Council approves easement, renews contract with ICI
By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
The City of Elkhorn has hired Karl Sorvick as its new director of parks and recreation.
The position has been vacant since former Parks and Recreation Director Wendy Meyer left in September after nearly six years. Sorvick’s hiring was announced at the City of Elkhorn Common Council meeting on Dec. 17.
Sorvick previously worked within the City of Jefferson Parks and Recreation Department for three years, as well as with the City of Waukesha.
“I just want to say thank you for this opportunity,” Sorvick said at the meeting.
“I care deeply about this community of Elkhorn, and I can’t wait to get started. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure this recreation department is in good standing within the community,” he added.
Sorvick is expected to officially assume his role as the new City of Elkhorn Parks and Recreation Department director on Jan. 7.
In other business
In other business, the Council voted in favor of approving a 50-foot easement for Ben and Brooke Dahlberg.
City Administrator Sam Tapson said the property in question sits to the east of the new water treatment facility off of Cobb Road in Elkhorn.
He said when the City acquired the property there was a BMX-style bicycle track back there and the City agreed to preserve the 20-foot easement that existed with the assumption at that time being there would be no development back there.
Since then, Tapson said the Dahlbergs have purchased the property and are looking to construct at first an agriculture-related building on the site, and potentially develop it later as a residence. As such, Walworth County regulations require a 50-foot easement to a public right of way, which in this case is Cobb Road.
Tapson said it shouldn’t impede the City’s operations at the water treatment facility. Additionally, Utilities Director John Murphy noted that the City already has a 50-foot easement going in back to the treatment facility and it would essentially be expanding the 20-foot easement to 50 feet.
The Council voted unanimously in favor of granting the easement.
The City of Elkhorn Common Council also voted in favor of approving the contract renewal with ICI Commercial to provide real estate broker services for the city’s business park.
City Administrator Sam Tapson said at the Dec. 17 meeting that the contract is identical to those that have been in place in past years.
The Council voted unanimously in favor of approving the contract renewal.
