Pewaukee · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pewaukee public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Sewer Rate Increase for 2027
Buried in the good news about the sewer utility's A-grade compliance report: a rate increase is coming next quarter.
Village of Sussex Emergency Water Interconnect
Sussex wants a backup water connection on Weyer Road as part of its deal to serve a Lisbon subdivision. The city agreed in concept — at no cost to Pewaukee — with metering required.
Swimming pools in the shoreland setback
A citywide rule change would let pools sit as close as 35 feet to the lake's high water mark. Commissioners are split between protecting the open shoreline look and the logic that a home at the setback is worse than a pool fence.
The Courtyard Development
The long-delayed memory care/assisted living development on Golf Road is moving forward, with the developer building the cul-de-sac, water main and sewer extensions, guaranteed by a $675,000 bond.
Cedar Gables street layout change
After roughly three years of failed bridge engineering, the developer won approval to split the phases with two cul-de-sacs — but only with the clubhouse moved to Phase 1, the same 92 units, and the right-turn-only exit kept to keep cut-through traffic out of Springdale Estates.
2027 Parks and Recreation budget
Splash pad popularity pushed the 2026 water bill over budget, though other line items are expected to absorb it. The 2027 budget is moving through city and village approvals with no changes requested.
Good Dog Sauna Co. winter residency at Pewaukee Beach Park
Good Dog Sauna Co. wants to run a wood-fired sauna trailer at Pewaukee parks in winter, with $35 pre-booked sessions. The board picked Kep Park over the windier lakefront for the trial and sent its recommendation to the Village Board.
Comprehensive Plan Update Required by Act 173
State law (Act 173) requires Pewaukee to update its comprehensive plan with specific residential densities by January 1, 2028, or developers get near-automatic rezoning approvals. Staff asked for $75,000 to fund the update.
2027 Utility and Public Works Budgets
The committee advanced every 2027 budget — storm water, sewer/water, engineering, highway, and bike/ped — to the council. Residents should note a storm water rate study is coming (the fee hasn't changed since 2010), a sewer rate increase goes to the council October 5, and the sewer/water capital plan roughly doubles in 2028 to about $33 million.
Proposed 2027 City Budget
The proposed 2027 budget raises the tax levy about 1% to $13.12 million, adding roughly $6 on a $250,000 home. Big line-item swings — building services wages, capital equipment, debt service — are mostly reallocation and accounting changes rather than new spending.
2025 City Audit
The city's 2025 audit is nearly done but delayed by ambulance billing data and fixes to last year's capital asset allocations. The report should be issued around September 11 and presented to the Council before budget season.
ARPA interest funding City Hall remodel
The city earned about $209,000 in interest while holding its federal pandemic relief money. That money now goes toward the City Hall remodeling project, which came in higher than expected.
Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District facility expansion and lift station
A single village-owned lift station handles sewage from the village, LPSD, and a third of Pewaukee — and it's aging. A failure could mean backups quickly; the village is studying replacement, with design dollars planned for 2027.
Well Siting Study
The study is running slightly behind due to technical mapping issues, with results expected late August. Media inquiries are being routed through the Public Works Director to keep messaging consistent.
Fall Budget Calendar
Budget season is starting: an extra workshop October 12, no meeting November 2 (election), and the budget public hearing plus regular meeting on November 9 starting earlier at 6 p.m.
City Administrator recruitment and interviews
The council approved the employment agreement for incoming City Administrator Carly Persson, including a front-loaded 20-day vacation allowance and 12-year tenure credit for accrual purposes — a recruiting tool, not a pay boost.
SCADA System Upgrade for Water and Sewer
The computer system running Pewaukee's water and sewer is aging out, losing historical data, and vulnerable to compatibility issues with modern Windows. A $305,000 full rebuild will take 12-14 months and tighten cybersecurity.
Potential Fire and Rescue Intermunicipal Agreements
The council went into closed session to discuss potential agreements with other municipalities on fire and rescue services — details weren't made public.
Broken Hill Lift Station Pump Replacement
Twenty-year-old sewage pumps are showing bearing wear near end of life. Replacing them now avoids backups and costly pump rentals during rebuilds.
2027 Tourism Grant Allocations (~$492,000)
The commission handed out roughly $492,000 in hotel-tax-funded grants for 2027, funded by about $630,000 of projected allocable revenue. Decisions shape which events, marketing, and sports tournaments bring visitors — and hotel stays — to Pewaukee.
Port of Pewaukee pirate festival launch
A brand-new two-day, pirate-themed lakefront destination event planned for June 2027 got up to $80,000 — double the original ask — with Parks and Rec hosting and the CVB marketing. The commission hopes it becomes Pewaukee's signature event, drawing overnight visitors like the Bristol Renaissance Faire or Gasparilla in Tampa.
Amtrak Hiawatha West station grant support
The city sent a support letter for a federal grant for a new Amtrak station, but a future request for city money for parking, platform and security improvements is expected. Some residents in Alderperson Brown's district don't want tax dollars subsidizing a station they'd never use; others see it as a forward-looking investment with paid parking offsetting costs.
The Glen at Springdale development agreement
A new mixed neighborhood of single-family homes and two- and four-unit condos on the Esser Farm gets the green light to start construction, with roads, sewer, and water that will be dedicated to the city. The ponds stay private, but the city gets maintenance rights over them.
Veterans respite home withdrawn
Mental Health America of Wisconsin pulled its plan to relocate its peer-run respite home for veterans to Lyles Drive after the property owner withdrew the lease offer — so no public hearing happened.
The Glen at Springdale early grading
The condo and single-family development off Springdale Road got the green light for early grading and fill hauling, with underground work possibly starting in August. Neighbors are watching truck traffic, cleanup and safety closely.
PFAS contamination at the Still River well
The latest sampling at the Still River well shows PFAS levels have gone up again, so the City must mail an extra DNR-required notice to water customers in early August on top of the quarterly bill notice. A treatment pilot study is moving forward with DNR submittals complete.
Possible merger of Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District into the City
The City's sewer service agreement with LPSD expires at the end of 2027, and the two systems operating side by side creates confusion and coordination headaches. A merger could mean one point of contact for residents and possibly efficiencies, but the City would take on decades-old 1970s infrastructure — though ratepayers are already funding it through higher LPSD rates.
Short-Term Rental Licensing and Enforcement
Pewaukee's leaders took up how the city licenses and polices short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo properties. The existing rules cover inspections, a $160 fee, noise and parking limits, and a cap of 180 rental nights a year — the question is how licensing and enforcement should work going forward.
Mandatory sewer connections in assessment districts
About 60 homes that never connected to sewer after it was installed years ago will get a one-year notice to hook up, then face a standby charge of 150% of the quarterly sewer bill ($211.50). Homeowners could face $20,000-plus plumbing costs, and Blue Mound Road properties must bore under the freshly paved road since they skipped optional laterals.
Greenhill/Yench Road Reconstruction
Rebuilding three failing roads (PASER rating 2) with a new curb on Yench Road to save mature trees instead of regrading steep ditches. Residents objected, saying there's no drainage problem and questioning why they're paying for a curb they don't want. Construction should start mid-to-late June and last about two months.