The Lake Geneva Municipal Minute

July 2026 - Volume 1

Newsletter Launch

This is the first edition of the City of Lake Geneva's newsletter, the Lake Geneva Municipal Minute. The newsletter is a brief, twice monthly look at what you should know about the community you love. Feel free to share the newsletter far and wide. Click on the paperboy to the left to sign-up and please - encourage friends to also sign-up and stay informed.

Musings from

Mayor Todd Krause

Welcome to the very first edition of the City of Lake Geneva's community newsletter!

Whether you've lived here your whole life, moved here recently, or are one of the many people who fell in love with Lake Geneva and decided to call it home, we're glad you're here! This newsletter is another way for us to stay connected with one another and keep you informed about what's happening in our community. We hope you'll find it to be a useful source of information about City projects, upcoming events, important services, and the many people who help make Lake Geneva such a special place.

One of the things I appreciate most about our community is that, despite our growth and popularity as a destination, Lake Geneva has never lost its small-town spirit. Neighbors still wave as they pass by, local businesses know their customers by name, and people continue to step up to volunteer, lend a hand, and look out for one another. That's something worth celebrating and protecting.

Our City has a lot to be proud of. From maintaining our streets and parks to supporting public safety, investing in infrastructure, and planning for the future, there are many dedicated employees, volunteers, and community partners working every day behind the scenes. Through this newsletter, we'd like to pull back the curtain a bit and share more about the work that's happening, the decisions being made, and the opportunities for you to get involved.

Thank you for taking the time to read this first issue. I hope you'll enjoy it, learn something new, and feel even more connected to the place we all call home. On behalf of the Common Council and our City staff, thank you for being part of the Lake Geneva community. We look forward to keeping the conversation going in the months ahead.

Warmly,

Mayor Todd Krause

City of Lake Geneva

Liberty on the Lake - July 4

VISIT Lake Geneva is hosting its Liberty on the Lake celebration from 5-9:30 p.m. July 4 in Flat Iron Park on Wrigley Drive. The celebration of both the Fourth of July and the nation's 250th birthday will feature face painting, balloon artists, roaming performers and a selection of food trucks. Midwest yacht rock favorite EZFM, sponsored by Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. will perform at 6 p.m. A state-of-the-art drone show will follow at 9 p.m. and provide an unforgettable finale. Click here to go go the VISIT Lake Geneva website and learn more.

City Hall closed

July 3

In observance of the July 4th holiday City Hall will be closed on Friday, July 3.

City Hall will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 6.

Wrigley Drive closed July 4th

Wrigley Drive will be closed between Broad Street and Center Street from 4:30 -10 p.m. July 4th for Liberty on the Lake. Check the VISIT Lake Geneva website for more information about Liberty on the Lake and additional celebrations in the Geneva Lake area.

Fourth of July Parade

Start your Fourth of July celebration at the American Legion Frank Kresen Post 24 Auxiliary Unit 24 Children's 4th of July Parade. Young patriots are invited to decorate their bikes, wagons, strollers, scooters - or simply wear their favorite red, white, and blue - and join in this fun-filled community tradition.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4 at Eastview Elementary School, 535 Sage Street in Lake Geneva, and ends at Post 24 at 735 Henry Street. The parade route is roughly half a mile long.

The parade is open to children and families looking to celebrate Independence Day together and is a wonderful way to create lasting memories while showing off patriotic spirit.

Awards will be bestowed for Best Decorated. Ice cream will follow the parade. Bring the whole family and help kick off a festive Fourth of July in Lake Geneva.

More information is available at VISIT Lake Geneva website devoted to the parade.

Hwy 50 Website

A website devoted to the Hwy 50 construction in 2027 and 2028 is now live on the city’s webpage.

Click on the image to the right above for your best source of information on the reconstruction of Hwy 50, which is coming in the summers of 2027 and 2028.

TDS fiber installation

TDS and its contractors will be in Lake Geneva through the end of 2026 installing a fiber optic network.

Contractors will leave information at homes in areas where construction is slated to take place. The city also will post installation and construction updates to its Facebook page and website for the duration of the project.

Please call TDS at 1-833-597-8405 with any questions. More information is available at the TDS website about the installation.

Current and future construction

Construction on Interchange North near Center Street will continue through the summer, with work expected to conclude in mid-August. The current traffic pattern is expected to be in place through mid to late July.

Crews will be crack filling and repairing asphalt at various locations throughout the city yet this summer. Please check the City's Facebook page or website for the latest information.

Work is being performed on the bike path and sidewalk in front of Veteran's Park, and is expected to continue through the third week in July.

Cook Street is going to be reconstructed from Main Street to Geneva Street, including the alley to the west of the block, Work is expected to begin in early September and be concluded in early October.

Asphalt patching will take place on the following roads before the end of summer. Sept. 11, 2026 is the cutoff date given to contractors for completion of the work -

500 block of Broad Street
700 block of Wisconsin Street
1100 block of South Lakeshore Drive
300 block of Oakwood Lane
900 block of Bonnie Brae Lane
100 block of Laurie Street
1000 block of Mobile Street
1100 block of Boulevard
800 block of Wells Street
500 block of Jefferson Avenue
900 block of Maxwell Street
1500 block of Orchard Lane
1200 block of Wisconsin Street
Ceylon Court
Parking lot of the City Water Treatment Plant at 361 W. Main Street
Intersection of Geneva Street and Center Street
Intersection of Broad Street and Geneva Street
Intersection of Broad Street and Dodge Street
Intersection of Dodge Street and Madison Street

A Day at the Beach

Beach access is a treasured part of life in Lake Geneva for residents and guests alike. The beach is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting, and admission is charged between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. More information on beach access is available on the city's web site.

Doggy do's ... and don'ts

The City of Lake Geneva welcomes dogs and their owners, but some rules are in place. Click the image of the French Bulldog - trust us, it's not Stitch from Disney's "Lilo and Stitch" - to learn more about what is expected of dog and pet owners in the City of Lake Geneva.

July 2026 Meetings

Listed below are the meetings scheduled for the month of July. Please check the municipal calendar on the city's website if you plan to attend a meeting to be certain nothing was moved or cancelled.

All meetings are held at City Hall, 626 Geneva Street.

July 6 - 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole

July 9 - 4 p.m. Police and Fire Commission

July 9 - 6 p.m. Hillmoor Commission

July 13 - 4 p.m. Tourism Commission

July 13 - 6 p.m. Common Council

July 14 - 4 p.m. Historic Preservation Committee

July 14 - 4 p.m. Tree Board

July 14 - 5 p.m. Piers, Harbors and Lakefront Committee

July 14 - 6 p.m. Avian Committee

July 16 - 5:30 p.m. Library Finance, Building & Grounds Committee Meeting

July 16 - 6 p.m. Library Board

July 20 - 2 p.m. Strategic Planning Session

July 20 - 4 p.m. Utility Commission

July 20 - 5 p.m. Special Common Council Meeting

July 20 - 6 p.m. Plan Commission

July 21 - 6:30 p.m. Board of Park Commissioners

July 27 - 4 p.m. Public Works Committee

July 27 - 6 p.m. Common Council

Short-term rentals

Short-term rentals, also known as Air BNBs or VRBOs, are common in Lake Geneva. All STRs must be registered with the city to ensure accountability and safety. If you own or operate a STR that is not registered, you need to contact the city and initiate the process as soon as possible. More information on STRs in Lake Geneva is available at the city's website.

Parking in Lake Geneva

Metered parking is available throughout Lake Geneva. Paid parking is in effect from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Consider reading the instructions on how to use the meter or downloading the PARKMOBILE App before leaving home. More information, including how to appeal a parking ticket, is available on the city's website.

Hillmoor Commission Newsletter

The Hillmoor Commission publishes a monthly newsletter. Anyone interested in the latest news on happenings at the site is encouraged to sign up and receive a monthly update in their Inbox.

More information on plans and developments at the site is available at the city's website.

Introducing City Staff

Meet the Editor

Assistant City Administrator Chris Bennett joined Lake Geneva in March of 2026. Chris grew up in Burlington and comes to Lake Geneva after serving as a Village Administrator first in Wind Point and then in Rochester. Chris is a Certified Public Manager through the University of Wisconsin and holds advanced degrees from Cardinal Stritch and Villanova universities. Chris also spent fourteen years in the United States Navy. Chris is married with three daughters and enjoys golfing and playing the trombone when not at work. Chris worked on both the Brute and Briar Patch golf courses at Grand Geneva during the summer while attending Carroll University. Chris can be reached at (262) 248-9465 or asstcityadmin@cityoflakegeneva.gov.

Featured Pet

Lainey is the teeny tiny terrier mix of City Clerk Lacey Reynolds. Lake Geneva's City Hall is a pet friendly environment and Lainey is one of two dogs that cruise City Hall and make everyone smile. Lainey is about six months old, and Lacey and her family got Lainey from Lakeland Animal Shelter in Delavan. If you send a picture of your beloved pet to newsletter@cityoflakegeneva.gov it might appear in an upcoming newsletter.

Newsletter Nuts and Bolts

Please contact the City at newsletter@cityoflakegeneva.gov if there is a topic you want to see addressed in an upcoming issue of the newsletter. The newsletter is scheduled to be released on the 1st and 15th of each month, but the City reserves the ability to alter the schedule. Please click this link to sign-up for the newsletter if you received it from a friend and please feel to share this newsletter with a friend.

The City used existing newsletter contact lists for the first edition of its newsletter. If you wish to keep receiving this newsletter please sign up here. You will not receive another issue of this newsletter unless you specifically sign up to receive it. The City thanks you for helping launch this new initiative in communication with our beloved citizens.

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