Sidewalks Not to be Assessed as Part of South Avenue Project

At its meeting on Wednesday, March 11, the Lomira Village Board discussed whether to assess sidewalk improvements to property owners on the west end of South Avenue.

As part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), sidewalk improvements for most of the properties on South Avenue cannot be assessed back to the property owners. However, three residential properties and the school did not qualify for inclusion in the CDBG portion of the South Avenue project.

Administrator-Clerk-Treasurer Jenna Rhein and Department of Public Works Director Nick Roskopf inquired if the board would like “to assess the sidewalk improvements to those property owners that are not in the CDBG grant or if the village will absorb those costs as part of the project.”

“What was the reason that they were not part of the project?” asked President Don Luedtke.

“Because the school is there,” answered Rhein.

“It sounds funny, but it’s [because] it’s not the focus of the grant,” added Roskopf. “The grant is for those people on that street. The school opens it up so that there is almost too great a benefit to everyone. People from Theresa use the school; people from Brownsville use the school, so it’s not focused on that street. You would think it’s still a public facility, but that’s just not how it works, unfortunately.”

Despite not qualifying for inclusion in the grant, the sidewalks of those properties will be torn up as part of the overall South Avenue project.

Rhein also informed the board that the school requested to replace a portion of its terrace as part of the project.

“The school would like to replace their green terrace along that sidewalk. They want to get rid of the grass and make that all concrete,” said Rhein. “Do you want to assess the terrace back to the school?”

The total cost for the sidewalk improvements that did not qualify for the CDBG grant and the terrace replacement is roughly $20,000.

President Don Luedtke made a motion not to assess the sidewalk improvements to the property owners, but to assess only the cost of the terrace replacement back to the school. The motion passed 5-0. Trustee Eric Kohlmann was absent from the meeting, and Trustee Becky Alf was absent from this portion of the meeting.

Board Matters:
• The board discussed contracting with Ehlers Financial Advisors to conduct a sewer rate study for the upcoming wastewater treatment plant UV disinfection upgrades. The rate study would cost up to $16,000, which would be taken out of the sewer fund savings. The last rate study was completed in 2019 before the previous plant upgrades. A motion to contract with Ehlers was made by Trustee Gary More and passed unanimously.
• Also in relation to the upcoming UV disinfection upgrades, the board considered approving the MSA wastewater treatment plant disinfection services agreement. Trustee Alf made the motion to approve the agreement, which passed unanimously.

• The board discussed approving the 2026 pool operations contract with the YMCA of Dodge County. The contract did not change from the previous year, except for an increase in the cost of services. The motion to approve the contract was made by Trustee More and passed unanimously.
• The board considered granting an operator liquor license to Aliyah Walsh. A motion to grant the license was made by Trustee Jennifer Priesgen and passed unanimously.
• Additionally, the board discussed Ordinance #382, continuation of the wheel tax. The wheel tax was set to expire this year and previously required a referendum to continue. The board decided the wheel tax is still necessary to complete road projects and amended the ordinance to continue the tax until 2031, when its necessity will be reevaluated. Trustee More made the motion to approve Ordinance #382, which passed unanimously.
• The board also considered Ordinance #383, consolidating two sections of the municipal code regarding the storage of junk. The ordinance change would consolidate two existing sections about the storage of junk and junk vehicles for clarity and ease of navigation. The motion to approve Ordinance #383 was made by Trustee More and passed unanimously.
• The board discussed bidding out a project to extend or replace the water main located near EMC on Water Street. The water main that currently carries water to EMC runs underneath the railroad tracks and supplies water from behind the building. There have been three breaks in that water main in the last four years. Roskopf expressed concern that a water main break could occur beneath the railroad tracks. Roskopf proposed extending the water main on Water Street to provide water to EMC from the front of the building. Trustee More made a motion to not put the project out to bid yet, but to gather more information on water main replacement options. The motion passed unanimously.
• During the DPW report, Roskopf informed the board that the new pump was installed at Well #2 and that the booster pump had been removed. No air issues have arisen from the removal. The well is still being cleaned and tested, so it is not yet operational.