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Primary Election Set for February 16
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A statewide primary election will take place on Tuesday, February 16. Voting in Wind Point is at the Prairie School Johnson Athletic Center, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The only race on the ballot in Wind Point is Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. You can review a sample ballot online by
clicking here.
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If you can't make it to the polls on election day, absentee voting is available at Wind Point Office from Monday, February 1 through Friday, February 12, during normal business hours. You can request that an absentee ballot be mailed to you by submitting a request in writing to the Village Office along with a copy of a valid Photo ID. Voter registration can be done in-person at the Village Office or on election day. A
valid proof of residence
is required.
Photo ID Required
Please note a Photo ID is now required to vote. Examples of acceptable Photo ID include a WI driver's license, WI identification card, Military ID card or U.S. Passport. For more information, and a full list of acceptable identifications,
http://bringit.wisconsin.gov.
The Spring Election and Presidential Primary is on Tuesday, April 5.
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Village Board Revises Ordinance on Sheds
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At the meeting on January 14, the Village Board adopted Ordinance 16-01 which revises where sheds can be located on a property. Previously, the Village Code allowed sheds to be no closer than 15 ft. to a lot line. The revised ordinance allows sheds of a certain size (150 sq. ft. or less of ground area) to be located as close as 5 ft. to the lot line.
The purpose of the change is to provide greater flexibility to residents who wish to install a shed closer to the edge of their yard.
For many properties in the Village, the 15 ft. setback resulted in the shed being close to the middle of the backyard.
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The design and location of the shed is still subject to review by the Architectural Review Board (ARB). The ARB reviews how the structure will fit in with the rest of the property and neighborhood. Some of the factors the ARB consider are colors, materials, roof pitch and sight lines from the road and neighboring properties. A zoning permit and building permit are also required. Application paperwork can be obtained on the Village website or at the Village Office. For more information, contact the Village Office at 636-3524 or email
administrator@windpointwi.us.
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Coyote Sightings in the Village
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The Village Office has received calls lately about coyote sightings in the Village. The presence of coyotes is not new in Wind Point, but an increase in sightings could mean food is less plentiful and they are not as fearful of humans.
Remember, coyotes are wild animals and should be treated with respect. If you see one, keep your distance and do not leave small children unattended outside. If you are approached by a coyote, don’t turn your back and run. Shouting, making loud noises, waving your arms, maintaining eye contact and throwing small stones are all proven techniques for making the coyotes flee or ending an encounter. Residents can discourage coyotes from living in and traveling through this area by eliminating easy food sources on their property. You can reduce the risk of your dog encountering a coyote by keeping it on a short leash, supervising your dog when it’s off-leash in your yard and by walking your dog at times and places with high pedestrian traffic.
Wind Point does not allow the discharge of firearms or bow and arrows within the Village for the purpose of hunting coyotes. Residents may trap coyotes if they hire their own licensed, private contracting service to carry out the trapping activities on their own property.
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Reminder to Shovel Around Hydrants
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All residents are asked to clear snow around fire hydrants that are adjacent to their property after each snowfall. If a fire hydrant is lost or buried in the snow, firefighters can lose valuable time trying to locate and dig out the hydrant when they arrive. Clear the snow three feet all around the hydrant so firefighters have enough room to connect a hose.
We would also like to remind you to look out for your elderly or handicap neighbors as well, by taking a few extra minutes to shovel out their hydrants. Thank you for your help!
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2016 Village-Wide Revaluation
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As announced last August, the Village is completing a revaluation of all properties in 2016.
The revaluation involves an interior and exterior inspection to ensure properties are assessed at 100% market value in a uniform and equitable fashion. Some in-depth information about the revaluation process was provided in the insert that was mailed with the tax bills in December. That information is also available on the Village website at http://windpointwi.us/2016-revaluation.
At this time, Associated Appraisal expects to do inspections in late June. A
ssociated will send letters to all property owners with information about when appraisers will be in their neighborhood to conduct inspections. If a property owner is not at home at the time of the initial inspection, appraisal staff will leave a door hanger with a phone number and instructions to call and set up an inspection appointment.
Cooperation from residents with the inspections will be important for arriving at accurate assessments. You may have read in a recent Journal Times article that the Village of Waterford is having to go back and complete more inspections because a low number of properties were inspected during their revaluation last year. We do not expect to have the same issues if inspections start in the early summer. Nevertheless, the story in Waterford underscores the importance of participation in the inspection process.
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Solar Panels Are Paying Off!
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In 2008, the Village of Wind Point installed a solar energy system on the roof of the municipal garage. The intent of the project was two-fold: cost savings and lessening the Village’s environmental impact. Conservative estimates suggest that using solar power produces at least 1/3 less carbon emissions than using natural gas, and at least 1/15 less than using coal. The total project cost was $54,000, but after grants and credits from WE Energy and Focus on Energy, the Village invested roughly $20,000 in the project.
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When the system was installed, annual output was estimated by WE Energies at a rate of 7,344 kWh, but the actual output has been consistently higher than this number, with an average annual output of 8,424. Because of this, the Village will “break even” on the purchase several years prior to the 20 years that was originally predicted. At that point, the Village’s investment will have been paid off, and all income generated from the sale of the solar output will be profit. In other words, after the break-even point, the Village will save approximately $1,900 per year on its electricity costs; based on past averages, this would roughly half the Village’s annual electrical energy costs at the Village Office and garage.
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The Village Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting on January 14, 2016. The following actions took place at the meeting:
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- Approved Resolution 16-R01, changing the street name of Morning Wood Dr. to Lamplighter Ln.
- Approved Ordinance 16-01, reducing the setbacks for accessory structures 150 ft. or less (sheds) to 5 ft. and reducing the maximum size of enclosed minor structures to 16 feet.
- Approved Ordinance 16-02, amending the outdoor vehicle storage ordinance and establishing a temporary outdoor vehicle storage permission.
- Approved Resolution 16-R02, a 2015 budget amendment to close out the budget year.
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- Approved Resolution 16-R03, establishing the 2016 wage schedule.
- Approved a CD investments plan as presented.
- Heard a report from Trustee Murphy on the Ironman triathlon route.
- Heard a report from Trustee Sanabria on the parks planning project.
- Approved to conditionally allow the Friends of the Lighthouse to install up to 15 remaining bricks that were purchased by December 31, 2015.
- Heard a report from Administrator Hawes on the Village Code recodification project.
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The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Village Hall (lighthouse).
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Village of Wind Point, Wisconsin
215 E. Four Mile Rd.
Racine, WI 53402
262.639.3524
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