_02052026-81
Village of Fredonia · Ozaukee County · meeting of Feb 5, 2026 · Minutes
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FREDONIA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, February 5th, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Fredonia Government Center - Board Room
242 Fredonia Avenue, Fredonia, Wisconsin
1. President Lenz called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM, followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance.
2. Trustees Present: President Lenz, Trustee Abegglen, Trustee Franck, Trustee
Syring, Trustee Eippert, Trustee Van Roo.
Staff Present: Administrator Jenkins, Treasurer Upson (via Zoom), Clerk
Johnson, Director Paulus.
Public Present: Eric Stowe
3. Public Comments: None
4. Motion to Approve Minutes of the December 4, 2025, Village Board of
Trustees Regular Meeting, General Fund, Water and Sewer Invoices and
Approve Divine Savior Catholic School Temporary Class “B” Alcohol
Licenses For Events on February 13, 2026, February 20, 2026, and March
20, 2026, Agent: Kimberly Knetter, Address: 305 Fredonia Ave, Fredonia WI,
53021 made by Trustee Abegglen.
Seconded by Trustee Frank.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
5. Report of Village Committees By:
a) Planning Commission: President Lenz explained the Commission
reviewed a new zoning change request and CSM from Ms. Hannah Cholip
for her commercial property that is primarily being utilized as a residence.
The Commission will hear comments at the next meeting.
6. Items for Action and/or Discussion
a) Motion to Approve Ordinance 2026-01: Pertaining to Membership of
Ethics Committee made by Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Eippert.
Administrator Jenkins reminded the board this was the second reading of
the ordinance update. He shared it’s been difficult to fill the committee and
was hopeful that by changing the make-up to three members and one
alternate. Trustee Abegglen asked if there were any conflicts with state
statutes by making the change. Administrator Jenkins said there is no
conflict.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
b) Discussion and Possible Action on Project 2026-01 Reconstruction of
Washington Ave.
Administrator Jenkins shared that Strand Engineering had facilitated the
bid opening that morning. Strand had initially budgeted $570,000 for the
road, underlying utilities, and stormwater work and that is the amount
approved in the 2026 budget. Administrator Jenkins was pleased to share
the lowest bidder, Mueller Excavating at $396,000. He broke down the
expense between the appropriate funds: $173,000 from the General Fund,
$109,000 from the Water Utility, and $117,000 from the Sewer Utility. He
added a 5% contingency and 5% fee for engineering services.
Motion to Award Project 2026-01: Reconstruction of Washington Ave
to the Lowest Bidder, Mueller Excavation, Not to Exceed $435,636.00
made by Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Abegglen.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
c) Discussion and Possible Action on the Emergency Replacement of a 2006
Sterling Snowplow Truck with Salter.
Director Paulus explained the Village has two plow trucks with salters.
During a snow event, they each do half the Village. The 2006 Sterling has
had many issues since the beginning of the winter season, including
brakes, hydraulics, head gasket issues, right up to today’s snow event
when the truck broke down while salting and had to be taken to Ozaukee
County because of blown hoses and a salter issue. The replacement
purchase was originally slated for 2024, pushed to 2026, and when the
purchase of new loader was prioritized, so was the replacement plow truck
to the 2028 CIP. Director Paulus explained when there is only one
functioning plow truck, it takes ten hours to salt the entire Village. He
shared that Trustee Van Roo instructed him to reach out to private
contractors to price out the cost of a contract to plow the Village. Director
Paulus didn’t have much luck: the contractors weren’t interested in an on-
call relationship and additionally didn’t have the right equipment to salt the
Village. The Village would also be responsible for the damage to private
contractors’ equipment. He checked with two other municipalities and
Ozaukee County – they were willing to help but had to take care of their
own jurisdictions first. Ozaukee County currently has room in their
schedule to build out a plow truck, which is less expensive and more
convenient than an outside contractor. March 31st is when new emissions
standards go into effect, which could add $10-$30K to the cost of a truck.
He said the quotes he received are under what he earmarked in the 2026
budget, but acknowledged it’s an expensive, unbudgeted purchase.
Director Paulus added that the truck is used primarily in water main breaks
and to haul material like gravel, sand and mulch. He said the pick-up
trucks with plows are not built to plow roads with manhole covers and
valve boxes. Director Paulus requested purchasing the custom truck now
to be received in September, then send it to Ozaukee County to be built
out with the salter, plow attachments and accessories. The Village would
receive the truck in late fall, in time for the 2026-27 winter season. Trustee
Van Roo asked to see quotes from private contractors to get the Village
through to 2028, when the purchase has been budgeted. Trustee Franck
said if they delayed, the Village would be purchasing the same truck and
still have all the same problems between now and 2028. Trustee Abegglen
stated the truck would be $30,000 more in 2028. Trustee Eippert liked that
the County was a convenient choice for the build out. President Lenz
asked Administrator Jenkins what financial options the Village had to
purchase the truck. Administrator Jenkins stated that if the Board wished
to move forward, they could either add the expense of the truck to the
upcoming bonding package and place the burden onto the debt levy or, in
an emergency, choose to pay in cash from reserves: approximately
$81,000 from the General Fund, $135,000 from the Water Utility, and
$54,000 Sewer Utility. He said the Board has been diligent in building up
the Village’s reserve fund balances to an amount that is both healthy and
matches the Village’s Financial Policy. Recent audit reports confirm the
Village still hasn’t gotten to that point. Preliminary 2025 financial reviews
indicated that the fund balance will grow by $110,000. Purchasing the
truck with these funds will deplete the General Fund balance by $81,000,
leaving a fund balance carry over less than had been planned on. If the
Board wishes to purchase the truck, Administrator Jenkins advises paying
in cash, instead of levying the debt onto the tax base. He said if the Board
is not in favor of purchasing a truck, then he recommends bolstering the
equipment replacement fund to offset anticipated repair costs. The Board
discussed various cost scenarios if they choose to delay the purchase.
Director Paulus would earmark $350,000 if the truck would be purchased
in 2028. He would like to save the brine tank and salter from the existing
truck. Director Paulus estimated resale price at $10,000. Administrator
Jenkins advised putting any resale revenue into the equipment
maintenance line item to offset the expense of repairs already done. After
much discussion, the Board directed Director Paulus to obtain quotes from
private contractors for snow removal and to report on the truck’s most
recent mechanical issues. No action was taken.
d) Discussion and Possible Action on the Purchase of Parcel Number 09-
050-06-24-008. This topic may necessitate a closed session discussion.
Administrator Jenkins stated it was appropriate to adjourn into closed
session because the Village continues to negotiate the purchase of the
parcel.
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 09-
050-06-24- 008) made by Trustee Abegglen.
Seconded by Trustee Syring.
Passed by 6-0 roll call vote.
President Lenz: Aye
Trustee Eippert: Aye
Trustee Franck: Aye
Trustee Abegglen: Aye
Trustee Syring: Aye
Trustee Van Roo: Aye
Motion to adjourn into Open Session made by Trustee Franck.
Seconded by Trustee Abegglen.
Passed by 6-0 roll call vote.
President Lenz: Aye
Trustee Eippert: Aye
Trustee Franck: Aye
Trustee Abegglen: Aye
Trustee Syring: Aye
Trustee Van Roo: Aye
e) Discussion and Possible Action on Purchase of Parcel Number 09-050-06-
24-008: No action taken.
7. Correspondence: None
8. Items for Future Consideration: Trustee Van Roo shared that he has requested
that Administrator Jenkins begin researching a new zoning district that could
accommodate smaller homes that may be more affordable for young families
looking to buy a home.
9. Motion to Adjourn made by Trustee Syring.
Seconded by Trustee Van Roo.
Passed by 6-0 voice vote.
Source: Village of Fredonia website. First collected Oct 8, 2026.