February 2019
Village Administrator Transition
A Message from Village President, Susan Sanabria
At the last Village Board meeting, it was with regret that the Village Board accepted the resignation of our Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer, Michael Hawes. Mike has accepted a new position as Administrator in Union Grove. During his five years with the Village, Mike’s dedication to excellence and customer service was appreciated by all. He upgraded virtually every aspect of Village operations. He oversaw the improvements to the Village Green as well as the new roof, chimney rebuild and painting of the Lighthouse. He made tremendous strides in communications with our monthly newsletter, website and resident surveys. Three of his annual budgets received awards from the Government Finance Officers Association. He ran our elections. He hired new staff who also are dedicated to customer service. He worked to change the Village’s major contractors in order to improve service, lower costs, or both. He provided excellent staff support for board and committee meetings. However, in my view, his greatest accomplishment has been the increase in our sense of community and pride in our Village. His last day will be Tuesday, February 5. We wish him well.

To find a replacement, the Village has contracted with Public Administration Associates, LLC, to do a search. It should take about 12 weeks. In the meantime, we will manage with existing staff and volunteer support from board members. Look for updates on the recruitment process in future editions of this newsletter.
Spring Primary Election on February 19
A spring primary election will be held in Wind Point on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at The Prairie School (Johnson Athletic Center) between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. The only race on the ballot will be the primary for Racine Unified School District - District 9. To view a sample ballot for this election,  click here .

Absentee Voting – by mail
Absentee ballots for this election were mailed out beginning on January 25 to electors on the permanent absentee ballot list and others who already had requests on file for this election. Other electors wishing to receive an absentee ballot by mail may do so by submitting a request online at  http://myvote.wi.gov  or at the Village Office. Absentee ballots must be received by election day, February 19, in order to be counted for this election.

Absentee Voting – in person
In-person absentee voting will be available at the Village Office from February 4 through February 15 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A valid photo ID is required to obtain a ballot.

Voter Registration
Residents wishing to register or re-register to vote may do so at the polls on election day, online at  http://myvote.wi.gov , by mail or at the Village Office.

If you have any questions about the election, please contact the Village Office at 262-639-3524.
Reminder to Shovel Around Fire Hydrants
All residents are asked to clear snow around fire hydrants that are adjacent to their property after each snowfall. If a fire hydrant is lost or buried in the snow, firefighters can lose valuable time trying to locate and dig out the hydrant when they arrive. Clear the snow three feet all around the hydrant so firefighters have enough room to connect a hose. We would also like to remind you to look out for your neighbors who are elderly or have disabilities, by taking a few extra minutes to shovel out their hydrants. Finally, whether you are shoveling around hydrants or clearing your driveway, please refrain from pushing snow into the roadway. Thank you for your help!
Lighthouse Grounds Master Plan Updates
The Village is in the process of completing a master plan for the Wind Point Lighthouse grounds. The main objectives of the plan will be to enhance the beauty of the grounds while making it more functional for residents, visitors and events. A copy of the draft plan was posted in the December E-News. On January 10, the Village Board discussed changes to the proposed pathway to provide more direct access to the lighthouse from the overflow parking area. To view a copy of the updated site plan with the reconfigured pathway layout, click here . The revised plan will be reviewed by the Board at their next regular meeting on February 14.
Zoning Ordinance Updates
The Wind Point Plan Commission and Village Board recently approved the following updates to the Village's zoning code:

  • Ordinance 18-04 establishes "Open Space Requirements" for new developments on properties in the multi-family (R-4), business (B-1) and institutional (I-1) zoning districts. The ordinance requires properties to maintain at least 20% of its land as permanent open space, which means exclusive of buildings, structures, parking areas, streets, driveways, alleys or other impervious surfaces. This requirement was established in response to concerns raised last year about needing to preserve natural areas in the Village.

  • Ordinance 18-04 also revises the Village's Shoreland Zoning Ordinance to clarify setback requirements near bodies of water. For most zoning districts, there is a 100 ft. setback from the ordinary high water mark for new structures. The ordinance creates an exception for open-sided and screened structures such as gazebos, decks, patios and screen houses, which may be located 35 ft. from the ordinary high water mark (subject to certain regulations and approvals).

  • To maintain compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program, the Village adopted Ordinance 19-01 which updates the floodplain ordinance to reflect the most recent national flood insurance study for our area. The study, which goes into effect on February 1, affects the floodplain maps for certain parts of Racine County but does not change the maps for Wind Point. For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program and to view maps, visit https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program.
2019 Budget Document
The full 2019 budget document is now available to view on the Village website. The budget was adopted by the Village Board on November 8, 2018. Staff has since updated the various narrative sections of the document as well as the tables and charts measuring service outputs. The budget is more than a financial plan, but a communication tool about the functions and goals of the Village entity. To view the 2019 budget document, click here .
Village Board Updates
The Village Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on January 10, 2019. The following actions took place at the meeting:

  • Approved a 2018 Budget Amendment (Resolution 19-R01).
  • Acknowledged receipt of letter of resignation submitted by the administrator/clerk-treasurer and authorized the Personnel, Finance and Insurance Committee to hire a recruitment firm for an amount not to exceed $10,000 to assist in filling the position.
  • Heard an update that Visu Sewer will need to close a portion of Wind Point Rd. for sewer lining work and ensured communications would be sent to affected homeowners.
  • Approved a Floodplain Ordinance Amendment (Ordinance 19-01), updating the FEMA flood insurance study volume and date.
  • Reviewed the draft lighthouse grounds master plan and decided on changes to the pathway location and northeast tree-line area. 

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Village Hall (lighthouse).
Village of Wind Point, Wisconsin
215 E. Four Mile Rd.
Racine, WI 53402
262.639.3524