Village Board — Minutes

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – February 2, 2026, PAGE 1 The Friendship Village Board meeting was called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by all present. President Gerald Sonnenberg called the meeting to order and roll call was taken. Present were Trustees Brad Oberbeck, Ernie Klicko, Nadine Ashworth , Melvin Waller, Bob Berry, and President S onnenberg. Also present were Attorney Joseph Hasler, Public Works Director Beth Schultz, Treasurer Sandy Shawback and Clerk Rebecca Reuter. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION by Berry, second by Oberbeck to approve January 5, 2026, Village Board minutes, motion carried. TREASURER REPORT General Water Sewer December 1, 2025, Balance 252,783.74 336,189.88 40,496.57 December Receipts 8,951.59 7,460.61 5,632.34 December Disbursements 74,120.26 19,631.30 5,841.67 December 31, 2025, Balance 187,615.07 324,019.19 40,287.24 LGIP #1 TIF $1,060,000.84 – LGIP #9 ARPA $0. 45 – Capital Project Checking $34,251.44 - Building Fund $ 70,000.00 – Money Market $1,646.91 – CDBG Working Fund $13,857.48 - LGIP #6 Park/Beach $45,999.99 – Tax Checking $261,548.32 – TIF Checking $95.00 -Street Equipment Fund $ 43,416.50 – Court Order Proceeds $3,808.03 – Water LGIP #3 Special Redemption Fund $2 35,508.57 - LGIP #4 Water Replacement Fund $3 97,119.75 – LGIP #8 Water Debt Reserve Fund $ 80,513.54 – Sewer LGIP#2 Special Redemption Fund $ 92,685.64 - LGIP#5 Sewer Replacement Fund $56,703.96 – LGIP#7 Sewer Debt Reserve Fund $65,461.16 MOTION by Ashworth, second by Oberbeck to approve treasurer report, motion carried. PAYING OF BILLS MOTION by Klicko, second by Oberbeck to approve January vouchers 28030 - 28075 in the amount of $365,789.25, motion carried. CITIZEN INPUT There was no citizen input ROPORT FROM COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE RICK PEASE Pease - reported that the $1.5 million remodeling at the courthouse has begun. It is to improve some of the offices and add bulletproof glass. They are going to be reopening the entrance at the top of the hill. They are on week 4 of a 35-week project. There are many locals working on the project. He discussed a recent report he heard on NPR, they were talking about how long and the difficulties Wisconsin fire department and ambulance services are having in obtaining new vehicles. And how the price has really gone up, what used to be a 1-million-dollar firetruck is now 2 -million-dollars. If you were to order a fire truck now it would be a 3 year wait before you would get it, and they can continue that cost increase during those 3 years. He feels it might be a bigger problem in the future. UPDATE FROM PSC ON PUBLIC HEARING Reuter stated that the Public Hearing for the water rate study is scheduled with the PSC for Tuesday, February 3, 2026. It can be viewed by zoom or live on their YouTube page. The notice has been posted at 5 locations- Village Hall, Friendship Post Office, Village website, Village Facebook page and at the Adams County Community center. DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON : COMPUTER EQUIPMENT QUOTE Reuter stated that the Village received a quote from Bsoft Technologies for 3 computers, 1 monitor, setup labor, backup device, 2TB storage for backup device for $5,425.15. Two computers would be for the office staff, and one for Public Works. MOTION by Berry, second by Oberbeck to accept the quote for the computer equipment, motion carried. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – February 2, 2026, PAGE 2 DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON : A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE EMERGENCY POLLING PLACE PLANNING POLICY Reuter presented Resolution No. 01-2026 to the Village Board that goes through the emergency polling place policy. MOTION by Berry, second by Ashworth to adopt Resolution No 01-2026, motion carried. DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON : QUARTERLY AMBULANCE FEE INCREASE Reuter stated that last year for our ambulance bill we paid out $27,871.00 but only took in $18,824.66 leaving us paying $9,044.34 out of pocket. We have 372 accounts; by increasing them by $6.27 per quarter it will enable us to cover the current annual ambulance contract cost entirely. MOTION by Berry, second by Waller to approve the increase, motion carried. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT BY CHAIRMAN BERRY - DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON : a. Citizen input There was no citizen input b. Getting estimates to put electric in the streetlights Berry stated that Schultz is going to be looking for estimates for getting electric outlets in the streetlights. We would be putting outlets 10-12 feet up. Down the line we would look and see if we can get some Christmas decorations. c. Code enforcement They had a very brief discussion on code enforcement. Sonnenberg will be meeting with the Sheriff and Reuter will be working with the city to try and get a price for us based on 5 hours a week. Ashworth stated that she has a few questions. Why are we really doing this, and what is going to happen if we get an argument, where’s it going to lead to? She’s just thinking of all the remunerations that it can possibly cost. Sonnenberg stated that he feels if you’re not going to enforce the ordinance why have them. Because then we look bad because we aren’t enforcing them. Ashworth stated that we don’t even have a guideline of what we are even going to enforce. Berry stated that’s one of the things we are working on. Until we hear back from the Sheriff’s department and the City of Adams, what they are willing to do, what it is going to cost. It is still all a work in progress, none of it has been decided at all. Oberbeck added that with the citizen input that we have had that parking is obviously number one in terms of citizen input from a local business. So just to touch on your point on what ordinances we are looking to enforce , depending on those hours and what they’re looking at for parking, then you can say what other ordinances aren’t being enforced . You could randomly pick through the ordinance book. I think what it’s going to end up being is somebody will always have something that is important to them. He sees it’s a challenge, but based on the citizen input that we’ve had and that has come through Public Works understandably this is the route you have to go to at least find out what we can do, and what’s not going to be feasible, what’s affordable, what’s budgeted …..He’s just trying to touch on that as well. Based on the comments on which ones are going to be the ones that are going to be enforced? T hat’s the information that we need collectively to make a joint decision about. So, until we have all the facts it’s a moot point until we know. Berry stated that we will have to get input from both the city and the Sheriff, because they are the two that have been willing to do the enforcement. Then we are going to have to sit down and look at our ordinances and see what ordinances are important to enforce , and the ones that we throughout. It’s not just a simple process; it’s multiple little items that we have to look at. Oberbeck stated that signage is important too . Are there signs posted? It’s more complex he believes than just saying someone needs to write a ticket. Berry said it has been tabled many times so far and it is just going to be a work in progress. Once we start getting stuff organized, we’ll continue to update and bring it to the Board and go from there. But with the input that we have gotten we have to do something. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – February 2, 2026, PAGE 3 d. Sewer rate increase and base rate on wholesale customers increase The City of Adams is going to increase our sewer rate by 15% come the 1st quarter. So, we are going to have to start increasing ours to keep up , because they are just going to keep raising them. Reuter stated that by the time the updates to the wastewater plant is up and running the city thinks they could triple the sewer rates . She stated that she would rather increase the water and sewer together so the residents aren’t upset with us for two quarters in a row. Berry stated that we are just trying to be on the proactive side, instead of dumping it on customers all at once, let’s break it up. It’s unfortunate but it has to get done. MOTION by Berry, second by Waller to increase our sewer rates by 25% , motion carried. e. Purchase of a new truck Berry stated that Waller and Sonnenberg did find a flatbed truck, that is in very decent shape. Waller stated that the truck is a 2012 International flatbed truck, with a 16’ bed with 20-ton hydraulic dump lift. It’s a stainless -steel bed and is in excellent shape . There’s no rust. There is a little ding on the right-hand side of the fiberglass hood, but it’s nothing that’s going to bother anything for our use. We are going to have to build sides. The sides on the truck now are only about a foot high, and we will need to have 4-foot-high sides. They are asking $18,000.00. MOTION by Berry, second by Waller to give the President approval to purchase 2012 truck up to $18,000.00, motion carried. f. Public Works Directors report Schultz stated they’ve been really busy because of the cold. They have done a lot of cleaning, organizing and getting rid of junk. They have to replace the pully mechanism on the flagpole at the park because it is seized up . It will cost about $150.00 . She talked to RC Electric, and they said they would be more than glad to come down and put it in for us. They also helped us fix the streetlight by the hospital. He replaced some of our lights, but we had to order a few more. As soon as those lights come in, he will replace the rest that need it on West Lake Street. She is in the process of trying to get a Hometown Improvement grant. We could get up to $50,000.00. She would like to use it on getting more park equipment to update our park, keeping what we have and just adding to it. She does need 5 letters of support for that if anybody is interested in that. She has talked with Megan at the Chamber of Commerce, and Rich at Ace . It would just be a letter stating why you feel this would be an improvement to our community. Oberbeck asked if she has had any request from citizens on what they might want to see at the park? Or has there been any discussion on what kind of equipment she might be looking at? Schultz stated that for the grant paperwork she has to show a budget. If we were to put a jungle gym at the park like what we have now, a big piece of equipment like what we have now that would be close to $60,000.00 for one piece. Her idea is to get some smaller pieces and spread them out a little bit more. Maybe some updated baby swings, some of the spring horses. She wants to get the most for the money that we might receive. She is also doing a grant through the Green Bay Packers. She contacted Miller Lite and talked to the general manager and asked them if they would be interested in sponsoring us with some new volleyball nets at Friendship Park. She received an email back stating that they would be happy to donate 2 volleyball nets, one saying Miller Lite and on e saying Co ors Light. They will be ordering the nets in the next month and say we should have them by spring. She is looking into getting some turbidity barriers for the beach. They would go the length of the buoys. They would have a net that drops down to keep the algae out of the swimming area. The price that she has found so far is about $1,500.00. They received the large meter for Villa Pines. She has requested that WRWA come and assist with that, just to make sure everything is right so that we won’t have to hire a plumber. They have an appointment to put the new meter in on Monday , February 9th. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – February 2, 2026, PAGE 4 They have been out in the old firehouse cleaning and organizing. All the paperwork that is in boxes on the shelves has now been taken out o f the first bay and put into the old fire chefs office . That door can be locked . There was so much of it that they had to put some up above the office. They were having to hand the boxes up to each other because the old fire ladder that is there is not very safe to be walking up and down. She stated that it was brought up in the meeting to build a fireproof room in the old firehouse. Maybe take out the first bay. Hasler asked why are we keeping all these records? Reuter answered saying that they are all the history of the Village. We have the old Attorney’s records, and other paperwork. Oberbeck stated that he was going to ask the same question, because under state statutes there’s limitations on how long you have to keep documents as far as retention. He doesn’t know what kind of project that might turn into, or the hours that it would take but it might work hand in hand to help with storage and safety exedra if we can eliminate what we absolutely don’t need. Hasler stated that we should keep what is historically significant, and then you dispose of the run of the mill records. He feels the rule is you keep stuff for 7 years . There should be a rolling schedule that every year you get ride of everything from 7 years prior. The starting point is just doing inventory of what we have, then see what it is we can get rid of. Oberbeck stated that the limitations for tax records and employment information might have a different shelf life. But 7 years is very standard on a lot of the limitations. If it helps to condense and make what you were going for better, then maybe that’s an avenue to take. Berry stated that he was thinking about this after the meeting the other night , and one of the things that we can start doing is making it all digital. Reuter stated that ’s part of the computer quote is we are having them put in a backup storage device so that we can go digital with as many things as we can. Hasler stated that he knows that the Village isn’t flush with a ton of extra money, but there are companies that will come in and take a look at it. They know what all the rules are. They know what all the requirements are. He feels that a conserved effort to dispose of what you can dispose of should be on your list of things to do. Schultz stated that when she was talking about the light poles with Merkel, the company that installed the light poles, it was her understanding that the wires went up through the arm, but she was wrong, it’s the wires that go through the tubes that connect the poles to each other. He thinks that we aren’t going to have enough room in there with all the wires Berry asked so Merkel is saying when you pull that little cover off the bases of the pole there’s not enough room there to put in electrical wire to put in an outlet? Schultz stated that you would have to connect them to each other underground. Berry stated that every pole should have an access panel where the wires come through the conduit, so there should be an access panel in those lights in the bases. He will take a look at one on Thursday. Schultz stated that it does make sense what he’s talking about from pole to pole. We bought the poles from them so he should know what he’s talking about. But he’s going to go check on them and see what if anything we can do. She is looking into doing a grant for Christmas lights, but if she can’t get a grant she was thinking about doing some kind of fundraiser. Berry stated that one more thing that was brought up at the meeting was how Public Works wasn’t really comfortable with putting the buoys out with the little rowboat we have, so his suggestion was to get ahold of Todd Dolata and see what he might charge the Village to in the Spring and the Fall bring his barge down and help us get the buoys put in and out. FRIENDSHIP LAKE DISTRICT REPORT BY TRUSTEE ASHWORTH Ashworth stated that they didn’t have a meeting , but she did see where they had the dam freeze up again over the weekend. There was a memo about the dam inspection. Hopefully by the next meeting she will know more about that. The next meeting will be in April. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING – February 2, 2026, PAGE 5 FIRE DISTRICT REPORT BY TRUSTEE KLICKO Klicko stated they are having normal operations. It seems like every fire there seems to be someone that questions the operations with hindsight. That’s been going on in Strongs Prairie, it puts kind of a burden on the department. The next meeting is on Thursday , February 12th. AMBULANCE COMMITTEE REPORT BY PRESIDENT SONNENBERG Sonnenberg stated that the biggest topic was the deposit that Lifestar had on file for all the municipalities that have their service of $100,000 .00. The attorney who was taking care of it has sold his business and the new owners don’t really want to do take it on. They will do it for 90 days, but then they need to find someone else. They had some lengthy discussion about it. The only two options they felt they had was to find somebody else or to give back the money to the Ambulance service . It passed 9 to 1 to give them back their money. We were the only dissenting vote. What they are going to do is amend the contract to take that section out. They are also going to authorize in the last two years of the contract, he believes it 2028and 2029 it was open ended; there was no increase in there. Now they are going to write in there a cost of living and up to 1%. That also passed 9 to 1, with us being the 1. He tried to explain to everyone that we have no parachute now, we have no net, but their minds were made up before the meeting ever started. Now if something happens like it did with the two previous ambulance companies that we had problems with, now that money is gone. He wants to check out the bylaws on it because he felt that every body that signed that contract would have to agree to change it. They say all they need are two votes more than the descending votes and with him being the only one they had it. Hasler stated that Sonnenberg and he had some conversations about this and he thinks that the most important thing to understand is that the ambulance service is a separate unit of government. We as a Village don’t sign contracts . The contract in this case is between EMS commissioner/the ambu lance service and the provider. The bylaws provide how the decisions of the service are made and apparently the current contract provides for super majority, which is two more than majority. That’s something you may need to look at, and what the term of the agreement is . He agrees with Sonnenberg, he doesn’t know why for the life of him a municipal government would voluntarily give away a $100,000.00 guarantee. He doesn’t understand how that is in the best interest of that unit of government. CORRESPONDENCE 2026 Calendar of Events from Visit Adams County Email from Ruben Cuarenta Superintendent of Operations for Adams County Solid Was te & Recycling CONSIDERATION & ACTION ON THE APPROVAL OF OPERATOR LICENSES MOTION by Oberbeck, second by Berry to approve Operator licenses for Shauna Lauritzen & Bobbie Zant, motion carried. SET AGENDA ITEMS FOR MARCH 2ND MEETING Set date for April Village Board meeting Being of no further business to come before the board, MOTION by Berry, second by Oberbeck to adjourn, motion carried. Meeting ended at 7:02 __________________________________________ Rebecca Reuter Village Clerk