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Fredonia trustee candidates stress growth, sewer upgrades and affordable housing at Mid Moraine forum
Summary
Candidates at a Mid Moraine–sponsored forum in Fredonia emphasized managed growth to expand the tax base, phased sewer-treatment upgrades to avoid steep rate hikes, and incentives for first-time buyers such as a $5,000 Fredonia 1st credit; no formal votes were taken.
Fredonia trustee candidates used a community forum Saturday to lay out competing and overlapping approaches to growth, sewer-system upgrades and housing affordability ahead of the upcoming election.
At the Mid Moraine Municipal Association–sponsored event, incumbent and candidate speakers said expanding the village's tax base through controlled industrial and residential development is the preferred way to avoid raising property taxes. Richard, who said he has served as a trustee for eight years, pointed to progress at the village's industrial park and ongoing residential construction in the Emerald Hills subdivision as evidence the strategy is working. "We'd rather grow the tax base than grow the taxes," he said.
Several candidates said the long-planned wastewater-treatment upgrade is the community's most urgent infrastructure issue. Jessica noted the plant was originally designed for about 20 years and has been operating roughly 40, so repairs have stretched the utility: "we are essentially bleeding money on repairs," she said, urging a measured, phased approach so residents do not face abrupt rate spikes. Richard and others cited neighboring municipalities' recent large rate increases as a cautionary example; one candidate said Hartford saw "about a 75% ish" increase, which he presented as an approximate comparison.
On housing, candidates described a mix of market-oriented incentives and limited direct subsidies. Jessica highlighted a local "Fredonia 1st" incentive that credits roughly $5,000 toward inspection/fee costs for first-time homebuyers, and said the village is working with developers and realtors to finish lots in Emerald Hills and pursue a South-side site pending DNR approval. Candidates generally opposed mandating that developers set aside workforce or affordable units in exchange for variances or tax credits, favoring incentives and community input over strict requirements.
Public-safety and volunteer recruitment also drew sustained discussion. With the village operating the only fully staffed municipal fire department in northern Ozaukee County and regional volunteer numbers declining, trustees discussed strategies including shared equipment, reduced training burdens where feasible and outreach to youth and faith communities. "Volunteerism looks great on a resume," said one candidate who urged strategic social-media outreach and messaging to attract volunteers.
Candidates emphasized fiscal planning and cost control across multiple topics. Several described five-year capital plans and continuous-improvement or procurement reviews as tools to stretch limited municipal dollars and delay or smooth major expenditures. On a hypothetical question about a $1 million grant, responses ranged from offsetting a planned $1.9 million fire-truck purchase to investing in business incentives or incremental road and equipment repairs.
The forum was moderated by Scott Mittelstedt, executive director of the Mid Moraine Municipal Association, and recorded on Zoom for later viewing. No formal board actions or votes occurred at the event; candidates closed by summarizing their priorities and urging voter attention to growth, infrastructure and fiscal stewardship.
The forum recording and candidates' statements will remain available through the Mid Moraine channel for voters to review before the election.
