Voting Information for the November Election |
|
Polling Place Location Change
Voting for the November 3 General Election will take place at the Village Public Works Garage, 215 E. Four Mile Road. The garage is located at the very end of the Village Green Park drive. The entrance door is located on the south side of the building. Parking will be available for voters in the lot to the south of the garage (marked with yellow lines). The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. We have implemented several precautions related to COVID to ensure voter safety, including adding plastic barriers between poll workers and voters, having hand sanitizing stations and issuing individual ballot marking pens to voters. We encourage voters to wear masks, for everyone's protection, when coming to vote at the polls.
Absentee Ballots
If you have not yet turned in your absentee ballot, you can do so in person to the Village Office or by using the secure drop box located next to the tennis courts on the circle driveway outside the office. You may also return your absentee ballot directly to the polls on November 3. Please remember that both the voter and the voter's witness must sign the return envelope in the highlighted yellow portions. The witness' address also must be provided below their signature.
Voter Registration
If you have moved or are a first time voter you will need to register in order to vote in the November Election. In order to be eligible to vote in Wind Point, you must have resided in the Village for 28 consecutive days. If you are unsure of your registration status, go to the My Vote Wisconsin website. Any resident who still needs to register to vote will need to do so at the polls on November 3. To save time when registering, you can complete the Wisconsin Voter Registration Application and bring it with you. You will also need to provide an acceptable proof of residency document with your application.
If you have any questions or concerns about voting please contact the Village Office at 262-639-3524 or [email protected].
|
|
Proposed 2021 Wind Point Budget |
|
The 2021 Village Budget will be considered for adoption at the Village Board meeting on Thursday, November 12 after a public hearing. The budget is the result of a three-month long process that involved several public meetings with the Village Board and standing committees. The resulting budget reflects the Village's ongoing mission to provide high-quality municipal service in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Compared to 2020, the 2021 budget has an overall expenditure decrease of 25.7%. This is primarily due to smaller, less expensive capital projects in 2021. Following are the highlights from the proposed 2021 budget:
Revenues
- 0.15% increase ($1,671) to the Village portion of the property tax levy, which is the allowable amount under state law based on net new construction and property improvements.
- 13% increase ($4,977) in General Transportation Aid from the State.
- 0% change to State Shared Revenue and State Recycling Grants.
- 142% increase ($3,226) in Cable Franchise Aid from the State.
- 9.9% decrease to Fines and Forfeitures due to less than anticipated ticket revenue due to the COVID pandemic.
- 37% decrease to Wind Point Lighthouse revenues due to decreased scheduled tours and rentals due to the pandemic.
- Addition of a new recycling charge ($20,030). This charge represents half of the total cost of recycling for the Village. The charge will be assessed against all residential properties in the Village currently receiving recycling service (780 homes). The amount each property owner will pay is $25.68 per year.
Expenditures
- 0% change to fees for contracted fire/EMS, assessments, household hazardous waste collection and public health.
- $7,113, a 21.6% increase, to Johns Disposal for recycling collection services.
- $17,129 for Village-wide yard waste pick up every other week (April to November).
- $1,280 decrease for contracted animal control service fees with the Wisconsin Humane Society-Racine Campus.
- 2% base increase budgeted for staff wages; actual individual wage rates to be set by resolution of the Village Board.
- 7% increase, to health insurance for fulltime Village employees.
- 0% increase, to the Village’s contribution to the Wisconsin Retirement System.
- $3,085 for a new speed and driver feedback sign.
- $132,000 in capital improvements at the Wind Point Lighthouse, including a new safer off street walking path, new entry sign, new landscaping and new benches and tables. The project was originally budgeted in 2019 and 2020.
- $3,113 for a new flag pole at Village Green.
- $14,859 for a replacement copier, and new attachments for the skid steer loader and tractor.
- $5,000 for the final phase of a water utility dead-end valve replacement program.
- $5,000 for the purchase of new meters.
- $8,000 for a drainage culvert replacement on Pinewood Court.
Water Rate Increase Planned
This fall the Village was informed by Caledonia that the cost of purchased water was going to increase in 2021. The Racine Water Utility has been approved for an increase to its water rates, which affects Caledonia's water rates. Given the anticipated increase to the cost of purchased water, the Village has budgeted a 10% increase to water rates next year. The Village plans to complete a water rate study and submit a full rate case application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC). Due to the likely timing of Caledonia's increase, and the Village's application to the PSC, there is the possibility that our purchased water costs will be slightly more than what we are charging residents for water service for a period of time in 2021.
The public hearing for the budget will be held at the beginning of the meeting on November 12 and the budget will be considered for adoption that evening. To view the proposed budget click here. Please note that the proposed budget does not include the narrative section which will be added once the budget document is finalized.
If you have any questions regarding the budget, please contact Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Casey Griffiths at 262-639-3524 or email [email protected].
|
|
Yard Waste & Brach Collection Information |
|
Final Yard Waste & Branch Collections
The final branch collection date of the year is Tuesday, November 10. Branches do not need to be cut into shorter pieces, but they should be no greater than 4 inches in diameter. Please pile branches in reasonably uniform piles with the cut end facing the road. The final collection by John's Disposal for yard waste will be Monday, November 30.
Yard Waste Collection Changes Starting 2021
Next year, the Village will be discontinuing the yard waste sticker program and moving to Village-wide yard waste pick up. Beginning on April 5, John's Disposal will begin picking up yard waste every other week on Mondays. Residents may choose to place their yard waste in brown yard waste bags or use a permanent reusable container, such as a plastic trash can, labeled as "yard waste." The final collection for yard waste will still be on the last Monday of November.
The Village Board discussed this change in service as part of the 2021 budget discussion. The decision was made as a way to make the yard waste collection service more convenient and to encourage more residents to utilize it. There are no changes planned for the Village's monthly branch pick up program.
This change will take effect next year, so residents who have purchased yard waste stickers can still use them for the remainder of this year. If you have extra stickers after November, the Village has planed to do a buy back program. Additional information about the new service will be included in the December property tax bills, and will be included in the new John's Disposal calendar.
If you have any questions please contact the Village Office at 262-639-3524 or [email protected].
|
|
Be Respectful to Construction Crews |
|
On Friday, October 16, a watermain break occurred on Four Mile Road. Village staff quickly discovered the break in the morning and by afternoon a contractor was onsite working on repairs. Once excavation began, it was discovered that break was larger than originally assumed and, therefore, the repair took more time than originally anticipated.
During their work, the contractor's crew experienced repeated instances of residents and motorists being rude and speeding. Theses issues were so severe that the contractor, unprecedently, called Public Works Supervisor Jack Feiner to discuss the treatment of their crew by Wind Point residents and voice their concern about continuing to work for the Village.
While we understand that construction work can be frustrating, there is no need to treat contractors in such a manner. Work to repair watermains and roads is necessary and important for the upkeep of the Village's infrastructure. If you see a work zone, please remember to slow down, give enough space to the workers, and treat those workers with respect.
|
|
New Wind Point Police Logo |
|
The Village Board approved the design for a new police department logo and patch at their meeting on October 8. The new patch was designed by the department's officers and incorporates images of the Wind Point Lighthouse, Lake Michigan, wooded areas and animals found throughout the Village.
The old logo was originally created when the police department was formed in the 1970's. The update comes at no cost to the Village as it was designed by members of the department and will be phased in on uniforms as they are replaced.
|
|
The Village Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. The following actions took place at the meeting:
- Completed the swearing in ceremony for Janet Bernberg as Village Trustee.
- Recommended moving forward with a new agreement with Johns Disposal for Village wide yard waste pick up and bulk electronics pick up.
- Recommended placing a portion of the Village wide recycling fee on residential property tax bills for 2021.
- Reviewed the 2021 draft Village budget and scheduled a public hearing on the budget to take place at the next Village Board meeting.
- Approved the new police department logo.
- Approved the purchase of new Lighthouse Grounds Historical Signage.
- Approved new committee appointments.
- Responded to a Village resident's letter regarding the property at 4403 Main Street.
- Approved a resolution authorizing the Village to apply for a Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry Grant.
Please note that this is a synopsis of the items discussed at the Village Board meeting. To view complete meeting minutes for all Village Board and Committee meetings please visit the Agenda and Minutes page on the Village's Website. Minutes are added to the website once they have been approved by the Village Board or the respective committee, which typically occurs at the next regular meeting.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Village Hall (Lighthouse) 4725 Lighthouse Drive and virtually via Cisco WebEx. Details on how to access the meeting virtually are below:
Internet via the Cisco WebEx App
Meeting number: 126 066 8137
Password: DePWseij346
Phone
Number: +1-415-655-0001 US Toll
Access code: 126 066 8137
Pass code: 33797345
|
|
Village of Wind Point, Wisconsin
215 E. Four Mile Rd.
Racine, WI 53402
262.639.3524
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
