Mequon Weekly Bulletin - January 7, 2022

U P C O M I N G  M E E T I N G S
Architectural Board: January 10 – 6:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Planning Commission: January 10 – 6:00 P.M.
Public Welfare Committee: January 11 – 5:30 P.M. (Agenda)
Finance-Personnel Committee: January 11 – 6:30 P.M. (Agenda)
Committee of the Whole: January 11 – 6:45 P.M. (Agenda)
Water Utility Commission: January 11 – 7:15 P.M. (Agenda)
Sewer Utility District Commission: January 11 – 7:15 P.M. (Agenda)
Common Council: January 11 – 7:30 P.M. (Agenda)
Joint M-T Bike & Pedestrian Way Commission: January 13 – 9:00 A.M.
Economic Development Board: January 18 – 8:00 A.M.
Library Board of Trustees: January 19 – 6:00 P.M.
Festivals Committee: January 19 – 6:30 P.M.
Park & Open Space Board: January 19 – 6:30 P.M.

Candidacy Papers Filed for Mayor and Aldermen
This past Tuesday marked the deadline for submittal of candidacy papers for City of Mequon Mayor, Alderman District 1, and Alderman District 4.  One candidate for each seat has supplied the proper documents to appear on the ballot for the April 5, 2022 election.  Andrew J. Nerbun is running for Mayor, Robert J. Strzelczyk is running for Alderman District 1 and Jeffery Hansher is running for Alderman District 4.  Each seat is a three-year term beginning on April 19, 2022.

Early 2022 Road Closures
While the exact dates have not yet been announced, the following road closures will take place over the next few months as WisDOT begins work on the 14-mile, I-43 North-South reconstruction project:

• Highland Road, between County W (Port Washington Road) and Lake Shore Drive, is scheduled to close early 2022 through early fall, for bridge and interchange construction.
• County W (Port Washington Road), between Port Washington Lane and County Line Road, is scheduled to close early 2022 through fall, for bridge, roadway, and ramp construction. County W (Port Washington Road) will remain accessible to Katherine Drive until late summer.
• Donges Bay Road, between County W (Port Washington Road) and Lake Shore Drive, is scheduled to close early 2022 through late summer, while the bridge over I-43 is reconstructed.  Please note, the Donges Bay Road closure and Katherine Drive closure will not be concurrent. 

I-43 North-South is scheduled to remain open to two lanes, in each direction, during peak travel times and access to businesses and residences will be maintained.  Residents can sign-up for project updates here.

Temporary Suspension of Turning Restrictions at Concordia
As a condition of development approvals, Concordia University was required to restrict turning movements at its access points.  The restrictions were put in place to direct the majority of Concordia’s I-43 traffic to Port Washington Road, instead of using Lake Shore Drive.  With the pending closure of the Highland Road bridge anticipated in February, the turning restrictions will be temporarily suspended.  I-43 traffic will have to navigate north to the Pioneer Road interchange, or south to the Mequon Road interchange.  Once the Highland Road bridge and interchange are opened in fall of 2022, the turning restrictions will resume and I-43 traffic will be directed to the Highland Road interchange.

Coastal Challenges Being Examined in Recent Survey
A recent article in MKE Lifestyle Magazine shared the results of a survey conducted in early 2021, revealing just how damaging climate change is to the Great Lakes.  Coastal damage will cost Great Lakes and St. Lawrence communities nearly $2 billion over the next five years, and respondents indicated spending more than $870 million over the last two years in response to coastal challenges related to climate change, such as shoreline erosion and flooding.  Read the full article here.

Sewer Work Planned This Winter
Routine sanitary sewer rehabilitation work, to grout leaks and install cured-in-place lining in deteriorated and fractured pipe, is planned this January in Cedarburg Road near County Line Road, and in Port Washington Road between Glen Oaks Lane and Eastbrook Drive.  This work is expected to begin next week and to be completed before February 2022.  Traffic patterns will be maintained on Cedarburg Road with a shoulder closure from County Line Road to River Barn Park during this project.  In addition, traffic patterns will be modified on Port Washington Road between Glen Oaks Lane and Eastbrook Drive to accommodate the sewer work.

Police Participate in Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign
Law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin stepped up enforcement for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign from Wednesday, December 15, 2021 through New Year’s Day. The goal was to prevent tragedies during the holidays by boosting patrols to get impaired drivers off the road. Someone is injured or killed in an alcohol-related crash about every three hours in Wisconsin.  The following statistics are the Mequon Police Department enforcement results from the campaign:

Vaccine Clinics to Take Place January 17 - 21
Midland Health will return to City Hall January 17 through January 21 from 2:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. for another vaccine clinic for all eligible age groups, age 5 and up.  COVID-19, Influenza, and Booster shots will all be available.  Ages 12 and up are now eligible to receive the Pfizer Booster if it has been 5 months since they received their second shot.  Appointments can be made here. Walk-ins and non-Mequon residents are welcome to participate.

Christmas Tree Pick-up Available Until January 28
The City of Mequon will continue collecting Christmas trees through January 28, weather permitting.  In the event it snows and one’s Christmas tree is still at the end of the driveway, please clean it out as the City will not unbury trees. The Highway Department requests all trees to be placed on the RIGHT SIDE of the driveway, facing one’s house.  Also please note, the City will not pick-up wreaths, garland, or any other decorations. To report a Christmas tree for pick-up, please e-mail cdeuster@ci.mequon.wi.us.

Save the Date for Mequon Nature Preserve’s Winter Frolic
Mequon Nature Preserve’s annual Winter Frolic will be Saturday, February 5 from 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.  Like last year, please register a spot beforehand with this link. In lieu of donations, tickets are $10.00 per car and will give access to all the activities including a MNP tractor ride, horse sleigh rides from Kettle Moraine Carriages, snow shoeing, ice fishing, game area, take-home craft, and hot chocolate and s’mores station.