Village Board Meetings and Agendas

VILLAGE OF PEWAUKEE
REGULAR VILLAGE BOARD MINUTES
DECEMBER 17, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/live/FnaofO81Z60?si=ebtLJfFAnpUrlg2H  

1. Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, and Roll Call
President Knutson called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, followed by a moment of silence.

Roll Call was taken with the following Village Board members present: Trustee Heather Gergen, Trustee Bob Rohde, Trustee Kelli Belt, Trustee Chris Krasovich, Trustee Kristen Kreuser, Trustee Jim Grabowski; and President Jeff Knutson.  

Also Present: Parks & Recreation Director, Nick Phalin; Village Attorney, Matt Gralinski; Village Administrator, Matt Heiser; Village Treasurer, Cassie Smith; and Village Clerk, Jenna Peter. 

2. Public Hearings/Presentations – 
a. Presentation by local author Susan Wehrley on recent publication of a children’s book.
President Knutson introduced Susan Wehrley. Ms. Wehrley stated she has been a leadership coach for 35 years and recently authored a book called “Shift: A Journey from Ego to Enlightenment” which she shared with the Board.

3. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
a. Minutes from the Regular Village Board Meeting – December 3, 2024
Trustee Gergen moved, seconded by Trustee Rohde to approve the December 3, 2024, minutes from the Regular Village Board meeting as presented.
Motion carried 7-0.

4. Citizen Comments – 
Rachel Pader @ 546 Kopmeier Dr – Ms. Pader indicated that she was invited by Trustee Gergen to attend the meeting. She stated she is interested in one of the open positions for Village Trustee. 

5. Ordinances – 
a. Review, discussion and possible action on Ordinance No. 2024-09, An Ordinance to Repeal and Recreate Chapter 18 Article V of the Municipal Code Regarding Transient Merchants. 
Attorney Gralinski explained that the Village received correspondence from an out of state litigation firm making allegations against the ordinance. Gralinski stated this is a good opportunity to update the ordinance. “Peddler” language is not used in State Statute anymore, and a number of exceptions in the ordinance were eliminated because if challenged, they would be difficult to defend. The most significant change is updating the curfew from the current 5 p.m. cut-off to 9 p.m. cut off. 
Trustee Krasovich moved, seconded by Trustee Kreuser to approve Ordinance No. 2024-09, An Ordinance to Repeal and Recreate Chapter 18 Article V of the Municipal Code Regarding Transient Merchants as presented.
Motion carried 7-0.

6. Resolutions– 
a. Review, discussion and possible action on Resolution No. 2024-18, A Resolution Recognizing Village Treasurer Cassie Smith.
President Knutson read the Resolution out loud.  
Trustee Rohde thanked Cassie for her service and stated whenever he would come into Village Hall, he was always greeted with a smile from her. 
Trustee Gergen moved, seconded by Trustee Rohde to approve Resolution No. 2024-18 Recognizing Village Treasurer Cassie Smith. 
Motion carried 7-0.

7. Old Business
a. Review, discussion and possible action to update Strategic Plan Implementation Tracking Spreadsheet.
Trustee Gergen stated the Board should continue with a new tracking spreadsheet and assign rolls to make sure the Strategic Plan is being implemented.
Trustee Krasovich moved, seconded by Trustee Gergen to plan a Special Board Meeting at 5:00 pm on February 4th, 2025. 
Motion carried 7-0. 

8. New Business
a. Review, discussion and possible action on replacement and funding of playground equipment at Kiwanis Village Park.
Director Phalin explained this project has not gone through the Parks and Rec Board yet and was not in the budget for 2025. They are looking to replace the oldest set of playground equipment that was installed pre-1997. The code has since been changed and the playground is out of compliance. Phalin is seeking approval to use park improvement funds up to $42,000 for a replacement structure. 
Discussion followed regarding the possibility of using a playground theme, and installing unique features and adaptive components that every child can use. 
No action taken. 

b. Review, discussion, and possible action on the First Addendum and Restatement of the Joint Library Agreement. 
Gralinski explained the Joint Library Agreement was forwarded to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for review. The DPI recommended a few corrections including specifying how the terms of the Library Board will be staggered for continuity so that they do not expire at the same time. Gralinski stated there is a corrected version presented tonight from what was initially in the packet. The correction relates to the breakdown of the staggering of terms between Village and City appointees to ensure the groups are divided as equally as possible between the Village and City.
Trustee Krasovich moved, seconded by Trustee Gergen to approve the corrected version of the First Addendum and Restatement of the Joint Library Agreement. 
Motion carried 7-0.

c. Review, discussion and possible action to confirm the appointment of a Trustee as the Village Board Member to the Library Board. 
Trustee Grabowski moved, seconded by Trustee Rohde to approve the appointment of Heather Gergen as the Village Trustee to the Library Board commencing January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027.
Motion carried 7-0.

d. Review, discussion and possible action to confirm the appointment of a Village Resident Member to the Library Board. 
Trustee Krasovich moved, seconded by Trustee Gergen to approve the appointment of Lisa Jansen to the Library Board commencing January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028.
Motion carried 7-0. 

e. Review, discussion and possible action to confirm the Pewaukee School District appointment to the Pewaukee Library Board.
No action taken. 

f. Review, discussion and possible action to approve a water main easement and an easement release on the property of Pewaukee School District at 404 Lake Street.
Administrator Heiser explained the high school is in the process of adding significant facilities. The project entails moving a water main on the property. The current easement to the old main will not be needed anymore. 
Trustee Gergen moved, seconded by Trustee Krasovich to approve the new water main easement and release of the old water main easement at 404 Lake Street. 
Motion carried 7-0. 

g. Review, discussion and possible action on Cemetery Application Proposal with Ruekert- Mielke for Forest Hills Cemetery GIS.
Clerk Peter explained that updating the GIS system for Forest Hill Cemetery has been a goal for the last two years. The current application has become increasingly slow and harder to maintain. Currently, only Village staff can view the cemetery application. Village Staff is seeing an influx of the public wanting to view gravesites and research family member plots. Peter believes it would be beneficial to have a Cemetery application where it can still be maintained by staff and can be accessed by the general public. Ruekert-Mielke put together a proposal of $4,500 which includes the first year of licensing fees. Yearly licensing fees would start in 2026 in the amount of $950. 
The Board was concerned about the yearly fee and would like to see if there are other options.
Trustee Gergen moved, seconded by Trustee Krasovich to defer action on this item.
Motion carried 7-0. 

h. Monthly Approval of Checks and Invoices for all funds – October 2024
President Knutson explained the wrong month was listed on the agenda, therefore cannot be approved.
No action taken. 

9. Citizen Comments – None. 

10. Closed Session. – The Village Board of the Village of Pewaukee will enter into closed session pursuant to Wis. Statute Section 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, specifically regarding the Village Administrator; and pursuant to Wis. Statute Section 19.85(1)(e) for deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically regarding the building lease for the Pewaukee Public Library.
Trustee Gergen moved, seconded by Trustee Krasovich to move into Closed Session at approximately 7:03 p.m.
Motion carried on Roll Call vote, 7-0.

11. Reconvene into Open Session
Trustee Krasovich moved, seconded by Trustee Kreuser to reconvene into Open Session at approximately 8:17 p.m. Motion carried on Roll Call vote, 7-0.

a. Review, discussion and possible action on the Building Lease for the Pewaukee Public Library.
Trustee Gergen moved, seconded by Trustee Krasovich to approve the Building Lease for the Pewaukee Public Library with the changes as discussed.
Motion carried, 7-0.

12. Adjournment
Trustee Gergen moved, seconded by Trustee Grabowski to adjourn the December 17, 2024, Regular Village Board meeting at approximately 8:19 p.m.
Motion carried 7-0.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jenna Peter
Village Clerk