[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6083218,"mediaKeyId","2935131-a5a4deb4ff43b98972015505ce2400f0","parentId",2935131,"title","Waunakee board approves TID closure, bilingual resource agreement, developer grant and engineer pay change; enters closed session on brewery TIF","audioSeconds",2811,"startMs",597000,"endMs",3408000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935131-a5a4deb4ff43b98972015505ce2400f0&start=597&end=3408","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935131-a5a4deb4ff43b98972015505ce2400f0/thumbnail_597000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083218/Waunakee/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Waunakee-board-approves-TID-closure-bilingual-resource-agreement-developer-grant-and-engineer-pay-change-enters-closed-session-on-brewery-TIF","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083218-bc98f2c01e87031f935a012ce70a80a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771017180&Signature=YvhIlk0-u-EESyVJCEGy~Aoi~KOkT4RCtfOMOvtw5LYtEgxHZWhA8~5wXIgXEq8oflqUOcDho53WrUNJqFUHq9o~JHvCMsflPjZgQV1aW8tNtgxTZcEYmRXIXE4fl6OsEn2CRdvPBxun2YgR2p0hbiaxx6sqOPEGJhiBnQcHNr3-M9CKcZ39yS3uuTg0JeOQ8gGO1wBE5fSafA8NyzSRY2m2p5p0WJ5CM06whznxvMVr6nv5GPE4vj5OLPh9UPOOYVFrM75tLJPIqUR0SpxMYThhFodt3~amsbFTXfsR95f42cHYsF87~Q-el~rcR8a6FP860r0JKh-jDtZuGV~cAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Waunakee, WI","date","2025-04-09T20:22:11.74Z","article","At the meeting the Village of Waunakee board voted on several business items: termination of Tax Increment District (TID) No. 4; approval of an operational agreement to fund bilingual community resource staffing with Waunakee Neighborhood Connection; approval of a developer grant agreement for 101 East Main Street in TID 8 (with an amended 10-year repayment term); and an adjustment to the village engineer position on the wage scale. After open-session votes the board convened in closed session to discuss the Octopi/Asahi TIF matter.

Votes at a glance (open session actions):

- Terminate Tax Increment District No. 4 — Motion approved by voice vote. Trustees noted the board previously extended TID 4 for one month to capture increment for an affordable housing extension; staff said the TID required closure by April 15. Outcome: approved.

- Operational agreement for bilingual community resource specialist (Waunakee Neighborhood Connection) — Motion approved by voice vote. The village is funding 40 percent (two days per week) of a full-time bilingual specialist position as included in the 2025 budget. The agreement was reviewed by village attorney Brian Kleinmeyer and the WNC board prior to approval. Outcome: approved.

- Developer agreement and grant request (101 East Main Street, TID 8) — Motion approved with amendment changing the developer repayment/clawback term from five years to 10 years to align timing in the agreement. Outcome: approved. (Separate article provides fuller discussion of the owner’s presentation and the Ehlers analysis.)

- Adjustment to village engineer wage scale — Motion approved to move the village engineer position from grade S-7 to grade S-10 of the wage scale and to place the incumbent at Year 1, Step 7 on S-10 effective April 20, 2025. Trustees cited a market comparison (including a Dane County Cities & Villages Association dataset) and recruitment risks as reasons for the change. Outcome: approved; effective date 2025-04-20.

- Consent agenda — Approved by voice vote.

Other procedural action: the board voted to convene into closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public properties/investment of public funds related to a proposed second amendment to a development agreement for a brewery expansion project (Octopi Brewing/Asahi). Trustees heard a staff summary in open session but deferred substantive negotiation to closed session; no public action on the Octopi/Asahi terms was recorded in open session.

Why this matters: The actions redistribute local resources (TID increment), set contract and staffing commitments for bilingual services, amend developer repayment terms tied to downtown preservation, and adjust compensation for a critical technical staff position. The closed-session item concerns a potentially significant final payment to a brewery-related project and was handled under the statutory bargaining exception.

Ending: Board minutes will reflect the formal votes taken; any actions arising from the closed-session negotiation will be disclosed after the board reconvenes and any lawful public disclosure is made.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Village of Waunakee Board Meeting 4/7/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Village of Waunakee board approved the termination of TID No. 4, an operational agreement to fund a bilingual community resource specialist, a developer grant for 101 East Main Street (TID 8, amended), and a wage-scale adjustment for the village engineer; later the board entered closed session to discuss a brewery TIF matter.","taxTitle","Waunakee, Dane County, Wisconsin","taxId",69795,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083213,"Waunakee trustees debate fire department governance and intergovernmental agreements; no immediate action",925,2095000,3020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935131-a5a4deb4ff43b98972015505ce2400f0&start=2095&end=3020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935131-a5a4deb4ff43b98972015505ce2400f0/thumbnail_2095000.jpg","/articles/6083213/Waunakee/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Waunakee-trustees-debate-fire-department-governance-and-intergovernmental-agreements-no-immediate-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083213-9914faa2ecec9c89c6f304f0d292c575/orig.mp4?Expires=1771017180&Signature=jOD8V7tYo5rfirNs5-qFZU7M4QrOgkjdTQAfsF1zpNSGPm4xvM0KPyAWHktEqL8nMbWGYrAMGkW3XS7WPqSzUY5cDzRH5-Bx491u0o6ojsGTtyzShodVZ4Ez5rFiXkg12Y8fv9N20-xnXFUiNg9CXN6Gk8CsFr0x5Zc-rauGqDRs7YgO68NPs-X-0EVi8aZ3MBG6MaDI~Ai3Bmb3m48FwydtuY1T2sB~1wWG9QPHTyniMNSXAKcdFhY3VS5igoiEmu7AsXV1Uud~QnOd9AmjPv3XCykNtaN8yMbyDOWCVLhA6DZvsMM6ZbV0eXPu4VQ~ZZViMeS-ZTD-ves6NEfOQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Village counsel and trustees spent an extended portion of the meeting reviewing legal memoranda and the governance status of the Waunakee Area Fire Department. The discussion centered on whether fire services are being provided through an intergovernmental agreement that requires a statutory fire commission, or instead are provided by a statutory fire company that would not require a commission.

Village attorney Brian Kleinmeyer summarized his reading of the documents and statutory framework and said he concluded the materials lack the clarity the village needs. “I come out at a different end,” Kleinmeyer said, noting he believes the arrangement is an intergovernmental service that would require a fire commission; he contrasted that view with a memorandum prepared by the fire district’s attorney that concluded a fire commission may not be required. Kleinmeyer said that whichever legal view is adopted, significant outstanding governance and financial questions remain and that the village’s prior steps should not be altered by the new memo.

Trustees and committee members said their priorities are the safety of the community and the stability of the volunteer membership. Trustee Robert McPherson told the board the memos make clear the current structure is not in compliance and emphasized that the village’s high share of costs warrants a commensurate role in governance. Trustee Nyla Fry and others urged the village to continue the process it already started and to keep volunteer firefighters involved in planning.

Board members described continuing differences among member towns: Westport and some others appeared open to negotiation, while Springfield was described as resisting. Trustees said a scheduled meeting of municipal attorneys (Westport, Waunakee, DeForest, Madison and Middleton) would address procedural options including cooperative-plan steps under Wis. Stat. §66.0307. Several trustees encouraged use of third-party facilitation or mediation; the fire district’s attorney reportedly offered to help mediate discussions with the municipalities.

Board members stressed they want to maintain volunteer firefighting capacity and to provide clarity for firefighters, the building and department operations. “One of the priorities…is to be able to provide what the firefighters need and what the fire department needs,” a trustee said, arguing that uncertainty harms recruitment and retention.

The board made no formal decision to change governance documents during open session. Instead, trustees directed staff and counsel to continue negotiations, maintain firefighter engagement, and advance procedural discussions with neighboring municipalities. The record shows the village will continue work on the issue and may pursue a range of solutions, including renegotiated intergovernmental terms, creation of a village fire department, or statute-driven structural changes, depending on legal findings and intergovernmental agreement outcomes.

Ending: Trustees concluded the discussion with a commitment to continue negotiations and to involve volunteer firefighters in next steps; no binding action was taken in open session.","Trustees reviewed competing legal opinions about Waunakee Area Fire Department governance—whether services constitute a statutory fire company or an intergovernmental service requiring a fire commission—and directed staff to continue negotiations without taking immediate action.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083224,"Waunakee approves TIF grant for 101 East Main Street after owner and consultant detail needed repairs",783,759000,1542000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935131-a5a4deb4ff43b98972015505ce2400f0&start=759&end=1542","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935131-a5a4deb4ff43b98972015505ce2400f0/thumbnail_759000.jpg","/articles/6083224/Waunakee/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Waunakee-approves-TIF-grant-for-101-East-Main-Street-after-owner-and-consultant-detail-needed-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083224-4864db593a3cb2c2f93a14e919663857/orig.mp4?Expires=1771017180&Signature=Nm895yOyZ3vAMCEbu-H-DGJN04skdpr2DHIxYRkScGor~q23i21a-DV-k1yBGhbkU8HduQYYo61XhqG00a7w7SKIU-Clfua3TTG4U~ZIzplqN4SmAODHkCgBJFbcqPjFMjuYZuKcGm8efPE5ZF9tycx-MIa2Sn2L6rKIsphIAp80E2RgPeIKU2gxD9LnadhcZ6L1fcCtquZLr4upLZAPy1UUgp2ZDkRnnc7hvlI4tja4IXAqjqNrB8tA2~E2to1fYNLHQasmCwk-ynRzGy3x82AYC-BJ5fEP~qy4Vu76f4GIwiXC4YeiPHc0Rvz1kn6flX04lGyD3yLvOsmGqWqssQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Village of Waunakee board on the night of the meeting approved a developer agreement to provide Tax Increment District (TID) assistance for repairs at 101 East Main Street, a historic downtown building, and amended the agreement to extend a resale repayment requirement from five years to 10 years.

The agreement covers work already completed to address immediate roofing and masonry hazards and identifies additional deferred-maintenance projects to keep the building viable, village staff said. The board approved a motion that included language “true[ing] up the timing in section 7” to change the developer repayment period from five years to 10 years.

Why it matters: The building at 101 East Main Street is one of the village’s older downtown properties and trustees described the grant as an investment in preserving the downtown commercial fabric. The project combined reimbursement for emergency repairs already completed with an allowance for future eligible work that is listed in the TID project plan.

Owner Jen Sluca, who purchased the property and operates her business there, told the board she and her husband did not initially anticipate the full cost and complexity of restoring the building. “We bought this building and we named it Avex Property because our kids’ names are Avery and Alex,” Sluca said, adding that the process of preparing the TIF request and working with Ehlers had helped shape a funding number that she hopes reduces the chance she will need future requests.

Shane Redling of Ehlers, the municipal financial consultant, told trustees the analysis used a 10-year horizon for assessing the eligible scope and cost of improvements. “When we do the analysis, we look at a 10-year time horizon,” Redling said during the meeting. That horizon factored into the board’s decision to align the agreement’s recovery and repayment timeline.

Trustees voiced support for the owner’s outreach and transparency. Trustee Robert McPherson said he appreciated that Sluca invited trustees to inspect the building and described the property as an important downtown structure whose deferred maintenance created a public-safety hazard. Trustee Tricia Brown and several others said they supported the proposal after staff and consultants reviewed the documentation and the applicant’s engagement with the process.

Trustee Nyla Fry asked why the agreement initially had a five-year repayment/clawback term and whether a 10-year term would have deterred the owner. Sluca responded that she has no intent to sell and that a 10-year period would not have prevented her from accepting the assistance.

Before the vote a staff member noted a typographical error in the packet (a year listed as 2015 instead of 2025); trustees confirmed that correction was clerical only. A motion to approve the developer agreement for a TID 8 development grant request with the amendment changing the repayment/clawback period to 10 years passed by voice vote.

The board also discussed that certain improvements must be identified by 2034 under the TID timeline used in the analysis; the record shows the parties referenced a 10-year improvement horizon during the discussion. The motion passed and trustees said the work should help retain the historic downtown building for long-term use.

Ending: The owner thanked trustees for their support and for staff and consultant assistance; the board carried the motion and moved on to the next agenda items.","The Village of Waunakee approved a developer agreement to reimburse repairs at 101 East Main Street (within Tax Increment District 8) and amended the agreement’s resale/clawback term from five to 10 years after questions from trustees and an Ehlers analysis.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waunakee board approves TID closure, bilingual resource agreement, developer grant and engineer pay change; enters closed session on brewery TIF

Waunakee trustees debate fire department governance and intergovernmental agreements; no immediate action

Waunakee approves TIF grant for 101 East Main Street after owner and consultant detail needed repairs