Fredonia outlines wastewater upgrade, long-range road plan and funding gaps

Village President said the village faces significant financial challenges in 2026 but described them as strategic priorities rather than setbacks. "Our wastewater treatment plant upgrade is one of the largest infrastructure projects in village history," the Village President said, adding that engineering plans are complete and the village has DNR approval.

The president warned residents that rate increases have already occurred and that further adjustments "may be necessary" as the board weighs needs and financial impacts. The address described bid packages structured to give flexibility so the village can prioritize elements of the wastewater project based on financial impact and facility needs.

On roads, the Village President identified Martin, Fillmore and South Milwaukee as requiring major reconstruction and noted the village’s first long-range road plan, which prioritizes work by road quality, utility capacity and reconstruction cost. The plan aims to sequence large projects while completing smaller repairs between them to maximize return on investment.

Public safety capital needs were also discussed: the president said area fire departments will soon need a new fire truck and that there is "no simple funding path." The village has secured grant funding to hire an individual to conduct a Northern Ozaukee Fire Department study to inventory equipment, evaluate staffing and recommend collaborative service models.

The address did not include specific dollar amounts for the wastewater upgrade, the road reconstruction or the fire-truck purchase; the president described the financial approach and planning framework but left detailed budget figures and timelines to staff and future board actions.

Next steps cited in the address include moving forward with advertised bid packages for wastewater work, pursuing grant opportunities to offset capital costs and using the new road plan to sequence projects to limit taxpayer impact.