Highlights from the Town of Center Board Meetings
May 18, 2026 (Special Session) and June 8, 2026 (Regular Session) minutes & recorded sessions found at: https://centerwi.gov/agendas-minutes/
The Town of Center Board executed several key municipal decisions during its recent special and regular sessions. Notably, the board voted unanimously to join a class-action lawsuit regarding a town fire truck, launched a proactive review of zoning ordinances to address community concerns over data centers, and clarified municipal maintenance liabilities for neighborhood drainage systems.
Legal Actions and Project Holds
Pierce Fire Truck Class-Action Lawsuit
Following an initial review on May 18, the board voted unanimously on June 8 to officially join a class-action lawsuit concerning a Pierce fire truck purchased by the town. Board members characterized the original purchase price as “exorbitant.”
Attorney Charles Koehler advised that participating carries no upfront costs, as the handling law firm is bearing all litigation expenses. The town is required to retain all purchasing records. Because of attorney-client privilege, all future board discussions on this matter will occur in closed sessions.
Center Valley Road Reconstruction
The board continues to delay awarding bids for the Center Valley Road Reconstruction Project due to a grant funding shortfall tied to stormwater expenses. Following a closed-session strategy meeting on May 18, Chairman Gary Timm confirmed on June 8 that the town’s attorney has submitted inquiries to MSA Professional Services. The board has a 60-day window to act and will hold off on awarding contracts until formal answers are received.
Drainage and Infrastructure Management
The board addressed multiple right-of-way and neighborhood drainage complaints, establishing a clear line between town responsibility and private property obligations.
- Krueger Road Ditch: A previous request by resident Marshal Noeller to lower the ditch grade on W3983 Krueger Road was resolved. Engineering evaluations from Cedar Corporation revealed that lowering the flat ditch could inadvertently divert water onto neighboring properties. Mr. Noeller agreed to berm and mow his property instead, and the board reiterated that no unauthorized digging may occur in the town right-of-way.
- Deer Run Drive Flooding: Residents on Deer Run Drive reported severe standing water. Supervisor Pete Hofacker clarified that according to standard subdivision plat maps, the maintenance of drainage ways is the sole responsibility of the property owners. However, because the town holds an easement, residents must apply for a town permit and secure approval from Highway Superintendent Tom Brown before executing any right-of-way modifications.
- Autumn Hills Retention Ponds: The board addressed blocked catch basins and unmaintained retention ponds in the Autumn Hills subdivision. Because the original developers failed to establish a functioning Homeowners Association (HOA) to manage the infrastructure, the ponds have not been cleared since construction. The town is coordinating with Outagamie County’s ongoing storm water code rewrite to calculate cleanup costs. Because the county cannot directly tax residents, the town will likely implement a special assessment to fund the engineering and remediation work.
Proactive Data Center Zoning Review
During the June 8 public comment period, residents expressed unified opposition to the potential development of commercial data centers—referred to on the agenda as “data farms”—within the town.
Resident Kelly Olsson submitted a detailed list of concerns, citing risks such as high electricity consumption, strain on the local water supply for server cooling, 24/7 cooling fan noise, and minimal long-term job creation. A visiting professional engineer also cautioned the board that data centers often attempt to exploit loose definitions of “warehouses” or “farms” to bypass local restrictions.
In response, the board directed staff to contact the Wisconsin Towns Association legal team to review other municipal frameworks. The town will audit its existing definitions of warehouses, agricultural structures, and special use permits to ensure local zoning control remains secure.
Parks, Traffic, and Annual Approvals
Ball Diamond Regulations
The board noted that an unauthorized advertising sign was placed on the newly installed town park fence. The board determined that a formal policy detailing sign sizes, annual rental fees, and renewal terms must be established to avoid discriminatory practices. Due to rising maintenance costs—including lime at $17.50 per bag and requests for bi-weekly mowing—the board will recalculate the park’s athletic fee schedule this coming winter.
Traffic Safety
The board approved a resident request to install “Children at Play” warning signs on Cory Road East to address safety concerns regarding local dump truck traffic. The procurement cost is estimated to be under $50.
Standard Board Approvals
During the June 8 session, the board unanimously approved the following recurring municipal items:
- Annual renewal of local liquor, bartender, and tobacco licenses.
- Standard town building permits as presented.
- The town financial statement and the payment of outstanding vendor invoices.
Key Voting Outcomes & Directives
- Fire Truck Lawsuit: Approved 5-0 to join the class action.
- Zoning Audit: Chairman Timm to consult the Wisconsin Towns Association attorney regarding data center definitions.
- Park Signage: Retained current athletic fees for the 2026 season; policy overhaul scheduled for November/December.
- Cory Road Signage: Approved installation of traffic safety signs.
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