September 2016
Updates on Village Revaluation Project
Thank you Wind Point property owners for your patience and cooperation with the 2016 revaluation project. Your participation in the inspection process helps ensure a more accurate assessment for your property, and greater accuracy village-wide! 
Field staff from Associated Appraisal were able to complete many inspections during their first walk-through of the Village and they are returning for callback appointments. If you have not yet had an inspection, you should have received a certified mailing with a last call for scheduling appointments. You can schedule an appointment by contacting Associated Appraisal at 1-800-721-4157.

What happens next? All property owners should receive a Notice of Assessment from Associated Appraisal by mid-September. This notice will indicate the 2016 assessment value that Associated has calculated for your property. The notice will provide information on discussing the value with the assessor at Open Book on September 26 or objecting an assessment at Board of Review on October 12.

If you have questions or concerns about your assessment, it is recommended to meet with the assessor at Open Book, as most questions can be resolved before appearing before the Board of Review. For more information, please contact Associated Appraisal at 1-800-721-4157 or the Village Office at 262-639-3524 of info@windpointwi.us.
Fun Times at the Village Picnic!
A total of 140 residents came out to enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the park at the Village Picnic on August 14. Thank you to Jane Pirkl, Cel Heck and Sherry Heck and the Wind Point Community Club for organizing another successful picnic. Special thanks to residents Justus Morgan and Helen & Tom Savas for their help, and to Johnson Bank for donating their tent for the event! Photos below are courtesy of Helen Savas.
Absentee Voting for the November 8th Election
Absentee voting (or "early voting") for the November 8th Presidential Election will be available in Wind Point during a six week period leading up to the election. Starting on Monday, September 26, registered voters can fill out an absentee ballot at the Village Office during normal business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8:30-5).
Please note a valid ID is required to receive a ballot.The last day for absentee voting at the office will be Friday, November 4. To request an absentee ballot by mail, please submit an  absentee ballot application . Contact Mike Hawes, Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer if you have any questions at 262-639-3524 or administrator@windpointwi.us.
Village Green Park Updates

Village staff and Committee members have been busy making arrangements for Village Green Park improvements to take place in 2017. The Parks & Facilities Committee held two meetings in August with Village Engineer Mark Madsen and Landscape Architect Tom Nordloh to discus construction plans for bidding the project this fall or winter. The plans will include many components of the park concept developed last year.

Decision on Tennis Courts. The Parks & Facilities Committee has made a recommendation to the Village Board to convert the eastern-most tennis court to a single pickleball court in 2017. The purpose is to provide more open space in the park and to offer ample spacing for a shelter structure to be located southeast of the playground. The Village Board will consider this recommendation at its regular meeting next Thursday, September 8.
Path Resurfacing
Poblocki Paving is in the Village this week to resurface bicycle and walking pathways. The north portion of the path starts on Four Mile Rd. (next to the Entomology Research Center) and connects to Lake Meadow Dr. The south portion starts on Campus Dr. near Lake Meadow and goes to Three Mile Rd.  Poblocki will also be paving a small path section located between Stonewood Ct. and Greenwood Ct. 

Paving should be completed by the end of the week and the path will be immediately open to the public! The project is the result of a cooperative effort between Wind Meadows, SC Johnson, The Prairie School and the Village of Wind Point.
Lighthouse Roofing Project
The main building at the Wind Point Lighthouse is getting a new roof! Starting next week, a crew from Holton Brothers will begin by rebuilding the north chimney and repairing the south chimney. Later in September, Waukesha Roofing & Sheet Metal will remove the existing shingles and install new shingles and a gutter system. The new shingles will be a heavier duty product designed to withstand high winds and resist algae. Please pardon our dust while this much-needed work takes place!
Open Tower Day this Sunday, September 4. The lighthouse tower will be open for tours this Sunday, September 4 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tours are available every half hour. You can make reservations for tours taking place at the top of the hour online - for more information visit, windpointlighthouse.org/towertours.
EPA Awards Grant for Lighthouse Beach Project

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will award a $122,691 grant to the Village of Wind Point for green infrastructure improvements at the Wind Point Lighthouse Beach. The improvements will involve beach nourishment, installing a butterfly/hummingbird garden and native vegetation, and building a limestone pathway and cord-walk. The work is expected to be completed in 2017 with the exact schedule depending on obtaining permits.

The beach improvements were recommended in the Beach Water Quality Report 2010-2012 produced by the Racine Health Department. The report identified opportunities to improve stormwater quality near the beach, enhance aesthetics and increase public access. Dr. Julie Kinzelman, Adrian Koski, Joel Brunner and Sarah Wright from the City of Racine Health Department Laboratory were instrumental in producing the water quality report and providing information necessary for the grant. The green infrastructure improvements help advance one of the Village’s overarching priorities which is to protect and enhance our natural assets. Look for project updates in future newsletters!
Landlord Registration Program

On August 14, the Village Board approved Ordinance 16-04, establishing a landlord registration program for all residential rental properties in Wind Point.

Under the program, owners of rental properties will be required to register with the Village every two years. The registration will involve providing updated contact information for the property owner and a primary contact person (if any).

The purpose of the program is to assist various Village and departments in maintaining accurate records of rental premises in the event of a public safety or property issue. The Village will not be collecting information about tenants or administering rental property inspections as part of the program.

Registration forms will be available this fall and property owners will be asked to register by January 1. There will be no registration fee for all forms submitted before January 1. More information will be available in the October or November E-News.
Village Starts 2017 Budget Process

The Village Board and staff have started work on the 2017 Village Budget. The first budget workshop will be held on Friday, September 2 at 4 p.m. at the Village Office. The next workshop is scheduled for Friday, September 30 at 3 p.m. The full draft budget will be reviewed by the Village Board at the regularly scheduled meeting on October 13. A public hearing on the budget and adoption will take place at the Village Board meeting on November 10. All meetings are open to member of the public.
Village Board Updates
The Village Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting on August 11, 2016. The following actions took place at the meeting:
  • Approved filing a Purchased Water Clause Adjustment (PWAC) with the Public Service Commission for a water rate increase to align with the percentage increase and effective date of that approved for Caledonia Utility District (expected 1%).
  • Approved establishing a landlord registration program (Ordinance 16-04).
  • Accepted a proposal from Schenck SC for annual auditing services for years ending 2016, 2017 and 2018.
  • Approved hiring an outside tree service to remove identified Village-owned trees along E. Four Mile Rd. and Deepwood Dr. at an amount not to exceed $9,000.
  • Approved the appointment of Trustee Gloo to the Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee (chair), Personnel Finance & Insurance  Committee and Public Works & Utilities Committee.
  • Discussed updates to the 2017 Budget Timeline.
  • Adopted the revised Municipal Codebook (Ordinance 16-05).
  • Accepted a $122,691 grant from the EPA for green infrastructure improvements at the lighthouse beach.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Village Hall (lighthouse).
Village of Wind Point, Wisconsin
215 E. Four Mile Rd.
Racine, WI 53402
262.639.3524