VILLAGE OF PEWAUKEE
SPECIAL VILLAGE BOARD MINUTES
AUGUST 19, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grsvsF_qsu8
1. Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence, and Roll Call
President Knutson called the meeting to order at approximately 5:02 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 Nick Stauff, Trustee Bob Rohde, Trustee Rachel Pader, Trustee Kristen Kreuser, Trustee Jim Grabowski; and President Jeff Knutson. Trustee Kelli Belt was excused.
Also Present: Village Attorney, Matt Gralinski; Village Administrator, Matt Heiser and Village Treasurer Colin Palm.
2. Old Business –
a. Review, discussion and possible action on the strategic plan spreadsheet and prioritization of objectives, strategies and tactics.
Administrator Heiser began by introducing the Village strategic plan and its recent history. He briefly described the four components of the plan, how it was updated in 2024, the accompanying tracking spreadsheet, how it was updated and reviewed in February 2025. He then reviewed the strategies identified by the Board as priorities: Emergency preparation/Beach safety, water quality issues, IT security and the development of Village-owned assets. The Administrator recommended the first three strategies were a high enough priority to warrant constant effort/progress. He proceeded to describe three potential projects on Village assets:
1. Improving the beachfront
2. Improving the riverwalk
3. Building a community center in Kiwanis Park
Trustee Rohde explained that the community center project came from the Bell Tower Memorial project. During the design phase of the memorial the Village was considering a larger expenditure in Kiwanis Park which would have funded additional improvements. Thus a couple of different buildings were considered. He also suggested that any project in Kiwanis Park would decrease the parking spots and should include an accompanying project to install angled parking on the opposite side of Capital Drive. Trustee Grabowski expressed a concern about funding the additional parking installation.
Trustee Kreuser reported that the Joint Park and Recreation Committee spent time at a recent meeting reviewing past research and consideration of a building project in Kiwanis Park. She reported that committee members were receptive to the idea of a new facility and that resident input to the Parks department showed support for such an investment.
Trustee Grabowski reported that the surveys and feedback sessions all showed public support for a facility in Kiwanis Park. He recommended the Village should explore the feasibility of a community center.
Trustee Pader described her experience in the real estate industry and how there was a shortage of affordable rental facilities in the region.
Trustee Stauff told the group of his experience with Lions Park in Sussex and how their facilities are rented out two years in advance. Trustee Stauff also described the efforts of the Pewaukee School District to upgrade their baseball facilities and wondered if a partnership with them could benefit a community center building.
Trustee Rohde encouraged the group to rank the projects and define their priority. Trustee Stauff suggested that the lakefront has been a priority for the community for a while and other areas of the Village should be the focus. Trustee Kreuser talked about the potential amenities of a community center including an indoor pool; recognizing that the YMCA is pursing a new facility attached to WCTC and it might have a pool.
Trustee Rohde recommended the Board assign members to be attached to the projects discussed at the meeting. Trustees Rodhe and Kreuser agreed to work on the community center project. Trustees Grabowski and Rohde agreed to work on the beachfront project. Trustee Grabowski stressed that the river-walk project should be part of the beachfront project.
Trustee Kreuser asked about the next step and Administrator Heiser responded that part of it is defining a target cost or budget for these projects.
3. Adjournment
Trustee Grabowski moved, seconded by Trustee Kreuser, to adjourn the August 19, 2025, Special Village Board meeting at approximately 5:51 p.m.
Motion carried 6-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Matt Heiser
Village Administrator