By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
HOBART – The estimated 2021 village population released by the Wisconsin Department of Administration shows 263 new residents (2.5%) as of Jan. 1, bringing the total to 10,717, Village Administrator Aaron Kramer said at the Sept. 7 at the Hobart Village Board meeting.
“Over the past two years, we experienced a nearly 12% growth or 1,118 residents,” Kramer said. “In the past decade, (the village had) 73% growth, since 2000, 106% (growth), and since the 1990 census, the village has grown by 157%.”
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kramer said 39 new housing units were added last year, and approximately 7,921 village residents are eligible to vote.
“It bodes well that we have now moved toward a second polling station, versus expecting 8,000 people potentially to vote in one location in 2022,” he said.
Next year, village voters in the West De Pere School District will continue to vote at St. Joseph’s Church, 145 St. Joseph Dr., but those in the Pulaski School District will now be casting ballots at the D2 Sports Pub, 530 Larson Orchard Parkway.
Kramer said the village is anticipating another “substantial increase in population” with two new subdivisions and several other housing projects.
“We anticipate the growth will be bigger this year than it was last year because these numbers do not reflect the new subdivisions and new apartment units going online,” he said. “We also anticipate the final 2020 census numbers will be determined, hopefully, by this time next year. Who knows? That will give us a new (population) base and new signs around the village to put up with new population numbers.”
Technology firewall
The board approved upgrading the village’s technology firewall with the Cisco Meraki system for $44,479.
Village Clerk-Treasurer Erica Berger said an audit by the Wisconsin Department of Justice found the village needed to upgrade the system to comply with requirements.
“However, per their rules, we had a certain time to bring it into compliance,” she said.
Berger said $50,000 was included in the 2022 capital budget, with the current system warranty and security updates expiring next January, and the system upgrades projected to have a seven-year lifespan.
“With it being our firewall, it’s imperative that that stays current,” she said.
Due to supply shortages, Berger said Technology Architects, which submitted the technology firewall proposal the board approved, recommended the village order the system upgrade now, so Hobart will hopefully have it by December.
“They ensured us that we will not have to pay for it until January because I informed them it’s in next year’s budget,” she said.
Because half of the upgrade cost is assigned to the general government and the remainder to the police department, the board’s motion directs half of the department’s $22,239 cost ($11,119) to be billed to the Town of Lawrence, which has a combined police force with Hobart.
Public hearings
The board scheduled four public hearings for its Oct. 5 meeting, including:
• Consideration of a conditional use permit to reduce the lot area on parcels at 1043 and 1045 Coronado Ct. and amend the existing planned development overlay for Polo Point, Polo Point first addition and Polo Point second addition subdivision plats related to lot frontages and total lot area.
• Consider rezoning the 3500 Block West Mason Street/Haven Place from I-1, Limited Industrial District, to R-3, Residential District.
• Consider final plan review on a request for a planned development district overlay located at the 3500 block of West Mason Street/Haven Place.
• Consider a request to rezone five parcels of approximately 40 acres apiece, owned by the Raymond N. and Shirley A. Vandenelzen Revocable Trust near the intersection of South Overland Road and Nathan Drive, from A-2, Exclusive Agricultural District, to A-1, Agricultural District.