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Marshall board adopts court-cost increase, pays off EMS loan and moves reorganization meeting time
Summary
The Marshall Village Board approved a state-mandated court-cost increase, voted to use EMS funds and village reserves to fully pay off a remaining loan, and moved the April 21 reorganization meeting to 7:30 p.m.; all actions passed unanimously.
At its April 14 meeting the Marshall Village Board approved several administrative and financial actions, including adopting a state-directed court-cost increase and using EMS funds plus a small allocation of village fund balance to eliminate a remaining loan.
Clerk Michael Wetzel explained that Governor Tony Evers signed 2025 Wisconsin Act 113 allowing municipalities to raise court costs by $10, with $5 directed to the Secretary of Administration. Municipal Judge Kelly Rehwoldt issued an order making the increase effective at midnight on April 16, 2026; the Board approved Resolution 2026-01 to align village fees with the state law. Trustee Edward Schmitz moved to approve the resolution, Trustee Julie Bowman seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
Administrator Brandon Bledsoe briefed the board on an EMS fund tied to a dissolved district that holds approximately $57,000. Bledsoe said the Town of Sun Prairie had taken a buyout and there remained about $65,000 on the related loan. He presented three options: (1) distribute the remaining balance to the Town of Sun Prairie (leaving roughly $7,600 to be levied in 2027); (2) use the EMS fund and a small allocation from the village fund balance to fully pay the remaining loan in 2026 (recommended); or (3) close the account and transfer the funds to the General Fund (auditors would not favor this approach). Trustee Edward Schmitz asked about interest and payment timing; Bledsoe said interest was nominal (about $2 per month) and payments are due at the end of the first quarter. Trustee Ryan Frey moved to use the EMS funds plus a fund-balance allocation to pay the loan in 2026; Trustee Josh Moses seconded and the motion passed 6-0.
Clerk Wetzel also reported that Municipal Court uses the same conference room scheduled for the April 21 reorganization meeting and that the Clerk of Court requested a later start because of a large docket. Trustee Elesa Kinder moved to move the April 21 start time to 7:30 p.m.; Trustee Edward Schmitz seconded and the motion carried 6-0.
Other routine business: the consent agenda was approved earlier in the meeting and the Board recognized Trustee Jason Pitzer for his service. The Board identified upcoming items including the May appearance of Representative Joan Fitzgerald and a Plan Commission review of duplex rezoning.
