Annual Meeting — Minutes

TOWN OF FOND DU LAC FOND DU LAC COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 21, 2026 6:00 PM The Annual Meeting was called to order by Chairman Jeff Montsma. Present were Chairman Montsma, Supervisors Aaron Kuhls, Jessica Allender, Jennifer Janeczko, and David Washkoviak, Clerk Terri Klapperich, Treasurer Brenda Post, Attorney Matt Parmentier and various Town residents attended in present (8) and via Zoom conference (2). Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman Montsma explained that all electors present are able to vote. No motion for reading of the 2025 Annual Meeting draft minutes was made. Motion by Supervisor David Washkoviak and seconded by Supervisor Jennifer Janeczco to approve 2025 Annual Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 15-0. 2. The Condensed Report of Board Audit was presented. Chairman Montsma highlighted that as we look to receipts we took in $103,000 over budget and that is from addition to the shared revenue that the legislation passed in 2024. Also, our permit dollars were conservatively budgeted at $55,000 and we ended up at $99,000. Those two items were the top income side of things. As it relates to expenses we were at $1.795 million our budget was $1.658 million, which was $137,000 over budget which a vast majority was highway/road repair. 2026 budgeting will have more specific line items and breakdowns of income and expenses. Motion by Supervisor David Washkoviak to approve the Condensed Board of Audit Report. Seconded by Supervisor Jennifer Janeczko. Motion carried 15-0. 3. Fire Chief Report given by Brian Balson for Chief Dean Birschbach who was not present. From January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 the TOWN OF FOND DU LAC VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT responded to 93 fire calls and our Emergency Medical Responders responded to 125 calls. We have 27 members 3 of which are women. We are always looking for more women to join the department, we feel they can do just as good a job as the men, if not better. Approximately 778 hours were spent by the officers and firefighters responding to these alarms. In addition, 947 firefighter hours were spent on department training. In 2025, the department successfully applied for the Fund Assistance Program (FAP) and was awarded $22,865.86. These funds are strictly dedicated to medical supplies and will be utilized throughout the coming year to restock primary medical bags and procure essential equipment, ensuring our personnel remain fully equipped for emergency medical responses. The Fire Department’s ability to serve at the highest level is made possible by the incredible support of our Town Board. We thank them for their continued dedication to public safety and for the collaborative spirit they bring to every project. Growth is a top priority this year. Our newly formed Recruitment and Retention Committee is already hard at work finding new ways to grow our department. We are calling on residents of the Town of Fond du Lac to consider joining our team of Firefighters and Emergency Medical Responders. Whether you are looking for a way to give back or are interested in the challenge of emergency services, we want to hear from you. Please contact any department member to learn how you can make a difference. Current Fire Department members are 27 active. Chairman Montsma is planning on attending an integrated governmental agency meeting in Stevens Point on June 11 to talk about future collaboration and shared services when it comes to public safety, including EMS and/or fire department and police. Chairman Montsma also explained there is an innovation grant that could be applied for for public safety. 4. Sanitary District Annual Reports. SD #2 Brian Balson stated that there are no plans on rate increase. This year is the last year of the last upgrade at the treatment plant that we owe for but the next upgrade will be more costly which is coming in 2027. SD #3 & #6 Chairman Montsma stated there was no televising done last year because it was too dry. This year televising will be done. As part of our insurance update, our Rogersville pump had not been on the insurance rolls for many years. We do now have insurance coverage on the pump. Sanitary 3 reimbursed town for their portion of insurance for the pump. In 2025 we received a $24,000 credit from 2024 City of Fond du Lac wastewater for the true up for the year attributed to more accurate readings and meters in district. The City of FDL uses a 3 year average to figure the true up number. 99% of meters were installed by the first quarter of 2025. 4 houses had exceptions which are being installed this year. Town started discussion with JE Arthur to work on discovery this year for the potential expansion of Sanitary District volume with the city. With the WLA and Redeemer and growth we typically have the town will be fairly maxed out. The town will have to buy more capacity for that. Motion made by Supervisor David Washkoviak to approve all Sanitary District Annual Reports. Seconded by Chairman Montsma. Motion carried 15-0. 5. Report of Town Chairperson. Chairman Montsma’s report is as follows: a. In the annual newsletter that came with our tax bill, my letter to the constituents held a focus on the people involved at many levels that make up our Team here at Town of Fond du Lac.  We have great team! We added to that team in 2025 b. We hired on Terri Klapperich as Deputy clerk, whom started learning the ropes from Patti fall/winter of 2025. She is diving right in! c. Brenda was a key individual in getting Terri to apply and selling her on the idea of public service and being able to work alongside herself I am sure didn’t hurt😊 d. Harold Haney continues to dive into the day to day roles of Department of Public Works, with more autonomy in those daily decision as well as working on organization and efficiency improvements. e. Harold has work on reducing dependence on FDL County Highway Department for some services such as shouldering and snowplowing saving us those contract rates vs that he himself can do along with our part time team.  f. Collaborated with Town of Byron and County on the southside plowing efficiencies with Martin, Kelly and River Road. g. Worked with Eric Otte from JE Arthur on updating our mileage map, adding and/or confirming roads to mileage that should have been placed on the map years ago. h. Harold and I worked together with road plans with his deeper understanding of our WISLR road rating and mileage maps. i. We contracted with FDL Highway Department with planned pulverizing and resurfacing Esterbrook from Hwy 23 to Triple OOO, Streblow Drive entrance off of Hwy 23 to Boulevard, Hickory Road South of Bridge to Town of Byron. j. Emergency road repair Martin from Bridge to Hwy 151, replace washed out under road culvert on Glen Echo. k. Added solar charged flashing stop signs and flagged intersection signage to Brown and Esterbrook for improved safety.  l. Continued improvement on site lines for at risk intersections within the town. m. Applied for State support LRIP grants to 26-27 round of applications and awarded for Miranda Way and Grove Street for 2027 aggregate. n. Developed 5 year plan for our road and discussing options of user funding for subdivision repairs. o. Negotiated repair/rechip seal with Scott Construction on Westies Chip seal. p. First time taking out road loan in fall of 2025 to increase the levy for 2026 road projects.  (paid off in March 2026) q. Collaborated with Envision Greater Fond du Lac on affordable housing challenges and AIP development. r. Asked for an insurance review for Town and elected to work with Immel Insurance Farm Bureau to gain several million in missed coverage from previous insurance group and still saved over $10k annually. s. Hosted our first bulky waste disposal day at Town Hall t. Added a Ledge Stone Sign and lighting for Simon’s Riverside Park u. Training and conceptual discussion for the Town board on TIF districts for potential West side development. v. According to Bowmar, even without the re-appraisal, Town of Fond du Lac investment by 16 homes and other improvements yielding $9.386 Million, compared to $8.7 million 2024. w. Only thing that is constant is change, is often a statement I hear.  As you just heard, change in our Township is occurring, and from my inaugural term in 2023, I have tried to embrace the change that has shown itself, guide it as best I could all while learning process of government.  Although one should never stop learning, and unexpected change will most likely show its face ahead, I am hoping to shift more of my focus as your current Town Chairman to guide change from not hyper focused only the day to day challenges and corrections, but rather with more time to shaping the mid term and long term vision of our evolving Town.  This is only possible because of the great team we have surrounded ourselves with; staff, contracted services, volunteers, our Town Officials and constituents. 6. Old Business. None. 7. New Business. a. Duncan Seffern brought up the drainage problems at Horseshoe and Rockwood. There are stormwater challenges there. Chairman Montsma and DPW Supervisor Haney will be meeting with DOT on April 22 regarding the Hwy. 41 DOT Drainage Project and how it impacts the Town of Fond du Lac and our residents, specifically in that area. There are a lot of issues there. b. Treasurer Post announced the town will be planting a tree in honor of Patti Supple in the near future. There will be a reception and tree dedication. Patti’s family will be invited. If anyone has any input or thoughts where a nice place would be please contact a board member. c. Chairman Montsma would like to thank Tony Koenigs for all of his years of service with the Board of Review. The Town presented Tony with a gift certificate. Tony thanked many other town residents for their time helping the town as well. Tony has stepped down from the Board of Review. d. Supervisor Washkoviak asked Attorney Parmentier what kind of rules or process could the board adopt to compensate a town board member for extra projects they take on which give substantial savings to the town. The example given was that recently Supervisor Allender took on the park impact fee project which saved the town $8500. Attorney Parmentier explained that under Wis. Stat. 60.37(4) towns can compensate board members for work done above and beyond the scope of their job duties by hiring them as employees. To do this, the electors have to authorize it and set the rate. It needs to be an hourly rate. Then, at a separate board meeting, the board would hire the board members for special projects above and beyond the scope of their normal job duties and they would be compensated at the hourly wage set by the electors. It has to be an hourly rate that is set. Supervisor David Washkoviak made a motion to authorize the board to hire town board members as employees at a rate of $30/hour for special projects that have come up since March 1, 2026. Seconded by Supervisor Jennifer Janeczko. Motion carried 11-4. e. Brian Balson questioned why the impact fee analysis claims a shortfall on trails and how trails are considered county or town and what happens if anyone is hurt on the trails. Chairman Montsma stated this will increase insurance costs for liability. The trails are considered a shortfall in the town as the analysis shows a shortfall because the town doesn’t meet the national benchmarks. 8. Set 2027 annual meeting date. Motion by Treasurer Post to set the 2027 Annual Meeting date to April 20, 2027 at 6:00pm. Seconded by Supervisor Allender. Motion carried 15-0. 9. Swearing in of new Town Officials. Attorney Parmentier swore in new Supervisor Matt Newton, re-elected Supervisor Jennifer Janeczko and Appointed Clerk Terri Klapperich to their offices. 10. Motion made by Supervisor Aaron Kuhls to adjourn. Seconded by Brian Balson. Motion carried 15-0. Submitted by Terri Klapperich, Clerk