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Hobart board approves road discontinuance, creates police code and adopts garbage-fee policy; AI rules advance to second reading
Summary
At its March 17 meeting the Hobart Village Board approved discontinuing Lonesome Road and part of West Adam Drive, adopted a new municipal police code and a garbage and recycling container fee policy, fixed a telecommunications zoning error and authorized an easement release for a Brown County project; an AI policy passed first reading and will return after legal review.
HOBART, Wis. — The Village Board of Hobart on March 17 approved a package of ordinances and policies that will change municipal code and local fees, and advanced an artificial intelligence policy to a second reading after legal review.
President Richard Heidel called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. and a four-member board (Heidel, David Dillenburg, Vanya Koepke and Tammy Zittlow; Melissa Tanke was excused) conducted routine business, approving the agenda and consent items by voice votes of 4-0.
The board approved Resolution 2026-02 to discontinue the public right-of-way for Lonesome Road and a portion of West Adam Drive, a step the minutes describe as the final action following coordination with Brown County. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by President Heidel and seconded by Trustee Dillenburg; the voice vote was recorded as 4-0.
The board adopted Ordinance 2026-03 to create Chapter 25 of the municipal code, establishing the structure and powers of the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department. Trustee Dillenburg moved adoption, Trustee Koepke seconded, and the measure passed on a 4-0 voice vote.
The board also approved Ordinance 2026-04, amending two sections of Chapter 207 (Nuisances) to align with a cited state statute and to correct the penalty clause, and Ordinance 2026-05, a technical correction to the telecommunications antennas and towers section of the zoning code. Both ordinances passed on recorded voice votes of 4-0 (motions: Heidel/Zittlow for 2026-04; Heidel/Koepke for 2026-05).
Policy 2026-03, establishing guidelines for an annual garbage and recycling container fee intended to prevent subsidization of the program by the tax levy, was approved (motion Dillenburg/Heidel, voice vote 4-0).
Policy 2026-04, a village policy on the use of artificial intelligence systems, received a first reading; the board voted (Heidel/Zittlow) to bring the policy back for a second reading after legal review. The motion passed 4-0 but did not adopt the policy at this meeting.
On a related infrastructure matter, the board approved staff-recommended documents releasing any village easement interest needed for Brown County’s CTH EE intersection improvement project and directed staff to sign and forward the documents for recording (motion Heidel/Koepke, voice vote 4-0).
During the Administrator’s report, Administrator Kramer reviewed bank balances (amounts not specified), noted the Fire Commission was canceled because of weather, and confirmed upcoming meetings. Kramer also praised staff response to recent winter storms: "We made it through the blizzard and cleanup continues. Compliments to the staff for the response to this event." The board scheduled its next regular meeting for April 8 because of the April 7 election.
The board recessed to a closed session at 7:10 p.m. under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(g) to consult with legal counsel on strategy related to tribal affairs and potential litigation; the roll-call vote to enter closed session was 4-0. The board reconvened to open session at 7:50 p.m.; the minutes record that no action resulted from the closed session. The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
Minutes were recorded and the document is signed by Village Clerk Lisa A. Vanden Heuvel.
