Since the State of the Village meeting in April, many residents have understandably had questions about ongoing recovery efforts and Village operations. We will be holding another State of the Village soon—please watch for upcoming notifications.
Residents are always welcome and encouraged to attend monthly Village Board meetings, where these topics have been discussed regularly. In the meantime, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
General Status
The flood disaster, along with several other simultaneous challenges, has required a tremendous amount of work and coordination. Recovery and rebuilding are occurring one step at a time, and many of these efforts take time.
The Village Board, staff, and committees have worked diligently to identify the most cost-effective short-term solutions needed to maintain essential municipal services, including Clerk/Treasurer operations, maintenance, library services, DNR, and police services. In addition, extensive documentation and applications have been submitted for FEMA assistance, state and county disaster recovery programs, and other grant funding opportunities to help support recovery efforts and reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers. As these immediate needs become more stable, we are now shifting our focus toward long-term planning and solutions.
Clerk's Office
Thanks to the generosity of the Town of Fremont, the Village Clerk's Office continues to operate temporarily from the Fremont Town Hall.
We would also like to recognize and thank Nicole for her work. In addition to taking on the full-time responsibilities of Clerk/Treasurer with limited training as a newer employee, she has managed the added demands associated with flood recovery, grant administration, assessment investigations, and many other critical tasks.
Village Hall Committee
The Village Hall Committee will be exploring potential long-term solutions for Village Hall. The committee's goal is to evaluate options carefully, considering both operational needs and financial impacts.
Given the large number of possibilities, the committee hopes to narrow the options to approximately three viable, responsible alternatives. This approach will help residents and the Board focus discussions, consider factual informed-based criteria, and move the process forward effectively.
Community input has been, and will continue to be, an important part of this process. As with many recovery efforts, thoughtful planning takes time.
Sandbag Disposal
The Village continues to pursue cost-effective options for sandbag disposal. Due to landfill tonnage fees, landfill disposal estimates were $80,000.
We are exploring multiple alternatives involving both public and private property locations. While the process is taking longer than anyone would prefer, please know that we are actively working to identify the most efficient and financially responsible solution available.
Zoning and Permits
Residents whose homes were affected by the flood are encouraged to contact Building Inspector Ryan Geiger at Rgeiger@rginspectionsllc.com to begin the permitting and review process. Each property presents unique circumstances and must be evaluated individually.
The Village is also working with various local and state agencies to review and possibly realign zoning-related considerations. At this time, no zoning ordinance changes have been adopted.
As additional information becomes available, we will communicate updates promptly.
Property Assessments
We encourage residents to attend the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's presentation to the Village Board regarding the findings of the Section 70.75 investigation on June 24.
Although this is a maintenance year, residents with questions or concerns about their property assessments are strongly encouraged to participate in Open Book, which is currently scheduled for early September. Dates and times will be announced soon.
Thank You
We encourage all residents to stay engaged by attending Board meetings, asking questions, and speaking with Board members.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support as our community continues to navigate these challenging circumstances. Significant work is underway, and we look forward to sharing additional updates in the weeks and months ahead.