February 21, 2007

The joint dispatch project between Crawford County and the city of Prairie du Chien continues to make strides. The County Board of Supervisors voted 15-0 Tuesday morning to approve of an expenditure of $397,000 to get the joint dispatch center up and running.

County 911 Coordinator Julie Cipra explained to the board that approximately $222,000 is needed to cover the costs of construction, new equipment and other items. Cipra said that another $175,000 is need for the 2007 operating budget.

Of the $397,000 needed to get the joint dispatch up and running, the county will be reimbursed a total of $193,322. The city will pay one-third of the cost of the joint dispatch center and the county will also receive a total of $80,000 in Wireless 911 grants.

County Board Supervisor Gary Knickerbocker said that it is hoped that the joint dispatch center would be completed by June. It has been estimated that the operating budget for the joint dispatch center for 2007 will be $706,000.

In other action, the board:

´Voted 15-0 to settle an $80,000 lawsuit filed against the county by P.A. McGuire of Highland, the general contractor for the County Administrative Building. The county will pay $28,000 to settle the dispute over construction costs. The $28,000 will come from money generated by the sale of the Satter Building.

´Observed a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting in honor of the late Robert Dillman. Dillman served on the County Board for 38 years, 34 of which were as chairman. He was the longest serving County Board Chairman in the history of Crawford County.

´Heard a report from County Board Chairman Ron Leys about a book entitled "Driftless Rivers National Park" in which the author, Bryan J. Stanley, proposes that Crawford County, except for the city of Prairie du Chien, should become a national park. Leys said that the book has several excellent photographs and extols the virtues of Crawford County while also making scientific points. Leys said that Stanley is vague, however, about how Crawford County would become a national park.

Nearly ten years ago, Larry Breuer bought several parcels of land on the prominent bluff that rises beyond the dead-end terminus of North Street in Marquette. In 2000, the property was zoned residential. So Larry began pursuing ideas for a housing development. He saw that the wonderful view would make it an attractive setting for homes.

"If it's done right, with good taste, [it will be attractive]. Marquette is the first place people see coming across the bridge, we should be a showplace for Iowa," Breuer said.

Concerns about runoff on this steep bluff location and past incursion on the city right-of-way have fuelled a number of past skirmishes between Breuer and the Marquette City Council. The city's right-of-way for North Street follows a direct path up the bluff from the dead-end, cutting across Breuer's property. Breuer wants the city to abandon their North Street right-of-way.

At the January meeting, the council voted to close the right-of-way of North Street to public access; effectively shutting down any work Breuer planned to do on his property this winter. They also voted against cutting trees on the right-of-way, and they approved getting an updated survey of city property on the bluff. The property where councilman Norb Hammes and his wife Nancy, reside, abuts Breuer's property.

Breuer feels that he has been marginalized by the council. He asserts that he has been careful not to create erosion problems with the excavation work he has already done, and will continue to work mindful of this potential problem.

"I'm probably the most misunderstood person it town," he said.

Breuer and the engineer he has hired, George TeKippe of West Union, came before the city council last night in an effort to come to terms with.

TeKippe addressed the council, requesting permission to excavate into the city right-of-way on the northwest side of an existing home, 305 North St., in order create a driveway to the first lot in the development, which is just beyond that address. TeKippe also noted that Breuer would be willing to tear down the house, which he owns, and the resulting space would provide the city with ample room for a turn-around at the terminus of the dead-end street. Currently there is no turn-around, and garbage trucks and city snowplows must either complete a tight turn-around on Breuer's property or back down the street.

"If the house were removed, it would offer the city an opportunity to put in a proper turn-around," TeKippe explained.

Breuer approached the council to better explain the location of the drive he would like to excavate. He also noted that a lot of heavy truck traffic during construction of a new house might endanger a city retaining wall near North Street, and that the new drive would move traffic away from the retaining wall. Breuer has signed an agreement with the city promising not to damage the retaining wall which is adjacent to his property.

While Mayor John Ries expressed interest in the turn-around, the council remained wary. Norb Hammes and Tracy Melver expressed that a turnaround would only attract more traffic to the dead-end.

The continuing discussion between the TeKippe, Breuer and the council also brought up the touchy subject of runoff and Breuer's previous incursions on city property. Council members said they wanted to look over the site at 305 North St. more closely before taking any action.

TeKippe and Breuer requested inclusion on the next council meeting agenda, a special budget hearing scheduled for March 13. Later in the meeting Hammes suggested that special meetings should be reserved for special tasks, and that the Breuer matter should be placed on the regular council agenda later in March.

On the 24 city lots platted on the bluffside property, Breuer plans to build eight homes, most of which will have double or triple lots and will be located on more level ground near the top of the bluff. Six of the lots will be used to provide space for the twisting road he plans to build up the bluff. Breuer wants to model the road after the scenic drive to Mt. Hosmer Park in Lansing.

After years of gathering his own resources for the project, and other delays, Breuer is anxious to move forward. He says he has DNR permits and money in hand, and once the engineering is complete, he is ready to begin construction this year. He is working with Golden Eagle Log Homes to provide his customers with their products. Lots will be priced between $80,000 and $110,000, depending on size and the view they command. Buyers, Breuer says, will likely be retirees.

The Prairie du Chien City Council last night passed an ordinance to cover what appears to be a dangerous oversight in state law. The new ordinance requires that school buses stopped to pick up or discharge passengers in business or residential districts with curb and gutter use flashing red warning lights.

The ordinance was prepared after a recent incident when a driver passed a school bus with its lights flashing. The police found it difficult to write a citation because Wisconsin state law stipulates that a bus cannot use its flashing lights in a business or residential area with curb and gutter unless required by a local ordinance.

In other business:

Council authorized staff to proceed with the creation of an Environmental Remediation Tax Incremental District on the former Quality Wood site on Lessard at the south end of the city.

The approximately 13-acre site has been contaminated by some of the chemicals used in wood treatment, and is in the process of assessment for environmental clean-up. Creation of a tax incremental district (TID) enables the city to recover some of the expenses of cleanup. City Administrator Gordon Gallagher said that Wolf Machine, which plans to relocate on that site, has committed to adding more jobs, and Universal Forest Products, which is considering expanding to that site, is anticipated to produce more jobs as well. Gallagher estimated that, in addition to the $500,000 in grants that have been approved, the city's share of the cleanup should be around $200,000.

He stated, "The real benefit is that we're doing all this work to clean up the site and get new business which will add value and tax base; we should at least have other jurisdictions share the costs. If we have a TID district all taxes gained from increasing property value will go to pay off the city's costs."

Council also received the $100,000 site assessment grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for that parcel and authorized approval of a contract with Ayres Associates to conduct the assessment at a cost of $127,500. It is anticipated the assessment will be completed by October.

Plastic bags will no longer be accepted for yard waste disposal after the 2007 city spring cleanup. Currently, plastic bags have to be torn open and removed from the recycling site, using up valuable time. Following spring cleanup, no plastic bags will be allowed at the site, and if individuals want to transport materials in plastic bags, they must empty and remove those bags at the recycling site. The paper bags, said Gallagher, will be available through local retailers and will hold up in rain for approximately two weeks. The City of La Crosse is currently using paper bags for yard waste disposal. The action was recommended by the Public Works Committee.

Council also accepted recommendations from the Public Works Committee to ban overnight parking in the city hall parking lot during the winter, repair a mower and tractor for this year and look at replacements for the following year, deny a request from Kozelka's to plow a driveway which provides further access to their parking lot as well as an alternate route to a city lot, and do away with alternate side parking for the next winter season unless a snow emergency is declared.

Council approved an engineering agreement for water, sewer and street improvements on Beaumont from Wisconsin to Frederich; Blackhawk from Main Street to Illinois; Main Street from Wisconsin to Washington; and Prairie Street from Iowa to West Louis. The work will be done in 2008 and 2009.

A no parking zone was established on Iowa extending from the south side of Beaumont west 77 feet. At present, vehicles parked in that area make it difficult to see traffic coming up the hill from the bridge.

After learning that the size of the bid requires that it be awarded to the lowest bidder, council reawarded the bid for street, water and sewer improvements on Cass and Prairie Streets to Eastern Iowa Excavating and Concrete for $189,952. Council had previously awarded the bid to Prairie Sand and Gravel, which had come in slightly higher.

Council approved the continued hiring of a part time staff member for City Hall, with hours not to exceed 16 per week, and the issue to be reexamined in August. Councilmember Hein asked for figures to show justification for that position before it is reconsidered in August.

Council approved the 2007 engineering rates and accepted a $2,286 rebate from 2006 for fees over $50,000.

Six area wrestlers have earned State Tournament berths. Prairie du Chien's Zach Elliott at 112 pounds, Alex Stormoen at 130 and Jon Quamme at 171 have qualified for State. The North Crawford-Seneca team also boasts three State qualifiers in Dylan Kansier at 103 pounds, Devon Kansier at 125 and Brent Hartley at 145. All three are Seneca High School students.

Dylan Kansier of North Crawford-Seneca won the 103-pound championship match by pinning Cameron Segura of Kickapoo-La Farge in 4:31 at the Division 3 Mineral Point Sectional Saturday. It will be the second trip to the State Tournament for the Seneca sophomore.

Devon Kansier, a senior at Seneca High School, qualified for his first State Tournament berth by defeating Nelson of Kickapoo-La Farge 13-2 in the third-place match at 125 pounds.

Brent Hartley, a senior at Seneca High School, lost to Greg Burke of Mineral Point 13-1 in the 145-pound championship match. It will be Hartley's first trip to the State Tournament. Hartley had earlier defeated Jake Kaempfer of Black Hawk 5-2 in the wrestleback.

Other wrestlers competing for North Crawford-Seneca at the Mineral Point Sectional included Tyler Sime at 112 pounds, Ryan Skarda at 135 and Nathan Swiggum at 285.