But board members not convinced Twin Lakes needs them
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
While the Twin Lakes Village Board didn’t make a decision at a recent meeting on whether to install uniform address signs for every property in the village, the subject did inspire an argument on whether the signs were needed.
While the majority of the board acknowledged that installing reflective address signs would not add to the aesthetics of the village, the board couldn’t decide whether the signs were needed – or if they were needed at all.
Village Administrator Jennifer Frederick outlined to the Village Board that a committee – which included fire, police and rescue personnel – had proposed putting a sign on every lot in the village.
The cost of $35 per sign would be levied on homeowners and business owners through special assessment.
As Frederick explained – as did Village Trustee Jeremy Knoll – the signs are necessary to help fire, rescue and police personnel find residences when an emergency arises. Knoll, who is on both the fire and rescue squads, said there are times he drives an extra two or three minutes to find where he is supposed to be for a call.
“As a resident, I hate it,” Knoll said. “But being on the fire side, the rescue side, it’s a must.”
Other board members were less enthusiastic.
“Everyone I talked to, they don’t like the idea,” said Trustee Tom Connell. “They said, ‘If there’s a fire, they’re going to see the flames.’”
When other board members pointed out that it might not be that obvious, Connelly added that he understood that.
“That’s the opinion that’s been said to me,” he added.
Trustee Kevin Fitzgerald said it made no sense for subdivisions, but Police Chief Adam Grosz invited anyone on the board to pull an address out of the phone book and then try to find it at night.
“It really opens your eyes to how difficult it is,” Grosz said. “This is a public service issue.”
When Frederick pointed out that the issue of signs has been raised for years and that forming a committee made sense, Fitzgerald said the committee included only those wanting the signs.
Board President Howard Skinner then said, “Reel it in,” in terms of where the signs should be placed – versus placing them everywhere.
“It sounds like we need more information, more direction,” he added.
Other business
The Village Board on Sept. 21 unanimously approved increasing the cost for zoning permit fees to $50 so the village could recoup what it costs to file with Kenosha County.
Frederick explained that the current fee of $15 (plus $20 for village time spent) doesn’t cover what the village needs to pay to the county.
The $50 will now cover both sets of costs.
The board also unanimously approved the following:
- The omnibus agenda items of operating licenses, reducing village hall staff to four days a week (for 10 hours a day), requesting an exemption from the county library tax, an ordinance change for Board of Appeals vacancies and a policy change for repeat offenders with noxious weeds.
- The purchase of signs that read “Home of the Aquanuts – 2015 National Waterski Show Champions.” Frederick is also going to look into the possibility of using the group’s logo on the signs, per discussion.
- A work order with Baxter and Woodman for a 2016-2020 sewer televising request for proposal not to exceed $4,950.