Village board directs staff to draft 2026 capital plan after Eagle Drive, wastewater and parks discussion

Administrator Heitke told the Village of Jackson board that staff want to proceed with creating a draft 2026 capital projects budget after updating the five-year plan and reprioritizing several items.

"Before you all tonight is a iteration of what is an update to our capital improvement plan," Administrator Heitke said as he opened the discussion of streets, parks and utilities funding choices and timing.

The board heard staff propose moving the Eagle Drive reconstruction up one year to 2026, advance engineering work, and to include a paved five-foot shoulder and a possible sidewalk as part of the road project. Public works director Jack Strahler said the Eagle Drive construction is now estimated at about $2,200,000 and that adding a sidewalk within the road project would add roughly $150,000 plus land-acquisition costs; building the sidewalk as a separate project was estimated at about $350,000 plus land acquisition.

The discussion also covered whether the village should build curb-and-gutter and storm sewer along Eagle Drive or leave it as a rural section with ditches. Staff told the board they can design a fully reconstructed urban section with curb and gutter on both sides and a single sidewalk on one side, but that land acquisition and higher construction costs would follow. Heitke said staff expect to evaluate funding options, including grants, special assessments and debt, during the budget process. Heitke noted that the Hasmer Lake Park (park improvement) project was proposed to be delayed into 2027 while staff pursue DNR grants; managers said they hope grants could fund up to 80% of that project, requiring a 20% local match.

On utilities, Strahler reported the wastewater treatment plant phase 2A upgrade for 2026 was re-estimated at approximately $4,000,000, a decline from prior projections near $5.3 million. Staff also summarized equipment items carried in the draft plan: vehicle replacements, chippers and mowers for streets/parks and for the wastewater utility, and smaller items such as AED and ambulance monitor replacement tied to fire department planning.

Board discussion included alternatives to preserve village cash (phasing mower replacements, trading or auctioning older units), the potential use of user fees for wastewater equipment, and the engineering timeline. Heitke said engineering procurement will come to the Board of Public Works next month. He also described special-assessment options for sidewalks and the possibility of negotiating property-rights relinquishments to reduce assessment burdens on adjacent owners.

The board approved a motion directing staff to proceed with capital project planning as presented and with amendments, for the purpose of producing a draft 2026 budget and capital project plan for board review at the August meeting. Motion by President Heckendorf; second by Trustee Kripke. The motion carried.