Village trustee leaves with style
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
At the end of the April 15 East Troy Village Board meeting, outgoing Trustee John Jacoby took the time to personally thank his fellow board members and the department heads.
“This is my last meeting and it’s really sad for me,” Jacoby said.
He went on to thank, and praise, Department of Public Works Director Jason Equitz, Village Administrator Eileen Suhm and Police Chief Jeremy Swendrowski.
Jacoby recalled how there was some who questioned if Equitz was up to the director’s job when Mike Miller left and how Equitz had shown everyone he was more than up to the challenge and credited him for the village’s recent successful utility upgrades and other improvement.
“You’re rocking the DPW,” Jacoby said.
He told Suhm her patience and help over the last two years was invaluable.
“I’ve learned how much you do and you have made it incredibly easy to be on this board,” Jacoby said.
He told Swendrowski that “passing the torch” on to him when then police chief Al Boyes retired, was a “no-brainer” and being part of that decision was one of the “coolest” things he did on the board because they were able to promote a man who for 20 years had devoted his life to the safety of the village and had helped make it a great place to live.
Jacoby credited Village Board President Scott Seager’s leadership for the board’s ability to get things done and become a healthier entity.
“Without the direction you’ve provided we couldn’t have done this,” Jacoby said.
Seager said he appreciated Jacoby’s presence on the board and more than one, he had swayed Seager’s stance on an issue.
Jacoby said the friendships he made on the board were highly valued and each member of the board made a difference in his life. He credited Trustee Matt Johnson’s friendship for “getting me here.”
Jacoby said the history trustees Forty Renucci and John Alexander brought to the group was something he valued greatly and if it wasn’t for the board, he would probably never have met, or become friends with, Trustee Alex Alger, all things he would treasure.
“It’s been really awesome,” Jacoby said, wrapping it up. “We’ve done some really cool things.”
Mary Hubbard Nugent will join the Village Board at the next meeting.
Drawing down the lake
Equitz asked the board for direction on drawing down the lake at the April 15 meeting.
At the Oct. 15 meeting the board asked Equitz to look into the possibility to take the last of the boards out of the dam and so the lakebed could start dewatering.
Equitz contacted the DNR in fall to find out what was needed to begin the process and he was told he had to file an application, but it would be denied because of the effect it would have on the wildlife that late in the season. He was told to apply in spring.
Equitz asked the board for approval to apply for the drawdown now because approval would take about 30 days and then they could start the process mid-May. The board instructed Equitz to proceed with the application.
In other business Monday night, the Village Board:
- Was presented with the 2018 Financial Summary and Audit Report by Kevin Krysinski, Johnson Block and Co., Inc. Krysinski to the board the village’s financials were in good shape and met standard accounting practices;
- Approved the bids for the sewer lining and water tank project, at a cost of $37,000 and $175,000 respectively;
- Approved special event permit and class B beer license for the Knights of Columbu Corn and Brat Fest July 26 to 28;
- Approved the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce’s special event permit and class B retailer’s license for the Memorial Day Weekend Corn and Brat Roast and Brewfest.
