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Salem Lakes board directs staff to get wetland delineation quotes after DNR determination
Summary
After the Wisconsin DNR issued a May 14 determination about disturbed wetlands at the pond behind Village Hall, the Village of Salem Lakes board directed staff to obtain two wetland delineation quotes and seek further information from the DNR. The administrator acknowledged protocol lapses and said the work was not board‑authorized.
The Village of Salem Lakes board on May 19 directed staff to seek further information from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and to obtain two independent wetland delineation quotes after the DNR issued a May 14, 2025, determination about grading and fill near the pond behind Village Hall.
Village President Buecher said the board "did not authorize this work but has heard from the administrator that there were miscommunications and mistakes made by and between her and the staff in the nature and scope of work that was done." The board moved into closed session to review the DNR findings and reconvened to approve the direction to staff by unanimous roll call.
The DNR letter cited by speakers in public comment was described in the meeting as a "notice of noncompliance for wetland grading fill on property located in the Village of Salem Lakes, Kenosha County." The village administrator told the board that the walking path around the man‑made pond at 9814 Antioch Road was installed between September 2024 and March 2025, was intended as a low‑cost training and access improvement, and had an "unexpected impact on the wetland that was outside of the intended assignment." She said the DNR offered two options: apply for a non‑federal wetland exemption because the water body is man‑made, or voluntarily restore disturbed areas. The administrator recommended contracting a wetland delineation with a professional wetland scientist and then applying for the non‑federal exemption, but left the final decision to the board.
Several members of the public urged a formal investigation and full disclosure. Kevin Mathewson, who said he is a private investigator, urged the board to launch an internal probe and insisted "the DNR is not gonna, question employees, find out who told who to do what. That's what you guys have to do." Jeff Albrecht, a resident, called for accountability and "a full and total disclosure of the facts to the public." Dean Hintzman, who said he has long experience working with the DNR and formerly chaired the Camp and Center Lake Rehabilitation District, said he accompanied DNR staff for site reviews and reported what he described as factual findings from those tours: he told the board the DNR representatives said there would be no fines and that "no fill was brought in," while acknowledging that some pushed soil may have entered the wetland during heavy rains and that communications could have been handled better.
After returning from closed session, the board voted unanimously to direct staff to get clarifications from the DNR and to obtain two independent delineation quotes so the village can determine next steps, including whether to pursue the non‑federal wetland exemption or restoration work. The item will return to the board for further action once staff presents the delineation bids and DNR clarifications.
The board also said it will update policies and procedures to ensure staff follow village ordinances and state statutes on future projects.
Details: the DNR letter is dated May 14, 2025; the site was described as the man‑made pond behind Village Hall at 9814 Antioch Road; the closed‑session item referenced tax key 7041202330205.
