Committee of the Whole

VILLAGE OF TWIN LAKES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES May 6, 2024 – 6:30 p.m. Village Hall, 105 E. Main Street, Twin Lakes, WI CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT SKINNER AT 6:30 PM/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/ROLL CALL: Present: Trustees Barb Andres, Sharon Bower, Bill Kaskin, Kevin Fitzgerald, Ken Perl, President Howard Skinner. Absent: Trustee Aaron Karow. Also Present: Administrator Laura Roesslein, Police Chief Katie Hall, Clerk Sabrina Waswo. Clerk Waswo sworn in Police Captian Jacob Bauer. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. Phil Johnson, 2506 Sherman Lane, would like to commend the village board for considering the ATV ordinance. He feels utility vehicles are becoming more popular and would be well-received in the village. Considering the way cars are priced, some of these UTVs are cheaper. If set up properly and if people follow the rules of the road, they will be a popular option. Sharon Oprizach, 2909 Lakeshore Way, President of Lake Shore Manor HOA, wants the board to know that May 15th is National Police Day, and the entire week should be dedicated to the police. Andy Keisler, 203 Lynne Drive, supports what Phil stated. He owns UTVs and sees how they bring business to other villages up north. He feels it will bring new money and will be enjoyed by a lot of people. Bob Kohler, President of Aquanut Water Shows, expressed gratitude to the village for their continuous support of their team. It's the second year of the new sign, and he feels it has been well-received. He wanted to offer anything on that sign to the village, such as a car show or police night out. He expressed concerns about erosion in Lance Park by the site, worrying about water rush and safety. He proposed adding boulders to prevent erosion in front of the equipment shed area. He plans to obtain rocks from the backside of the fishing pier. He would like space off the backside of the fishing pier to add a small pier/dock; it would not extend past the fishing pier. It would be for people to walk out to instead of climbing out on the railing. They are not seeking financial support, only the village's blessing to proceed with these plans. When asked about attaching the pier, he explained that it would be from the shore out, adjacent to the west side of the fishing pier. Bob confirmed there is enough space between the fishing pier and the end of the retaining wall, mentioning there was actually an extra pier back there for Cornfest temporarily, and they want to make it more permanent for the season. It would still be pulled every fall. Roesslein raised the question of whether the building department needs to look into the shoreland, to which Fitzgerald responded that it doesn't seem like a permit is needed. Howard suggested they check if a permit is required. Kim Lishamer, 1816 Pheasant Ave, supports the ATV/UTV ordinance change and requests consideration of the current ordinance pertaining to ATVs and dirt bikes. She asked the board to consider revising the existing ordinance which states that ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes are not allowed to be under power in any manner, including starting them to load onto a vehicle. There is a continued issue in the neighborhood, with police spending significant time addressing calls related to ATVs/UTVs/dirt bikes being started, worked on, or loaded onto trailers. PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE REPORTS Discussion regarding creating an ATV/UTV Ordinance. Ordinance examples from Walworth, Salem Lakes, and Bristol were presented. Trustee Fitzgerald noticed these ordinances referenced going from a state trail to a road, which does not exist here. He suggested deleting that reference. President Skinner did not disagree, but noted other municipalities may have some state trails. Fitzgerald expressed concerns with UTVs/ATVs using the new East Lake Shore Drive sidewalk versus the driving lane. May 6, 2024 – Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 1 of 4 Skinner stated it would need to go through the county, but at that time, it was on the back burner. We need to start by approving village roads, but the county is currently not allowing it. The only approved place was crossing Hwy O and 50, but it was just a test pattern, not officially approved. Walworth County had some county roads approved for this, but not in Kenosha County. Crossing the county road is allowed, but not traveling on the county road itself. Trustee Andres felt that 35 mph was too high. Howard stated that ATVs can not exceed the posted limit. Most places likely have the ATV/UTV posting the same speed as the road. Chief Hall expressed no issues and is in favor of trying it out, suggesting a one-year trial with a sunset clause. She noted that speed limits have typically been 25 mph, and many community members supported this due to the lakes, which were beneficial to them. A driver's license is necessary, and in talking with other municipalities, the issues have been people without licenses. Howard agreed with Chief Hall, emphasizing the requirement for a DL. Sharon asked about license plates; Hall explained that many vehicles have them, but it is up to the board's discretion. Andres would like the vehicles fully equipped with turn signals, headlights, safety belts, like cars, as accidents could occur. Fitzgerald agreed. Chief Hall suggested considering the time of day for noise concerns, requiring liability insurance, and obtaining a permit through the municipality. Skinner mentioned the failed attempt at an armband permit and the importance of signage like the one seen in Walworth. Members of the public, Andrew Keisler and Michael Kister, discussed state laws regarding age limits and decibels, emphasizing the need for compliance. They mentioned exemptions for certain roads and stressed the need for county support. Michael discussed road versus trail distinctions and funding options for signage. Howard acknowledged the county's stance and suggested gathering sample ordinances for legal review. Chief Hall is concerned with enforcement and people neglecting to do their due diligence to find out the laws in each municipality. Andrew emphasized the enforceability of exhaust laws. Fitzgerald highlighted the differences between regulations designed for open spaces versus small towns. Barb was hesitant but open-minded. Howard proposed they work on a sample ordinance tailored for Twin Lakes. Chief Hall agrees to review the ordinance regarding the starting of ATVs and dirt bikes, as they do have village residents actively reporting violations. TRUSTEE KEN PERL - POLICE, FIRE, LAKE CONTROL, PARKS AND BEACHES Discussion regarding Resolution R2024-5-1 Declaring Certain Personal Property of the Village as Surplus. This is Police equipment that is to be sold on WI Surplus. Discussion regarding Resolution R2024-5-2 Declaring the Salary and Fringe Benefits for the Police Captain Position. Same resolution as the previous captain's, with the only edit being that wages stay 15% above patrol. Update and discussion on EMS staffing at the Twin Lakes Fire & Rescue Department. Over the past eight months, Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue has been working with the Town of Randall, the Town of Wheatland, and the Village of Twin Lakes to bring full-time staff members to the TLFR. The Village has known from the beginning that a referendum is needed to fund this initiative. TLFR set a deadline of April 15 for the other municipalities to respond, but they failed to meet it. TLFR is still in limbo, waiting to hear if the townships will partner with them or opt for a private contract service. Meanwhile, all three municipality contracts end this year. The Village of Twin Lakes plans to hold a referendum in August. May 6, 2024 – Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 2 of 4 Ken Johnson met with officials from Randall and Wheatland, who are still considering their options and remain undecided. TLFR is eager to serve these municipalities but needs financial assistance to achieve 24/7 staffing. The townships are meeting with a private ambulance service on May 14; however, no decision deadline has been set. Ken believes TLFR needs a firm commitment date. They cannot hire anyone without knowing their budget, which hampers effective planning. Currently, staffing consists of part-time personnel on day shifts seven days a week, coverage on Friday nights, and on-call volunteers filling in the gaps. While most shifts are covered, some days fall short. TLFR has 30 personnel. The proposed referendum cost is $450,000, with the average homeowner facing a $46 increase per $100,000 of property value. TLFR is a non-profit organization aiming to maintain operations while providing staffing and staff benefits. Ken, a taxpayer in the village, feels this is a reasonable alternative. Fitzgerald mentioned a suggestion to seek more funding in case Wheatland or Randall do not support the referendum. He is curious about others' opinions, as he is unsure how he feels about this. He sees the possibility of asking for $600,000 to hire six full-time staff members, but this would increase the cost per home to approximately $180. Fitzgerald feels that at $276,000, residents might balk at the higher amount. Ken shares this concern, noting that this last-minute change has disrupted their timetable and left them unprepared. The tight deadline is due to the need to submit the referendum question to the County Clerk by June 5. The Village must pass a resolution with their question by May 20 to meet this deadline. Phil Johnson suggests that Randall and Wheatland may reconsider when they realize the cost of not partnering with TLFR. He cited the Town of Burlington, which had to spend half a million dollars to provide EMS after failing to negotiate with the City of Burlington. Administrator Roesslein stated that the tricky part is making a decision without the two townships. Fitzgerald believes $450,000 is a realistic amount for the Village. However, Ken Johnson questioned how TLFR will stretch $450,000 to provide coverage for the community, as it is not sufficient. Ken emphasized the complexity of estimating costs for transitioning to full-time staff, noting that they are basing their estimates on costs from other departments. TRUSTEE SHARON BOWER - ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, JUDICIARY, LICENSING Discussion regarding a new Short Term Rental Application for 806 Maple St., Tyler Wiseman. The Police Chief stated there were no issues. Discussion regarding edits to the Community Room Rental Application This addition reflects the board's request to include in the agreement that a 501(c)(3) can charge entry fees and hold raffles. Discussion regarding an Alcohol Beverage Appointment of Agent for Lake Elizabeth Sand Bar LLC. The Police Department has approved the appointment. Discussion regarding a loan application for an ambulance for $220,000. This is a request from Twin Lakes Fire/Rescue. They had a similar ambulance loan that they paid off early. They have already purchased this ambulance, which will arrive on June 6. Since they don't have the same loan capabilities as the village, the village obtains the loan, and the TLFR reimburses the village. Discussion regarding 2023 WI Act 73 Changes to Closing Hours for Retail Licensed Establishments during the Republican National Convention. This change applies to Milwaukee; the village does not need to adjust our hours. May 6, 2024 – Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 3 of 4 Other – Trustee Bower believes we should show appreciation to the VFW for the beautiful bench they placed in Central Park. TRUSTEE BARB ANDRES - SEWER, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, YOUTH, LIBRARY Discussion regarding three quotes for sanitary sewer rehabilitation. The Village has adopted a more proactive approach to our sanitary sewer system, now budgeting $90,000 for repairs to lines and lifts. There are three quotes in the packet. The Sewer Department recommends Great Lakes, as they currently handle our televising. VILLAGE PRESIDENT HOWARD SKINNER Discussion regarding an Event Permit for a Trew Find Sidewalk Sales on June 16th, July 21st, and August 18th. This event permit does not specify which businesses are participating in the sidewalk sales. In a previous similar event, other vendors set up in front of their businesses without authorization. The last event used our garbage receptacles instead of providing their own. Andres feels we need clarification on whether they are charging vendors to set up booths before moving forward. Participating businesses should sign an agreement, ensuring they only use the sidewalk in front of their own premises. The Clerk will reach out to the applicant. Discussion regarding an Event Permit for American Legion Craft and Vendor Fair on June 15th at Legion Park. Parking is outside the fence of the ballfield. ADJOURN – Skinner/Bower motion to adjourn at 7:41 p.m. Motion carried 6-0. /s/Sabrina Waswo, Village Clerk May 6, 2024 – Committee of the Whole Minutes Page 4 of 4