Village of Hartland approves minutes, vouchers, licenses and renames Castle Park; delays garbage contract request

The Village of Hartland board met Jan. 26, 2026, and approved a slate of routine and community items, including minutes from the Jan. 12 meeting, payment of vouchers totaling $268,652.52, several business licenses, purchases of public‑works equipment and the renaming of Castle Park to Lamorand Park.

Board members moved and seconded the minutes and carried that motion by voice vote. The board then approved payment of vouchers totaling $268,652.52 after a trustee raised questions about specific line items. During that discussion Chief Misco described a $1,440 line for the village’s AFR engine as “our contract with our facial recognition company” that allows staff to submit photos or camera video and compare them against a database of booking photos to produce a match.

Licenses and permits approved included a mid‑cycle amusement‑device license for Duke’s Bar & Grill to add a pool table, jukebox and amusement games, and a Class A beer and Class A liquor license for 83 Heartland Business Inc., at 805 Cardinal Lane. The liquor‑license approval is expressly conditioned on completion of the pending sale and staff approval; trustees amended the motion to require the sale and licensing be finalized by February, and the amendment carried.

The board approved a banner request to advertise the Mindful Me Mental Health and Wellness Fair (to hang approximately May 2–16), and accepted staff recommendations to purchase four pieces of equipment included in the 2026 budget: an F‑550 two‑yard dump truck (lowest bid $112,177), a Turboturf hydroseeder (new purchase to reduce rental needs), a John Deere wide‑area mower and a John Deere cab tractor with flail mower. Staff said trade‑ins will be routed to the municipal auction site.

The board approved a successor agreement to continue participating in the Lake Country Municipal Court after the Village of Palmyra joined the court (increasing member municipalities from 22 to 23) and held a first reading of ordinance 01202026 to amend Chapter 30 of the Village Code to reflect that change. Trustees also approved an addendum to the fire department policy manual formalizing 48/96 scheduling for full‑time firefighters (a 28‑day pay period totaling 212 hours) and discussed retention and probationary standards.

A request by the owner of 163 East Capitol Drive to contract separately for garbage collection and to use a neighbor’s dumpster was postponed because the owner was not present and trustees wanted written agreements and clarification of responsibilities. The board voted to rename Castle Park to Lamorand Park in honor of David Lamorand; trustees discussed options to coordinate new signage with the village’s current logo and the park board’s input.

Before adjourning, the board voted by roll call to convene in closed session under Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to discuss strategy related to a potential sale of a village‑owned parcel; the meeting reconvened and adjourned by voice vote.

The board recorded votes on motions as reflected in the meeting record; where votes were taken the transcript records the motions carrying by affirmative voice or roll call.