Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  The Village of Wind Point, WisconsinFebruary 2014
On behalf of the Village Board, I'd like express appreciation to those working outdoors this winter, keeping our roads and neighborhoods safe and in order. From our public works crew to police and fire personnel, postal workers, utilities crews and repairmen - thank you for what you do. You'll notice we've given the newsletter an updated look. Some enhancements are also in progress to our website, including online payments. We hope you will find these resources useful.

- Pete Christensen, Village President
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Spring Primary Election Cancelled
A primary election will not be necessary on February 18 for upcoming spring election. The offices on the spring ballot include Village Board Trustee, Racine Unified School Board, County Board, Court of Appeals Judge and Circuit Court Judge. The General Spring Election will be held Tuesday, April 1 with polls open at The Prairie School from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Wind Point electors. Check your voter registration status online at http://myvote.wi.gov.
 
Village Conserving Road Salt; Exercise Caution

Due to the frequency of snow and ice accumulation this Winter, the Village is closely monitoring its salt inventory left for the season. Public works will be conserving salt by focusing on the main roads and intersections in the Village. Please be extra cautious as you travel in the Village.

Prairie School Receives Approval on Soccer Field
An application for a zoning permit and conditional use permit submitted by the Prairie School for renovation of its soccer field received approvals from the Village Plan Commission and Village Board at the public meetings held on January 7 and 9. Both meetings were well-attended and included public comment sessions where residents had the opportunity to speak in support or opposition, or to ask questions for informational purposes. 

The project was approved with certain conditions, including that the field be restricted to Prairie School use only and that field lights be turned off by 9:30 p.m. Representatives from the school indicated that the purpose of the field lights were to improve safety during the evening fall games and they would be used as few as six times a year. For more information and to view the full list of approval conditions, click here.
Moment in Wind Point History

A huge fire c. 1867 started in north Racine and eventually blackened the entire area up to the Six Mile Road.  This event turned Wind Point from a dense forest from which settlers cut and sold wood into a farming area.  Most of the farms were small.  Farmers raised cabbage, potatoes, onions, strawberries, asparagus and more.  Most had a few milk cows, chickens and pigs.  Some even farmed gravel from the shore of Lake Michigan and sold sand from their farmland.   These farmers were very self-sufficient, and from just after the Civil War until just after WW II, the farms continued.
Village Board Highlights
The Village Board met for a regular meeting on January 9. The Board...
  • Approved the zoning permit and conditional use permit application filed by The Prairie School for soccer field renovation.
  • Approved a zoning ordinance recognizing community living arrangements as a permitted use in the single family residential zoning district per State statutes.
  • Approved the administrator's request to fill an office graduate intern position.
  • Approved a compensation policy for the Village.
  • Updated the fee and forfeiture schedule. The revised schedule sets an Architectural Review Board fee of $25, Outdoor Storage Permit fee of $40, Provisional/Temporary Operator License of $15, increases Operator License fee to $25, Increases Intoxicating Liquor license to $500, Tax Exempt Report Fee of $20 and clarifies security fees for Village Green park and lighthouse rental at $32/hr per officer.
  • Discussed the issue of door hanger advertisements and instructed the administrator to research options for regulating them.
  • Approved the emergency purchase of a furnace in the public works garage in the amount of $3,278, including duct-work to heat the office.
  • Discussed the idea of holding a Village-wide recycling/disposal event and instructed the administrator to further review the costs and other requirements for holding an event.
  • Heard an update from the administrator on implementing online credit card payments for water bills and court fines. As part of the service, credit card payments would also be accepted at the village office and over the phone. Staff expects it to be implemented in February.
The next regular meeting is February 13 at the Village Hall meeting room.
Reminder to Display Address Numbers

Village ordinances require display of street addresses "either upon the street front of such premises or in a place near the entrance to the driveway on the mailbox, a tree or a separate post at least 46 inches off the ground or both, such designated number in such position to be plainly visible." Please Help emergency crews, and yourself, by posting your house number large enough and in a location that can be easily seen in the day, night, or even in the low light of a beautiful summer evening.
Suspicious Activity

Wind Point Police is asking residents to pay extra attention for a white 2000 Mitsubishi Galant with Wisconsin license plate 816VLC. May be occupied by two black males. Subjects have been in the area acting suspiciously. If you notice this vehicle please call the Wind Point Police Department at 639.3022 or Racine County Sheriff's Department at 886.2300.