Highlights from the Village of Hortonville Board Meetings of July 16 and August 6, 2026 found at: https://www.hortonvillewi.org/meetings/
Across two mid-summer sessions, the Hortonville Village Board moved forward with critical public utility and infrastructure projects—including a conventional water rate case and private sewer lateral special assessments—while adopting several updated municipal ordinances and addressing municipal facility repairs.
Public Utilities & Infrastructure Upgrades
- Water Rate Application: Following a Phase 2 study presentation by Ehlers, the board unanimously approved proceeding with a Public Service Commission (PSC) Test Year 2026 Conventional Rate Case Application on July 16.
- Main Street Lateral Special Assessments: To combat inflow and infiltration (I&I) from cracked private sewer laterals along Main Street, the board established a six-year payback schedule for homeowners. On August 6, the board formally approved six individual special assessments for the lateral replacements (6-0 vote, 1 abstention).
- Public Works Vehicle Purchase: The board authorized the acquisition of a 2027 Ford Super Duty Truck 250 XL equipped with a snowplow for the Public Works Department at a cost not to exceed $58,616.00 on July 16.
- TID 3 Stormwater Budget: Resolution R-13-26 was approved on July 16, amending the Village budget for the stormwater portion of the TID 3 Project.
Municipal Ordinances & Property Zoning
- Right-of-Way / Terrace Maintenance (O-5-26): After deferring the item on July 16, the board adopted the ordinance on August 6, modifying the language to designate property owner maintenance responsibilities for right-of-way “terrace” areas.
- Accessory Structure Ordinance (O-6-26): On August 6, the board voted 7-0 to repeal and replace the accessory structure ordinance. The update standardizes building permit rules, adjusts yard-coverage calculations, clarifies utility structure definitions, and explicitly excludes children’s play structures.
- Public Institution Zoning & Land Use (O-7-26 & O-8-26): The board approved Ordinance O-7-26 to update the Public Institution District. It subsequently approved a Certified Survey Map (CSM) and Ordinance O-8-26 to rezone a portion of parcel #240041600 from Agriculture to Public Institution, aligning it with the 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
- Fire Fee Ordinance (O-9-26): Unanimously adopted on August 6 to establish local fire service fee structures.
Facilities, Public Feedback & Community Items
- Opera House Renovations: Addressing water intrusion into the Opera House basement, the board initially directed engineers on July 16 to draft plans for filling front window wells. On August 6, the board pivoted to a lower-cost consensus to remove front trees and address drainage rather than spending an estimated $50,000 on concrete patio work.
- Local Business & Zoning Concerns: During the July 16 meeting, Shauna Keel, co-owner of Hortonville Auto, addressed the board regarding zoning constraints preventing her business’s relocation within the Village, stating, “This is not a matter of preference, it is a matter of viability.”
- Property Raze Order: The board authorized a raze order on August 6 for a severely decayed structure on parcel #240016100 appraised at $300.
- Community Events & Operations: The board established official Trick-or-Treat hours for Saturday, October 31, 2026. It also approved temporary event parking on Pine Street and North Olk Street for the August Harley Raffle event.
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