Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 5:30 PM
- Mayor Day called the meeting to order at 5:30PM with the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer.
- Y – Yes, N – No, A – Abstain, Abs – Absent
- Roll Call:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
6 Members Present
Other Village Representatives Present:
- Doug Zimmerman – Administrator; Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer; Amanda Knecht – Executive Assistant; Ken Jacob – Police Chief
Media Present:
- Cindy Thiel – The Edgerton Earth, John Fryman – The Village Reporter
Public Present:
- None
- Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 08.05.26:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y MOTION |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y 2ND |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Mayor Update by Robert Day:
- Cat program continues with close to 20 cats spayed in 2026; still looking for help transporting to and from the Humane Society located on County Road 13
Administrator Update by Doug Zimmerman:
- Pedestrian sidewalk project – still waiting on 2 appraisals to come back
- Water Treatment Plant – met with Metalink and clarified some details, now waiting on Kleinfelder for some specs regarding bandwidth
- WTP – missed opportunity for WSRLA funding that should’ve been submitted in February so there is potential we will need to push back the construction
- Main Lift Station – 2 interested consultants; selection committee decided on Jones & Henry but it was a tough decision
- JW Lift Station – still waiting on parts for project
- Substation Transformer – still looking at other options
- Community Center – rain was not kind, standing water inside that is covered by warranty as well as some outdoor issues to be addressed by Mel Lanzer; made request to correct or to deduct costs so that we may repair
- Miller Park Pond – there is visible improvement in the algae; Fin Farms coming back this week and we are having the well pump looked at later in the week as well
- Edgerton Metals property – River Run Park, awarded 350k in grant match funding out of State capital budget
- Wage & Compensation plan – met with Clemans Nelson to go over a few details and hope to have in our hands by the end of October
- PWS position – resumes due Friday, hope to schedule some interviews next week and have a recommendation to present to Council at the next meeting
Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:
- Seasonal Interns Avery Aldrich & Cole Gary will remain on the roster at possibility of working next spring
- Part Time General Laborer Caden Sinclair also kept on roster, may work during college breaks
- Hicksville Bank sale to Credit Union was approved by shareholders; we are not eligible to deposit public funds to a Credit Union so we will be looking into next steps. We hold multiple certificates of deposit with The Hicksville Bank and have been told that we will not be penalized if we have to withdraw early.
- Credit Card Statements July 16-August 15
- 23-24 final Audit available on AOS website
- Motion to pay bills 08.19.26:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y MOTION |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y 2ND |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Police Chief Update by Ken Jacob:
- Ian Rhodes now 2/3 way through training
- Enrolling officers in multiple trainings – active shooter, water survival
- Issuing junk vehicles nuisances and addressing individuals leaving trash/recycling bins at the road
Employee status update: Dakota Burke has found employment elsewhere and submitted his resignation on 8/14/26 to take effect 8/28/26.
- Motion to accept resignation of Dakota Burke effective 8.28.26:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2ND |
| Bowsher, Brian | Abstain |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSED 5-0
Councilman Wallace inquired about the funds that have been invested into Burke’s education and development. The paperwork is being looked at by legal.
Advertisement of position: We request permission to advertise for the vacant position in the electric department.
- Motion to advertise for Electric Department vacant position:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y 2ND |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Advertisement of position: We request permission to advertise for a water & sewer department operator position. There is a retirement in the future that we would like to prepare for in order to make a smooth transition.
- Motion to advertise for Water & Sewer Operator position:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y MOTION |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Main Lift Station Rehabilitation Project: There were 2 submittals for the Main Lift Station Rehab Project. A selection committee sat down and made a selection for Jones & Henry Engineers to provide design engineering services for the project.
- Motion to award Jones & Henry Engineers for design engineering services for Main Lift Station Rehabilitation Project:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y MOTION |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Council Discussion:
Chuck Wallace raised the following questions:
- asked if events that are held at our facilities are communicated so that we can coordinate mowing and have everything looking good for such events
- requested a Tree Commission meeting before the fall tree auction takes place in October
- potholes are getting bad on Ash Street – 2nd block from tracks between Hull St and Lynn St
- any update on Apartment building renovations? Hope it is completed soon to reduce inconvenience in that area
- Motion to enter executive session at 5:56 PM to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or to investigate charges or complaints against that individual:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Mayor Day excused Chief Jacob from the executive session at 6:07PM.
Councilman Brian Bowsher requested that Amanda Knecht and Denise Knecht leave the executive session at 6:25PM.
Denise Knecht re-entered the session at 6:42PM
- Motion to exit executive session 6:43PM:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y 2ND |
| Gruver, Jason | Y MOTION |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Action taken after executive session:
Public Press Release read by Mayor Robert Day
Dawn Fitzcharles has turned in her notice of resignation from the position of Village Administrator of Edgerton, effective September 17, 2026.
Dawn says, “I have truly loved serving the Edgerton community and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of its growth and progress. I look forward to watching all the great things still to come for the Village and the community that I care so deeply about.”
Mayor Day’s comments are: “Dawn started with the Village in 2015 before leaving for the first time. This 2nd journey with Dawn at the VA position began in January of 2021. For over 5 years it has been community changing for the Village. Through her leadership and skills, we have secured over 16 million dollars of funding to catapult us to a new level. How fitting is it that last week, we have been notified of funding that she applied for several months ago. The $350,000 of newly secured state funding will be used to develop the Edgerton Metals property. As disappointing as this news of departure is, we are grateful for the 11 years of time and endless efforts that Dawn has invested in Edgerton, more than anyone will ever know. We wish her a happy and healthy future.”
- Motion to accept the resignation of Village Administrator Dawn Fitzcharles as of September 17, 2026:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y MOTION |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y 2ND |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Advertisement of position: We request permission to advertise for the Village Administrator position.
- Motion to advertise for open position of Village Administrator:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y 2ND |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0
Before adjournment Acting Administrator Doug Zimmerman provided additional information about the transformer project mentioned during his Administrative Report earlier during the meeting. He provided two quotes received so far. The quotes and specs are being reviewed by the engineering team; rebuilt aluminum-wound transformer $382K and a new copper-wound transformer $1.1M.
- Motion to adjourn at 6:48PM:
| Blinzler, Sharon | Y |
| Gruver, Jason | Y |
| Bowsher, Brian | Y 2ND |
| VanAusdale, Leslie | Y MOTION |
| Wallace, Chuck | Y |
| Wampler, Pam | Y |
Motion PASSED 6-0