2025 in Action

 With a 4-1 vote, the Board approved amendments to Municipal Code §49-18, raising the annual Municipal Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) from $20 to $25 at the Wednesday, December 11, 2024, meeting. This change not only increases the fee but also expands its purpose to include funding for road maintenance alongside the existing special assessment relief program. 

The request stemmed from a fire inspection that brought attention to snakes being housed at the business. The current Village Code prohibits keeping snakes as pets (Village Code Chapter 171 Animals), but Ewert Pest Control asked for an exception to care for these reptiles, citing their potential role in rescue efforts and their low-risk nature.

At the meeting on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, the Village Board voted unanimously to deny H & S Roofing’s appeal, affirming staff’s determination that the outdoor wood-fired heating element located at 1911 Allouez Avenue does not comply with current Village Municipal Code 326-3 and 326-6.

 After a public hearing and a thorough review process, the Village Board approved the 2025 Operating Budget and 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its November 13, 2024, meeting. The adoption passed with a 4-1 vote, with Trustee Kaster dissenting. 

The 2025 budget proposes a 15.3-cent increase in the property tax rate, raising it from $3.14 to $3.2929 per $1,000 of assessed value—resulting in a 4.89% increase in the mill rate. For the average homeowner, this equates to an estimated $46 increase on a property valued at $300,000. This tax increase primarily supports key infrastructure projects and essential services funded by levy-supported debt.

At the Bellevue Village Board meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, The Honorable Judge Ron Metzler and Municipal Court Clerk Pam Cornelius provided an informative presentation on the status of citation collections and enforcement. Chapter 23 of the Municipal Code governs the Municipal Court.

 At the regular meeting on Wednesday, August 29, 2024, the Village Board amended Municipal Code § 326-3 regarding public nuisances affecting public health. This amendment, reflected in Ordinance No. O-2025-05, specifically targets the maintenance of long grass, weeds, and overall property upkeep.  

With a 4-1 vote, the Village Board adopted the Huron Road Corridor Plan under Resolution No. V-18-2024 at the Wednesday, July 24, 2024, board meeting. The approved plan is a Visioning Plan designed to guide private development and support Village capital planning in the Huron Road corridor area. This project builds on the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map adopted in 2023.

The Village is planning an expansion of Bethel Park in 2025, which includes the addition of a new 1.5-acre medium size multi-use grass field and a covered gazebo structure (CIP Project PRF22). 

Village Administrator Ben Krumenauer provided a detailed presentation on the 2024 budget update, projected revenues for the 2025 General Budget, and future staffing considerations. 

The item, identified as ZOA 2024-0001, involved a proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Ordinance No. O-2024-04). The amendment primarily addresses transient residential uses and aims to streamline the Bellevue approval process for short-term home rentals during the 2025 NFL Draft. 

The Village Board preauthorized the purchase of two replacement vehicles for 2025. This early approval of CIP Project PS24-01 and CIP Project VOM 14-002 aims to ensure timely delivery and maintain operational efficiency for both the Bellevue Police and Public Works departments. 

The road reconstruction project on Allouez Avenue will begin May 20 and is scheduled to finish by August 9. This project, identified as Bellevue CIP Project PW19-01 / WisDOT Project 4516-10-71, will cover the section between Main Street (US 141) and Hazen Road. 

Having completed my second year as an elected Village Trustee, I want to reflect on the Village Board's impact on our community over the past 12 months.

In a unanimous decision, the Bellevue Village Board took a significant step toward addressing residents' concerns about leaf collection by adding a Municipal Curbside Bagged Leaf Collection Program to the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan. 

Jossart Brothers Inc. was awarded Contract D24 at the Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Bellevue Village Board meeting. Contract D24 focuses on abandoning the sanitary lift station located on Creekwood Drive near Saybrook Circle. With its abandonment, all associated maintenance and operational expenses will be resolved.

The project, totaling $18,934.86, is part of the 2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), specifically the Information Technology project IT42 - Park Key Fob System Integration. The aim of the initiative is to consolidate Bellevue's Access Control System (ACS) into a unified framework, integrating separate systems currently in place across four park locations. 

At the Village Board meeting held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, decisions were made regarding 2024 infrastructure enhancement projects crucial for the community. The focus was on the Verlin Road Reconditioning (CIP Project PW23-01), East River Trail Paving (CIP Project PRF30), and DeBroux Park Pickleball Courts (CIP Project PRF35). 

Mandated by the Wisconsin Administrative Code, every municipal water supplier must develop and implement a comprehensive cross connection control program. At the February 14, 2024 Village Board meeting, the board unanimously approved a two-year commercial and residential Cross Connection Services Agreement with HydroCorp.

Known as CIP Project (BG03), this initiative targets the existing Village Hall/Public Safety Building at 3100 Eaton Road. The project aims to modernize and expand the administrative offices, ensuring they can accommodate future growth. The total project estimate is well under the initial budget, resulting in substantial savings for the community.

In a significant move towards the enhancement of community infrastructure, the Bellevue Village Board, with a 4-1 vote, recently approved an amendment to the agreement with SEH for the architectural and structural blueprint development of the Village Hall expansion project (CIP Project BG03)

With a 4-1 vote, the Village Board adopted the presented budget resolution, projecting an annual impact of $1,099 on a $350K home. The mill rate comparison showed an 11-cent increase, equivalent to a 3.62% rise. Each 1-cent on the tax rate was highlighted to bring in approximately $15,734.10 in revenue.

In a move to shape the future of the Village of Bellevue, the Village Board has recently approved a series of Zoning Ordinance Amendments, marking a significant step towards enhancing the local landscape and ensuring the harmonious development of businesses and properties in the area. 

The Village Board unanimously voted to approve the Commercial Curbside Brush Pickup Policy and Resolution V-38-2023, thereby adding a new dimension to Bellevue's already comprehensive yard waste management services. (Municipal Code Chapter 391 Solid Waste and Recycling)

At the Village Board meeting on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, Joe Pingel, P.E., a Stormwater Engineer with Cedar Corporation, took the stage to provide a comprehensive update on the stormwater quality section of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.  (Municipal Code Chapter 400 Stormwater Management).

In an affirmation of progress, the Village Hall expansion project secured a 4-1 approval during the Bellevue Village Board meeting on August 9, 2023. The green light marked a pivotal step toward the continuation of CIP Project BG03 while staying within the outlined financial and timeline parameters presented for construction in early 2024 and occupancy in mid-2025.

In a recent Village Board meeting held on July 26, 2023, an executive audit summary of the draft Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the year ended 2022 was presented by KerberRose, a Certified Public Accounting Firm. 

The Village of Bellevue took a step towards regulatory clarity and potential development opportunities on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, as the Village Board unanimously approved amendments to the Municipal Code Chapter 165 Alcohol Beverages §165-5 License Restrictions. T

One of the pressing issues facing the 51-year-old Community Center facility is the presence of roof leaks. To address this problem, the village allocated $17,000 in the 2023 Fiscal Year Operating Budget under Buildings & Grounds Capital Equipment specifically for roof repairs.

The 4-1 vote at the June 28, 2023, regular meeting authorized the municipal vehicle registration fee extension through 2025. This action is an Ordinance Update to Chapter 49 Finance and Taxation, Article III Section 18 Municipal Vehicle Registration Fee of the Village of Bellevue Municipal Code. 

The Village Board unanimously rejected the sole bid it received to build new pickleball and tennis courts at DeBroux Park (CIP Project PRF35) due to higher-than-expected project bid costs at the Wednesday, May 24, 2024, Bellevue Village Board meeting.

The next pillar project for the Village is the relocation of the village administrative offices to an expansion site connected to the Village Hall at 3100 Eaton Road. (CIP Project BG03)  

As I complete my first year as Village Trustee (Elected Term 04/19/2022 - 04/18/2024), I paused & reflected on the impact of your Village Board over the past 12 months.

The village-wide video security camera project for $44,800.88 was awarded to Martin Systems, Inc. at the Wednesday, March 22, 2023, regular Village Board meeting. (CIP Project IT40)  

Approval allowed President Soukup to sign the State Municipal Agreement (SMA) for each project, resulting in the State supporting up to 80% of project construction funds for CIP project PW23-04 and CIP project PW23-05. 

The Village Board approved the Final Resolutions for Special Assessments with a 3-2 vote after pivoting to a proclaimed equitable revision to the Corner Lot Credit calculation for these specific residentially zoned road projects.  

A special meeting was held Monday, February 13, 2023, to ensure village board members and staff are comfortable and aligned with the steps and procedures for distribution of 2023 Road Paving Project (CIP PW20-03) expenses.  

Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) received 4-1 approval by the Bellevue Village Board, on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, to provide the design and engineering services to advance the buildout of an office expansion at 3100 Eaton Road (CIP Project BG03). 

Unanimous approval of the proposed Comprehensive Plan 2023-2043, at the Wednesday, January 11, 2023, Bellevue Village Board meeting (2022 Operating Budget - Community Development - Planning & Zoning - Contracted Services).

DeBroux Tennis Court Replacement (CIP Project PRF35) is part of the Village Board approved CIP for 2023. 

After the public hearing, and a brief board discussion, the Village Board approved the 2023 Budget and 2023-2027 CIP, as presented, with a 4-1 vote. 

The Josten Playground Accessibility Path (CIP Project LS23) that encircles the playground area is complete!

Contractors have begun the Josten Park Tennis Court Renovation project (CIP Project PRF31).  

Activity (CIP Project TID #1-001) will notably include the extension of Costco Way south past Landmark Boulevard and the extension of Town Hall Road west from Lime Kiln Road (CTH V) to Monroe Road (CTH GV).

The Village Board unanimously approved spending $3,800 to develop a fully engineered plan for a bracing system for the existing salt shed in the DPW yard (CIP Project PW10), located at 1811 Allouez Avenue, at the Wednesday, May 11, 2022, regular board meeting.

I was excited to see the new sign installed this morning at Josten Park! A 2021 storm tipped over and damaged the prior sign.