Bonduel board approves offer to recapture 311 S. Jefferson, authorizes further land negotiations

The Bonduel Village Board voted in closed session to offer $19,545.50 to recapture the lot at 311 S. Jefferson and authorized staff to negotiate up to $25,000 if needed. The motion to make the offer passed 6–1, with Trustee Matt Pleshek recording the lone dissent.

The board also authorized Director of Municipal Operations Jesse Rankin to offer $50,000 to Kevin Bartlett for two parking lots behind Village Hall and granted Bartlett a one‑year extension to develop his vacant Commerce Court lot. Separately, the board authorized Rankin to contact property owner Rick Durante about recapturing three Jefferson Street lots on the Village’s behalf. All three actions were approved by motions during a brief closed session called under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e) for negotiation of public properties.

Board members said the acquisitions are intended to recapture and control key downtown parcels for future village use. The motion to make the initial offer on 311 S. Jefferson was moved by Michelle Streetman and seconded by Kay Zuleger; the roll-call vote was Court Aye, Falk Aye, Pleshek Nay, Staszak Aye, Streetman Aye, Zuleger Aye, Gehm Aye. A subsequent motion authorizing the Bartlett offer was moved by Andrew Court and seconded by Brenda Staszak and carried unanimously. The motion to contact Rick Durante was moved by Court and seconded by Zuleger and carried unanimously.

The Board entered closed session at 6:20 p.m. and returned to open session at 6:49 p.m.; no additional public action was taken after the closed session. The board did not provide further financial details in the public minutes about acquisition funds or any planned uses for the parcels.