Town Board hopefuls split on license for bar, agree on mill

The four candidates running for two Fredonia Town Board seats — an unusually competitive race — answered questions from residents on Saturday at a candidate forum hosted by the Waubeka Historic District Association.

Supr. Matthew Miller and three challengers,  Jenny Strohmeyer, Steven Jentges and Robert Eichner weighed in on the potential restoration of Little Kohler Haus owner David Cook’s liquor license.

Cook lost his license last year after missing a renewal deadline. He has since pleaded guilty in Ozaukee County Circuit Court to a charge of serving without a license.

Miller has supported restoring Cook’s license, although he said he understands why other board members are against it.

Those opposed to issuing the license have said Little Kohler Haus is dilapidated and has been the subject of criticism from neighbors.

Ultimately, Miller said, it’s important to remember that the license has only become an issue because of a missed deadline.

“If they had gotten the liquor license in time, we wouldn’t be questioning it,” he said.

Jentges, who lives near the bar, offered a similarly nuanced perspective. 

  He said the crowds at the bar can sometimes get loud and acknowledged previous issues between Cook and the village, but argued that if the bar remains closed, it will likely become just another abandoned building filled with cats and junk cars.

   “Do I think some of the things that happen there could go differently? Yes,” he said. “But, I don’t hate the place. I used to go there all of the time.”

  Eicher said he is not fully apprised of the situation but would support restoring Cook’s license.

“There was a reason to deny it, there were concerns that needed to be addressed,” he said. “From what I have heard at the meetings I’ve attended, those concerns are addressed or are being addressed.”

Strohmeyer said she thinks there are valid concerns about the bar.

The candidates also discussed the Button Factory and the Waubeka Mill buildings, the latter of which has had several portions collapse over the last couple of years, including the front facade that fell onto Mill Street.

Jentges and Miller agreed that the clock is ticking and demolition of the buildings could fall on the town if the county doesn’t step up soon.

“We’ve got a road shut down for how many years now,” Jentges said. “Someone has to make a decision and spend the money. 

“Somebody has to get off the pot and do something.”

Miller agreed.

“Depending on which way those buildings fall, the township may have to foot the bill to clean it up,” he said.

All candidates supported measured development.

“Costs are going to keep going up, and if we can’t find a way to keep up with that we will go backward,” Jentges said.

Eichner called for improved long-term planning on the board.

He gave the example of how the Town Board chooses which road projects to complete, which he said has generally been done on a year-by-year basis instead of according to a multi-year plan.

Neither candidate running for the open Town of Fredonia seat on the Northern Ozaukee School Board, Lauren Simmons or Jodi Schubert, could attend the forum.