Mar. 11, 2025 11a
(WGTD)---In the race to replace longtime Pleasant Prairie Village President John Steinbrink, both candidates agree that growth is good. Where they differ is on the pace of that growth.
"I think the growth we've seen in Pleasant Prairie has been very economically beneficial but it has happened very quickly and I think people are scared rightly so that the village of Pleasant Prairie is growing at an alarming rate," said Eric Meadows, a Kenosha County Board Supervisor who once sat on the Kenosha School Board.
His opponent, Dave Klimisch, a current village board member, is actually proud of how the village has developed, and said the growth is responsible for a dramatic drop in the percent of property taxes that are shouldered by residents. He also said the village’s property tax rate is among the lowest in the county and state. Klimisch argues that lowering property taxes any further, as Meadows has suggested, could result in cuts to vital services. "I will not skimp on protecting this community," he said.
The two men debated the issues at a forum at village hall last week that was organized by the Pleasant Prairie Woman’s Club.
The questions veered toward the conviction of former village Public Works Director John Steinbrink, Jr. on three misdemeanor counts of attempted misconduct in office. Meadows said the board needs to be more transparent. "We have a lot of work to do to re-establish the trust with our village government," he said. "Our village government has been very good as long as I've lived here but they have this black eye--this corruption--that has happened."
Klimisch said the board has already worked to address the issues that were spotlighted by the case. "We used facts and figures to update our policies and procedures," he said.
The election is April 1st.
The vacancy was created by the incumbent's decision not to seek re-election.
-0-