WAUPUN — The Waupun City Council discussed potential changes to several city ordinances, including for recreational vehicles, e-bikes, and the fine scale.
The meeting was held June 30, 2026 and called to order at 5:31PM with all Council members present.
First on the agenda were resolutions.
Resolution designating public depositories and authorizing withdrawal of city monies to include Wintrust Community Bank. Passed unanimously with no discussion.
Resolution establishing fees for 2027 Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Service in the City of Waupun, increasing the waste pickup fee from $12.18 to $12.99 per month. Alderman Pete Kaczmarski asked Director for Department of Public Works Jeff Daane to comment on the increase. Daane said Finance Director Casey Langenfeld worked the numbers up to offset the costs from GFL. Langenfeld said there were two years where the rates stayed the same, and the increase is only $12.83 per household per month. Westphal pointed out it’s only a total 8 cent increase since 2018, as the price dipped in 2023 when the City switched to GFL. Passed unanimously.
Next was consideration of action for several items.
From previous meetings, the sale of the empty lot for development at 627 Maxon Street. There were two developers who put in offers leading a bidding war close to the deadline. The accepted bid price was $7,500 from Valito Homes, contingent on the completion of the outlined property prior to December 31, 2026. The only change to the sale document was the purchase price, otherwise it’s as originally presented at the meeting on June 9. Passed unanimously.
Opportunities Zone 2 Application — According to the agenda packet, the City of Waupun is eligible for designation as a federal “Opporunity Zone” under the Opportunity Zone 2.0 framework established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025. The agenda item required the Common Council authorize submission of a formal application to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and direct a letter of support to the Governor’s office to secure nomination. Passed unanimously, no discussion.
Array Digital Infrastructure Request Consent for Colocation by T-Mobile — Alderman Kaczmarski asked City Administrator Kathy Schlieve for clarification on this. Schlieve explained this is a notification process for the changes and the motion is to acknowledge the notification. The agenda packet says “Array Digital Infrastructure, formerly US Cellular, holds a ground lease with the City of Waupun for a 300’-foot cell tower located at 1208 Moorman Road. Per our current contract with US Cellular, the city needs to provide consent for colocation of T-Mobile US, Inc. on the tower. Once a contract is secured between Array Digital Infrastructure and T-Mobile, the City will receive a portion of the lease payments as added revenue per our agreement.” Passed unanimously.
Amend the City of Waupun Financial Policy — Passed unanimously, no discussion.
Monthly Financials, May 2026 — Passed unanimously, no discussion.
Offer to Purchase and Developer Agreement for Carver Flats 2 Development, Heritage Ridge TID 7 — Earlier this year, Carver Flats completed the first of four apartment complex buildings on the south side of town near Heritage Ridge Travel Plaza along Watertown St and Bayberry Ln. Carver Flats has put an offer in to purchase more land in that subdivision to build an additional four apartment complex buildings along Shaler Dr.
Before the Council discussion, City Attorney Dan VandeZande said he only received a copy of the agreement the previous night, and he has not had time to discuss any details with City Administrator Schlieve. VandeZande said he liked the structure but had some legal issues with the offer letter they sent which deviated from the previous agreement—notably that the as-is contingency was missing. He recommended that the Council approve the motion subject on a counter-offer that VandeZande and Schlieve will draft.
On motion Alderman Mike Matoushek, seconded Alderman Dan Siebers. Siebers pointed out the render photos included in the agenda packet and asked if the stonework of the original buildings would still be used on the new ones—Carver Flats representative Charlie who was in attendance confirmed they would be the same construction style as the existing buildings.
This would be on Lot 7 and Lot 8 of the Heritage Ridge subdivision on the opposite side of the block along the proposed Shaler Drive route.
The motion passed unanimously.
The Council then moved on to the discussion items.
First was the discussion on the ordinance for restricted parking of Recreation Vehicles. Since the changes to the ordinance last fall, the City has received feedback on the 48 hour limit for RV/camper trailers being parked on city streets requesting more time as people do not feel they have enough time to pack.
Alderman Matoushek said he wasn’t sure why they needed to make any changes since it was reviewed less than a year ago.
Mayor Rohn Bishop said that the request is to increase the limit to 96 hours. Alderman Kaczmarski asked where the 96 hour number came from, Siebers said it was the number named by people giving feedback when he asked what a reasonable time is.
Alderman Matoushek said enforcement already doesn’t happen for less than four days, and that at most they will get a reminder from an officer.
Mayor Bishop asked audience members Christy and Jeremy Thurk to speak, as they were among those to provide feedback to the City.
Christy said that since it’s based on complaints she gets an officer at her door at 50 hours due to a neighbor who will keep track and report immediately at the deadline. She claimed that they drove over town and found 130 properties with the same violations, and that other properties don’t get the same enforcement. Police Chief Jeremy Rasch asked if they studied other properties 24 hours in the same way. She said no.
She moved on to explaining they don’t have any space to put their camper other than in the street, and that this ordinance didn’t exist when they purchased their home or first camper. Jeremy Thurk said they don’t have the time to pack, unpack, and do maintenance after trips with their full time jobs and other commitments, as Jeremy also works at the Waupun Fire Department.
Alderman Kaczmarski asked if three days would be an acceptable compromise, but they said it would still be tight. Additionally, if they park in their driveway it would not block the sidewalk, while parking in the street blocks the intersection. The Thurks said they feel picked on by code enforcement.
Alderman Matoushek asked if they had received any citations, they said they haven’t had any citations but have had officers at their door three times and they move it after talking to officers. Matoushek said they only talked to them because they legally have to after receiving a complaint, said he’d prefer to have the 48 hours stay since it’d be easier for enforcement.
Ms. Thurk said they would like leniency since people who don’t get complaints automatically do. Kaczmarski asked Chief Rasch to comment on it. Chief Rasch said that if they set it to 96 hours that people would just park their campers in front of their house for the week and camp every weekend; increasing to 72 would give more time to do maintenance and pack.
Alderman Jason Westphal said they discussed seasonal options at the previous meetings, but it also applies to boat trailers, snowmobiles, UTVs, etc. which is why they didn’t change this ordinance specifically. Acknowledged it might be hard to keep up with them, but if they increase it to 96 hours they would be left just all week every week in the summer.
Ms. Thurk asked what is the harm of keeping them out all week. Westphal said that storing trailers and such on street isn’t allowed in general. Ms. Thurk said they would like to keep it in their driveway.
Alderman Westphal asked if they could apply for a zoning variance, VandeZande said he didn’t think there could be for this ordinance and that they would need to create a new ordinance for variances. Westphal said there was a zoning board meeting where they discussed how corner lots have two “fronts”.
Alderman Siebers clarified that their camper could fit at an angle entirely within their usable space on their driveway.
Alderman Kaczmarski asked if there was an option to change the ordinance so that parking within the driveway would be allowed in the summer months, Westphal said the same argument would be made about snowmobiles and boats and whatnot.
Alderman Matoushek noted that their property appeared to have space for putting in a pad for the camper along the garage. Mr. Thurk said he doesn’t want to store it there, just wants to keep it on the driveway for temporary parking for maintenance and such.
Alderman Matoushek suggested that there should be a way to request permission for an extension from the Police Department to complete tasks so officers don’t have to waste time every time a complaint is put in. Chief Rasch said that they would be fine with that as long as it’s not abused, the same goes for if a car has a maintenance issue and is beached for a few days before it can get repaired as long as they notify the PD.
The Thurks agreed this would be a good solution. Siebers thanked Mr. Thurks for his service to the Fire Department. Council agreed to put it on the agenda for a future meeting to discuss it again, as this would require holding a public hearing at the Plan Commission before it could be approved.
Next discussion was on creating a new ordinance for e-bikes.
Mayor Bishop said they’ve been receiving a lot of complaints of kids riding e-bikes irresponsibly because they can go 30mph even on the sidewalk. He said he spoke with State Representative Mark Born and he said that State Legislators were concerned about it as well, since it’s a newly popular technology. He asked Council for direction on if an ordinance should be drafted for this.
Alderman Matoushek said it’s almost a free-for-all with how they drive around on them, saying they definitely need to look into drafting an ordinance that allows the PD to enforce it. He noted that several communities are already drafting ordinances about it.
City Attorney VandeZande said that West Bend already passed an ordinance that received a bit of pushback. He pointed out that it must be a nightmare for the PD on current enforcement and asked if there was anything that they could do to make it easier for law enforcement.
Alderman Ryan Meilke asked if they could define the devices somehow for how they would be street legal. Alderman Westphal pointed out that the State Legislature has to look into the same thing, and struggle with the difference between an e-bike and an electric motorcycle in size of the motor.
Alderman Matoushek asked if there were any advocacy groups that could show the dangers of high speed e-bikes to young people, but the closest they knew of was in Madison and would most likely not be able to come out to Waupun.
Mayor Bishop pointed out that if the City bans them entirely, even if just for minors, families who purchased them would be extremely upset about it as it is not an insignificant amount of money.
Chief Rasch read the current ordinances, where e-bikes have the same treatment as normal bikes, compared to an “e-moto”—as in an electric motorcycle, no bike pedals—that requires a license. He went over classes that are measured on max speed. Additionally, the definitions for e-scooters is very complicated between different types of scooters such as segues and others. One type of e-scooter called “hoverboards”, controlled without a handle by leaning forward or backwards, are considered a “play vehicle” and are not street legal.
Mayor Bishop pointed out that e-bikes and some e-scooters can go faster than trains in town, which is 26mph.
Alderwoman Bobbi Jo Kunz said she was concerned about how often she sees two people riding on an e-bike, high speeds on sidewalks, and riding bikes on downtown sidewalks despite it being banned.
City Attorney VandeZande said PD doesn’t have resources to enforce a lot of the time, and said their biggest concern might be someone getting hurt as a result of reckless riding.
Mayor Bishop suggested that the parents/grandparents who purchased an e-bike involved in an accident by a minor may need to be held liable.
Alderman Kaczmarski asked VandeZande about the enforcement for speed limits on sidewalks since it might be difficult for PD, recommending that e-bikes be banned from sidewalks. Chief Rasch said bikes are currently banned from sidewalks under current ordinances.
Alderman Westphal said a lot of e-scooters don’t have speed issues. He recommended that the City wait to adopt any ordinances until after other communities have already passed theirs to see what works best. Alderman Kaczmarski disagreed, saying they’ve already received a lot of complaints and should act in some way about it now.
Alderman Matoushek said they could update the ordinances to remove them from public sidewalks.
Mayor said he’s glad they were able to discuss it since they are getting a lot of complaints from the public. Judge Todd Snow, who was in attendance at the meeting, said they do have a disorderly conduct ordinance that this may fall under.
Alderman Siebers asked if they require licensing for bikes, Chief Rasch said the City got rid of the requirement because it was becoming less common to register. The Waupun Police Department still offers registration for tracking ownership should a bike get lost, but it is not a city requirement.
VandeZande brought up the ordinances and said currently it says that bikes are allowed on sidewalks as long as they are not operating in reckless manner, and that the ordinances defines any speed above 10mph as reckless.
Alderman Westphal said there’s no real difference between a regular bike and an e-bike if they ride fast and recklessly. VandeZande said it matters more about if someone gets hurt. Additionally, keeping cyclists off roads with heavy vehicle traffic and on sidewalks would be safer for them, especially for younger kids.
Alderman Siebers noted that having two people on a normal bike is already considered riding in a reckless manner, VandeZande confirmed from existing ordinances.
Mayor Bishop asked if Chief Rasch was happy with the results of the discussion, which he said yes.
The Council then moved on to the last item on the agenda, potential revisions to Ordinance and Municipal Court Bond Schedule.
Dodge County Municipal Judge Todd Snow was invited to speak about the ordinances and tickets.
Judge Snow said that Waupun only requires $100 for first offense (plus $87 court costs) while other communities have a fine schedule based on severity between $5 and $1000. He gave an example of the offence from reckless e-bike riding and said $100 would probably be fair for that, but obviously not for everything. Truancy is a common example, and repeated instances don’t currently incur a higher fee so it basically can be ignored.
He said it would be easier if the bond schedule would line up with other communities in Dodge County, and that it’d be best if the Judge had discretion to choose the fee. Waupun does not give much leniency in thie regard—judges can’t reduce the fines for plea deals or mitigating circumstances, or increase for contempt of court.
Judge Snow emphasized that while money coming to the city is not the point of municipal courts, but that they should increase for repeat offenders, otherwise they can basically ignore it.
Mayor Bishop asked if there were any questions or concerns from the Council, which there was none. He then asked for feedback from Chief Rasch and City Attorney VandeZande. VandeZande said he wanted to make sure the Council understood the requested changes, noting that different bond schedules are based on the severity of the crimes.
Judge Snow specified that ideally the new fee schedule would match Beaver Dam’s just to make it easier for judgements.
City Administrator Schlieve said attorney Devitt is drafting the ordinance which should be done within four weeks.
No action was taken on any three of these items. If changes are recommended the City will consider feedback when bringing it to a future Council meeting for adopting changes to the ordinances.
Department reports and committee meeting minutes were included in the agenda packet but were not read during the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:58PM.
