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_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.