SALEM LAKES, Wis. — A regional partnership between three local municipalities is expected to save taxpayers money and improve road maintenance after the State of Wisconsin approved a major Innovation Grant for a new Regional Road Maintenance and Public Works Consortium.
The partnership between the Villages of Salem Lakes, Paddock Lake, and Walworth was recently approved by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. The grant will provide a total of $776,949 annually, with Salem Lakes receiving $435,091.44, Paddock Lake receiving $163,159.29, and Walworth receiving $178,698.27 each year.
While many officials played a role in getting the agreement approved, Salem Lakes businessman and Economic Development Committee member Brian Filiatreault was one of the earliest advocates of the concept. Filiatreault, who owns several businesses in Salem Lakes, began pushing the idea of municipalities working together to reduce costs and improve efficiency long before the grant approval.
Salem Lakes Trustee Pete Poli also helped advance the idea in the early stages as officials explored whether a regional approach could save taxpayers money. The Salem Lakes Economic Development Committee worked on researching the concept and the benefits of shared services. Paddock Lake Village Administrator Tim Popanda said he and Filiatreault had conversations about municipal cost-saving ideas even before the state Innovation Grant became available.
“Brian and I discussed the possibility of creating a municipal cost saving project such as shared emergency services long before the innovative grant became available,” Popanda said. “Recognizing the greatest challenges for any municipality is the ever-rising cost of infrastructure, it seemed to be a natural solution to group like sized municipalities together to reduce costs through economy of scale.”
Popanda credited Filiatreault for helping bring the three communities together. “Brian was very instrumental in championing this forward,” Popanda said. “Brian was the go between for communication between Salem, Paddock Lake, and Walworth.”
Filiatreault said Popanda’s positive relationships with other government agencies and local leaders helped take the idea and turn it into a successful regional partnership. Filiatreault also credited Salem Lakes Village Administrator Mike Kostiuk with being instrumental in getting the agreement finalized and across the finish line.
Kostiuk also credited Filiatreault, Popanda, and Poli for their efforts. “Tim Popanda, Brian Filiatreault, and Pete Poli were instrumental in getting this accomplished and would be able to add valuable insight as well,” Kostiuk said. Kostiuk said the partnership is about more than just the grant money. “The cost-savings from this endeavor will extend beyond the grant life and allow Salem Lakes to benefit from economy of scales purchasing power,” Kostiuk said. “This collaboration is a sign that Salem Lakes places high priority on partnerships to accomplish shared goals.”
Kostiuk said Salem Lakes residents will benefit immediately from millions in grant funding over the life of the program, but the relationships created between communities could provide even more savings in the future. “I expect that this is just the first step in many cost-saving possibilities Salem Lakes will benefit from,” Kostiuk said. “If we are able to succeed in these future collaborative efforts citizens can expect to continue to see these benefits multiply.”
The proposal was not without opposition. Salem Lakes Trustee Amanda Procknow voted against pursuing the consortium. Former Salem Lakes Trustees Ron Gandt and Bill Hopkins, who had previously questioned the value of the Economic Development Committee, did not attend the special meeting where the board voted on whether to move forward with the consortium. Supporters of the project also said Salem Lakes Village President Rita Bucur, former Salem Lakes Administrator Cassandra Hiller, Village Clerk Sara Spencer, and Public Works Director Brad Zautcke appeared skeptical of the proposal and questioned whether the village could qualify for the grant.
Supporters say the approval proved the concept was possible and demonstrated the benefits of looking beyond traditional government boundaries. The Salem Lakes Economic Development Committee, including Brian Filiatreault, Pete Poli, Jeff Albrecht, and Ross Schwarz, helped research and advance the proposal that eventually became a multi-community partnership expected to save taxpayers money.
Walworth Clerk/Treasurer Kellie Thelen said joining the consortium gives her community an opportunity to work with neighboring municipalities on similar projects. “By working together, communities can potentially achieve cost savings through shared bidding and project coordination, helping maximize the value of taxpayer dollars,” Thelen said.
Thelen said the grant funding will help Walworth address road improvements sooner than otherwise possible while reducing the burden on taxpayers. Paddock Lake plans to use its grant funding for pavement improvements. Popanda said the first year’s proceeds will be used for preventative maintenance, including crack sealing newly paved roads.
The newly created Regional Paving and Road Maintenance Consortium board is expected to hold its first meeting on July 9, 2026. Representatives appointed by the three municipalities will begin organizing the board and planning future projects.
Popanda said he believes this partnership could be the beginning of additional cooperation between communities. “After years of operating on an island, this collective intergovernmental agreement is a road map for exploring other collaborations with neighboring communities,” Popanda said.
Popanda said he, Filiatreault, and Kostiuk are already planning to discuss other potential partnerships, including solid waste disposal and additional ways to save taxpayers money. Filiatreault said the project was a team effort and credited others on the Salem Lakes Economic Development Committee, including Pete Poli, Jeff Albrecht, and Ross Schwarz, for contributing to the work that helped move the proposal forward.
Supporters say the project shows that cooperation between communities can reduce costs while improving services and that this partnership could serve as a model for future cooperation among neighboring municipalities.
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One Response
Wow, something good happened in Salem Lakes. The new administrator must be doing something right. It’s interesting that the old admin said it couldn’t be done, but the new one helped made it happen. Wetland Mama Hiller wasn’t so smart after all.