November 2017
Village Board Recognizes David Heller
On October 12, Village President Susan Sanabria presented a proclamation to David Heller, in recognition of his service to the Village as Village Board Trustee since 2012 and also as member of the Plan Commission. As announced in the E-News alert on October 16, David has relocated to the Lake Geneva area and stepped down as trustee effective October 31. President Sanabria recognized David for his many contributions, including improvements at the lighthouse grounds and Village Green, in particular.

Village Accepting Applications Through November 6
The Village Board is currently seeking applicants for the open trustee position. To be eligible, an individual must be a Village resident, at least 18 years of age and a legal citizen of the United States. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and qualifications to the Village Administrator, Michael Hawes, at the Village Office (215 E. Four Mile Rd.) or by e-mail to m.hawes@windpoint.org by the deadline of 4 p.m. on Monday, November 6. All applicants will be required to appear at the Village Board meeting on November 9 at 5:30 p.m. for an interview.

The vacant trustee position has a term expiring in April 2018; if the newly appointed individual wishes to serve on the Board beyond April, he or she will need to submit nomination papers by January 2 and be elected in the April 3 election.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Village Green park renovations and the new park pavilion was held on October 12. Preside nt Sanabria shared words with those in attendance, expressing gratitude for the many individuals who made the project possible, including David Heller, Karen Van Lone, Wind Point Staff & Public Works, Tom Nordloh, all of the contractors involved and Wind Point residents who participated in the planning process!
Final Yard Waste & Branch Collection Dates
Yard waste collection continues every Monday through November 27. Set yard waste out in brown yard waste bags with a yard waste sticker on each bag. Stickers can be purchased at the Village Office for $1.00 each. 

Yard waste includes leaves, grass clippings, yard and garden debris and brush including clean woody vegetative material no greater than 4 inches in diameter; it does not include stumps, roots or shrubs with intact root balls. 

The final branch collection date of the year is Tuesday, November 14. Branches do not need to be cut into shorter pieces but they should be no greater than 4 inches in diameter. Please pile branches in reasonably uniform piles with the the cut end facing the road.

Branch and yard waste piles should be set in the right-of-way no earlier than three days before collection date. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping to keep Wind Point nice!
Holiday Party and Wreath Lighting Ceremony on November 26
The annual Wind Point Community Club Holiday Party and Lighting Ceremony is set for Sunday, November 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wind Point Lighthouse. Bring the kids and help kick off the holiday season with food, refreshments and singing carols as the lighthouse wreath is lit. Enjoy a visit from Santa himself!

Please RSVP to Cecelia Heck by Friday, November 24 at 262-639-5370 or  cecelias@wi.rr.com .
Lighthouse Beach Green Infrastructure
Project Updates
A crew from Milaeger's completed the landscaping portion of the green infrastructure project last week at the lighthouse grounds. They installed dune grasses and native plantings that will make up the butterfly garden area along the south lawn. Visitors are asked not to walk over areas with new plantings.

Staff from the Racine Health Department will carry out the final component of the project through 2018 which involves erosion inspections, monitoring vegetation and post-implementation water quality testing. The green infrastructure project is funded by an Environment Protection Agency (EPA) grant in the amount of $122,691. The improvements were recommended in the Beach Water Quality Report 2010-2012 produced by the Racine Health Department.
Little Free Library at Village Green
The nearest public library may be five miles away in downtown Racine, but the clos est "Little Free Library" is now at Village Green! A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange where anyone can take a book or leave a book to share. The kit was purchased from Little Free Library, a nonprofit organization aimed at inspiring a love of reading, building community and sparking creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.
Proposed 2018 Village Budget Includes 0% Property Tax Increase
The 2018 Village Budget will be considered for adoption at the meeting on November 9 after a public hearing. The budget is the result of numerous committee meetings and hard work by staff over the past three months. The resulting budget reflects the Village's ongoing mission to provide high-quality municipal services in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The 2018 Budget does not include a property tax increase (for the Village-portion of property tax bills).

Following are highlights from the proposed 2018 budget:

  • 0.0% increase to the total Village tax levy and water utility rates.
  • 10.0% decrease in General Transportation Aid from the State.
  • $19,709 in Local Road Improvement Program revenue from the State for road resurfacing.
  • 0.0% change to fees for contracted fire/EMS, auditor, assessments, household hazardous waste collection and public health.
  • 1.4% increase to Johns Disposal in accordance with the Village's contract.
  • 2.5% base increase budgeted for staff wages; actual individual wage rates to be set by resolution of the Village Board.
  • $246,073 for road resurfacing on Campus Dr. (between Main St. and Deepwood Dr.) and Wind Point Rd. (between Park Pl. and end of the public section).
  • $30,000 for road maintenance and striping on Four Mile Rd., Lighthouse Dr., Three Mile Rd. and Lake Meadow Dr.
  • 183 additional police officer hours for an added hour of daily police coverage during the months of September-May.
  • $9,000 for exterior rehab of the Case 521 loader.
  • $25,000 to replace the water utility van that was purchased in 1999.
  • $13,000 to replace the park riding lawn mower that was purchased in 1999.
  • $10,000 for grounds improvement planning at lighthouse and $65,000 for initial plan implementation.
  • $25,000 for the first phase (of three) of a water utility dead-end valve replacement program.

The public hearing for the budget will be held at the beginning of the meeting on November 9 and the budget will be considered for adoption that evening. To view the proposed budget,  click here .
Debit and Credit Card Payment Options for Property Taxes
When you receive your property tax bill later this month or in early December you may notice a new payment option available. Due to demand, the Village will offer a credit and debit card option for payments made through January 29. The payment option will be offered through a third-party provider which charges the payer a service fee of 1.15% for debit cards and 2.65% for credit cards. Payments can be made from a link that will be available on the Village website later this month. Cash, check and money order payments will continue to be accepted by mail, drop-box or in-person at the Village Office or in-person at Johnson Bank (4001 N. Main St.).
Prescription Medicine Disposals
"National Drug Take Back Day" was on October 28, but it's never too late to properly dispose of unused prescription drugs! Traditionally, we were told to flush unwanted medications down the drain or toilet rather than keeping them so they would not be misused or accidentally taken. However, flushing medications or throwing disposing them in the trash creates a new and growing problem in the environment. Antibiotics and other medications in a septic system can destroy beneficial bacteria necessary for the system to operate. In addition, wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove or process many compounds found in medications. Thi s means that they end up being discharged into our surface and ground water, with medications thrown in the trash assuming the same fate. To dispose medications in a manner that is safer for the environment and our water and sewer systems, please use a designated drop-off or collection site. Unused prescription drugs can be disposed of year-round at one of the following nearby collection sites:

  • Caledonia Police Department, 6922 Nicholson Road, Caledonia
  • City of Racine Police Department, 730 Center Street, Racine
  • Lakeview Pharmacy, 516 Monument Square, Racine
  • Walgreens, 4810 Washington Avenue, Racine 
Outdoor Storage of Boats, Trailers and Recreational Vehicles Reminder
Sec.36-75 of the Wind Point Municipal Code provides that boats, campers, trailers or recreational vehicles cannot be stored outdoors on private property during the months of November through March. (Except for snowmobiles which may be kept behind the house between December 15 and March 15.) Up to one boat, camper, trailer or recreational vehicle can be stored outdoors on private property between the months of April through October, in a location behind the house and between the side building lines only.

If you will need to have a boat, trailer or recreational vehicle in your driveway for a temporary period, temporary storage permission may be requested from Wind Point Police for a period of up to five days (limited to four times per year, per property). Please contact Wind Point Police (non-emergency) at 639-3022 to request temporary storage permission (please leave a voice message if an officer is not in the office at the time of your call). Thank you for your cooperation!
Village Board Updates
The Village Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting on October 12, 2017. The following actions took place at the meeting:

  • Presented a proclamation to David Heller in recognition of his service as Village Trustee.
  • Adopted Ordinance 17-05, amending the Village’s sex offender residency ordinance.
  • Authorized staff to proceed with issuing a Request for Proposals to have a Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan completed for the Village.
  • Discussed an adjustment to the Village Green pavilion lighting settings.
  • Adopted Ordinance 17-06, establishing a Commercial Photography Permit requirement at the lighthouse grounds.
  • Discussed an appointment process for filling the upcoming trustee vacancy.
  • Completed a full review of the draft 2018 Village Budget.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 9 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