Common Council - Regular Meeting

uh meeting of the Lake Mill City Council to order for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. Misty, would you please call the role? Miss Curler, here. I'm sorry. Miss Curler here. Thank you. Miss Schmeer here. Miss Quednau here. Mr. Coots here. Mr. Waters here. Thank you.

Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Our next agenda item is correction and acceptance of the city council meeting minutes from our last meeting on November 18th. Are there any corrections or comments this evening? Okay, seeing none, we will accept the November 18th minutes into our public record. Uh, next agenda item is board and committee reports and meeting minutes. So, we have meeting minutes from the plan commission of October 28th and the joint review board from October 22nd. Are there any questions or comments or corrections on either of those minutes? Okay, seeing none, we will accept those into our records as well. Uh, next agenda item is correspondence and constituent contacts. Michelle, would you like to kick it off?

Sure. I participated in a photo op um for the $1,000 donation from the Lake Mills Foundation to the library. So, that should be in the paper. And then um I also had an email uh regarding solar panels for the library, but that's it. Great. Thank you. Great. I had uh correspondence on the golf course development and uh saw an email on Rock Lake Improvement Association is proposing a slow no wake zone during the joint Rock Lake committee meeting on Wednesday at 6 PM. Next Wednesday. Thanks, Mary.

I had the same as Greg. I also had a correspondence on winter parking uh policy ordinance and uh Sandy Beach.

Um I had much of the same. The only uh different thing that I had I had an email from Mr. Clark. Uh that was just a thank you email and in particular he wanted to thank uh Drake and the public works department for putting the sign the flags on the speed limit signs. Super. Thank you. Um I had um I guess pretty much the same as um Greg Waters and Mary reported. I also had some correspondence with public works board candidates, one of whom is on the agenda tonight. Um, and then I got an invitation to the annual um, legislative breakfast that the Jefferson County hosts and that's coming up later this week. Okay, that looks like that's it for correspondence and constituent comments. So, next is our public comment. Individuals who have registered to speak in advance are invited to address the council at this time. Please state your name and address when you are called on to make your comments. No action will be taken for items not listed on the agenda and each speaker is limited to three minutes. So we have two [snorts] people who uh registered to speak tonight. First is Anita Martin. Thank you. I'm here to speak in support of resolution 25-73, acceptance of donation from Lake Mills Rotary Club for memorial bench at Rotary Park in honor of Dr. Ken Stson. To know Dr. Ken Stson is to have admired him. He was a friend to many and very inspirational to so many people including young people. He taught English and history starting out in his career at Jefferson High School, coached wrestling, cross country, and track. Went on to um teach at Cana Community College and then um also Northeastern

Illinois University. He lived a life of service and especially um did this through Rotary, but also through many community activities. many years he served as um a member of the Lake Mills Area School District Board of Education and also was a president of the school board of education um over the years as well. So um in summary on behalf of the Lake Mills Rotary Club, thank you for considering this donation.

Thank you, Anita. And I'm sorry I forgot to put the timer on, but you were well under three minutes. So, thank you. Um, our other um public commenter tonight is Kim G. And I will try to start the timer here. Come on. There you go. Hello. My name is Kim G. I'm here with my husband Corey. Um, we're I live at uh W7144 County Road V here in Lake Mills. and uh we've been owners of this home for 22 years. We are here to um state our opposition to um the uh planned reszoning for the apartments over by the highway behind Party Mark. Um we just have a couple concerns that I'll just reiterate again. Um we think that this foot this footprint of apartment buildings is excessive for one area in town. it doesn't really fit what the the plan that I believe the city was working on a more mixeduse plan incorporating single family homes. This was zoned as single family homes um and that's what we expected to be there um when we decided to stay um in our home. Also, um we have concerns about what we heard was that their um company that owns the apartment buildings will be also in charge of doing the um road upkeep and things like that. And um the fire lane that goes to our house was only just plowed just before this meeting from the snowfall and we're concerned about that. It's a fire lane that's supposed to go all the way down to the apartment buildings and um it wasn't plowed until just before the meeting and so we're concerned about that kind of thing. If a fire were to happen in that period of time at our house, the fire trucks would not have

been able to get through to our place. Um so we just have some concerns about it. We think this is too big, too many apartment buildings in one place. And we feel like it was kind of a um a let's an action now and ask forgiveness later type of thing when he put in the apartment buildings in a single family area and then now we realize he doesn't build single family homes. So please reconsider. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, that is our um last registered public comment for this evening. Thank you everyone. Um so our next agenda item is the city manager report. Good evening Drake.

Uh good evening. Only item I have for you is um [clears throat] new letter if regarding the golf course. Originally letters had gone out for public hearings on December 18th. the rescheduled date for the plan commission uh for both the future land use map amendment and the zoning change request. Um we dis um we discussed with the developer that due to anticipated significant interest and proximity to the holidays um we uh we've canled those public hearings and new letters were sent out. Additional letters will be sent out when um those public hearings are rescheduled. Um, so everybody can just wa watch for those um, notices and then also pay attention um, or sign up for notifications from the agendas uh, when the agendas come out if they're interested as well.

Thank you, Drake. So, just to clarify, those are the public hearings that would be held at the plan commission meeting, right? So, do you have any information about whether the uh, community meeting that the developer was proposing is still going forward? I've had people ask questions and I wasn't sure. To my knowledge, it is still occurring. That was scheduled for December 17th. December 17th. And that's here, I think, in this building. That's a developers meeting. I understand. I believe I believe you're correct, but I I don't want to speak with certainty on it. I I I believe it's in this building, but I guess I I did not see the updated notice. So, um

Okay. Thanks. Appreciate that. Any questions or on on that or any other matters for our city manager? Okay. Thank you. Uh then we can move on to council business. Our first item is a progress report on the Cottage Hotel. So we have Barry Loose here this evening um as well as Tom Vince who um spoke with us a couple of months ago. I wish Barry was more comfortable with this. But [laughter] in any event, um I'm here to try and give you an update of where things are today. Uh what's happened since uh getting the extension on the Bayberry. Um obviously I think from the front everybody can see a significant change. Uh a lot of work went into getting the front looking as it looks today. Um, we even had to lift up those posts briefly to get some PVC underneath there so to prevent any future rotting. Um, all the bead boards on the ceiling of the porch uh are new at least at one level at a at a significant expense. Um, but it should take care of all of the deterioration that had had gone in that area. Um, so we got the new bead board. Um, and th those spindles, when you look at them, I had no idea when I they said how many that we had to have. Between the front and the back were well over 500 spindles at this point. Pretty significant. I I was surprised by the number. Um, there's been a custom repair on the steps as well with uh some expert um input from a renovator who really knows how to match things to make sure that they're going to be just right. Unfortunately, there was not time to get them painted yet

because of the change in the weather, but they're all repaired. So, uh, when spring is here and, uh, the weather permits, there's a lot has to be done on the front and the back as far as the painting part. Um, a lot of things are roughed in. The plumbing is roughed in, the electrical is roughed in. When I say roughed in, it's basically done to the point until you can get the insulation and the drywall in. But um and the inspections been done on that and the um inspection of everything is up to date there. The the sprinkler system also is all roughed in. Now there's some steps as that goes forward in a sense that uh it has to be tested before we can really close things up on the inside. And once it's tested of course there has to water has to remain in that system. So unfortunately, um it's one of those things that timing you wish it could have been better, but it's not. Uh we've got some pretty cold weather coming. So we know there's going to be temporary heat there um for probably at least a couple months in order to maintain the proper temperature inside, not only for working, but to maintain that temperature for the water that's in the um sprinkler system. Um the uh everything is ordered at this point as far as all of the um installation. I believe that could be in as as early as the end of this week. And everything is a timing thing because once the installation is here, it'll take approximately uh 10 days to get it in, 5 to 10 days, somewhere in that range. Um then there has to be another inspection before you can really close it in. So, uh, and in the meantime, I think the, uh, drywall will arrive, but you can't start putting it in, obviously, until all the insulation is in and the

inspection takes place and that the, um, sprinkler system has been tested and working properly. Um the back of the building, if any of you've ever looked at it, um it's kind of interesting because you can, you know, drive by the fire department and come around and you can see it's really very significant. Unfortunately, again, the weather is not helping in order to get it finished completely. But I think once the weather once we're through the worst weather of the winter months, then everything should be if it's not completely closed in at the top, we can finish the closing in and that'll all have to be um you have to wait on treated wood for the painting. So that part won't be painted for probably a couple years, but it looks very good as treated wood like a lot most people's decks look. So that's all good. Um I think we're in pretty good shape in terms of the next two months. Um everything should be well buttoned up on the inside, the drywall, the insulation, the painting. And once that happens, um the floors will be repaired. Most of the floors um in each of the units, there's going to be some of the floors that will be the original hardwood, so they're going to be refinished and the rest will be carpeted. And then the the kitchens will start as soon as the drywall is in. So that's about where it is. Any questions?

Are there any questions for Mr. Yeah. Greg Guad, did I see your hand up? Scratching, but I'll come up with a question. All right, Greg [laughter] Coots, I I guess. Um, did you have a question, Mary? Oh, Greg Coots did. Greg, no, you go ahead. That's fine. I guess are you on schedule for the uh I think it was the April time period. Is

you know, I'd like to say yes. I mean, I will say yes. Um, but I would say that there have been some delays that you don't anticipate. Um, some with the change in the inspector. Um, because now we're working with a different inspector with the city having lost their your full-time person. Um, so that first inspection got put off, put off and put off by several days and that held some things up and I, you know, this weather isn't helping anything on any of that outside stuff. So, uh, you can't anticipate all of those things, but I'm still optimistic in a sense that I had hoped that by this date the back would have been complete. And also some things happened on the supply line in a sense. Some of the wood that came that wasn't the proper wood. So you had to they had to do a lot of extra work to get the the uh the main post for support in the back or scissored together. And you know we had uh the proper 20footers you wouldn't have had to do that. So all of that stuff was extra money and time. Those are you just can't tell you everything that might happen. But I would say in general, yeah, I feel pretty good. Uh, two months from now, if everything is buttoned up on the inside and you got two more months to kind of finish off, I think we're in great shape.

I I would disagree with that. Um based on the timeline that you provided uh previously, shouldn't the sprinklers and the uh rear you know the the back of the building have been done end of October and the I think that was was that the original paper that you had with estimates on when Yeah. Yeah. I I'm not sure on that.

When the uh and the insulation was supposed insulate all interior is listed as being done by 11:15 and now it's not done and even once we once it gets there it's going to take you know a couple weeks to get in it sounds like. So it sounds like it's running a month behind already. We also put the water underneath the road. Yeah. Can you [snorts] repeat that, Tom? Because Barry's not on the microphone. Uh Barry, he's referencing public.

The thing I did not mention is uh forest construction that also is all in the um bringing the water in the main line that just really finished. I think it was a week ago Monday. And uh yeah, it's been done, I think, almost two weeks. But all the grading and all that, that's all finished. The hydrron is in the back. So some things might look like they aren't where they were on the original plan, but in terms of the the whole of what's been done, I think is pretty decent. Yeah. Connection to the public infrastructure was completed under supervision of the city's engineer. So the water connection was made.

Okay. Okay. Any additional questions, Craig? I do. Michelle, um, in the future when we have a need for an update, I would very much appreciate having a physical copy of a list of the things that you've done. Uh, because for me, it helps me to see. Um, it also helps me to do a compare and contrast.

Um, it would be it would be easier to um feel confident that things are on pace with that kind of um documentation. Right now we're expected to take word of mouth and it's it's it's it's hard. Okay. Because it's been a we've been doing this a while um and it's been word of mouth. word of mouth. Um, and I I would like to, you know, believe that everything is going to turn out the way it is right now. There's not I'm not feeling a lot of confidence in that. Um, and so I would like to remind you that the things that were mentioned at the city council meeting on the 16th [clears throat] were that you were going to get plumbing and electrical finished and that is correct.

Well, you have to have it to a certain point as I understand it. You know, I'm not I'm the guy that's trying to push things forward here. Yeah. uh you have to you have to go to a point with the work then the next part of it has to happen before you can finish the part you just had for example you know you can have the electrical ready to go or I mean run but you have to have inspections

and then of course once the insulation is in and you can close it up with the [clears throat] drywall you know it's like sometimes you say it'll be done here And yet there's things that you don't necessarily know you have to do. Now I I I think what I hear you say is that what you would like to have is something in writing every time as to what you know like now I just wrote these things down. Yes. I'm telling you you want to have it where Barry can produce a report for you to say these are all the things that are done and and not just done but like a progress report.

Okay. a progress report. So, here are the things that need to be done. Here we are in the progress and what's been done, what needs to be done. I thought that's the way I tried to present it to you, but Sure. I just am a visual person and so having that as documentation is very helpful for me to be able to compare and contrast. Um, the other thing is is that you mentioned that the plumbing and electrical was going to be finished in the next six weeks back in September. So, I just I know that things come up. I just wanted to remind you of that. Um, there was also something about um, you starting the water main. Is that what you were referencing, Drake? So, that's been taken care of.

The public the the public side of it is has been completed. Yes. Okay. It What needs to happen on Barry's side? Well, interior plumbing has to be completed, but the the connection has been made. Okay. The only thing is I understand the connection when you say the water is there it's not connected yet and that happens when they're ready. Sure. That you have to done to the point that the um sprinkler system

because once it's filled with water and tested you have to have the heat there otherwise you got a problem. So the heat's got to be there and then you have it on because it's going to stay on. The water will stay in at that point. Am I saying that right, Barry? That way you understand it. Yeah.

Okay. Just I don't know what the next time we are scheduling a an uh for a an update. Um, but I would request that you have a more um detailed and uh explanatory uh breakdown of the things. And I I you know, like I said, I I would love to be able to just say, "Cool, great. Let's go." But it has it's it's hard to trust at this point. So that's it. it. If you have those things and you have an um an explanation, not to say an excuse, but an explanation as to what things are being held up and why.

Um I may have more sympathy, but that I'm just I'm not promising anything. It just would help everybody. Yeah. I say pictures might help too. Yep. Because I think uh in the past we've there have been some photos of different things and you I'm more of a visual person myself and to look at it and to see it it's easier to understand. Yeah, I got it. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So, thank you for understanding. Okay. So, the next uh progress report um is scheduled for our first meeting in February. So, that's February 3rd. Um you know, similar to tonight and I'm seeing Mr. recruits was referencing there was a kind of a spreadsheet

um Barry that you had provided back in September and maybe if that can be updated filled in that would that would you know show us what's the sequence of things what's been done what's still pending you know when is it expected to be done that would be a helpful visual I think for everybody okay

any other questions for Tom or Barry okay thank you okay our next agenda item is confirmation of the city council president's recommended appointment of Lane Smith to the public works board. Um, this is to fill uh the vacancy left by Greg Pichchek who was our uh most recently our the chair of our public works board, a long- serving member and unfortunately he moved out out of Lake Mills so can't can't serve anymore since he doesn't live in this city. So, uh, Lane Smith is here tonight. Uh if people don't know him, he's the owner of Sunshine Brewing Company, uh which seven years I think you've been going now. And uh also a a board member of Sunrise Reach uh which does a lot of uh good nonprofit work in the community. And uh I know Mary met him through the Mil Pond uh work with the parks board. He lived down the lives down the street here. So uh I'm recommending Lane to fill the vacancy on the public works board for a term ending in April of 2027. I move to approve the president's recommended appointment of Lane Smith to public works board.

Second. Motion by Miss Quedno and seconded by Miss Schmaker. Any discussion? Seeing none, can we have a roll call vote, please? Misty. Miss Schmeaker. I. Miss Quednau, I. Mr. Coots, I. Mr. Waters, I. Miss Kurler, I. Motion passes 5-0.

Thank you. And thank you, Lane, for your willingness to serve. Next meeting is next week, so [laughter] you can start right in. Start reading. Okay. Our next agenda item is resolution 25-73. Uh, Misty, would you read that for us? City Council Resolution 25-73 accepting a donation from the Lake Mills Rotary Club in the amount of $1,800 for the installation of a bench at Rotary Park.

I'll make a motion to approve city council resolution 25-73 accepting a donation from the Lake Mills Rotary Club in the amount of 1,800 for the installation of a bench at Rotary Park. Mr. Coots will second. Motion by Mr. Waters, seconded by Mr. Coots. Is there any discussion? Any questions? Drake, anything you want to share? Uh, the parks board recommended approval. Okay. And thank you, Anita, for being here and uh telling us about Dr. Stson. I really appreciate that.

Uh, no other questions or comments. Misty, can we Oh, sorry, Greg Waters. I'll add that uh that I knew Dr. Ken Stson uh very well. We had the uh the whole wrestling thing association. I think Greg can shake his head over there as well. Um had many discussions about wrestling over the years. Uh all three of my kids uh did Rotary Park concession stands and they would always talk about

how nice Mr. Stson was and how much he helped the kids through that process. and um he was really a a light to the community and and I know that he impacted a lot of children's lives in his work at the Rotary. So, thank you. Thank you, Greg. Any other comments? Okay. If not, Misty, please call the role on resolution 25-73. Miss Quednau, I. Mr. Coots, I. Mr. Waters, I. Miss Kurler I, Miss Meer, I. Motion passes 5-0.

Thank you. And thank you again to the Rotary Club for um this donation. [clears throat] Okay. Our next agenda item is ordinance 1286. Uh this is the second reading tonight. So Misty, would you please do that second reading for us? Ordinance 1286, amending City of Lake Mills ordinance section 660-44, official zoning map, City of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Partial identification number 24607140734025. Owner Robert Mangan, vacant vacant land east of Brewster Drive and northeast of Tyrina Park Road, Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Thank you. So that was our second reading. Um and uh then this will be um carried over to our next agenda for the third reading. At at that time we'll take a vote on it. Uh the um Mr. Mangan's representative Chris Carr is here this evening. Um if we have any questions for him or is there anything that you want to provide or drink? Is there any updates you want to share?

There was a map uh distributed um uh late in the process early today. the council had asked for an attachment um to accurately reflect the plan commission's conditions that had placed on it. Um so I think in in discussing it, I think what we'll probably end up doing at the next meeting is you'll have the third reading of the ordinance change which would um allow you to change the ordinance to the PDD overlay. Um and we would [clears throat] also then have a a resolution um approving the general development plan. Um and then just for the council's prerogative that until you're comfortable with the plan, until it's at until it's where you need it to be, you're not you're not obligated to to act. So you can request additional information. You can, you know, take the the steps and time that you need to to become comfortable with it. But I think what we'll we'll do is keep the ordinance and then the approval of the general development plan separate so that the ordinance changes clean to the PDD overlay. But the specifics that the council wants to be sure are included is the general development plan and that is regulatory. It is enforceable. And then of course the next step then is development agreement and precise implementation plan if it proceeds which is an even greater level of detail and lays out responsibilities and obligations at that time as well. Um so I think we'll that's the process that I envision at your next meeting in order to ensure that your uh wishes are incorporated into the approval.

Thank you. So that's um with the documents with tonight's agenda. Um there's the overall site plan map that was added today and and that would be the the map that shows the changes that were um recommended by the plan commission.

Correct. And we'll we'll we would write the resolution adopting the general development plan in such a way that it incorporates the um the uh conditions as outlined in the planner memo as well as the referenced exhibit. Um, and then that would be attached to the resolution and the general development plan application that may be approved. Thank you. Are there any questions for staff or for Mr. Carr this evening? Um, I just would have um two I guess questions comments just to address the public comment that we had this evening. Perhaps at our next meeting if we could just have clarification on what would be the allowable density here for single family and what would be the allowable density for multifamily so that we can understand that in the context of of the density that's being proposed.

Um sure would the council like a full presentation from the city planner on similar to what was given to the plan commission in formal we can have a formal presentation. I'm seeing some yes and some no. [laughter] Sure, we can prepare for that. Okay. Okay. Dustin's online so he'll be he'll be ready. I mean, since we've had some public comment on it, I think that might be helpful just to make sure that we all understand that and I that's probably in that. Yep. We'll go through the process, the conditions, the approval, um what next steps are, and the the options available to the city council.

Super. Thank you, Greg. If you're going to go through that process, can you give uh maybe housing data over the last five years? How many single family houses have been developed in in Lake Mills? How many multi-units have been developed in Lake Mills in the last five in the last 10 years? Say um we Yes, we will we will pull together what we can for you. Okay. Thank you.

Any other questions or comments on ordinance 1286? in the discussion. Okay, seeing none, we will um advance that to our next meeting for the third reading and the adoption of the or vote on the ordinance and the resolution. Okay, so that concludes council business tonight. We have announcements and recommendations for future agenda agendas. Um we did get a notification from Misty today on Sandy Beach work session will be December 10th. So that's next week, Wednesday at six o'clock. Drake, anything else you want to update us on?

Uh, the final plat and bidding documents will be before the city council after at at its next meeting. So it's next in front of the public works board. The plat was before plan commission at its last meeting. The plat then go that's for Brookstone phase 9, the final the final phase. Um, and so that'll be on uh this public works board, the plat and bidding documents approval for a recommendation for final action by the city council at the uh December 16th meeting. Okay. Anything else? Greg Waters.

Yes. I'd like to make an announcement that I will not be seeking reelection in April of uh 2026. So, I did want to give uh community members an opportunity to review the opportunity and maybe some civic-minded people will want to run for uh the south side of the city that of the districts that I actually cover. Um so, they have until January 6 to file paperwork at the with the city clerk. So they can go online and review the uh procedures and if they have questions they can contact the city clerk.

Well, thank you Greg for your many years of service. You and I have been on the city council about the same amount of time and u I've really enjoyed working with you and I know we'll have a few months left to continue to talk about that. But um thank you um in advance for for your service to the community and uh look forward to see who uh who wants to step up and fill the seat next. Thank you.

And as long as you're making announcements, I will announce that I I am seeking re-election. Um but the in district one and um other people of course are also welcome to apply. Any other comments uh for this evening or announcements? Uh maybe I'll just add um one thought for the Sandy Beach Park work session. Um as we've talked about, we're going to try to do it um uh Drake will be stabbing it and then just the five of us. So we're going to uh try to do what we can on our own. Um, if there's no objections from other council members, um, I've asked Mary to help, uh, use some of her professional skills and facilitation to help kind of guide us through some of the process, but you can anticipate that we'll be talking about what are our overall goals for the redevelopment of Sandy Beach Park and then prioritizing the um, um, parks board recommendations um, as some of the key uh, things that we'll work on at our next week. All right. If there's no other business for this evening, I will call this meeting adjourned. Thank you everyone.

Thank you.