Salem Lakes EDC weighs Wisconsin Innovation Grant for shared services, clarifies committee role
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Summary
Committee discussed using the Wisconsin Innovation Grant to fund multi-municipal shared services (for example, sewer lining and joint building-inspection resources) but agreed to seek legal guidance on whether pursuing administrative items falls within the Economic Development Committee—s authority.
The Village of Salem Lakes Economic Development Committee discussed how the Wisconsin Innovation Grant might fund regional shared services, with members highlighting sewer lining, joint video/cleaning services, and consolidated building-inspection capacity as possible fits for a multi-jurisdictional application.
Committee members, led by staff and county permitting representatives, said the grant—s design favors projects involving multiple municipalities working together to remove duplication and reduce costs. "If they were to come to a region and be able to do more," one member said, "that could be a really big one" for sewer lining and related public works work.
At the same time, the committee sought legal clarity about its remit. The chair said she had spoken to legal and would ask Ramsey (legal counsel) whether staffing, payroll and other administrative measures are within the EDC—s purview or must be advanced by the village board and administrator. "We can talk about the grant and what the grant is," the chair said, "but as far as all of the information gathering we should do? Only on some things along with this board." Members agreed to keep discussions high level until the attorney and the board advise on whether to assign the work to the committee.
Members also reported early outreach with nearby fire agencies and emergency services. Representatives said they had contacted Matt Gronke at Randall Fire Department (which has already applied) and asked to be included in Randall—s meeting to explore partnership possibilities in emergency services and fire protection.
Next steps: the chair will seek written legal guidance about committee scope, members will forward grant ideas to the village administrator, and the committee will consider putting a generic "grant opportunities" item on future agendas so the group can collect and prioritize concepts for potential board referral.
