Village Board — Minutes

MEETING: REGULAR MEETING OF THE VILLAGE BOARD DATE AND TIME: Monday, February 2, 2026 7:00 PM LOCATION: Germantown Village Hall Board Room N112 W17001 Mequon Road MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER: This meeting has been given public notice in accordance with Section 19.83 and 19.84, Wis. Stats, in such form that will apprise the general public and news media of subject matter that is intended for consideration and action. Village President Bob Soderberg called the Village Board meeting to order at 7:00 PM. II. ROLL CALL: Present: Trustee Robert Warren, Trustee Meg Cutts, Trustee David Baum, Trustee Jan Miller, Trustee Kristen Borst, Trustee Rick Miller, Village President Bob Soderberg Excused: Trustee Jolene Pieper, Trustee Terri Kaminski Also Present: Village Administrator Steve Kreklow, Village Attorney Brian Sajdak, Village Clerk Donna Ott, Community Development Director Jeff Retzlaff, Library Director Trisha Smith III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / MOMENT OF SILENCE: IV. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Village President Soderberg spoke regarding the passing of Senior Center Coordinator Mary Fiegel; attending a meeting to discuss the possible creation of a countywide EMS strategy; Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day; attending the Utility Advisory Committee meeting; the Police Department annual awards banquet; and items on the upcoming Village Board agenda. V. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST / COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Trustee Rick Miller announ ced the upcoming General Government & Finance Committee meeting on February 16, 2026, at 5:30 PM, and the upcoming Public Works & Highways Committee meeting on February 4, 2026, at 5:30 PM. Trustee Cutts announced the upcoming Public Safety Committee meeting on March 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Trustee Jan Miller announced the upcoming Economic Development Commission Page 2 meeting on February 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM. VI. CITIZEN INPUT: (Please be advised per 19.84(2) that information and comment will be received from the public. It is the policy of this municipality that public input be limited to a four (4) minute period per person with a time extension granted at the discretion of the Chairperson. Be advised that there may be limited discussion of the information received but no action will be taken under public comments.) Comments that may be injurious to village personnel or other individuals will not be allowed. Lynne Schauer Bednarz (W156N10121 Pawnee Ct) spoke regarding taxes and the Village budget. Melanie Smythe read comments from Bill and Carol Schneider (W157N9924 Bayberry Cir) into the record regarding the upcoming Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum, comments being read aloud at meetings, New Business Item C (Proposed Village Center District Community Engagement Program), New Business Item A (Countywide Emergency Management System Resolution), the new Police Department building, and New Business Item D (Broadcast and Recording of Meetings). Melanie Smythe (N140W1793 Cedar Ln) spoke regarding New Business Item B (Library 2025 Annual Report), New Business Item C (Proposed Village Center District Community Engagement Program), financial reporting, and New Business Item E (Administrator 2025 Performance Evaluation). Norman Berger (W141N9978 Seven Pines Way) spoke regarding garbage pickup fees. Written comments were not read aloud, but are included with these minutes. VII. CONSENT AGENDA: A. Meeting Minutes: January 19, 2026 (ACTION) Motion: Approve as presented Motioned By: Meg Cutts Seconded By: Rick Miller Yes: Robert Warren, Meg Cutts, David Baum, Jan Miller, Kristen Borst, Rick Miller, Bob Soderberg No: None Abstain: None Motion Carried by Voice Vote (Yes 7, No 0, Abstained 0) VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. Report on Planning of 4th of July Activities (DISCUSSION) Page 3 Village Administrator Kreklow provided an update regarding the planning timeline for the 2026 4th of July events and activities. Topics discussed included a tentative schedule of events and activities, community involvement, concessions, and entertainment. IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS: X. NEW BUSINESS: A. Countywide Emergency Management System Resolution (ACTION) Motion: Approve the original Resolution as presented Motioned By: Rick Miller Seconded By: David Baum Yes: Robert Warren, Meg Cutts, David Baum, Rick Miller, Bob Soderberg No: Jan Miller, Kristen Borst Abstain: None Motion Carried by Voice Vote (Yes 5, No 2, Abstained 0) B. Germantown Community Library 2025 Annual Report (DISCUSSION) Library Director Trisha Smith presen ted the Germantown Community Library 2025 Annual Report. Topics discussed included 2025 highlights, services and resources, borrowed items, circulation trends, programming successes, operating revenue and expenditures, comparisons to other libraries, and future goals and projects. C. Proposed Village Center District Community Engagement Program (CEP) - Presentation by SRF Consulting & Public Comment (DISCUSSION & ACTION) Mitchell Brouse, Project Manager with SRF Consulting Group, presented information about their plan for the proposed Village Center District Community Engagement Program (CEP). Topics discussed included project objectives, target audiences, tools and activities that will be utilized, opportunities for participation, promotion plans, reporting, project schedules, and the scope of SRF's services. No action was taken on this item. D. Broadcast and Recording of Meetings of Village Boards, Committees and Commissions (ACTION) Motion: Start broadcasting and recording Utility Advisory Committee meetings Motioned By: Robert Warren Seconded By: Kristen Borst Page 4 Yes: Robert Warren, Meg Cutts, Jan Miller, Kristen Borst, Rick Miller, Bob Soderberg No: David Baum Abstain: None Motion Carried by Voice Vote (Yes 6, No 1, Abstained 0) E. Administrator 2025 Performance Evaluation. The Village Board may convene into Closed Session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility and then may reconvene into open session to take such action as it deems appropriate. (ACTION) Motion: Enter into Closed Session at 9:11 PM Motioned By: David Baum Seconded By: Robert Warren Yes: Robert Warren, Meg Cutts, David Baum, Jan Miller, Kristen Borst, Rick Miller, Bob Soderberg No: None Abstain: None Motion Carried by Roll Call Vote (Yes 7, No 0, Abstained 0) No action was taken in Closed Session, and the Village Board did not reconvene into Open Session. XI. ADJOURNMENT: Village President Soderberg adjourned the Village Board meeting at 9:37 PM. From: crb crb To: Comments Subject: ? on the Community Engagement Program Article in THE DAILY NEWS Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 2:19:31 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hello, This article, it is only on FACEBOOK and or sign into a link. Only aware of this article ,if they subscribe to THE DAILY NEWS paper. OR sign into FACEBOOK on daily routine. YES, it only a "DRAFT" This will be review this Monday at 7p.m. At the V.B. meeting. Once again they "ASSUME" that everyone in the village does "FACEBOOK AND OR HAS A COMPUTER" to sign in or use the link. Once again what the residents who don't use "FACEBOOK " or have access to a computer? One trustee explained to us in an email; one account they reply back to the residents has about 200 people or so on it. This is ok'd if you have a "small amount" reply back? BUT we are all pay for paying for it, even if you are unaware of what is going on? So, what a about the rest of the residents and business? Remember the population in Germantown ,WI is about 21,032. What happen to sending out to all residents in the mail? PLEASE REMEMBER: Everyone in the village should be contacted somehow, either by mail FACEBOOK, newspaper and whatever else they can think of. You are not getting a full picture of what they all want in the VILLAGE CENTRE DISTRICT. Even if it's only a "DRAFT" Take a look back, at the last time! How much input did you have? Every one or just some? The Schneider's From: noreply@civicplus.com To: Comments Subject: Online Form Submittal: Meeting Comment Form for Committees and Village Board Date: Monday, February 2, 2026 3:27:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Meeting Comment Form for Committees and Village Board First Name Sarah Last Name Larson Address1 W159N9737 Butternut Rd City Germantown State WI Zip 53022 Email Address larsonmsrb@gmail.com (Section Break) Which Committee/Commission/Board do you have comments for? Village Board What is the date of the meeting? 2/2/2026 For which item do you wish to provide comments? A. EMS consolidation, D. Recording Meetings, E. Village Administrator Goals What is your opinion of the item? I am NEITHER in favor or oppose the item. Would you like to speak at the meeting? No, I do not wish to speak at the meeting. I only want to submit my comments through this form. Comments Good Afternoon, Please review and consider my feedback on the following items: A. EMS consolidation with WA county - I am concerned about over taxation with this. We did the referendum and likely wouldn't recoup those dollars already committed, then to pay again via the county, and also the potential to have that gap of unused levy dollars be repurposed into some other "non-necessity" village whim. This appears as government trying to tax without restriction. D. I fully support recording every meeting. In the text about the procedure, it didn't mention the Utility Advisory Committee, so you will want to be sure to add that as this past week's meeting had information that would have been highly valuable and interesting to the public. E. Administrator Goals--I certainly hope that the goals for 2026 will be rigorous and based on his actual work product and not assignments for others such as updating the employee handbook. His goals should be surrounding strategic value he can provide the village, such as continuity of operations---solid IT, reliable/understandable financial reporting, accurate/proactive/timely communication to the public, resource management-is complete information provided for the board to make decisions on--proactively anticipate questions they may have, 5 year budget plan with ideas/actions to mitigate the impending tax increases. I sense many things are passed around like a hot potato to just get it out of his hands to say he "took action", such as the posting of the draft Village Center consulting contract request for feedback post on the Village FB page. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.