_09032026-121
Village of Fredonia · Ozaukee County · meeting of Sep 3, 2026 · Minutes
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FREDONIA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Fredonia Government Center - Board Room
242 Fredonia Avenue, Fredonia, Wisconsin
1. President Pro-Tem Abegglen called the meeting to order at 7:00PM, followed by
the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Trustees Present: President Pro-Tem Abegglen, Trustee Franck, Trustee
Syring, Trustee Van Roo, Trustee Redmond, Trustee Stowe.
Staff Present: Administrator Jenkins, Treasurer Upson, Director Paulus, Clerk
Johnson, Marshal Leet.
President Lenz was excused.
3. Public Comments: None
4. Motion to Approve Minutes of the August 6th, 2026, Village Board of
Trustees Regular Meeting, and General Fund, Water and Sewer Invoices
made by Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Syring.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
5. Report on Village Committee By:
a) Joint Review Board: President Pro-Tem Abegglen shared that the JRB
reviewed TID #3’s annual report and discussed its financial state. He said
things are looking good. The Board discussed an amendment to the
boundaries of TID #3, necessary because of a planned expansion of
Badger Paperboard’s facility, located outside of the TID, into a congruent
lot, located inside the TID. The Village Board will consider approval of the
amendment on September 17, 2026.
b) Parks and Recreation Commission: Trustee Syring said the Committee
met and discussed the year’s remaining recreational activities, including
three Movie in the Park events and the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.
They refined the Parks and Open Space Plan and set a public hearing for
October 8th at 6:00PM. They reviewed proposed upgrades to Marie Kraus
Park and ideas on how to best use the Oehme donation.
c) Joint Fire/EMS Advisory Committee: President Pro-Tem Abegglen said
there was a large crowd of personnel from each department represented.
They reviewed the operations of the paramedic program and the results
from the McMahon Fire and EMS Study. There was lively discussion,
many members voicing opposition to combining departments. President
Pro-Tem Abegglen said that departments are well staffed now but must
begin to look towards a future of declining volunteerism. Capitol
equipment and challenges with funding were also discussed. Administrator
Jenkins was directed to send a questionnaire to each department’s chief.
Trustee Stowe was unable to attend the meeting. He said that the
recommendation from McMahon is a ten-year outlook, so not pressing, but
stated the Public Safety Committee would be prioritizing initiation of
combining resources in northern Ozaukee County to better leverage
community assets.
6. Items for Action and/or Discussion
a) Motion to Approve 2016 Ford F-550 Utility Crane Truck from Village
of Saukville Not-to-Exceed $100,000 made by Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Syring.
Director Paulus shared the truck includes a crane, generator, air
compressor, and other useful tools for staff. Trustee Stowe asked what
new services this piece of equipment would add for the compute. Director
Paulus said the truck could lift pumps and set manholes and help in
construction projects like the pavilion at Marie Kraus Park. The Village
would no longer have to hire outside contractors to assist with those
projects. Trustee Stowe asked when the payback period would be.
Director Paulus stated the truck would pay for itself after thirteen years.
Administrator Jenkins reminded the board they have previously approved
this purchase as part of the 2027 CIP. The truck will become available in
May and paid for with cash on hand.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
b) Discussion and Possible Action on Resolution 2026-09: A Resolution of
the Village of Fredonia Board of Trustees Opposing the Use of Automated
Surveillance, Automated License Plate Recognition, and “Flock” Cameras
within the Village.
Trustee Van Roo stated he used certain verbiage in his recommendation
intentionally and wants the Village to set an example to the county and
state officials by approving a resolution opposing the use of Flock
cameras and other surveillance technology. Trustee Franck responded
that everyone who has a cell phone is tracked, and she appreciates the
security of the Flock camera at the school campus to protect children.
Trustee Van Roo said the technology is nonessential, with more negatives
than positives, including the sale of personal data.
Marshal Leet gave his opinion: the Flock system is not a good fit for the
Village, in terms of cost to the relative safety of residents. However, he
stated the technology is not new and has been in use for over a decade.
He has used the technology and personally witnessed it save lives and
solve crimes. He stated it is a tool in the toolkit, and, like any tool, it can be
misused. He said that anecdotal stories of system abuse are rare, and he
feels it is a good sign that officers misusing the technology are identified
by their departments and face stiff punishment. It is his understanding that
Flock data collected within a department is never shared unless the
department authorizes it.
President Pro-Tem Abegglen noted that Flock systems can give school
administration advanced warning of threats and allow the school to go into
lockdown before a threat arrives. Trustee Stowe asked about data
retention policies. Marshal Leet stated those terms are set between the
agency and the contractor. He has seen departments limit date retention
from thirty days down to a week. Trustee Syring acknowledged there is a
lot of fearmongering around the sale of data collected by Flock cameras
and said his concern with advancing technology systems is the shift in
paradigm to guilty until proven innocent. He pointed out that, regardless of
the proposed resolution, Marshal Leet would need to go to the board for
permission to install a Flock system in the Village.
President Pro-Tem Abegglen reminded the Board that the resolution also
includes limitations on other types of surveillance technology, including the
body cameras utilized by the marshal and his deputies that have much
tighter restrictions than Flock technology. He wondered at the intention of
all the hype. He quoted Trustee Van Roo’s supporting document and
asked who he thought were the “corrupt and traitorous politicians that
want to enslave us”. Trustee Van Roo responded that he was quoting what
others have said in the news or private conversations. He thought it was a
topic of local interest to residents and wished to preserve their privacy.
Trustees Redmond and Stowe see both sides of the discussion: they want
to be safe but do not want to be tracked. They would be unable to take a
position on either side of the discussion. President Pro-Tem Abegglen told
Trustee Van Roo there is nothing to stop him from reintroducing the
resolution in the future.
No action was taken.
c) Introduction to Ordinance 2026-03: Pertaining to Cross Connection
Inspections. Administrator Jenkins stated that staff have been working on
taking on cross connection inspections internally for over a year and doing
so will save the Village about $20,000 annually. The team has the
framework in place to take on the workload, but now the board must
update the applicable ordinance to match the inspection process. The new
ordinance moves the Village from a ten-year inspection cycle to a twenty-
year cycle, complementing the water meter replacement schedule.
Commercial and industrial properties will need to be inspected every two
years, hire their own inspectors and turn in the inspection results to the
Village. Trustee Franck has fielded complaints from residents about the
Village’s current contractor, and Trustee Stowe said the change is a “no
brainer”.
d) Introduction to Ordinance 2026-04: Pertaining to The Operation of
Electronic Bikes and Scooters.
Trustees Stowe and Abegglen contacted Administrator Jenkins and
Marshal Leet regarding an update to the Village’s ordinances that will
regulate the increasing numbers of e-bikes and e-scooters in the village.
Marshal Leet said that by adopting state statutes, this ordinance
encompasses the most common issues that arise from these vehicles. He
explained that the Village has less authority to regulate usage on streets
but can restrict or allow the devices on sidewalks. The ordinance is a
useful and welcome tool to address reckless use that endangers the rider
or others. Trustee Van Roo asked for an example of unreasonable
speeds. Marshal Leet said that setting a specific speed limit is
problematic, as most devices do not have a speedometer. He also felt that
installing appropriate signage would prove burdensome. Trustee Van Roo
expressed concern about selective enforcement and asked how Marshal
Leet would enforce the ordinance. For children under 12, Marshal Leet
determined it would be a parental issue. If a child in over 12, a repeat
offender or a parent contributes to the problem, he may explore other
enforcement options. At Trustee Syring’s request, Marshal Leet clarified
the classification of different devices.
e) Discussion and Possible Action on Addition to Employee Handbook:
Section VI-D: Cash in Lieu of Health Insurance.
Administrator Jenkins shared the policy is a creative cost savings measure
that would incentivize employees declining village-subsidized healthcare.
The incentive for a family plan is $10,000, or $6,000 for an individual plan.
Staff carefully balanced the cost-savings of an employee moving off the
insurance plan with providing the right amount of money to incentivize the
employee to opt out. The Village pays $30,000 per employee family plan,
if the employee takes the incentive, the Village would save $20,000. The
incentive would not be paid in a lump sum, rather paid in installments in
each paycheck throughout the year. The Village modelled the plan on
similar ones at the Northern Ozaukee School District, Saukville, and West
Bend. President Pro-Tem Abegglen approved of giving employees a
choice and the village an opportunity to save money.
Motion to Approve the Addition of Section VI-D: Cash in Lieu of
Health Insurance to the Employee Handbook made by Trustee Stowe.
Seconded by Trustee Redmond.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
f) Discussion and Possible Action on the Purchase of Parcel Number
090351300500, 622 Innovation Dr. Administrator Jenkins shared that the
Village has recieved an offer to purchase the remaining 15-acre parcel in
TID #3. He will share the terms in closed session.
g) Discussion and Possible Action on 139 Fox Glen Rd Raze Order.
Administrator Jenkins shared that the board had approved the raze order,
and subsequently the mortgage company and the owner agreed to the
stipulations of the order, which continues to work its way through the court
system. However, there is an update from Attorney Herbrand on the piece
that the owner and the Village continue to negotiate.
h) Motion to Adjourn Into Closed Session Pursuant to WI State Statute
19.85(1)(e) "Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public
properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other
specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining
reasons require a closed session (Purchase of Parcel Number
090351300500, 622 Innovation Dr.) and (g) Conferring with legal
counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written
advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect
to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. (Fox Glen
Raze Order) made by Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Stowe.
Passed 6-0 roll call vote.
President Pro-Tem Abegglen: Aye
Trustee Redmond: Aye
Trustee Franck: Aye
Trustee Syring: Aye
Trustee Van Roo: Aye
Trustee Stowe: Aye
Motion to Adjourn into Open Session made by Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Redmond.
Passed by 6-0 roll call vote.
President Pro-Tem Abegglen: Aye
Trustee Redmond: Aye
Trustee Franck: Aye
Trustee Syring: Aye
Trustee Van Roo: Aye
Trustee Stowe: Aye
i) Discussion and Possible Action on 139 Fox Glen Road Raze Order.
No action was taken.
j) Discussion and Possible Action on the Purchase of Parcel Number
090351300500, 622 Innovation Dr.
Motion to Approve the Offer to Purchase Parcel Number
090351300500, 622 Innovation Dr. Per Terms for $79,550.00 made by
Trustee Syring.
Seconded by Trustee Stowe.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
Motion to Approve the Early Access and Site Agreement made by
Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Syring.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
7. Correspondence: none
8. Items for Future Consideration: Clerk Johnson asked the board for RSVP’s to the
September 23 Mid Moraine Municipal Association Dinner Meeting. She also
invited Trustees to the upcoming employee appreciation picnic.
9. Motion to Adjourn made by Trustee Syring.
Seconded by Trustee Stowe.
Passed by 6-0 vote.
Source: Village of Fredonia website. First collected Oct 8, 2026.