Mequon Weekly Bulletin - December 17, 2021

U P C O M I N G  M E E T I N G S
No Meetings Scheduled: December 17, 2021 – December 31, 2021

Recap of December 14 Common Council Meeting
The Mequon Common Council held its regular monthly meeting on the evening of Tuesday, December 14 at City Hall. During the business portion of the meeting, the Common Council acted to:

• Rezone the Peltz Center for Jewish Life, Congregation Anshi Lebowitz, Vessels of Honour Church and Jehovah’s Witnesses North Shore Congregation from Residential to Institutional Public Service.
• Define the circumstances under which participants may appear at meetings of the Common Council, its subcommittees, and the Planning Commission electronically.
• Approve an agreement with Thiensville to work toward a plan to consolidate the communities’ fire and emergency medical services departments.   
• Designate official polling locations for the next 10 years.
• Award four contracts to rehabilitate sewer laterals, mains, and manholes.

A summary of all action taken by the Common Council on December 14 is available in a condensed version of the meeting minutes available here. Interested parties may also view a broadcast of the December 14 meeting on the City website. The Common Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11.      

City of Mequon Joint Review Board
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue administers standards related to tax increment districts.  Pursuant to state statutes, a Joint Review Board is established when creating or amending a tax increment district project plan.  The board membership consists of one representative of each taxing entity including the school district, technical college, county and city, in addition to one public member.  Each entity selects its own representative.  The purpose of the board is to review planning documents, public records and resolutions associated with the tax increment district.  The Joint Review Board must also approve the Common Council’s approved resolution, by majority vote, to create or amend a district.  Criteria associated with the Joint Review Board’s decision to approve or deny include the following:

• Would expected development occur without the plan for improvements and use of tax incremental financing?
• Will economic benefits, including increased employment, business and personal income and property values occur without the plan for improvements or are the current metrics of employment, income and property value insufficient to pay for the cost of the intended improvements?

The Joint Review Board must meet annually to review each active tax increment district’s annual report and pass a resolution acknowledging their review.  The City’s meeting is typically held in early December and noticed as a public meeting.  Each annual report details the base value of the district at the time of creation, its increment value, the project closure date and its cash balance.  The City of Mequon has established five (5) tax increment districts to support business retention and growth, neighborhood scaled projects and the infrastructure necessary to attract and serve those projects.  The City of Mequon website showcases each active tax increment district including the project plan, district map, intended benefits and improvements as well as each annual report.  In addition, the Joint Review Board’s meetings, agenda packets and minutes can be found here.

I-43 Contact Information and Construction Outlook for 2022
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) I-43 North/South Corridor project will span several years and eight separate contracts.  The best way for interested parties to find out what is currently happening with the project, what is happening next and what is yet to come is to visit WisDOT’s Project511 website.  Attached is a construction outlook of what residents can expect to see in 2022.

Water Main Relocation Status
As part of the WisDOT I-43 reconstruction project, the Mequon Water Utility is continuing to relocate watermains at Port Washington Road and Highland Road.  Final connections at the Port Washington Road watermain relocation were completed on December 14.  At Highland Road, all watermain work under the interstate and railroad has been finished.  Work continues on the open cut portion of the project.  The project is on schedule to be completed by the beginning of February.  More detailed information on the project can be found here.

More Vaccine Clinics to be Offered December 20 - 23
Vaccine clinics offering COVID-19, influenza, and booster shots will be taking place again at City Hall on December 20 through 23 from 1:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.  Appointments are recommended and can be made here.  For inquiries about the clinics or questions about the vaccines, please contact Midland Health at (262) 754-3130.

Mequon Community Blood Drive Scheduled for December 21
The last Mequon Community Blood Drive of 2021 is set to take place at Mequon City Hall, 11333 N. Cedarburg Road, from 1:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 21. Spots are limited and donors are encouraged to sign-up in advance. Please click here to reserve a spot. 

Mequon in Top 15 Best Suburbs for City-Like Living
Suburbs haven’t always been able to fully compete with cities in terms of lifestyle offerings. But many of today’s ‘suburbia cities’ and towns can. Expectations have shifted in recent years and many of those who eye the suburbs as their next place to call home want more than your usual bedroom community. Most often, people seek a bouquet of features in their relocation choices including quality housing, shopping and entertainment options, safety and job opportunities. It’s precisely these needs that spurred a great deal of suburban development over the last decade and have driven a makeover of the American suburb.  Thanks to its bounty of community features and optimal residential offerings, Mequon takes the 14^th spot nationally for suburbs with city-like amenities.  Read the full article here.

City Offices Closed for the Holidays
Non-emergency City Offices will be closed on Friday, December 24 and Monday, December 27, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Additionally, non-emergency City Offices will be closed starting at noon on Friday, December 31, and all day on Monday, January 3 in observance of the New Year. Non-emergency City Offices will continue to remain open during normal business hours on all other days throughout the remainder of the holiday season.