[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6355198,"mediaKeyId","2219185-5f041e3ca99dcbbadb81c361444b730e","parentId",2219185,"title","Votes at a glance: Germantown board approves certified survey map, cyber grant budget amendment and several consent items","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3028000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219185-5f041e3ca99dcbbadb81c361444b730e&start=3028&end=3028","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219185-5f041e3ca99dcbbadb81c361444b730e/thumbnail_3028000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6355198/Germantown/Washington-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Germantown-board-approves-certified-survey-map-cyber-grant-budget-amendment-and-several-consent-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355198-abf8fe22d65657fa274164c6ddfd54cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448445&Signature=AXV6spL4QPdUfHLk2YrFVp5LGejHkt8XVBpqF8W5znF7CMHg4L-rItSNILeBKUL4SkO~i-fwl8eN6yFysV9VkEBzKghYMXy0zqfUDd77X8ambzTaMtddMUPd8-wZm7HB2xF7WyAkV-06AiFU7cxoDczO2kbHdqiMmMKFOtAT09ENrUCfiqr3~Xh8HjxHRusUb807AS8hxWY-O3EAlMY2-PmVfloXIZTVGc49gYvFHdsocmKFunyyJdDVkRazpIpTB0-SrR6-qMZal3XLVubHw4M5twh~I8obUShycHEK1WuWgmm6YEYELQ7YOThT9R9ez2EhttYSum~~9O16fNfvQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Germantown, WI","date","2025-02-04T13:57:53Z","article","At its Feb. 3 meeting the Germantown Village Board approved several agenda items by unanimous vote or voice vote, including a certified survey map transferring 5.02 acres between two existing parcels; a budget amendment to accept FEMA grant funding for cybersecurity improvements; a correction to temporary alcohol license hours; and an amendment to meeting minutes to add allocation details.

The board also elected Trustee Baum as chair pro tem at the start of the meeting.

Summary of actions and outcomes

- Certified survey map (CSM) approval: The board approved a CSM transferring 5.02 acres between two parcels on Pleasant View Drive in the Rural Preservation District. Staff reported the revised survey addressed minor surveyor comments and the Plan Commission recommended approval with conditions that comments be addressed. Motion passed by voice vote; trustees voted “Aye.”

- Budget amendment for FEMA cyber grant: The board approved a budget amendment accepting FEMA grant funds for cybersecurity improvements and authorized associated expenditures. Motion passed on roll call; recorded ayes included Trustee Bob Warren, Trustee Katz, Trustee Jan Miller, Trustee Pieper, Trustee Rick Miller, Trustee Kaminski and Chair Baum.

- Temporary alcohol beverage license hours correction: The board approved a motion to correct the applicant’s stated hours from “12PM” mislabeling to 12:00 a.m. (midnight) for specified event dates. Motion passed on roll call.

- Consent agenda minutes amendment: The board approved adding dollar-allocation details to the minutes regarding an $83,901.69 transfer of unspent 2024 road program funds; staff agreed to review audio and add the specific brine equipment figure if confirmed.

- Election of chair pro tem: Because President Walter was absent, the board nominated and elected Trustee Baum as chair pro tem; motion carried.

- Closed sessions: The board voted to convene closed session discussions on (a) police union contract negotiations, (b) firefighters union contract negotiations and (c) administrator performance goals pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(e) and §19.85(1)(c); each motion passed on roll call.

Most votes were unanimous; where a roll call was recorded, all trustees present voted in the affirmative.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Village Board 2/3/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Village Board unanimously approved a certified survey map transferring 5.02 acres between parcels, accepted FEMA cyber grant funding via a budget amendment, corrected temporary alcohol license hours, amended minutes wording, elected a chair pro tem and approved motions to enter closed session on union negotiations and administrator goals.","taxTitle","Germantown, Washington County, Wisconsin","taxId",69247,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6355203,"Residents at Germantown meeting urge transparency on Blackstone Creek land swap and warn against removing tornado sirens",557,885000,1442000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219185-5f041e3ca99dcbbadb81c361444b730e&start=885&end=1442","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219185-5f041e3ca99dcbbadb81c361444b730e/thumbnail_885000.jpg","/articles/6355203/Germantown/Washington-County/Wisconsin/Residents-at-Germantown-meeting-urge-transparency-on-Blackstone-Creek-land-swap-and-warn-against-removing-tornado-sirens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355203-f225681a06ab677abd12128b7c57becf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448445&Signature=D2Xwjn2-Ezp9ExTCe7KynGLC2ZZJD9m8Q10UFmDkPidJmPxPRkgqE0zFzbCdNKZRRK2WjlrX8nyA4WBFNw5q6p9Nzq9PYqEkBJqlOLteetxLG1Cv6NtVPTNjoCQNd5mixRSxdB49y8w2-rlv2gP9yG722eFoZx2uyHEzwZV3BDVDr-P0urIIsMRY7m-Cdv~lNJn0ijU2p3CQ067iawO6YFdWPIQzuN3olhhD82lLx8Z6-PXrvluKrD6-jg6SKhHmhTyjN6i5zC9H7~fHhDAZG4WX7OPtpYVQP4Lp15GhEI0EKozcAoOO0cKTGi8mGD~if2-OQAf~VMrBtgEIImEGag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents used the Feb. 3 public-comment period at the Germantown Village Board meeting to press officials on development transparency, tax-financing, emergency warning systems and municipal communications.

A speaker representing a group calling itself the Germantown Taxpayer Accountability Group delivered a letter urging the board to reject a proposal the speaker called “Blackstone Creek,” described as an exchange agreement in which the golf-course owner would swap wetland land for a parcel of Germantown parkland currently hosting a pickleball court and skate park. The speaker said the proposal would enable the owner to build a large rental complex and criticized what the speaker called a proposed “tax investment financing situation called a TIN,” which the speaker characterized as a tax dodge and a conflict of interest because, the speaker said, the owner serves on local economic committees and a joint review board.

The board did not take action on the land-swap proposal during the meeting; the remarks were part of public comment. The speaker asked for more public meetings, said residents were offered multiple-choice-style questions at outreach events and called for fuller cost analyses and committee review. The speaker did not provide a written cost analysis during the public comment.

Other residents raised separate concerns. Melanie Smythe pointed out that the municipal code button had been removed from the village website front page and asked that it be restored. Several speakers, including Bob Soderberg, urged the board to reconsider removing outdoor tornado sirens without a replacement plan; Soderberg urged the village to survey neighboring communities and prepare a plan B rather than rely solely on cellphone alerts.

Scott Heffley urged the board to re-evaluate expansion of a tax-increment district (TID) tied to a planned Sterling Pharma project, saying the village expanded the TID in hopes of securing the project and should reverse the expansion if the project does not come to Germantown.

Sarah Larson raised accuracy concerns about municipal payroll W-2s and streaming/Channel 25 meeting broadcasts, and she asked that administrator performance goals include measurable accountability and accuracy targets for finance and technology work. Larson also asked for clarity about Trustee Baum’s recusal from some village-center votes and whether the trustee had a business interest in the village center; she asked the board to disclose the basis for recusals.

The board did not act on the public requests during the meeting; trustees and staff noted that the plan commission will host a public session on Pilgrim and Mequon Road development and that residents will have additional opportunities to comment there.

Board members and staff said plan-commission materials and outreach had been posted online and to prior participants; staff said the Plan Commission’s upcoming meeting would present a recap of community input rather than a final vote.

No formal motions or votes resulted directly from the public comments at the Feb. 3 meeting.","Multiple residents raised concerns about a proposed golf-course land-swap tied to a tax financing plan, alleged conflicts of interest, and the village’s plan to remove sirens; they also sought clearer public outreach and website fixes.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6355207,"Germantown board to send supplemental bills after software misapplied summer sewer credit to 1,600 accounts",640,2197000,2837000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219185-5f041e3ca99dcbbadb81c361444b730e&start=2197&end=2837","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219185-5f041e3ca99dcbbadb81c361444b730e/thumbnail_2197000.jpg","/articles/6355207/Germantown/Washington-County/Wisconsin/Germantown-board-to-send-supplemental-bills-after-software-misapplied-summer-sewer-credit-to-1600-accounts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355207-575ea38334de7a1d07cfd5a1c303aaef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448445&Signature=Bk6Zl7hJtfqJqmtqG9xvMk4Z6ww~bWEMXfZP9jjYd8LalymeyZiz8dWlxeyIRPTbXwpXKyJShtySWAXFsH7mCI5ccaDrvrbvkB5c8SLDV6rC8zsHqIJT8vnAZsShe~k5zwprb7cUZuKKYK1cXiHE0kpnqbk4cOkBgjaqI1-VJcs44Nczj5VZQYAli8GoWQdfzD7OhrwRIuKoZQPrRy0rIu4-QK2A4JkDDErskg0bt5gxOOE-9Bix5LVjpgPq1pzCLZbOT0HHox29gCedG4vRizSXa0b50f0wlw8WgI5sYvkdIaJyQel9OfXO7WLTmztmlXmE53v3JvBpmXK0BND4Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Germantown Village Board on Feb. 3 agreed to send separate supplemental bills to roughly 1,600 residential accounts after a software error inadvertently applied a summer sewer service credit to fourth-quarter 2024 utility bills.

Village administrator told the board that no one was overbilled but about 1,600 households were underbilled, “most of them by less than $50.” The board accepted a recommendation from the Utility Advisory Committee to generate separate bills to collect the differences and to send a letter explaining the mistake.

The decision followed staff briefings and tests with Tyler Munis, the village’s financial and billing software vendor. Administrator said Tyler Munis copied the village’s instance into a test environment, reran the billing cycle and, to date, has been unable to reproduce the exact error. The vendor also provided configuration changes and additional verification methods staff can use going forward.

Trustee Leslie Kaminski moved to accept the Utility Advisory Committee recommendation and create the separate bills “as soon as possible,” and the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Finance and utility staff described a multi-step manual-check protocol to reduce recurrence: pull many sample bills for manual recalculation, have the utility billing clerk and at least one additional staff member verify calculations, and add one more pre-mailing review step by another staff member. Staff emphasized that the issue affected residential accounts only and not commercial or industrial customers.

Board members pressed for stronger safeguards. Trustee Jan Miller asked whether industrial or commercial accounts were affected; staff said the summer sewer credit applies only to single-class residential customers. Trustee Bob Warren warned that being unable to identify the root cause harmed credibility and asked which other municipal functions used Tyler Munis; staff replied it is used for utility billing, finance, human resources and payroll, while property taxes run through the county portal.

Staff estimated the supplemental bills could go out in a couple of weeks; most shortfalls were under $50, though some individual accounts were undercharged by higher amounts based on usage. The board directed staff to produce a public summary for the village website and social media explaining what happened and what will be done to prevent recurrence.

The vote to generate separate bills passed unanimously by voice vote.","Village officials decided to send separate bills to about 1,600 residential accounts after a Tyler Munis billing error applied a summer sewer credit incorrectly; board asked staff for stronger checks and wrote public notice.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Germantown board approves certified survey map, cyber grant budget amendment and several consent items

Residents at Germantown meeting urge transparency on Blackstone Creek land swap and warn against removing tornado sirens

Germantown board to send supplemental bills after software misapplied summer sewer credit to 1,600 accounts