Annual Meeting April — Minutes

April 21, 2026 - Town of Eau Pleine Annual Meeting - UNAPPROVED Attendance Elected Officials Present: Chairperson Kurt Drexler, Supervisor Wayne Trelka, Supervisor Leif Erickson, Clerk Stacy Martin, Treasurer Sue Stroik Others Present: Bill Kiggins, Jeff Stroik, Mary Erickson, Susan Skrzeczkoski, Roger Skrzeczkoski Sr, Ken Blomberg, Lynda Blomberg, Dave Gibson, Brenda Kochanowski, Patty Hubing 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chairperson Drexler. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2. Order of business pertaining to the legal requirements of the Annual Meeting were outlined by Chairperson Drexler. 3. Minutes from the April 15, 2025, Annual Town Meeting were read. Motion by Roger Skrzeczkoski to approve the minutes. Seconded by Bill Kiggins. 14 ayes / 0 nays. Motion carried. 6:10 pm 4. The Treasurer’s report for 2025, including beginning and ending balances, deposits, interest earnings, and disbursements were read for the tax, savings, checking, and CD accounts. Treasurer Stroik noted that the CD will be due in June and that money will go into savings. Electors viewed the deposits and disbursements for 2025 and no questions were raised. Motion by Bill Kiggins to accept the Treasurer’s report as read. Seconded by Jeff Stroik. 14 ayes / 0 nays. Motion carried. 6:15 pm 5. Open to the floor: Roger Skrzeczkoski Sr would like a member of the Town Board to coordinate and track employee training as emphasized in the Town’s approved Health and Safety Plan (ex: chainsaw training, hearing tests), as well as provide updates on completed trainings at future Board meetings. Susan Skrzeczkoski added that the cost of these trainings would be far less expensive for the Town compared to the cost of an injury lawsuit resulting from lack of training. Treasurer Stroik made a recommendation as an elector to have the Portage County Treasurer collect the Town’s property tax payments for safety, security, and convenience. The County can take online, telephone, and bank payments securely by credit card, cash, and check on a daily basis. The cost for the Town to have the County take tax payments is based on the number of bills sent out to residents: $2670.70 for 2027-2028 and $2626.00 for 2029-2030. The Town cannot make this change until 2027 because the Treasurer’s wage needs to be lowered to compensate for the added expense to the Town and the removal of this duty from the Treasurer position. Elected officials’ wages cannot change during their term, and the new wage would start in April 2027 at the start of the next elected official’s term. The Treasurer’s wage should be cut in half, and the electors need to vote on this prior to the Town Board approving the switch from Town to County property tax collection. Motion by Susan Skrzeczkoski to change the Treasurer’s wage to match the Supervisors’ wages starting when the next elected Treasurer takes office in April 2027, contingent upon the Town Board approving the collection of property taxes by the Portage County Treasurer at their future Board Meeting. Seconded by Jeff Stroik. 14 ayes / 0 nays / 1 abstain. Motion carried. 6:35 pm Because the Town tractor loan will be paid off on May 30, Supervisor Trelka as an elector offered the option of purchasing a used pickup truck for Town employees to use instead of reimbursing mileage on personal vehicle use, which cost the Town about $2900 this last year. The Board will put this option on a future monthly Board meeting agenda to discuss. Elector Linda Blomberg on River Road inquired about dust suppression on Town roads. Chairperson Drexler briefly outlined the current options and that the Town will be experimenting with several different options this summer to compare results. Rather than applying entire roads, products will be applied in front of homes. When questioned on application times, Supervisor Erickson said the applications will begin by June. Elector Ken Blomberg raised the issue of safety near the intersection of River Road and Mayflower. Since all Town roads are 55 mph unless posted, River Road is posted 35 mph, and Mayflower is not posted, the intersection is dangerous and signs need to be posted to secure the safety of all travelers, including local Amish traveling by horse and buggy and bicycle. The Board will discuss adding signage to Mayflower at a future Board meeting. Clerk Martin as an elector raised the option of switching from nomination papers to caucus for placing future Town official candidates on the ballot. Only town electors may vote to make the switch. Discussion ensued over the pros and cons for each option. The electors decided it was best to keep nomination papers at this time. 6. Motion by Susan Skrzeczkoski to hold the 2027 Proposed Budget Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 5:30 pm. Seconded by Jeff Stroik. 14 ayes / 0 nays / 1 abstain. Motion carried. 7:10 pm 7. Motion by Susan Skrzeczkoski to hold next year’s Annual Town Meeting on April 20, 2027, at 6:00 pm. Seconded by Treasurer Stroik. 15 ayes / 0 nays. Motion carried. 7:10 pm Motion by Susan Skrzeczkoski to adjourn the meeting and reconvene Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 5:30 pm. Seconded by Bill Kiggins. 15 ayes / 0 nays. Motion carried. 7:12 pm Respectfully submitted by: Stacy Martin, Town of Eau Pleine Clerk Posted: Town of Eau Pleine website and Town of Eau Pleine Town Hall, April 22, 2026