ALLOUEZ VILLAGE BOARD
Action taken against emerald ash borer infestation
Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Christopher Clark updated the Village Board Tuesday, March 15, about the removal of ash trees infested with emerald ash borer (EAB) in the Taft Street/Arrowhead Drive neighborhood.
He said a number of the trees were removed in 2021, and the remaining stumps will be removed as soon as the weather allows this spring.
The board agreed to split the money allocated to contract Treeo’s Tree Service to remove the remaining trees for $28,200 and to have village staff remove those stumps on overtime for $13,585.
Clark said the removals will be completed by October, at the latest.
Approved contracts
In other action, the board unanimously approved a contract with Vinton Construction for $466,052.55 for the DOTY Safe Route to School Sidewalk Project, which includes the installation of a 5-foot wide sidewalk along the north side of Longview Avenue and the west side of East River Drive, beginning at the end of the school year.
The project has already been approved by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The board awarded the contract for several resurfacing projects to Northeast Asphalt, Inc., for $670,570.05.
The project includes the resurfacing of Hastings Street, Rustic Oaks Court, Dauphin Street, Michael Court, Patrick Court, Gwynn Street and Jenkel Terrace, miscellaneous street patching and repairs, and an alternate bid to resurface Kenny Street from Clay Street to Delahaut Street and from Libal Street to Jenkel Terrace.
GREEN BAY SCHOOL BOARD
Warren retires from school board
Longtime board member and former board president Brenda Warren attended her last School Board meeting Monday, March 14.
Warren’s 18 years of service was acknowledged by members of the community – both online and in-person – as well as members of the school board and district staff.
“You’ve been a mentor to me, and I’ve learned a lot from you,” Board Vice President Laura McCoy said. “So, I just want to say I will miss your intellect. I admire your intellect. I told you that many times. But also your complete disinterest in ego, or anything that isn’t good for kids. That’s not easy to replace.”
Warren worked in the area as a pediatrician for seven years before becoming a stay-at-home mother.
She said she joined the school board as a way to engage in the community and actively aid the students of Green Bay.
“It’s amazing to listen to, and have a rundown of, all the things that we’ve done in our district over the 18 years,” Warren said, fighting back tears. “I have loved serving on the School Board. I will say the last two years have been a little tough, but it’s been something I’ve very much enjoyed. It’s been a labor of love.”
Warren decided not to seek reelection this spring to a new three-year term.
Staff pandemic support
The board voted in favor of a motion to change the year’s remaining professional development days, April 1 and May 20, to full days off.
Teachers will participate in professional development training in the morning, with flexibility in the second half of the day.
The move seeks to provide staff with more support and help alleviate stress, something staff members said they could use more of in a December 2021 survey.
The decision, however, raised some concerns in regards to meeting the hours and minutes of instruction requirements, with the possibility of future inclement weather days.
“The general feedback we have gotten is that half days are very difficult for parents,” Board President Eric Vanden Heuvel said.
The board will determine at a later date if teachers will be required to work from the schools, or if they will have the option to work remotely for the second half of the day.
HOWARD-SUAMICO SCHOOL DISTRICT
Esports team takes ‘Overwatch’ title
The Bay Port High School esports club was congratulated at the start of the School Board meeting on Monday, March 14.
School Board President Garry Sievert said the team took first place in the Division 1 state championship in Overwatch, hosted by the Wisconsin High School Esports Association Jan. 22 in Madison.
The club has been in existence for more than five years and has a membership of 53 students and five advisors.
Two of the team’s advisors, Zach Stenerson and Scott Pamperin, were at the board’s most recent meeting to give an update on the club.
“(The players on the team) are highly skilled and a lot of fun to be around,” Pamperin said. “A lot of times, when we think of gaming culture, we think about the guy hiding behind the screen and not being very productive. But the members of our team are highly dedicated and active.”
Community Engagement Survey discussed
For the third time since 2011, the district has reached out to village residents, seeking input to be used for future planning with a community-wide survey that was completed by 1,060 Howard-Suamico households.
“The results of this survey will be one of many tools we use to inform decision-making for the district next year and beyond,” HSSD Director of Communications Brian Nicol said. “When compared with prior surveys, the data also helps us understand shifts in public perception over time.”
Nicol informed the board the results of the survey were encouraging, as illustrated by feedback showing the majority of respondents believing not only that the district is delivering high-quality education, but who would be inclined to recommend HSSD to a friend or family member.
With that in mind, Nicol said the district will be looking to improve its communication with residents who do not currently have a direct connection to the district.
ASHWAUBENON SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE
New Kwik Trip approved near airport
A site plan to construct a Kwik Trip by Austin Straubel International Airport at the northeast corner of State Highway 172 and South Point Road was approved Tuesday, March 15, by the Site Plan Review Committee.
Community Development Director Aaron Schuette said the site is owned by the airport, and Kwik Trip will enter into a long-term lease to develop a convenience store there because federal regulations prohibit the property from being sold.
Schuette said the overall site plan includes two entrances from South Point Road with no direct access from Highway 172, while underground storage will be used on the site for stormwater.
“Of course, open water is not really a good thing for airports, so it is handled underground in this case,” he said.
Parker John’s patio
In other action, the committee approved a site plan to allow Parker John’s at 2851 S. Oneida St. to construct a 28×90-foot concrete patio for outdoor seating, which will be fenced off on the north side of the building.
The addition will replace a drive lane and be accessible with folding glass doors being added on the north side of the restaurant.
HOWARD VILLAGE BOARD
Board discusses complaints, remedying SOAR noise
Ongoing complaints about noise coming from the SOAR Converting Solutions manufacturing facility on Brookfield Avenue and how to remedy the situation were discussed Monday, March 14, by the Village Board.
Public Works Director Geoff Farr said the complaints involve “a low, droning noise that travels very well because it’s low frequency.”
“You can hear it a long ways away,” he said. “I had not heard it until recently, and I found it irritating as well.”
Trustee Cathy Hughes, who requested the matter be placed on the agenda, read a letter submitted by Deb Jorgensen related to the village’s efforts to remedy the noise problem.
“The noise from SOAR has had a significant effect on our health and well-being, and we look forward to the solution coming soon,” Jorgensen’s letter stated.
Though a solution has yet to be installed, SOAR President Ryan Kimps informed the village earlier this month the company ordered a silencer system to help abate the noise.
Kimps said the new system should be installed in the next eight to 10 weeks.
DE PERE CITY COUNCIL
Operator license credit
The Common Council voted in favor of a resolution Tuesday, March 15, to reward those seeking renewals of their alcohol beverage or operator licenses with a credit toward fees related to these licenses if they renew 30 to 45 days ahead of the renewal day.
Bartenders can get 5% toward their operator license fees, and those seeking liquor or alcohol beverage licenses can get 10% toward their license fees.
License fees range from $60 for an operator license to $625 for a Class A beer license.
City Clerk Carey Danen said a similar plan – a flat discount of $5 – was offered in 2006.
“Fifteen years later, however, we feel that a $5 discount is not much of an incentive to encourage the timely renewal of liquor licenses,” Danen said in a memo.
Paving project awarded
Alderpersons awarded a contract to Vinton Construction for concrete paving along American Boulevard and Commerce Drive for $1.6 million.
The work will complete the paving on American Boulevard from the south end to the city limits and from the south end of Commerce Drive to Rockland Road.
The project also involves street lights.
The board also awarded a contract of slightly more than $1.1 million to Peters Concrete for utility and street extension of Commerce Drive.
GREEN BAY CITY COUNCIL
One-time staff bonuses
Alderpersons approved a measure Tuesday, March 15, to give a one-time payment to city employees.
“What we are talking about is giving a $500 bonus to our staff members,” Council Vice President Baraba Dorff said.
The council approved using up to $432,000 of budget surplus funds as a one-time payment as COVID-19 pay for general levy employees, and up to $97,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used for non-levy employees.
Mayor Eric Genrich said the payments were recommended in light of additional workplace stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have a lot of people that are wearing numerous hats,” Genrich said. “At last count, we have 47 openings in the City of Green Bay, so there are a lot of people working very hard to do the job of the city and feel as though they’re deserving of the stipend… We are just trying to do everything we can to make sure that our employees are rewarded for the work they are doing every single day for the city’s citizens.”
Police equipment purchase
The council unanimously approved the purchase of National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) equipment for $188,358.
The NIBIN machine allows law enforcement officers to automatically share ballistic evidence across all law enforcement networks.
This is just one of the measures proposed by Police Chief Chris Davis to combat the uptick in gun violence the city has seen in recent months.
The purchase is funded with ARPA funds.
ASHWAUBENON SCHOOL DISTRICT
COVID-19 restrictions scaled back
Though wearing masks on district school buses was made optional March 2, based on a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Superintendent Kurt Weyers told the School Board March 9 students who ride Green Bay Metro buses are still required to wear them.
“We have quite a few students who use that option (of riding the Green Bay Metro to and from school for free), but (masks) are still required, because that’s part of (the Transportation Security Administration’s jurisdiction), just like a plane,” he said.
Weyers said the district is now allowing both indoor and outdoor field trips for students, which made it possible recently for Pioneer and Valley View second-graders to attend the Parkview Middle School musical.
Currently, masks are optional in all of Ashwaubenon’s school buildings.
Raises, stipends approved for school staff
After meeting in closed session, the board voted 4-0 to approve a 3% pay increase in 2022-23, as well as a $1,000 stipend, prorated to reflect the full-time-equivalent status of staff.
Business Director Keith Lucius said the financial impact of the pay raise on next year’s budget will be approximately $525,000, while the stipend, which will be paid out of surplus funds in the current school year, will total around $350,000.
Though other area districts are considering a 4.7% increase for 2022-23 because of inflation, Lucius said Ashwaubenon would not have been able to budget for that much of an increase in one year and maintain current staffing levels.
Lucius said the district plans to pay out the stipends in April.
Early College Credit
The board approved a recommendation from Ashwaubenon High School Principal Dirk Ribbens to grant Early College Credit/Start College Now requests next fall for 32 students.
“There are some criteria we follow, and we try to make sure that only students who really qualify for this end up going along,” he said.
Ribbens said 18 students requested enrollment in the Certified Nursing Assistant program held at Woodside through Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), and another 14 students requested to take other classes through NWTC, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay or St. Norbert College.
BELLEVUE VILLAGE BOARD
Apartment/business development voted down
The Village Board spent much of its March 9 meeting considering a request from Lexington Homes for preliminary approval of a Planned Development District (PDD) for 242 apartment units in 19 buildings east of Glenmore Road.
The board denied the request on a 3-2 vote.
Interim Village Administrator Andrew Vissers said a preliminary PDD for the site was submitted by Lexington Homes in 2020 calling for 208 multi-family units, which was approved 3-2 vote in December 2020, when a gated emergency access point to Glenmore Road was included.
Vissers said more than a year passed from the approval, and the project changes were enough to warrant submitting a new PDD.
“Our code requires that a final (PDD) is submitted within one year for approval,” he said. “If it is not submitted or an extension is requested, any new proposal needs to come back through the preliminary process.”
Jared Schmidt of Robert E. Lee & Associates presented the revised project plans on behalf of Lexington Homes.
“When you look at highest and best use, this is your highest and best use,” he said.
Comments aired during the public hearing against the project raised concerns about the effect it could have on traffic in the area and adding to the number of apartments already in the village.
Reconsidered PDD passes
In other action, the board voted 3-2 in favor of a planned development district (PDD) request it denied last month for Mark Denis to deviate from the minimum setback requirement for hard surface on property he owns at 2421 Monroe Road.
Trustee John Sinkler, who previously voted to deny, because he wanted Denis to seek a variance, requested the matter be brought back for reconsideration.
“After reviewing the emails and that type of stuff, I can see the conclusion that Mark would have came to with the PDD going that route,” he said.
Vissers said due to existing agreements between the property owner and McDonald’s, a setback reduction from the necessary 5 feet to 3 feet was requested along the eastern property line of the future Lot 1.
“Everything in our code goes off setbacks,” he said. “We don’t take setbacks off of lease lines. We don’t recognize those as part of our code.”
Vissers said Denis should have sought a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Editor’s note: Press Times Editor Heather Graves, Staff Writers Kevin Boneske and Josh Staloch, Interns Kat Halfman and Victoria Wittenbrock and Correspondent Lee Reinsch contributed to these briefs.