting was adjourned. All ayes-motion carried. 2. Building Permits monthly report for Oct. permits was submitted 3. Committee/Commission reports: None 4. New Business Discussion and Possible Action on the Following Items A. Amending the health, dental and vision insurance option for renewal Dec. 1, 2025- Nov. 30, 2026. Agent Carmen Winkelman with R & R Insurance was present. Anthem pricing was wrong from the last meeting. Its actual increase was 26%. Winkleman suggested having the employees contribute more toward their premium to help the village afford Anthem. Trustee Petruska wants employees’ input. President Gorsegner says we budgeted for 11.69% so let’s just keep that. Next year if Quartz is gone, maybe something will change next. Delta Dental and vision no rate increase. Colonial benefits are staying stable. Petruska/Wallace motion to stay with Quartz for renewal on Dec. 1, 2025. Roll call vote: Ball, Deichl, Gorsegner, Petruska, Tucker, Wallace-aye-motion carried. B. Conditional approval of the certified survey map and preliminary plat for the Westfield Planned Unit Development. Josh Meyerhofer – MSA via TEAMS and David Kozial-Virtus in person. Have updated CSM and plat for the Westfield development. There was a meeting last week and there are still a few outstanding items, but the concept is very similar to what we have all seen. MSA recommends conditional approval. Virtus will make required changes so that this can get recorded. Virtus hired a new engineering firm and Trustee Petruska asked if that has set the project back even more. David says no. Trustee Tucker had questions about stormwater management facilities. The village will maintain ownership and maintenance of these s/w facilities. Petruska/Wallace motion to conditionally approve the CSM and plat and MSA will be getting the changes within a day or so and the plat changes should be done soon. Josh said that the comments are on the preliminary copy that the board has, however the finalized details will be what gets recorded. David Koziol says this will all be done within a week. All ayes-motion carried. C. Wallace/Tucker motion to approve the payment of bills totaling $34,797.31 with extras submitted tonight to pay soccer referees, Jefferson County for 2 additional dog licenses taken within the last week, and Premium Waters. Roll call vote: Ball, Deichl, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace D. Ball/Smith motion to approve the financial statement, bank statement, and cash account statement for September 2025 as read by the Village Clerk/Treasurer. All ayes-motion carried. E. Draft special event/parade permit form with changes. Trustee Wallace had presented some examples from other communities. Board agrees there should not be a barricade fee. The requester needs to be present, form submitted at least 45 days before the event and a certificate of liability insurance from organization to the village should be submitted. Trustee Petruska asked if anyone has talked to the clubs and schools about this. No action taken. It will be brought back with final revisions. Tabled. F. Fire Chief Mike Gartzke talked to the board about whether to sell or keep the following items: 2006 Chevy Utility Truck in the FD fleet. It was replaced with the new black truck, and the original intention was to sell this vehicle. They use it now for routine inspections without having to take the big truck out. Used for driving to training instead of paying mileage, hauls equipment, tows ATV now. If black truck is staffed then the red truck can go to calls, cutting down on response times. If it is sold, he recommends that the next time the PD gets a new squad the old squad goes to them. The high-pressure skid unit- doesn’t fit the wildland firefighter needs. DNR grant matching funds of $14,000 which is more than replacing the current unit. It won’t cost the village any money. The reserve ambulance is the backup ambulance would not start at a hospital recently. It took 4 hrs.to get going. The estimated repair is about $3073.00. This is not cost effective. New ambulance won’t come until May or June 2026. Look at selling this without making the repairs, this is jointly owned by the town. Gartzke didn’t want any decisions from the Board tonight, he just wanted to bring it to their attention now. Trustee Tucker asked about the skid unit. What would it cost to replace it? Gartzke said $12,000.00. The problem with current skid unit is that it is just a giant pressure washer. What is the old unit worth, Mike isn’t sure. What someone will pay. It is relatively newer. Trustee Smith asked if it is better to auction it or just put a price on it. Gartzke says yes, put a price on it. They didn’t even get the reserve the last time it was on WI Surplus. They set the reserve at $10,000. Smith would like to sell it for what it is worth. Maybe a trade in value too. The 2006 pickup didn’t need a lot of repairs, it’s a diesel, low miles, runs well, nothing owed on it. Dylan Callas speaks about the time it would cut into response time to keep the red truck. No action taken at this time, this was more an update to the Village Board. G. Budget Committee presents the preliminary 2026 General Fund budget for information only. Trustee Wallace gave an update and reviewed the budget. This will go to a public hearing on Dec. 1st. for final adoption. H. Wallace/Smith motion to convene into closed session at 8:04 pm pursuant to State Statute 19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Specifically, The Village of Palmyra will meet to negotiate collective bargaining with the Village of Palmyra Protective Service Officers Association, WPPA. Roll call vote: Ball, Deichl, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace- aye. Motion carried. I. Petruska/Tucker motion to convene into open session at 8:53 pm pursuant to §19.85(2), Stats., for possible additional discussion and action concerning any matter discussed. Roll call vote: Ball, Deichl, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace- aye. Motion carried. Smith/Petruska motion to give Sgt. LePak a $3300 stipend on July 1st, 2026, no holiday payout in the WPPA agreement, but the extra proposed holidays were approved. Roll call vote: Ball, Deichl, Gorsegner, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Wallace- aye. Motion carried. Tucker/Smith motion to adjourn at 8:58 pm. All ayes-motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Laurie Mueller, Village Clerk/Treasurer Minutes approved without corrections Nov. 17, 2025