Subdivision planning, comprehensive plan dominate Marquette City Council meeting

The new Timber Ridge subdivision (formerly known as Pleasant Ridge) took some big steps forward last night at the Marquette city council meeting. Since there was no public comment on the project during the public hearing on rezoning the property, the council waived the second reading and passed the rezoning from agricultural to residential. Later in the meeting the council also approved the final plat for the development.

Mark Jobgen, consulting engineer for street design of IIW Engineering, reported that street grading on the project can begin on May 1, and be completed by July 1. Jobgen also noted that several activities will move forward next week on the well construction for the subdivision, including the release of contracts and a pre-construction meeting. The council passed several motions to make payments to IIW Engineering for work relating Timber Ridge.

Timber Ridge is located northwest of downtown Marquette on land just off Pleasant Ridge Rd. (Hwy. B45).

The council and Jobgen also discussed aspects of the completion of the Anti-Monopoly Street project. The council decided to replace fencing around three sides of an LP tank near the Isle of Capri at a cost not to exceed $7,045. They also selected the stone facing for the retaining wall along Anti-Monopoly St. that will be constructed between the motel entrance and the valet parking area. The cost of the retaining wall will not exceed $22,450.

In an important but anti-climatic vote, the council also approved the new city comprehensive plan. City Clerk Maryanne Trudo said that the plan had been open for public comment for two months and that only a few corrections and clarifications had been requested. The council and the mayor seemed satisfied with the plan, and Trudo noted that it was a good starting point. Councilman Tracy Melver commented that the plan should be reviewed every year. Mayor John Ries agreed and said the city should not wait 36 years before reviewing it again, as with the previous plan.

In her report to the council, Trudo noted that the annual spring city clean-up will be scheduled for Saturday, April 29. She also informed the council that they may need to schedule a special meeting on May 2 to amend the budget. Trudo also noted that the Isle of Capri had paid their annual tax to the city in March, amounting to $362,000. Trudo said that this was the highest amount the city had ever received from the casino for this tax.

The council voted to increase the city water and sewer utility rate. The modest one dollar increase will raise the rate for the first 1,000 gallons of water used from $4.50 to $5.50. A one dollar increase in sewer rate will bring it to $12 for the first 3,500 gallons. Rates beyond this initial usage level will also rise incrementally. Trudo says this will bring the average monthly family bill up to about $27 per month. The final reading of the ordinance to increase the rates will go before the council next month. The new rates will become effective July 1.

Don Smalley of the City Tree Board reported to the council that the city had once again received the designation of Tree City USA from the national Arbor Day Foundation. Smalley said he is hoping to increase education and awareness in the city of the value of trees, and that the board plans to plant 12-15 trees in the city yet this spring. He is seeking volunteers to help mulch trees in the city on April 29, the citywide clean-up day.

In other business:

* The summer mowing contract was passed with some contention

* The council elected to spend $5110 to put a fence up around the south reservoir near the Bench

* The council agreed to look into the request of Joyce Reinhart to replace a low retaining wall on her property line that was removed for a previous city project.

* new city manager Mike Poksitch will begin his duties May 1

New county board chair elected, coroner may leave

New Crawford County Board Chairman Ron Leys presides over his first county board meeting Tuesday.

Crawford County has a new county board chairman and may not have a county coroner for much longer.

At its regular meeting Tuesday morning, the county board voted 9-8 to elect board member Ron Leys as county board chairman. Leys beat out the other nominee Larry Kapinus.

Leys replaces Robert Dillman, who stepped down as county board chairman after 33 years in that role.

"Bob Dillman left very big shoes to fill," said Leys.

Leys continued, "We've done some heavy lifting in the last few years. We've built the new county administrative building and the new highway department buildings in Seneca. We have very good, dedicated people here and we're lucky to have them. But, we need to create better paying jobs in the county to stop the exodus of our young people."

Leys then thanked his fellow board members for the honor of being elected as chairman.

Larry Kapinus and Gary Knickerbocker were then nominated to be the next county board vice chairman. The board elected Kapinus by a vote of 10 for Kapinus, six for Knickerbocker and 1 for Gerald Krachey. Kay Garvey was the former vice chairman.

In other business, the board voted 10-7 against making the county coroner a half-time salaried position with a salary of $22,500 per year and "half-time" health insurance of approximately $14,000 per year.

The board voted unanimously to approve a $15,000 salary for the coroner.

Before the votes, Coroner Camile Smith gave a sometimes emotional presentation to the board during which she detailed the many improvements to the coroner's office over the last three and a half years as well as the increased work load and increased degree of professionalism. Smith asked the board to make the position a half-time salaried position at $22,500 per year with full time health insurance.

Smith told board members that she worked for 1,768 hours in 2005, which amounts to approximately $3 per hour. She also said that the increase to $15,000 per year would put her pay at slightly higher than minimum wage.

"I can't afford to run for this position again," she told board members. "I have a family, children. I can't go forward. I am urging and pleading for this board to recognize the office of the coroner."

Smith said that her goal in asking for the raise was to have the position of coroner, which is an elected position, compensated at an adequate level to ensure professional standards.

Smith said that she has updated the coroner's office and strengthened relationships with law enforcement, hospice, health care, funeral directors, state forensic pathologists and the state organization of coroners and medical examiners. She has also further educated herself and any potential coroner's deputies.

Letters were written to the county board on Smith's behalf by several state medical examiners and pathologists as well as several county and local law enforcement and emergency government officials.

Prairie du Chien Police Chief Mike King wrote a letter to the board members in which he urged them to compensate Smith as she had requested. In his letter, King said in part that Smith "has done a tremendous job in professionalizing the office of coroner during the short time she has been in office and she has done much to create a much-needed solid working relationship with law enforcement."

During the county board meeting, Sheriff Robert Ostrander said, "She has brought a lot of professionalism to the office of coroner. She does a very good job and I would hate to see her go." Ostrander then told the board that he would give any wage increase of his for the next four years so that the county could in turn compensate Smith, if that is what it would take to keep her.

Smith told the board that she would work full-time for half-time pay.

After the vote, Smith told reporters, "It's disappointing. I know I've asked a lot for the board to be proactive rather than reactive." Smith said that she is disappointed at the pay level, not only for her, but for the professional standards of the position that the citizens of the county deserve, no matter who the coroner may be in the future.

"We currently do not have a qualified person (residing in the county) to run for this office," she said. "And, this pay is not enough to attract a professional to the position."

Smith said that the board apparently "does not have the vision" to continue pursuing the coroner's office as the vital office that it is to law enforcement and to the citizens of Crawford County. "Death is no less important here than anywhere else in the state," she said.

Smith was not specific as to if or when she may vacate her position, saying that she would leave her options open until June 1, by which time she said that she hoped that she, law enforcement personnel and the public could persuade the county board members to change their minds.

In further business, the board,

*unanimously approved to abolish the position of undersheriff and to create the position of chief deputy. The chief deputy position will be advertised for.

*unanimously approved of the 2005-2009 Land and Water Resource Management Plan.

*Presented commendations to former board members Harold Dull, Albert Wee, Robert Dillman and Robert Zinkle for their many years of dedicated service.

PdC Citywide Spring Cleanup to be held April 24-26

After next week the City of Prairie du Chien will be looking good for spring. The annual citywide "Spring Cleanup" will be held Monday, April 24 through Wednesday the 26th.

The schedule is as follows:

* Blackhawk Avenue North: Monday, April 24

* Blackhawk Avenue South and East of Marquette Road: Tuesday, April 25

* Blackhawk Avenue South and West: Wednesday, April 26

The Prairie du Chien Street Department also notes that there will be NO return trips, so be sure to have your articles out on the proper days.

The following items will be accepted:

Appliances ‹ Must have doors and locks removed. Appliances and brush must be curbside in front or in alley to rear or residence.

Brush ‹ Must be piled and lined up lengthwise to the curb or alley so it can be scooped up easily or it will not be picked up. Construction and remodeling material will NOT be picked up- it must be put in a dumpster. Appliances, metal recyclables, brush, glass and trash must be kept separate.

Paint cans ‹ Latex paint only! Must have lids removed and any remaining paint must be dried out.

Glass ‹ Must be removed and separated form other articles.

Tires ‹ Must have rims removed.

Used Oils ‹ Must be delivered by property owner to rear of City Street Shop and properly disposed of into the red 500-gallon used oils containment center.

The street crews will pick up nothing other than brush, appliances and metal recyclables. Waste Management will be handling any other cleanup articles on their normal weekly pickup in your area during the week of April 24 through April 28.

For any questions, please call the Prairie du Chien Street Department at 326-2525.