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Council and committees approve grants, easements, contracts; dozens of routine items carried by unanimous votes
Summary
The City of West Bend approved a series of resolutions, grants and contracts on Jan. 20, 2025, clearing the way for federally funded intersection work on Washington Street, new equipment and donations for the fire department, selection of a construction manager for a new Fire Station 1 and consolidated EMS service agreements with neighboring towns.
The City of West Bend’s common council and accompanying committees approved a series of ordinances, resolutions and contracts during meetings held Jan. 20, 2025, covering sewer-code updates, federally funded right-of-way and temporary-easement dedications tied to a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project, multiple fire-department grants and donations, the selection of a construction manager for a new Fire Station 1, and six-year consolidated emergency medical services agreements with neighboring towns.
Why it matters: the approvals enable federally funded intersection upgrades on Washington Street, add equipment and funding for the fire department, and finalize contracting steps that move a planned Fire Station 1 and regional EMS consolidation closer to implementation.
Key actions (motions, movers/seconds and outcomes as recorded):
- Ordinance amending municipal code section 13.18 (sewer service charges): Motion to approve carried by the Board of Public Works and later passed by the common council (unanimous vote recorded at council meeting); mover and second recorded at the Board meeting (motion: "Motion to approve"; second: recorded). Outcome: approved.
- HSIP02 Washington Street — Right-of-way dedication (city-owned parcel, parcel #13 on relocation plat): motion to approve carried unanimously. Outcome: resolution approved to dedicate right-of-way to support federally-funded intersection improvements.
- HSIP02 Washington Street — Temporary limited easements on city-owned parcels: motion to approve carried unanimously. Outcome: resolution approved to grant temporary limited construction easements that expire after construction.
- Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant: resolution to accept a $13,422 award (100% funded; no city match) to purchase two interceptor power bikes, an e-bike stretcher and accessories — motion carried unanimously. Outcome: accepted (grant).
- Kellman Cares grant: resolution to accept a $1,000 award to purchase a battery-powered chainsaw and battery-powered leaf blower — motion carried unanimously. Outcome: accepted (grant).
- Donations to the fire department (smoke-detector/CO program and EMS): multiple charitable gifts accepted, including $50 donations from Robert During, Jonathan Coutts, Steven Riffle and Lynn Thoren; $500 from the Susan M. Strictata Trust; $1,000 from Alpha Inc.; and a $100 donation from Peter Fehrendorf for EMS. Motions carried unanimously. Outcome: donations accepted.
- Q24-5: award construction-manager contract for Fire Station 1 to CD Smith Construction: selection committee recommended CD Smith after interviewing three firms; motion carried. The selection packet used a construction cost estimate stated in the meeting as $16,000,000 for the fire station; CD Smith’s proposed construction-manager fee was recorded as $967,952. Outcome: contract award recommended/approved pending final contract documents.
- Consolidated EMS contracts: six-year service agreements with the Town of Wayne and the Town of Kewaskum for ambulance transport services were approved; motion carried unanimously. Outcome: contracts approved; participating towns retain local first-responder roles while ambulance transport is consolidated.
- Termination agreement with the Board of Regents, University of Wisconsin System (UWM at Washington County lease): motion carried; outcome: lease termination formalized following UW’s vacating of the building.
- Creation of Tax Increment District (TID) No. 17, project plan and boundaries: motion to approve carried 6–1 at council. Outcome: TID established and slated for Joint Review Board consideration.
- Multiple planning, rezoning and comprehensive-plan amendments: the council approved a package of land-use map changes, rezones (including a mixed-use MXD zoning for several properties, rezoning from M3 to RS4 for an 18-acre site, and zoning/plan changes for a 68-acre annexed parcel), and the creation of a 33-foot right-of-way east of Ariel Drive for airport utilities and access. Outcome: various ordinances/resolutions approved (votes recorded in meeting minutes).
Other procedural items: minutes and routine consent-agenda items were approved by voice vote where recorded.
