West Bend council reviews MS4 annual report, approves 408‑unit developer agreement and supplemental inspector appointments; honors dispatcher

The West Bend Common Council on July 6 combined routine recognitions, administrative approvals and a required public hearing on the city's MS4 stormwater program, while advancing a major developer agreement for a 408‑unit multifamily project.

Dispatcher honored: The council approved Resolution No. 8 honoring dispatcher Kim Wendelborn for 25 years of service with the West Bend Police Department. Wendelborn accepted the recognition and thanked council members and the community.

MS4 annual report and public hearing: Engineering staff (Max) presented the city’s 2025 MS4 annual report required under the DNR permit framework. Staff said the city remains operating under the prior five‑year MS4 permit period while the DNR works through renewals and that the city provided required annual materials in March. Max noted the city had supplied requested materials to the Environmental Protection Agency for an audit and that the report and related program information are posted on the city's website. Max summarized program elements including public education and outreach, illicit‑discharge control, construction‑site controls, municipal pollution prevention and an inspection program covering 122 outfalls. Council members asked whether the program addresses past flooding in the Silverbrick area; Max said the MS4 program and permitting focus on preventing inadequate drainage from newer developments but are not direct flood‑control mechanisms for older infrastructure, and noted municipal code updates (chapter 23) and internal training as compliance steps taken in recent years.

Developer agreement for multifamily project: The council reviewed a development agreement (SP‑26‑006) presented by John for a 408‑unit multifamily project at the southwest corner of East Paradise Drive and South River Road. John described the agreement as focused on public‑right‑of‑way improvements (turn lanes and other road work) paid by the developer; phase 1 pertains to Lot 1 (described at 25 acres and 256 apartments) and must be completed before work proceeds on Lot 2. Council members clarified project phasing and confirmed the developer will fund turn‑lane improvements and public improvements included in the agreement. The council approved the agreement by voice vote.

Election inspector appointments: The clerk presented supplemental election‑inspector appointments required before the August 11 partisan primary; the council reviewed inspector duties and training (a roughly two‑hour clerk training before each election, plus optional online training through the Wisconsin Election Commission) and approved the supplemental lists by voice vote.

Other business and closed session notice: Council received reports from the bid board, library board and tourism commission (including two $10,000 major‑event grants) and heard an administrator’s community events update. Toward the end of the meeting the mayor announced a potential closed session item under the transcripted phrase “state statute 19.851 e” concerning deliberation of an intergovernmental agreement; the council unanimously voted to adjourn into closed session by recorded roll call and intended no action following that session.

What matters: The developer agreement advances a large multifamily project that will require public‑right‑of‑way work paid by the developer; the MS4 presentation documented annual compliance steps and inspection activity under the city’s stormwater program; the inspector appointments ensure staffing for the upcoming partisan primary.