Votes at a glance: West Bend actions include polling-place relocation, stormwater amendment and budget review

The City of West Bend convened Oct. 6, 2025, and approved a series of agenda items, including an amendment to a stormwater maintenance agreement, the transfer of funds to support Special Olympics, acceptance of three donations to parks and recreation programs, an amendment to the traffic manual and an ordinance permanently relocating Districts 5 and 6 polling places. The council also voted to enter closed session to discuss potential land sale or development incentives.

Why it matters: The day’s approvals affect stormwater management at a private development, funding for local recreation and Special Olympics activities, how parking rules are enforced downtown, where residents vote, and the near‑term course of the city’s capital and budget work. The council heard a detailed presentation of the 2026 proposed general fund budget at the same meeting; final adoption is scheduled for early November.

Summary of recorded formal actions

- Board of Public Works: Approved an amendment (Amendment 3) to stormwater maintenance agreement SWMP W-17-05 for the Good Shepherd development (Decorah Road). Staff recommended approval after recalculating flows and confirming the new treatment system complies with city regulations. Motion and second recorded; vote recorded as in favor and motion carried (detailed tally not specified in the transcript).

- Finance Committee / Common Council: Resolution No. 37 — transfer of $1,000 from the YARC (therapeutic recreation) account to an expense account for supplies for the Special Olympics program. Presenter said the YARC account had $30,000; funds originate from donations. Motion passed (tally not specified).

- Finance Committee / Common Council: Resolution No. 36 — acceptance of three donations to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. A previously listed $45,000 donation for a sculpture was removed from the resolution and will be brought back at a later date. The three donations approved: $49,250 from West Bend Friends of Skatepark for skatepark design and construction documents; $400 from West Bend Disc Golf Club for Riverside Disc Golf Course; and $738.50 from Lynch Motor Vehicle Group for Special Olympics. Motion passed (tally not specified).

- Common Council: Ordinance No. 15 — permanent relocation of District 5 and District 6 polling places to a consolidated location at Moraine Technical College (discussion cited limited availability of neighborhood polling sites, safety concerns at schools, electrical/outlet needs for election equipment and difficulty recruiting election inspectors). Motion to approve carried. The motion to approve was moved by Alderman Sternig and seconded by Alderman Buscleyuk; the roll call at final passage was recorded as “Aye” for those voting at the meeting (no formal roll-call tally printed for this ordinance in the transcript aside from the motion outcome).

- Common Council: Resolution No. 35 — amendment to the traffic manual to add Redwood Street (east of Acadia) to a posted two‑hour parking area. Chief Dearing said the restriction is already posted and enforced; the amendment makes the manual accurate. Motion passed (tally not specified).

- Common Council: Motion to enter closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public property, investment of public funds, or conduct other specified public business when competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. Roll call votes were recorded during the motion: Sparks — Aye; Bergquist — Aye; Schmidt — Aye; Zingsheim — Aye; Butchler — Aye; Engelking — Aye; Sizer — Aye; Sternig — Aye. The council adjourned from closed session and did not reconvene in open session.

Notes and next steps: The council solicited additional public notice and outreach on polling location changes and will present the capital improvement plan and related borrowing at the Oct. 20 meeting. Final adoption of the 2026 budget is scheduled for the first week of November.