Oak Creek council shortens City Hall counter day, approves ~$150,000 phone-system purchase and vendor payments, OKs settlement

Oak Creek’s Common Council on Wednesday approved a package of administrative measures: new City Hall front-counter hours, a roughly $150,000 information-technology purchase, multiple license approvals and a vendor payment report — and, after a closed session, authorized a settlement agreement.

Sarah Kosinski, administrative services director, told the council that usage data showed very low early-morning in-person activity and recommended aligning counter hours with the health department. "The data concludes that less than 1% of transactions occur between 07:30 and 08:00 AM," she said, and the council set new public counter hours at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., effective March 2, 2026.

The change, Kosinski said, aims to create a "more predictable customer experience and better matching staffing to actual demand," and staff will work with marketing to inform the public of the new schedule.

On technology needs, Tom Kramer, IT director, asked the council to approve replacement phone equipment from CDWG, funded from capital improvement funds. "This is to replace our current phone system, which was put in in, 2015," Kramer said, describing expected reductions in total cost of ownership and administrative time. The council approved the CDWG purchase in the amount of $149,999.88.

Council members also approved license requests listed in the License Committee report and voted to adopt the Jan. 28, 2026 vendor summary report in the amount of $620,829.64; the staff presentation stated $80,940.60 affects fiscal 2025 and $539,881.04 affects 2026.

The meeting moved into closed session under Wisconsin Statute section 19.85 to discuss multiple legal matters, including claims related to the fire-department battalion chiefs, individual claims by Jordan Howard and Tamisha Page concerning a 2019 Toyota RAV4, and developer compliance with Tax Incremental District No. 11 and the Emerald Bridal Project (phase 3). After reconvening, the council voted to approve a settlement agreement tied to the closed-session matters; specific terms were not stated in the open minutes.

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of minutes (01/20/2026): Recorded ayes from council members on roll call; motion approved.
- City Hall front counter hours (effective 03/02/2026): Approved (roll-call ayes recorded).
- Phone equipment purchase — CDWG, $149,999.88 (capital improvement funds): Approved (roll-call ayes recorded).
- License requests (License Committee report): Approved (roll-call ayes recorded).
- Vendor summary — $620,829.64 (Jan. 28, 2026): Approved (roll-call ayes recorded).
- Motion to convene into closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85 (litigation, claims, TID dispute): Approved (roll-call ayes recorded).
- Settlement agreement (Item 10): Approved after closed session; terms not specified publicly.
- Adjournment: Approved.

What’s next: Staff will implement the new counter hours starting March 2 and coordinate public notice; the council did not state public details of the settlement during the open meeting. Further follow-up on the Tax Incremental District No. 11 developer compliance and the litigated matters may appear on future agendas.