April 27, 2026 – Town of Trenton, Wi – Dear Fellow Residents of the Town of Trenton,
Last year was a good year for progress. We adopted some new ordinances that made sense for how residents manage their properties, and we paid close attention to our expenses. Trenton’s team of employees is outstanding in each of their areas of responsibility, and I am proud to lead them as we all serve you.
2025 BUDGET NOTES
Public Works is the budgetary category with the highest cost. Services to town residents within this category include snow removal, ditching and shouldering, refuse and recycling, and weed control. In 2025, public works expenses were $39,100 under budget. We had expected larger savings until the December snowstorm. This demonstrates that we cannot control all expenses.
Public Safety, including our Fire/EMS contract, building inspection and law enforcement, is another significant budgetary category each year. In 2025, our Town Police Department came in $8,600 under its $148,100 budget, a savings of nearly 6%.
Information Technology (IT) expenses exceeded budget by $3,200. We signed an IT agreement with Washington County which, once fully transitioned, is expected to save an estimated $25,000 over the course of five years. Overall, town expenses in 2025 were under budget by nearly $90,000.
ROADS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
In 2025, we successfully repaired and reworked several town roads. Looking ahead, we plan to chip seal various roads to provide some relief. In addition, protecting newly reconstructed roads with a sealing compound should slow the aging process and lengthen their lifespans.
Acquiring state grants is vital to tackling very long and poorly performing roads like Washington Drive. These projects will be categorized by severity, location, and budgetary feasibility. I am also building a long-range road plan, as a map and guide, to help us prioritize the work ahead.
PLANNING COMMISSION
I am pleased to announce that Pat Groth has joined the Planning Commission team of six. Pat’s mother, Martha, served the Town in years past on this Board. Pat takes the place of Bob Roden, whom we thank for his service, input, and dedication to Trenton.
FIRE AND EMS SERVICES
The Newburg Fire Department (NFD) continues to provide invaluable fire and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) support to Trenton. Fire/EMS service calls in Trenton are up 38% over the past five years. The NFD is a 501(c)3 entity, and as a nonprofit, it can accept your charitable contributions. If their service and dedication move you, please consider adding them to your nonprofit choices.
Heather Krueger resigned from the Clerk position in November. Town Administrator Cindy Komro has assumed all Clerk duties on an interim basis. Ms. Komro is a Certified Municipal Clerk, a certification process that requires three years of training.
As Town Administrator, she handles administrative tasks such as Human Resources and Town Board support along with zoning duties such as land divisions, zoning ordinances, and almost-daily requests for sheds.
Trenton is the largest town in Washington County, and we are always busy—a fact which supports the previous Board’s decision to create this full-time position.
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Cassandra Walker, our newly appointed Deputy Clerk. This is a part-time position, and Cass will spend 2026 learning the election process and training to become our Clerk.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This year promises to be a productive one for Trenton. We are committed to making thoughtful decisions regarding road improvements, equipment purchases, and zoning updates to preserve our residential and rural way of life. The Town Board will continue to focus on driving productivity and reducing expenses where possible.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our community.
