Lake Geneva · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lake Geneva public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2027 Budgets and Capital Improvement Planning
The city's annual budget process has begun, which ultimately shapes property taxes and city services, including library funding.
Cemetery Stewardship Fund creation
Cemetery fees are going up — plots here cost hundreds while Chicago-area cemeteries charge tens of thousands. A cemetery stewardship fund (a more flexible perpetual care fund) goes to the cemetery board October 26.
Cemetery fee schedule updates
Proposed updates to the cemetery's fee schedule were on the agenda — these cover what residents pay for graves, niches, burials, and foundations. No outcome is known.
Water & Sewer Rate Study
The utility hasn't raised rates in years and is debt-free, but with ~$3.5 million in capital coming, Ehlers will study long-range cash flow and whether rate increases are needed.
Public Works Mechanic Position
Council approved a mechanic job description Monday, but there's no money in the 2027 budget for the position. There's also talk of moving trail maintenance from streets to parks.
Government transparency — livestreaming committee meetings
The council unanimously agreed to have the city attorney draft rules requiring every standing committee meeting to be livestreamed and recorded — closing the gap that left the personnel committee unrecorded.
Alder agenda item request process
A proposed ordinance change would let any two alders place agenda items directly on any committee, commission, board, or council agenda — bypassing committee chairs. The city attorney will draft language.
Free Wednesday parking for sticker holders
Ordinance 26-07 now lets parking-sticker holders park free all day Wednesdays downtown, aiming to draw locals to shops and events in the off-season.
2027 Capital Budget and Potential $23 Million Bond
First look at next year's capital spending — Highway 50 alone is pegged at roughly $2.5 million for water and $1-1.25 million for wastewater. Refinement and funding decisions continue next month.
Health Insurance Renewal Comes in Low
Good news on the budget side: the city's $2.1 million health insurance plan is only going up 2%, versus a 12-15% market rate and reports of 40% increases elsewhere.
Highway 50 Construction Revenue Risk
The state is rebuilding Highway 50, and the city pays a proportional share. The updated agreements raised the city's cost to $1.18 million after adding the Hillmoor path, an extra flashing beacon, and colored signal poles. Taxpayers will cover it through future borrowing.
2027 Hillmoor operating and capital budgets
The Commission has to decide which Hillmoor projects to recommend for the city's next three-year bond: the south loop trail, dog park relocation, ecological restoration of the oak forest, river access, and possibly a splash pad. Final choices come September 10.
Proposed Finance and Operations Committee restructuring
A proposal to create a new Finance and Operations Committee (absorbing the personnel committee) failed 2-5. Critics — including the mayor, staff, and most alders — said the old finance committee was inefficient and that full-council and Committee of the Whole discussions work better.
Training and conduct policies for city staff and officials
After months of delay, the council adopted a new employee training and development policy (6-2) and amended the Standards of Conduct policy for elected officials (6-2). Alder Hoiland's push to add his own expanded framework and to repeal Policy 101 in favor of new council rules of procedure failed both times.
2027 Lakefront Operating Budget
The committee was to discuss possible additions to the 2027 lakefront operating budget to fund more programming and activities at the beach and lakefront.
Tourism Grant Guide parameters
An 8% tax paid by visitors funds tourism promotion (70% by state law) while 30% — about $741,000 in 2025 — goes to the city's general fund. Understanding the split matters as the council debates tourism grants and big projects like YMCA field turf.
Tourism promotional grant awards
Ald. Fesenmaier asked whether the city could plan a multi-year tourism-grant approach to astroturfing Vets Park fields that host weekend tournaments; the presenter noted repairs to municipal property typically fall to general funds.
2026 Partisan Primary and August Meeting Schedule
The August 11 primary keeps the clerk swamped, so the August council meeting moves to Wednesday, August 19 at 6 p.m. Absentee voting runs July 28–31 and August 3–7.
2025 Audit Findings and City Financial Reporting
The city's 2025 audit is in. The lingering issues — commingled cash, over-budget library and tourism funds, and bank collateral — mostly trace to old software and lax bank monitoring, and the new financial system coming in 2027 should fix most of it.
Updated Parks Schedule of Fees
New lakefront fees passed 6-2, but arguments flared over charging residents the same percentage increase as non-residents and over lagoon slip lessees being alarmed that lagoon fees vanished from the schedule.
Remaining bond funds (~$645,000)
The county radio project came in hundreds of thousands under budget thanks to ARPA, freeing roughly $500,000 that must be spent by year-end — the council started with the alley and beach mats, with a public works storage expansion next.
Tourism Commission composition (Ordinance 26-08)
Proposed changes would shrink the commission to five members — two hoteliers, two council members, one city business owner — with more flexibility on residency and capped BID membership.
Downtown parking during 2027-28 resurfacing
Main Street resurfacing will wipe out 92 spaces near the library in 2027 and 102 downtown spaces in 2028. Staff is planning an offset lot at Central Denison School and counting on the parking fund balance to absorb revenue losses.
Parking Fee Increase
Crosswalk safety work cost four boat-launch spaces, leaving six. Alderperson Fesenmaier asked whether free bus parking could be converted to paid car parking to make up the loss; staff will study the ordinances and boat company contracts.
Tourism Commission makeup and Visit Lake Geneva conflict
Ordinance 26-08 would trim the commission and bar Visit Lake Geneva board members from serving. The second reading stalled as alders split over whether the restriction is a needed safeguard or an unfair exclusion.
Leftover 2026 bond funds for capital projects
About $645,000 in leftover bond money must be spent by year-end. Staff proposes a second columbarium, a police K9, an ADA fire safety trailer, security cameras, and a parks utility vehicle, with decisions due at the next meeting.
Heavy plow and bucket truck replacement timing
Emissions-related engine changes could make next year's bucket truck and heavy plow 16–35% more expensive. Pre-ordering this year could save $35,000–$50,000 on one plow, and the full purchase request comes in June.
Museum furnace and capital-project bookkeeping
The $77,800 furnace replacement passed 7-1 after a failed push for a clearer written memo on shifting $15,000 from museum tuck-pointing. Several aldermen flagged a broader problem: thin financial documentation for capital decisions.