Kiel council affirms Business Improvement District, approves revised budget including $8,000 for Riverwalk District and accepts council representative's pending

The Kiel City Council voted unanimously to keep the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) in place and approved a revised 2025 BID budget that includes a planned $8,000 allocation for the Riverwalk District.

The decision followed an extended discussion during which council members and downtown business leaders debated whether BID money had been handled through a private account and whether the city’s budget process and BID operating plan had been followed. The council also accepted Alderman Shutti’s resignation as the council representative to the BID, effective Oct. 1, 2025, and appointed Alderman Ty Gil as the council’s representative to the BID board.

Council member concerns centered on local statute and the proper custody of BID funds. Alderman Maturity (identified in meeting remarks as citing legal guidance) read from Wisconsin statute 66.1909 and said special assessment and municipal-appropriated monies “shall be placed in a segregated account in the municipal treasury” and that disbursements must be made through municipal procedures. She said she did not oppose the BID’s activities but expressed “serious concerns with the way it has been operating regarding clarity and appropriate documentation on how the money has been spent.”

Riverwalk District members and BID leaders disputed allegations that funds had been misused. Jamie Dahmer, introducing himself as owner of Brandon Design Company and president of the Riverwalk District, described ongoing work to update the Riverwalk District’s operational plan and said the district had been holding savings for planned downtown improvements. Mary Crystal of Crystal’s Pet Supply, who said she helped form the Riverwalk District in 2017 and serves as its chair, told the council the district had been transparent and that she and other business owners wanted the BID to continue.

Council discussion produced two principal directions: reaffirm the BID as a municipal entity that must use segregated municipal accounts and clarify the budget-approval and reimbursement process, and require the Riverwalk District to submit an updated operating plan and the detailed budget that the council’s budget committee can review in October. Several council members said refunds or reimbursements would follow standard municipal bill-paying procedures and that the BID fund is included in the city’s annual audit.

On specific votes, the council: voted 6-0 not to terminate the BID; voted 6-0 to approve the revised 2025 BID budget that includes the $8,000 allocation to the Riverwalk District (council discussion made clear no transfer had yet occurred and that any payments must be documented and run through city treasury); accepted Alderman Shutti’s resignation as council representative to the BID effective Oct. 1, 2025; and moved to recommend Ty Gil as the council appointment to the BID board, which the council approved.

Council members and Riverwalk volunteers agreed to produce a clarified operating plan and a budget timetable so the city can determine whether and how much it will match BID requests in future years. The council repeatedly emphasized that any BID spending of municipal assessments must be supported by receipts and processed through the municipal treasury.

The discussion lasted substantially longer than routine agenda items, with multiple public comments from downtown business owners urging continued city support for BID and Riverwalk activities and BID representatives promising to supply an updated operating plan and receipts to the city.