Oconomowoc council approves Village Green plan updates and $43,000 design authorization amid debate over bathrooms

The Oconomowoc Common Council voted Feb. 17 to move forward with updated plans, specifications and bid documents for the Village Green reconstruction, authorizing staff to engage MSA for up to $43,000 to complete design and bidding documents so available funds can be used before deadlines.

Council discussion focused heavily on whether to include an alternate bid for restrooms (and associated sewer laterals) on the green. Supporters of including the alternate argued that installing laterals now would avoid ripping up new work later and preserve fiscal flexibility; opponents said locating restrooms on the green raised safety and access concerns and preferred alternatives near City Hall or elsewhere.

Alderman Shellpepper moved to remove the alternate restroom bid from the design scope to prevent any possibility of placing a restroom on the green; that amendment failed on the roll call. The council then approved the resolution to proceed with the plan updates and bid document completion by a majority vote.

Staff described the $43,000 request as park impact fee funding to update previous plans (dating to earlier design work) and produce complete bid documents, grading, utility coordination and specifications. The item’s presentation emphasized phasing to allow early‑summer construction of certain elements (e.g., boardwalk extension) while restroom and building decisions could be resolved later.

Outcome and next steps: council approved the authorization to update design documents and prepare bids; final decisions about constructing restrooms and their location will be left to later council action or future administrations, although the plan update includes provisions (laterals) intended to preserve options and reduce future disruption.