Beaverdam board approves licenses, pays $73,746.80; residents press for fixes on S. Sunset Point Road

The Town of Beaverdam board on June 10 approved a slate of municipal licenses and payments and spent significant time addressing residents’ safety complaints about a recent change to S. Sunset Point Road.

The board unanimously accepted routine business motions early in the meeting, including approving past minutes and departmental reports, then approved mobile-home and liquor licenses pending full payment. A motion to approve bartender applications passed with one applicant — Kim Firehammer — denied. The board also voted to pay $73,746.80 in bills and adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

The decisions on licensing and payments draw from motions recorded during the meeting. Dave Raue moved to accept licenses pending full payment with Dean Hughes seconding; Jesse Hankes moved, and Liz Kern seconded, the bill-payment motion for $73,746.80, both motions carried unanimously.

Why it matters: several nearby residents told the board the change to S. Sunset Point Road and the placement of a stop sign have created safety risks for vehicles trying to pass and for residents turning left from driveways. Jo Anne Swyers said she was unhappy with how the change occurred and asked who authorized the new alignment and stop-sign placement. Resident Dan Feuling said he was “happy with the road, but gravel is getting into the grass,” and raised concerns about the stop sign placement making left turns difficult for about 49 homes on the street. Judy Winscher said the new alignment forced motorists to reverse to let larger vehicles pass and called the situation unsafe.

Town staff and officials described the background and legal limits. Land Use Administrator Dan Prunuske said property‑ownership questions related to the change have been in process since 2021 and that options the town can use are limited. Town Attorney Paul advised the board that the town cannot rely on adverse-possession claims for municipal action, and discussed alternatives including shifting the road alignment west; the board did not adopt an immediate engineering change at the meeting.

Other business: Land Use Administrator Dan Prunuske reported 24 permits issued this period with about $900,000 in construction value and $2,300 recorded to the town till. Road Maintenance lead Les Oestreich reported equipment problems (a double mower out of service) and that a 24-foot extension ladder failed inspection and will be replaced at an estimated cost of $1,208. The board discussed gating or limiting access to the town yard-waste area and tabled that item to July pending more information, and the town plans a public hearing on McKinley Beach Road this summer.

What’s next: The board tabled some follow-ups (Town Hall gate/fence and Chapter 10 code language revision) to July; the McKinley Beach Road public hearing timeline remains to be scheduled. Residents concerned about S. Sunset Point Road told the board they want a small asphalt addition or shoulder blacktopping to reduce gravel and improve safety; the board has not yet committed to a specific fix.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve past minutes (moved Raue, second Hankes) — carried unanimously; Motion to accept licenses pending full payment (moved Raue, second Hughes) — carried unanimously; Motion to approve bartender applications with exception (moved Raue, second Hankes) — bartender approvals carried, applicant Kim Firehammer denied; Motion to pay bills $73,746.80 (moved Hankes, second L. Kern) — carried unanimously; Motion to adjourn (moved Raue, second L. Kern) — carried unanimously.