Minutes-Special Board Meeting 09-14-26

Special Town Board Meeting Minutes 09/14/2026 1 Unofficial Minutes until approved by the Village Board VILLAGE OF FRENCH ISLAND LA CROSSE COUNTY, WISCONSIN SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2026 AT 4:00 P.M. VILLAGE HALL 2219 BAINBRIDGE STREET, LA CROSSE, WI 54603 1) Meeting Called to Order / Pledge of Allegiance: Meeting called to order at 4:00 P.M. 2) Roll Call & Verify Public Notice: Present: President Kapanke, Trustee Donahue, Trustee Wolfert, Trustee Harney, Trustee Davison, Trustee Stolpa, Trustee Werner Also Present: Police Chief Stratman, Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Stahl, Deputy Fire Chief Van Loon, Public Works Director Hilton. Meeting Notice was properly posted and provided to the press in accordance with Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. 3) Business A. Discussion and possible action on Charter Ordinance 2026-07 The Board discussed whether Village committees should be established within the Charter Ordinance or separately by ordinance. Discussion included the process required for future amendments, flexibility for future Boards, and the importance of establishing committees following incorporation. The Board also discussed consolidating committees to reduce the number of meetings. Motion Trustee Donahue/Trustee Stolpa to combine Library, Parks and Recreation with Health and Welfare. Motion carries 6-1. The Board continued discussion regarding the structure of Village committees, including whether Building and Grounds, Streets and Roads, and Water and Sewer Utilities should be combined. Due to the scope and budgetary responsibilities of these areas, the Board discussed maintaining them as separate committees. The Board also discussed the ability to modify committee structures in the future and whether establishing committees outside of the Charter would provide greater flexibility. Motion by Trustee Donahue/Trustee Harney to create our committees outside of the charter. Motion carries 5-2. \ Special Town Board Meeting Minutes 09/14/2026 2 The Board discussed provisions regarding the Village Board, appointed officials, vacancies, and committees. The Board discussed removing the Village Administrator provision and committee language from the Charter Ordinance. Motion by Trustee Donahue/Trustee Stolpa to strike Item D under 1.02 Appointed Officials “Village Administrator” and remove Item B regarding committees from the Charter Ordinance. Motion carries 7-0. The Board reviewed Section 1.03 regarding Plan Commission membership and discussed the residency and elector requirements. Motion Trustee Donahue/Trustee Wolfert to replace the word ‘resident’ with ‘resident elector’ in section 1.03 under D. Motion carries 7-0. The Board discussed Section 1.05 regarding the powers and duties of the Village President, including procedures when the President wishes to participate in discussion or present a position on an agenda item. Discussion included temporarily assigning another Board member to preside over the meeting during that agenda item. Motion by Trustee Donahue/Trustee Wolfert under 1.05 that if the President wants to present information or opinion on a specific agenda item, they would recuse themselves as President and the Board would choose who would be the President of that meeting. Motion carries 7-0. Motion by Trustee Donahue/Trustee Harney that with the edits made tonight that we pass ordinance 2026-07. Motion carries 6-1. B. Discussion and possible action on Charter Committee Recommendations from 08/04/2026 committee meeting: 1. Creation of the following committees to be made up of three trustees each: 1) Finance and Personnel, 2) Building and Grounds, 3) Streets and Roads, 4) Water and Sewer/Utilities, 5) Library, Parks, and Recreation 2. Creation of the Technology Committee to be made up of minimum of three Trustees, with up to five members in total 3. Creation of Health and Wellness Committee, with two trustees with up to three members in total Motion by Trustee Donahue/Trustee Wolfert to approve finance and personnel committee, buildings and grounds, streets and roads, Water and Sewer/Utilities, Parks and recreation, health and wellness, and technology. Motion carries 7-0. Special Town Board Meeting Minutes 09/14/2026 3 Finance and Personnel Committee Members; Trustee Harney, Trustee Donahue, Trustee Werner. Buildings and Grounds Committee Members; Trustee Davison, Trustee Harney, Trustee Werner. Streets and Roads Committee Members; Trustee Davison, Trustee Stolpa. Utility Committee Members; Trustee Davison, Trustee Donahue, Trustee Wolfert. Library, Parks & Health Wellness Committee Member; Trustee Stolpa, Trustee Davison, Trustee Harney, Trustee Donahue, Trustee Wolfert. Technology Committee Members; Trustee Wolfert, Trustee Herney, Trustee Davison, Lee Weis, Neal McGough. Motion by Trustee Donahue/Trustee Stolpa to put these people on the committees that they wanted. Motion carries 7-0. C. Discussion and possible action on 2026 General Fund Budget Clerk Stahl presented the preliminary 2027 budget and reported that property taxes and debt service are two primary revenue items. The levy limit information was recently released, and the budget remains in draft form as additional information is received. The Board discussed the future role of committees in reviewing departmental budgets. Fire Department; The Fire Department budget is anticipated to remain generally consistent with the prior year. Approximately $50,000 is included for the response truck. The Fire Department Board has not yet reviewed the proposed budget. The Board discussed costs associated with relabeling Fire Department equipment, vehicles, the boat, and building signage following incorporation. Estimates have not yet been received, and consideration was given to completing the relabeling together under one project. Police Department; The Police Department budget remains preliminary pending union contract negotiations. Approximately $5,000 has been spent on maintenance of the older squad vehicle. Capital Outlay includes a proposed replacement squad, with an estimated trade-in value of approximately $10,000. Fuel and oil are proposed to remain at current levels. Increases are anticipated for uniforms and training. Attorney expenses were also reviewed, including whether the current $15,000 allocation remains necessary. Police Reserve funding is proposed to remain unchanged, and Emergency Government General Operations is proposed at $3,500. Capital Outlay also includes a proposed patrol boat. A DNR program may reimburse 75% of the cost of an approved new boat, including eligible upfitting and patrol-related expenses. Reimbursement would occur over approximately three to five years. The purchase would proceed only if approved for State reimbursement. The proposed Police Department budget currently reflects an increase of approximately 7%, subject to changes resulting from union contract negotiations. Public Works Department; Public Works discussed an estimated $50,000-$55,000 for replacement of signage and lettering associated with the transition to the Village of French Island. Final costs have not been determined, and the project has not yet been bid. The matter would proceed through the appropriate committee and Board approval process. The proposed budget includes $80,000 in Highway Capital toward the future replacement of a dump truck. Replacement is anticipated within approximately four years at an estimated cost of $300,000- $400,000. Special Town Board Meeting Minutes 09/14/2026 4 Approximately $57,000 is proposed for yard waste site improvements, including pavement and structural improvements. Drainage is proposed to increase from $1,250 to $1,830. Streets and Roads General Operations include $2,800 for a steel pavement chop saw and $3,670 for additional traffic cones and barricades. The Board also discussed long-term funding for a future Public Works facility. Wage projections will be updated after Police Department union figures are available, with approximately 5% currently anticipated. Department longevity figures have also been updated. Sanitation/Refuse; The Board discussed residential garbage collection costs, currently approximately $230,000 annually, and the possibility of establishing a residential user fee. A figure of approximately $10 per month per household was discussed. The Board discussed how any proposed fee would be communicated to residents and reflected within the overall budget. No action. 4) Adjournment of Meeting Motion to adjourn by Trustee Davison/Trustee Donahue. Motion carried 7-0. (6:06 P.M.) Respectfully Submitted Elyse Ramseier, Deputy Clerk Michelle Stahl, Clerk/Treasurer