Published by the Village of Union Grove - October 2019

Trick-Or-Treating in Union Grove will be on Thursday, October 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Fall Leaf Collections
The Union Grove Public Works Department will begin fall leaf collections in mid-October and will continue through Thanksgiving, or when the first major snowfall occurs. Rake leaves to the edge of the road beginning in mid-October for pick-up. Please set out leaves only, as branches and other matter can damage the leaf collection equipment. Thank you for your cooperation!
Meet Your New Library Director!
We are pleased to welcome Sara Swanson to Union Grove as the new Director of the Graham Public Library! Sara has lived in Burlington for most of her life. She earned a BA in English from UW-Green Bay, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame and an MLIS from UW-Milwaukee. She has worked as a librarian at several libraries, most recently as Head of Adult Services at the Lake Geneva Public Library. When not reading, she enjoys listening to podcasts, spending time with family and watching sitcoms. Be sure to stop by the library and say hello to Sara!
Pedestrian Safety Reminders
With the new school year in full swing and children walking to and from school, it is especially important to be mindful of pedestrians and crosswalks in the Village. Yielding to pedestrians is a serious public safety matter; drivers who fail to yield to a pedestrian can be issued a citation with a minimum fine of $98.80, including up to suspension of his or her's driver's license and mandatory attendance of a right-of-way traffic safety course.

Tips for DRIVERS:

  • Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see.
  • Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.
  • Stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
  • Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
  • Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
  • Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.
  • Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
  • Drivers must stop 20 feet or more from any school bus that has stopped and is flashing red warning lights. All lanes of traffic must stop for the school bus, except in opposing lanes if the highway is divided with a center median.

Tips for PEDESTRIANS:

  • Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
  • Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
  • If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
  • Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
  • If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.
  • Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen.
  • Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.
  • Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.

And one tip for EVERYONE - Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road. For more information on Wisconsin pedestrian safety laws, click here . Most of the tips above are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration .
Electronics Recycling Event on October 12th
The Village of Union Grove is once again partnering with Midwest Computer Recycling to hold an electronics recycling event on Saturday, October 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Union Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant (3710 67th Dr.). Please see the following list of items that are accepted and any disposal fees, if applicable:

  • Items accepted: Computers, Monitors, Circuit Boards, Laptops, Servers, Printers, Keyboards, Mice, Cables and all related accessories. Electrical equipment, Stereos, VCR’s, DVD Players, Power Tools, Telephones, Cell phones, Small Appliances, Exercise Equipment and all related accessories.

  • Items with a disposal fee: TVs ($20), Microwaves ($5), Old Tube Type Monitors ($10) and Exercise Equipment ($5).

  • Items that will not be accepted: Household batteries, anything with freon, large appliances and light bulbs.

For questions, contact Midwest Computer Recycling at (847) 582-1730.
Community Survey Responses
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the Community Survey over the past month! A total of 255 responses were received, representing a response rate of 13.5% of Union Grove households. Look for a report on the survey results in the November E-News!
A new Christmas tree has been planted at Village Square Park! Thank you to the Greater Union Grove Area Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Comes to Union Grove Committee for coordinating the tree replacement. A special thank you to Rustic Road Landscaping for providing the tree and planting it at a reduced price, as well as to the Kiwanis Club of Union Grove for making a donation to cover the costs!
Last Chances to Visit Market on Main
The last opportunities to visit Union Grove's weekly farmer's market ("Market on Main") are today, October 1, and next Tuesday, October 8, before the market is closed for the season. The market is open from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Village Square Park. Stop by to f ind good eats, sweet treats, fresh produce, unique accessories, notecards, plants, flowers and more! For more information, follow Market on Main on Facebook .
Youth Basketball Registrations
Registration for Union Grove Rec. Department basketball leagues starts today, October 1! Register at Village Hall during normal business hours, by Village Hall drop-box or by mail to: Village of Union Grove, 925 15th Ave., Union Grove, WI 53182. Forms are available at Village Hall or online by  clicking here . For registrations submitted by November 15, the fee is $50 per Pre-K and Kindergarten child and $70 per 1st-8th grade child. For questions, contact Katie Svendsen, at 262-898-4558 or recreation@uniongrove.net.
Thank you to Union Grove Methodist Church for donating their playground set to the Village! Union Grove Public Works recently installed the equipment at Bufton Park, after a recommendation from the Park Upgrade Committee.
Volunteers Needed for Mock Interviews
Volunteers from the community are needed to assist with conducting mock interviews for 8th grade social studies students at Union Grove Elementary School. The mock interviews will take place on October 24 from 8 a.m. to approximately 10 a.m. Ideally, the interviewers will not be parents in order to make the process as authentic as possible for students. If you know anyone who would be willing to help with this, please contact Mrs. Weber ( eweber@uges.k12.wi.us).
Village Board Approves Water Rate Application
At the regular meeting on September 23, the Village Board approved filing an application with the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a 3% increase to water rates. Board members agreed that the increase was necessary to help control the financial health of the utility and to help avoid larger increases or avoidable borrowings in the future. The Union Grove Water Utility had a rate of return of 3.8% in 2018, while the PSC encourages a 6.0% rate of return. If the rate increase is approved, it would increase the quarterly bill for a household that consumes 12,000 gallons of water from $79.14 to $81.51.

At the same meeting, the Village Board approved a 1.5% increase to the stormwater utility fee, raising the current quarterly fee from $21.83 to $22.16 . Rate increases would go into effect January 1, 2020.
Reminder to Clean Up After Your Dog
Sec. 14-2 of the Village Code requires dog owners to pick up and prop erly dispose of dog waste. No matter the time of year or the size of the dog, cleaning up after your dog is considerate and expected. It is not just a courtesy for those walking behind you; it is also the healthy and environmentally sound thing to do, as pet waste can be a significant source of storm water pollution.
Village Board Updates
The Village Board held regular meetings on September 9 and September 23. Following is a recap of Village Board actions taken at these meetings:

September 9 Regular Meeting:
  • Approved a Temporary Class "B" alcohol license to sell fermented malt beverages and wine for the Knights of Columbus - Council 4106 for Oktoberfest at St. Robert Bellarmine Church located at 3320 S. Colony Avenue.
  • Approved a Temporary "Class "B" alcohol license for the Greater Union Grove Area Chamber of Commerce for a Wine Walk on September 21, 2019 (Date change).
  • Approved renewing the contract with Racine County Sheriff’s Department for 2020 police protection services.

September 23 Regular Meeting:
  • Approved a request from Johns Disposal regarding 2020 garbage and recycling rates.
  • Approved filing a Simplified Rate Case application with the Public Service Commission for a 3% water rate increase, effective January 1, 2020.
  • Approved a 1.5% increase to the stormwater utility ERU rate, effective January 1, 2020.
  • Approved splitting a payment with the Granary on a storm water lateral.
  • Denied a request from a private group to use the municipal parking lot.
Upcoming Meetings Schedule
Meetings will be held at Union Grove Municipal Center, 925 15th Ave., unless otherwise noted. Meeting dates and times are subject to change.

  • October 1 - Personnel Committee (6 p.m.)
  • October 7 - Plan Commission (6 p.m.)
  • October 9 - Library Board (5 p.m. at the library)
  • October 9 - Fire Commission (6 p.m. at the fire station)
  • October 14 - Administration Committee (12 p.m.)
  • October 14 - Building Board (5:30 p.m.)
  • October 14 - Village Board (6 p.m.)
  • October 15 - Community Development Authority (6 p.m.)
  • October 15 - Entertainment Stage Design & Bidding Cmte. (6:30 p.m.)
  • October 17 - Park Upgrade Committee (6 p.m.)
  • October 17 - Recreation & Parks Committee (6:30 p.m.)
  • October 21 - Water, Wastewater, Storm Water & Streets (6 p.m.)
  • October 22 - Police Commission (5:30 p.m.)
  • October 24 - Finance Committee (6 p.m.) (Tentative)
  • October 28 - Village Board (6 p.m.)

Visit the Village Meetings webpage for meeting agendas, which are posted at least 24 hours before the meeting time.