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July 11, 2007

New County-City Dispatch Center now operational

On Tuesday afternoon, July 10, the new County-City Dispatch Center was up and running. The three dispatch workstations, (two full time and one backup), had the final touches applied Tuesday morning and all of the new state-of-the-art equipment was tested.

By Tuesday afternoon, the dispatch stations were fully functional and in use, thus culminating a project the idea of which began several years prior.

"I'm relieved," said Crawford County 911 Coordinator Julie Cipra, who noted that the project had received the approval of the Prairie du Chien City Council and then the Crawford County Board in August of 2006, at which time it was agreed to proceed with the new joint dispatch center project.

After numerous concerns and details have been worked out over the past 11 months, the joint dispatch center is now a reality.

"I'm grateful that it's finally coming together," said Cipra, who noted that the new center is twice as large and more secure than the former police dispatch center. In addition, the new center has three new radio consoles, three new computer systems and other top-of-the-line equipment to better serve the residents of the county and the city.

A new closed-circuit television system that can display up to 16 color images from in and around the building has been added in order to help beef up security. This television system can record and play back its images, something the old system couldn't do, said Cipra.

In addition to the new equipment, new wiring has replaced the old wiring and the center also has new furniture. New lighting has been installed as has a new heating and air-conditioning unit.

The cost to start up the new dispatch center, with all of its top-notch equipment, was $340,000, which included knocking out one wall and other construction. Cipra said that the yearly budget to run the center will be known after a full year of operation. It has been estimated that the yearly operational costs will be about $600,000.

All costs of the new dispatch center will be paid for on a per capita basis by the county and the city. Crawford County will pay approximately two-thirds of the costs and the city of Prairie du Chien will pay for one-third.

Cipra said that there will be eight telecommunicator-dispatchers working in the new center. There will be two on duty at all times. She said that these eight dispatchers have been training for the new center since January.

Several local businesses have helped to get the new dispatch center up and running. Steiner Associates of Prairie du Chien was the general contractor for the construction of the center. Other businesses included Ken's Electric, Dependable Solutions, Edwards Plumbing, Heating and Appliances, Orion Computers and CenturyTel.

Communication Services of La Crosse installed the three new radio consoles. Sies Grimm Technical Services (SGTS) of Verona installed the new security system.

War of 1812 battle reenactment July 14-15

The War of 1812: The Battle of Prairie du Chien, will rage again this year on July 14-15 on the Villa Louis Historic Site on St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien.

The historic encampment and battle re-enactment of Wisconsin's only War of 1812 battlefield is always booming with the excitement of musket and cannon fire.

Patrons to the lawn of the Villa Louis estate will learn about the British assault on U.S. Fort Shelby in a battle scenario each afternoon beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Visitors can tour the camps and learn about military life in 1814 and why Prairie du Chien was strategic to both sides of the Atlantic. The grounds are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and visitors are encouraged to tour the camps before and after the battle and by all means ask questions.

For more information, interested persons may call (608) 326-2721.

BATTLE OF

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN

Two primary arenas of war were defined in the War of 1812: the Eastern Seaboard and the Old Northwest. The Old Northwest stretched from the Western Great Lakes to the Upper Mississippi River.

In this theater were two conflicts: a U.S. - British War and U.S. Ð Indian War. These conflicts merged on July 17, 1814 in Prairie du Chien at the Battle of Fort Shelby.

The battle took place on what is today the grounds of the Villa Louis and is the only War of 1812 battlefield within the present boundaries of Wisconsin.

Prairie du Chien had been an important gathering place for the fur trade since the 1750s. It was a culturally mixed community of French-Canadians, British-Canadians, and Native Americans, all with strong social and economic ties to Lower Canada.

In June 1814, United States troops from St. Louis arrived in Prairie du Chien to establish Fort Shelby. They hoped to destroy British influence in the region and to prevent British- Indian forces from attacking American settlements in Illinois and Missouri.

Word of the American presence in Prairie du Chien quickly spread to Mackinac where British authorities in command of the region authorized a military expedition for the relief of Prairie du Chien. A force was raised under the command of Lt. Col. William McKay, veteran militia officer and former partner in the Northwest Fur Co., a man well-acquainted with Wisconsin.

Made up largely of voyageurs and other men employed in the fur trade, its ranks were swollen with numerous bands of Wisconsin Indians. An army of some 600 men arrived in Prairie du Chien on July 17, and a two and a half day siege followed. British and Indian forces ultimately prevailed, the American troops surrendered, the British ensign was raised and the fort was renamed in honor of Colonel McKay.

The Villa Louis War of 1812 event includes interpretive activities that explore the Battle of Prairie du Chien, day to day life in the 1814 army and the diverse culture of the Upper Mississippi fur trade.

Activities take place on the parade ground between the British and American Camps, on the battlefield near the Block House, and under the small canopy on the West Lawn.

Food and beverages will be sold by the Friends of Villa Louis near the battlefield each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SCHEDULE

July 14

10 a.m., Grand Parade and Morning Colors;

10:30, Drill and Inspection;

1 p.m., Children's Activities - Mini Militia, Hoops, Stilts and Graces;

1:30, Clothing on the Frontier Ð A War of 1812 Fashion Show;

2:30, Battle of Prairie du Chien;

4 p.m., Rum and Whisky Ration;

4:30, Evening Colors.

July 15

10 a.m., Grand Parade and Morning Colors;

10:30 Musket Reliability Contest, Rum and Whisky Ration to follow musket reliability;

1 p.m., Children's Activities - Mini Militia, Hoops, Stilts and Graces;

1:30, Infantry Drill;

2:30, Battle of Prairie du Chien;

4 p.m., Evening Colors.

Arts Board to meet in PdC for discussionof grant opportunities

Join ArtsBuild and the Wisconsin Arts Board on Wednesday, July 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Prairie du Chien City Hall Community Room, 214 East Blackhawk Avenue for an informative discussion regarding the Wisconsin Arts Board's Artist and Community Collaborations grant opportunity.

Mark Fraire, Grant Programs and Services Specialist, with the Wisconsin Arts Board will be available to share insight and answer questions about this funding opportunity. The purpose of the Artist and Community Collaborations Grant (ACC) program is to encourage collaborative projects between artists and their communities that support the development of the individual artist and projects that use the power of the arts for community renewal.

Funds are available for artists to develop special projects in collaboration with a community-based organization partner. The deadline for applying is October 15. For more information go to http://arts.state.wi.us/static/accgrant.htm.

This "Community Conversation" activity is made possible through funding from Alliant Energy Foundation and in collaboration with the WI Arts Board, the Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization Program, Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce, the City of Prairie du Chien, and the UW-Platteville / UW-Extension Office of Continuing Education. For a more detailed list of all upcoming ArtsBuild opportunities go to www.uwplatt.edu/cont_ed/artsbuild/ and click on "Opportunities," then click "Workshops,"

RSVP by emailing ArtsBuild at dyasmc@uwplatt.edu or calling UWP Office of Continuing Education at 608-342-1314 or toll free at 888-281-9472 and leaving a message for Heidi.

July 9, 2007

New PdC superintendent begins duties

The Prairie du Chien School District has a new district administrator who will be busy this summer getting to know the area, getting ready for a new school year and preparing to meet the challenges of the district.

"I've been very impressed with Prairie du Chien," said Drew Johnson, who officially began his duties on July 1. "The people and the physical attributes of the area, it's a beautiful area. The people have been very accommodating, very friendly."

Johnson and his wife Valerie are building a house just south of Prairie du Chien as they make the transition from Gilman, Wis. to their new home here.

Johnson served as the superintendent in the Gilman School District for the past six years. Before that, he was the high school principal in the Greenwood School District for two years.

Johnson said that his immediate personal challenges in his new position are, "to meet everybody, get my feet wet, watch, listen and learn."

This summer, Johnson will be busy working on the district budget, getting ready for the new school year and getting ready for registration. He said that registration will have some changes this year in order to make it smoother for students and parents.

"I'm excited about the challenges and ready to go forward," said Johnson. "The staff has been great and the teachers and support staff are very dedicated and professional people. What I hope to do is to get everybody working together for the common goal of educating the students of the district in the best possible way."

In addition to Drew and Valerie, the Johnson family includes Nicole, who will be a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, and Derek, who will be a junior at Prairie du Chien High School.

Council approves DyeSport agreement

An agreement with DyeSport company for building a new and expanded workplace, an order for cleanup of property along LaPointe Street and a go-ahead for members of the fire and water departments to begin a needs assessment for expansion of the fire department building on Blackhawk Avenue were the main items of business at the July 3 Prairie du Chien City Council meeting.

Council entered into an agreement with DyeSport, a local company which has outgrown its present space, to construct a 12,000 square foot manufacturing facility to be built with tax incremental financing. The building will be located on two acres off Clifford Road, north of Cabela's and Country Inn and Suites and east of the overpass.

The city will furnish the land and other costs up to $80,500, which will be returned to the city with tax revenues generated by the company beginning in 2008.

The company is expected to add 10 employees by Jan. 1, 2008 and a total of 30 full time employees by Dec. 31, 2010.

The city will also hold an additional acre to the north of the site for up to three years for the company's future expansion. To utilize that extra acre, the company will have to have met the job creation requirements and guarantee an additional 6,000 square foot building with a value of not less than $200,000.

DyeSport dyes and manufactures clothing.

William Herreid, Jr., the owner of property located east of the railroad tracks along La Pointe Street has been ordered to remove from that property all junk, debris and trailers. If it is not removed by July 26, the city can complete the cleanup and charge the costs to the owner.

Deciding that it would be best to have some plans in place when and if the Prairie Street fire station is sold, Council approved a recommendation by the Protection and Health Committee to have representatives of the fire and water departments meet with Avenue Architects to complete a needs assessment. If the Prairie Street station is sold, it will be necessary to expand the Blackhawk station, and the water department, presently housed in a building behind the fire station, would move into the expanded building. At a previous meeting, there had been discussion over whether it would be most prudent to develop plans before the Prairie Street station is closed, or to wait until the sale, which might mean delays in the expansion.

In other business council:

´Approved a variance to the city construction code for upgrade of a house at 119 S. Michigan Street owned by Mike and Pam Zabel. The house lies within the downtown boundaries defined in the construction code, and the variance was needed to put on vinyl siding. Because the building is separated from the downtown commercial buildings, the building inspector and the acting fire chief recommended the variance.

´Tabled a request to remove a utilities easement on the east side of an alley between Park and Haydn Streets until it could be determined if the space might be needed for utilities.

PdC Airport will receive $750,000 for improvements

Governor Jim Doyle has approved a $725,000 project to provide new airfield pavements at the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport. The Governor's action releases $18,125 in state funds to expand an apron and construct a taxiway to Runway 29. The city of Prairie du Chien is also contributing $18,125, and the Federal Aviation Administration is providing $688,750.

According to Michael Gabor, airport engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the project will provide much needed maneuvering space in the terminal area, and reconstruct deteriorating pavements. With the construction of a 5,000-foot runway at the airport in 1999, corporate air travel has increased considerably, especially in the large jet category. The airport manager has had to turn away potential fuel customers due to inadequate room to maneuver in the terminal area when aircraft were already parked in that space. The added apron space and connecting taxiway to Runway 29 end will increase the utility of the airport.

The project is scheduled to begin in July and be completed by November, 2007.

Facilities at the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport include a 5,000-foot primary runway and a 4,000-foot secondary runway. Twenty aircraft are based at the airport and about 12,500 aircraft take-offs and landings occur each year.