Mequon Weekly Bulletin - October 15, 2021

U P C O M I N G  M E E T I N G S
Ad Hoc Port Washington Road Design Committee: October 19 – 1:30 P.M. (Agenda)
Library Board of Trustees: October 20 – 6:00 P.M.
Park & Open Space Board: October 20 – 6:30 P.M. (Agenda)
Economic Development Board: October 26 – 8:00 A.M.

Recap of October 12 Common Council Meeting
The Mequon Common Council held its regular monthly meeting on the evening of Tuesday, October 12 at City Hall. During the business portion of the meeting, the Common Council acted to:

• Recognize Missing Links Golf Course & Driving Range as the Ozaukee Economic Development Council’s 2021 Medium Business of the Year with a Proclamation.
• Approve a revised Mequon Ward Plan and Map based on the 2020 census.
• Award an Organizational Strategic Planning Contract to SBrand Solutions of Fort Collins, Colorado.
• Engage the Axley Brynelson law firm for the purpose of reviewing and updating the City’s sign code.
• Create an all-way stop at the Intersection of Wasaukee and Freidstadt Roads.
• Approve a Temporary Construction Easement for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation I-43 Expansion Project.
• Replace four sanitary sewer lift station pumps in the amount of $143,300.

A summary of all action taken by the Common Council on October 12 is available in a condensed version of the meeting minutes available here. Interested parties may also view a broadcast of the October 12 meeting on the City website. The Common Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. on Tuesday, November 9.      

In-Person Absentee Voting to Begin for 11/2 Election
Beginning Tuesday, October 19, in-person absentee voting will be available in the City Clerk’s Office for the November 2 Special Election.  All residents wishing to vote early may come to City Hall during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.) from October 19 through October 28.  On October 29, absentee voting will take place from 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.  If residents would like a ballot mailed to them, please make a request at www.myvote.wi.gov.

Port Washington Road AD HOC Design Committee Established
Recently, Mayor Wirth established an Ad Hoc Committee to formulate design guidelines for the Port Washington Road corridor (please see attached).  The Committee’s membership includes citizens that have experience in the development, real estate, architecture and construction industries.  The Committee is committed to developing standards suitable for the anticipated new development in the Ulao Creek neighborhood, based on zoning districts created and scheduled for action by the Common Council at the November Council meeting.  In addition, as one tool for setting the tone for redevelopment, the Committee will address architectural and streetscape design standards for the existing commercial corridor of Port Washington Road south of Highland Road.  The Committee intends to develop the standards by the end of 2021.

Mequon Road Detour in Effect Through October 19
As of Friday, October 15, at 7:00 A.M., Wisconsin Central Ltd. (CN) began performing emergency repairs at the crossing on Mequon Road/STH 167. A signed detour is in effect. The road is estimated to reopen by the end of the day on Tuesday, October 19. Please see the attached CN notification and proposed detour route for more information.

Emerald Ash Borer Update
Since 2014, the City has been actively removing Ash trees preemptively and post mortality in response to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).  In 2017, the Common Council adopted an EAB policy that outlines the methods for identifying City-owned trees, the prioritization process for removal, method for replacement, and steps for public education and communication.  Subsequently, from 2014 to 2021, City crews and contracted services have been focused primarily on street trees that are within subdivisions, trees in primary corridors, trees that are located on roads scheduled for the annual road program, and trees that have been deemed hazardous by the Forestry Division.  These efforts have been very successful in removing most of the obligated City Ash trees from the developed subdivisions and primary corridors in Mequon.  It is estimated that between the City crews and the contracted service providers, over half of the City’s obligated Ash have been removed.  The remaining half are concentrated in areas that present challenges, primarily due to access limitations.

As defined in the City’s EAB policy, secondary trees will now become the focus of efforts in the coming years.  Secondary trees are defined in the policy as follows:

Secondary Tree – An Ash tree that exists in the City right of way but is present in an area with limited maintenance and outside of a City subdivision. This would also include, but is not limited to, natural roadside areas, City easements, natural park areas, or City out lots.

With primary focus shifting to secondary areas, efforts will be concentrated on establishing buffer zones on the edge of roadways, trail systems, and properties adjacent to City-held property.  These efforts will not necessarily focus on removal of all dead Ash trees, but it will put emphasis on creating buffers along roads, trails, easements, and out lots.  Removal in secondary areas is anticipated to be more labor intensive, given the limitations of access to most of the areas requiring removals.   With 26 park and open space locations, City easements, City out lots, and City owned parcels, equaling a large amount of acreage, removals will be focused in areas that are expected to see the most frequent public use.        

Saturday, October 23 is Collection Day in Mequon-Thiensville
Three events will be taking place on Saturday, October 23: the Appliance & Electronic Recycling Event, a Clothing Drive for Afghan Refugees, and Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  Start your day by dropping off your old appliances and electronics at the Public Works Facility, 10800 N. Industrial Drive, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.  Next, stop by the Village Park in Thiensville with new child and adult clothing items to assist the 12,000 Afghan Refugees at Fort McCoy, most who fled with only the clothes they were wearing.  This event is being sponsored by the Port Washington State Bank in Thiensville, the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, Mequon Rotary Noon Club, Mequon Thiensville Sunrise Rotary, and Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary and will run from 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.  Complete your morning by heading to the Pharmacy Building on Concordia University’s Mequon Campus, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, and drop-off any unused/old/expired medication.  The Mequon Police Department is working in conjunction with Concordia University for the October 2021 Drug Take Back Initiative and this event will take place from 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Rotary Club Releases Video to Celebrate the Gateway Project 
To celebrate the completion of the Mequon-Thiensville Town Center Gateway Project, the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Foundation has released a video that reflects the history of how the Gateway and Town Center have come together.  The video can be viewed below.

6 min video:       GATEWAY SIGN 2

Step-by-Step Guide for Leaf Raking Season
Yes, it’s that time of year again! While appreciating the fall colors, make a plan for dealing with those leaves once they drop. Here’s a step-by-step guide for making a plan:
1) Check out the City’s Brush and Yard Waste Disposal Center schedule and procedures here. 
2) Check the forecast in the days leading up to your lawn care. If it might rain before that date, try to rake any leaves out of ditches or off the street beforehand to make sure they do not contribute to stormwater pollution. If there is a storm water inlet on or near one’s property, keeping it clear of leaves will prevent clogging and ponding.
3) Rake and contain the leaves for drop-off. Yard waste may be delivered to the site by the brush permit holder in any manner as long as no bags, boxes, or other receptacles are left on site. See the brochure for permit information.

Leaves left on paved surfaces can lead to “Phosphorus Tea”, a nutrient-rich liquid brewed from stormwater and leaves, which can lead to scummy lakes and rivers.  Consider mulching leaves by chopping them up or running them over with the lawn mower and then put the debris around trees and gardens for the winter. Nutrients in the leaves can then return to the soil and plants instead of water bodies.  More ideas on how to prevent stormwater pollution can be found here.

Trick-or-Treat Reminder for October 31
The City-wide Trick-or-Treat will be held from 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 31. This is in accordance with a resolution passed by the Common Council in 2009 establishing a customary time for Trick-or-Treating.  Residents participating in Trick-or-Treat should turn on their porch lights.

Ozaukee County Board Minutes
The Ozaukee County Board of Supervisors' October 6 meeting minutes are now available.