Residents press council for tax-statement clarity, traffic controls and property maintenance during public input

Several residents used the public input period to raise taxpayer-facing concerns and local safety issues.

Barb Herman asked the council to show on the tax statement any “one-line item that accounts for 20% of the budget” so taxpayers can more clearly see how large sums are being allocated. She cited recent levy percentages, noting they had risen in recent years and pointing to a Green Bay example of adding notes to tax bills.

Resident Mark Orleski presented several topics in his public comments. He urged the city to consider synchronizing traffic signals on major routes so drivers do not stop at every intersection and cited repeated stops near Menards. Orleski also suggested when narrow condemned lots remain unclaimed by adjacent owners, the city consider splitting maintenance responsibility between neighbors rather than leaving lots on the tax roll. He proposed a property-tax freeze for residents above a certain age on fixed incomes and called for additional traffic controls — yield or stop signs — near Columbus Street adjacent to the high school after reporting near-misses and past fatal crashes.

Councilors and staff did not respond at length during the public input period; the clerk and presiding officer thanked the speakers and noted they could follow up with individual council members.

What happens next Speakers were told they may follow up with their individual council representatives; the council did not take immediate action on the requests during the meeting.