A recall effort is underway in Pewaukee, led by Jim Cadd, the owner of Quail Pointe Apartments, against Village Trustee Bob Rohde. The recall is driven by dissatisfaction over an emergency services fee imposed by the village, which has sparked criticism from property owners, particularly those operating senior living facilities.
According to GMToday, Cadd, who also leads a group called Protect Pewaukee, claims the fee structure unfairly burdens senior living facilities by assigning higher emergency service equivalents (ESEs) to these properties compared to others.
The methodology for calculating the fee assigns 4.75 ESEs to each senior living or care home unit, compared to just one ESE for single-family, duplex, or multifamily units.
This resulted in a significant charge for Cadd, who was billed $154,000, which he says he had to borrow to pay. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out seniors use more ambulance rides,” Cadd said, but he argues that the fees are excessive and unfairly applied.
Cadd’s recall effort targets Rohde, stating that the trustee has not responded to his concerns, unlike other board members. Among the reasons for the recall, Cadd cites the village’s imposition of what he calls “illegal” fire and EMS charges and discrimination against senior citizens.
He also criticizes the village for a lack of transparency in its decision-making process. Calls to both Village Administrator Matt Heiser and Rohde were not immediately returned.
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