Finance committee approves routine settlements, special charges, contracts and reports — votes at a glance

The Kenosha Finance Committee approved a series of routine finance items on Oct. 20, 2025, including settlement reports, special charges, transfers of deferred assessments, contracts for maintenance and abatement work, loan and disbursement records, and a settlement matter handled after a closed session under Wisconsin Stat. § 19.85. Most items were approved on voice votes or unanimous roll-call votes recorded 5-0.

Why it matters: The items include fee levies tied to property maintenance inspections, transfers of deferred special assessments to active assessments, contracts funded with federal CDBG dollars, and a closed-session settlement recommendation the city attorney presented for approval. While most were routine approvals, the committee recorded several contract awards and a legal settlement that will affect city finances and property, and staff noted a small number of items that require follow-up paperwork.

Votes and key items (committee vote outcome in parentheses):

- 2025 third-quarter settlements report regarding settlements (approved, 5-0). City legal staff summarized the quarter’s settlements; one matter involving an officer and a State Farm claim was noted as having resulted in a written reprimand, while most other matters involved training and coaching.

- Proposed resolution to levy special charges for property maintenance reinspection fees totaling $9,964 (approved, 5-0). The item proceeded after the public hearing and was approved by the committee.

- Proposed resolution to transfer deferred special assessments to an active special assessment for Road 1729 Birch Road (approved, 5-0).

- Resolution to declare October 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, principal sponsor Alderperson Kurt Wilson, cosponsor Alderperson Jan Michalski (approved, 5-0).

- Resolution authorizing case settlement authority related to pending prosecutions of delinquent personal property tax accounts (approved, 5-0). City staff described the item as authorizing the city attorney to settle claims where payors came forward to pay amounts owed.

- Development grant agreement between the City of Kenosha and Shucks Container Systems Inc. for property north of 40 Sixth Street on Seventieth Avenue (approved, 5-0). See separate article for detailed coverage.

- Property maintenance services contract amendment with Woods Can Do It Landscaping and Snow Removal LLC (recorded variously in the backup as the contractor) for a 1.5% contract increase and contract continuation (approved, 5-0). City staff said the contractor has been responsive and staff recommended continuing the contract.

- Contract award for removal and disposal of asbestos-containing material, universal waste, raze structures and lot restoration at properties listed in the agenda (approved, 5-0). The contract award was to Batch Escamating and Grading Inc. (appears in packet); staff said the work will be funded with 2019 CDBG funds and the agenda lists a contract amount of $87,095.25 with a 15% contingency (not to exceed $87,000 on some backup documents); staff explained the difference as the contingency built into the not-to-exceed figure.

- First amendment to offer to purchase between the City of Kenosha and Danish Brotherhood Lodge No. 14; staff requested a brief extension of closing paperwork from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1 (approved, 5-0).

- CABA 2025 third-quarter loan report: CABA staff reported that active loans in the report are in good standing, there was no loan activity in the quarter but one committed/approved UDAG fund loan is pending for the "Uptown Moss" project, and staff noted prior loan closings and ongoing outreach to prospective borrowers (received and filed, 5-0).

- Disbursement record number 18 for $6,536,272.19 (approved, 5-0).

- Quarterly vacant building status report (received and filed, 5-0). City staff said the change in vacant property counts has been minimal for the period; one residential property closed and another bank sale resulted in a new owner.

- Settlement agreement involving the City of Kenosha and parties identified in the agenda (FedEx Brown, Pike’s Delivery Court and Castro Matutti) related to an automobile accident on or about July 30, 2025; the committee moved into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Stat. § 19.85 to confer with legal counsel, returned to open session and approved the city attorney’s recommendation (approved, 5-0). The committee did not discuss settlement terms in open session; the closed-session citation was Wis. Stat. § 19.85.

Several items had only brief discussion and were approved on motions with no substantive amendments. In a few cases staff noted differences between figures in the packet and figures cited at the meeting; staff clarified that a 15% contingency was included in the not-to-exceed contract total for the asbestos abatement work.