If We Don't Own The Flower Source Property Why Are We Paying For The Buildings' Demolition?

Wilderness Park Receives Recommendation For Transfer Of Hunting Rights From Goldendale Park From Park & Rec Commission.

From agenda packet.

3/3/2025 Public Safety Committee Meeting agenda packet here.

Recording here.

Min 20:40 meeting starts. No chair so the attorney leads off and they elect Trustee Cutts chair pro tem. Fire Department life safety awards are announced.

LT. Jim Creegan, Derek Beeler, Daryn Dymond and Craig Rossman all received acknowledgement of their actions in saving a person’s life.

Min 25:55 Public comments. Why is the village purchasing the old Flower Source property without asking residents if this is how they want taxes spent? Should be more citizen’s involvement.

Great way to start the meeting, it’s good to acknowledge our public safety personnel’s actions in helping the community. Not enough work has been done in the Visioning process to determine a good design response for the Mequon/Pilgrim Road area. So, why are we entertaining a contract for demolition of the Flower Source buildings when we don’t own the property? It seems that this is backwards, and there are many exclusions in the contract.

Thank you first responders. Asking for the item to be tabled for further review of the proposal.

Why is the contract for demolition on public safety agenda? Expresss News March 1st edition, there is a Pilgrim/Mequon redevelopment fund in the article, to be reimbursed by a TID. Asks that Trustee Baum, who wrote the article, clarify why the also say that TIDs should not be discussed.

From agenda packet. Many exclusions.

Min 36:35 Reports. Police numbers are similar to previous month. Fire numbers are up for January. Had some structure fires in the village, and a couple outside the village.

Police still short staff. Fire overtime up due to training academy and a new hire.

No policy updates.

Min 29:20 Ordinance updates. Outside entertainment permit language tweaked per previous meeting discussion. Attorney describes how it works when a complaint is made and how that comes before the public safety committee. A complaint can either go through village staff or a trustee to be addressed.

Passes.

Min 43:55 Washington County Grant for Fire Department. The agenda item is to accept the $177K in funds from the county. Funds can be used as needed. Only accepting the funds, not allocating the funds.

Passes.

Min 47:50 DNR Fire Fighting grant. The item is to accept the grant. It’s a 50/50 grant, with matching money available. The wildfire gear is for entire staff.

Passes.

Min 50:40 Next two items are for temporary liquor licenses for events put on by Taste of Germantown and the Mid-Moraine Association.

Passes.

Min 51:30 Demolition of buildings on Flower Source property. Administrator Kreklow restates that at 2/17/2025 village board meeting directed staff to close on three properties, Flower Source, a vacant property and the Ascension Clinic. Flower Source closes on 3/5/2025.

For the demolition “to be paid for out of the tax increment fund” need to be further along with the TID in place. Administrator Kreklow.

Police Chief Merten verifies that the house was being used as a “flop” house.

Trustee Pieper makes a motion to table the item and have the village board take it up.

Fire Chief Delain describes the current hazards of the building.

Why didn’t anyone make the property owner board this up?

Min 58:00 Hunting in Wilderness Park. Goldendale Park hunting option was recommended by the Park and Rec commission to be transferred to the Wilderness Park as it is not appropriate where it currently is.

Administrator Kreklow describes how the grant awarded by Nelson Knowles restricts certain actions by the village, and what it is set up to encourage.

He goes on to discuss High Point Pass construction this year which will provide access to the Goldendale Park.

The two MMSD parcels that are near Wilderness Park do allow hunting.

Trustee Pieper makes a motion to table the matter.

Meeting ends.