Village Board Standing in Way of New Business, Saukville Trustee Candidate Says

Editor's note: The following was submitted by Rhonda Kamenick, a candidate running for Trustee in the village of Saukville. If you'd like to submit a letter, e-mail Lyssa.Beyer@patch.com or upload it immediately in the Local Voices platform.

On Thursday, the Village of Saukville Planning Commission denied Kwik Trip’s request for a conditional use of the property west of I-43 and north of Highway 33. Commission members voting against the permit claimed a gas station would pose too great of a risk being close to neighboring wetlands.

However, existing gas stations in Saukville operate as close or closer to wetlands, raising questions of the commission members' true motivations.

According to a report by Pioneer Environmental, Beck's Exxon station — near the proposed Kwik Trip site — is a mere 80 feet from the wetland and 250 feet from a navigable waterway, while Tri-Par on the west side of the village operates 270 feet from wetlands and 550 feet from a waterway. Kwik Trip's plans place them within 175 feet of the wetlands.

Rhonda Kamenick, candidate for Village Trustee, strongly disapproves of the decision.

"While some people may feel there is no 'need' for another gas station in Saukville, it is not the Village government's job to pick and choose what businesses can come here, responding only to the fear of competition existing businesses complain about," Kamenick said.

When one Saukville resident spoke out in favor of the Kwik-Trip proposal, a relative of one of the local gas station propietor told him his opinion did not matter because he wasn’t a business owner.

"It is very hard to recruit new businesses to the village," Kamenick said, "when they know that if they are not deemed 'necessary' and are seen as a threat to other area businesses, the village will stand in their way."

Rhonda is running as one of four candidates — herself and three incumbents — for three open seats on the Village Board in the upcoming Spring election.