November 2021
Proposed Caledonia Dollar General Store
The Village of Caledonia will be considering approval of a proposed Dollar General store at their Village Board meeting on Monday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Caledonia Village Hall, 5043 Chester Lane.

The proposed store is to be located on the southeastern corner of Four Mile Road and Eire Street. Information about the project can be found on the Village of Caledonia's website by clicking here.

The Village of Wind Point does not have any role in the review or approval of this project. Ultimately the decision rests with the Caledonia Village Board. Wind Point officials have gone on record as opposing this project because it would largely change the residential character of Four Mile Road east of Highway 32.
Proposed 2022 Wind Point Budget
The 2022 Village Budget will be considered for adoption at the Village Board meeting on Thursday, November 11 after a public hearing. The budget is the result of a three-month long process that involved several public meetings with the Village Board, Village Staff and standing committees. The resulting budget reflects the Village's ongoing mission to provide high-quality municipal services in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Compared to 2021 the 2022 budget has an overall expenditure decrease of 4.9%. This is primarily due to fewer capital projects in 2022. The following are the highlights from the proposed 2022 budget:

Revenues
  • $2,008 increase (0.18%) to the Village-portion of the property tax levy, as allowed by the State of Wisconsin.
  • $6,239 increase (9%) in General Transportation Aid from the State, which is retrospective funding from the Department of Transportation based on a six-year average of expenditures incurred by the Village in several transportation related categories including new road construction.
  • $9,850 in grant funding from the State of Wisconsin for the police department’s Click it or Ticket Seat Belt enforcement. This is a one time funding grant applied for by the police department.
  • $0 change to Shared Revenue, Recycling Grants and Cable Franchise Aid from the State of Wisconsin.
  • $14,871 increase (11%) in fine and forfeiture revenue, which is back to pre-pandemic level.
  • $1,600 increase (6.5%) to Lighthouse revenues for tower climbs and rentals, which is still slightly below pre-pandemic levels.

Expenditures
  • $17,792 increase (5.9%) in General Government expenditures due to additional expenses for liability insurance and four elections in 2022.
  • $3,818 decrease (33.7%) in auditor service costs as the Village will be switching to a new three-year contract with Hawkins & Ash, CPAs.
  • $1,700 increase (32.1%) in the contracted service for property assessments. The Village will enter into a new contract with our current assessor, Associated Appraisal for the assessment years 2022 through 2026.
  • $17,812 increase (7%) to fees for contracted fire and EMS service as the Village enters a new five-year contract with the Village of Caledonia.
  • $11,038 increase (3.7%) to the Public Works budget which is due to road line striping on Four Mile Road, Lighthouse Drive and Three Mile Road, wage increases and bridge inspection.
  • $2,200 decrease (73%) in the Health and Human Services budget as the Village will no longer be contracting with the City of Racine Health Department for public health services.
  • No proposed changes the per unit residential costs from John’s Disposal’s for garbage, bulk-item, recycling, and yard-waste collections.
  • 3% increase budgeted for staff wages; actual individual wage rates to be set by resolution of the Village Board

Capital Improvement Projects
A total of $41,065 is budgeted for the Village Capital Improvement Projects for large item and facility improvements. Proposed budgeted projects include the following:
  • $5,386 budgeted for new computer workstations.
  • $6,000 for a salt brine sprayer attachment for the Public Works department. The sprayer will be used to apply brine to pre-treat main roads on the Village. This will help reduce the Village’s salt usage and when the Village does need to salt will allow for the salt to be more effective at lower temperatures.
  • $2,600 for new directional sings indicating the Lighthouse Grounds entrance.
  • $5,000 for new safe walking route signs between Village Green and the Lighthouse Grounds.
  • $8,679 for new fencing between the Village Green tennis and pickleball courts.
  • $4,000 for plantings at the Lighthouse Grounds, which are the final items related to the Lighthouse Grounds Beautification Project.

The public hearing for the budget will be held at the beginning of the meeting on November 11 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].
Final Branch & Yard Waste Collection
The final branch collection of 2021 will start on Tuesday, November 9. Please have your branches out no later than 7:00 a.m. on the first day of pick up. Branches do not need to be cut into shorter pieces, but they should be no greater than 4 inches in diameter.

Branches should be placed into reasonably uniform piles with the cut end facing the road (as shown in the picture to the right), in order for Village Public Works staff to efficiently collect and load branches into the chipper. Up to 15 minutes will be spent per property on collecting and chipping. If the collection at one property exceeds 15 minutes then the pile may be tagged and the owner may be charged for the removal or need to remove it on their own. More information on branch collection and be found here on the Village's website.

The final collection for yard waste by John's Disposal will be Monday, November 29. All items must be compostable, including leaves and grass clippings. Items must be placed in containers that are no more than 32 gal/60 lbs. each, or most ideally in paper compostable bags that are securely sealed. John's may also accept securely bundled brush that is no more than 50 lbs. and no longer than 4 feet.

If you have any questions please contact the Village Office at 262-639-3524 or [email protected].
New Village Fire & EMS Contract
The Village Board approved a new five year contract with the Village of Caledonia for Fire & EMS services. The new agreement will run from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026. The Village solicited proposals from the Village of Caledonia and the City of Racine. The two proposals were reviewed by the Public Safety Committee and the Village Board. The decision to remain with Caledonia was based on the following factors:

  • Cost: Caledonia’s yearly contract cost is $273,323, compared to $299,000 for Racine. Caledonia also proposed a fixed service price for the five year contract, so the amount will remain the same.

  • EMS Service Rates: Caledonia’s EMS fees for residents are less than Racine. 

  • Ambulance Transport Options: Caledonia maintains the option for stable patients to be transported to a hospital of their choice (non-stable patients are transported to the closest emergency room).

  • Response Times:. From 2016-2020 Caledonia’s response time has averaged 7:46, which is lower than the comparable response times from Racine. Response times with Caledonia are expected to decrease further as Caledonia will be constructing a new public safety building located next to Caledonia Village Hall (Chester Lane and Four Mile Road).

We look forward to continuing a great partnership with the Village of Caledonia.
Lighthouse Grounds Project Update
Most of the work for the Lighthouse Grounds beautification project has been completed.

In late September, Village Public Works staff planted new trees and bushes around the pathway in accordance with the master grounds plan adopted by the Village Board in 2018.

By years end, the Village hopes to install new interpretive signs on the history of the Lighthouse. The walking path was completed early in the summer as well as the installation of a new entrance sign for the grounds.

The outstanding items for the project include new flower beds which are scheduled to be installed by the Wind Point Garden Club next year around the circle gathering node.

A big thank to you the Village Board, Public Works Staff Brian Beiley and Joe Thoennes, , the Lighthouse Keepers Joe & Mary Ann Huser and the Wind Point Garden Club for their hard work and dedication to make this project possible.
Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The Wind Point Police Department deposited nearly 50 pounds of prescription drugs and other medicine with the Wisconsin Department of Justice at the Waukesha County Expo Center on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day held on Saturday, October 23.

The drugs and medicine that were deposited by the police department are from the Village's medicine collection bin which is located at the Wind Point Administrative Office, 215. E. Four Mile Road. Wind Point residents can use this collection bin year round to dispose of expired and unused prescription and non-prescription drugs. The collection bin is available to residents Monday though Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Depositing of drugs in a safe manner helps to keep them out of the hands of the wrong individuals and also helps to protect our local waterways and environment.
Village Board Updates
The Village Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. The following actions took place at the meeting:

  • Approved a new agreement with the Village of Caledonia for Fire & EMS services that will run from 2022 to 2026.
  • Approved the purchase of a new patrol rifle for the police department.
  • Approved Ordinance 21-05, which amended the Village Code on speed limits to strengthen the school speed limit around the Prairie School.
  • Reviewed the 2022 draft Village budget and scheduled a public hearing on the budget to take place at the next Village Board meeting.
  • Approved Resolution 21-R05 which adopted the Village's election ward maps as part of the 2021 voting redistricting process.
  • Approved a private well permit for 5357 Hunt Club Road.
  • Approved a contract with Purpose Contracting Asphalt, LLC to repair small sections of pavement on Three Mile Road and on the entrance drive to Village Green park.

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 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Village Hall (Lighthouse) 4725 Lighthouse Drive and virtually via Zoom. Details on how to access the meeting virtually are below:

Phone Number: 312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 994 7542 7216
Passcode: 120780
Village of Wind Point, Wisconsin
215 E. Four Mile Rd.
Racine, WI 53402
262.639.3524