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City selects first full time director for Hoffman Hall Pending the requisite background check before it becomes official, City Council last night approved the hiring of Deana Dickson of La Crosse as the new director of Hoffman Hall. Dickson, who has a background in the recreational field and a degree in recreational management, was selected from a field of 40 applicants, and was one of four selected to be interviewed Monday evening by council members and the personnel committee. Dickson was hired at a salary of up to $34,000, with an extra incentive bonus depending on the amount of money she is able to raise for running the recreational facility. The bonus is $2,000 for raising $50,000 to $74,000, $3,000 for raising $75,000 to $99,000 or $4,000 for raising over $100,000 in a 12 month period. Councilmember Phil Dagnon said the quality of the candidates interviewed was exceptional: "We could have hired three of the four people. Dixon stood out for her enthusiasm." Said Councilmember Jaaren Riebe, "We really feel the energy needed to rebuild Hoffman Hall is in this gal." The city hopes to build Hoffman Hall into a full time, full service recreational facility for the entire area. A plan for having State Highway 60 enrolled in the Scenic Byways program was presented by Mark Cupp, executive director of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board. Cupp is proposing that the section of Highway 60 from the interstate near Lodi to its intersection with The Great River Road, Highway 35 outside of Prairie du Chien, be included in the Scenic Byways designation. Wisconsin's Scenic Byways program was established in 2005 to identify some of the state's most scenic and historic state highway corridors. To qualify, the segment must, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT), be at least 30 miles long and should offer "outstanding scenic views or historic resources combined with unique recreational, cultural or other educational opportunities." Cupp said such designation would allow communities to capitalize on unique aspects along the corridor and apply for grants associated with it. Cupp was asking for a resolution of support from the council, but although council was favorable to the request, they could not pass a resolution at that time because it had not been officially included on the agenda. Cupp said he would eventually like to see a network of Rustic Roads and Scenic Byways in this part of the state. In other business: Council approved a development agreement with Rivertown Development (Empty Pockets LLC) to sell one of the two lots the city purchased from Trautsch Distributing Company. The city purchased the lots in order to make them available to expanding industries, and Rivertown Development plans to erect a new building and employ 30 new full time employees no later than Dec. 31, 2010. Doug Enke of Town and Country Sanitation appeared before council to discuss the city's recycling program. Enke said that only about 35 percent of the people in Prairie du Chien participate regularly in the recycling program. Entz said that his company picks up more recycling in Wauzeka than in Prairie du Chien. He also suggested that the city consider purchasing new bins and said he would like to work with the city in putting together an improved recycling program. Councilman Frank Pintz said he felt a list of recycling pickup times and directions should be sent out to every resident. He also said people were complaining that the recycling bins were tipped over and any non-recyclable items were spilled out. Entz said anything not recyclable is left in the bins, but the bins should not be tipped over and he would speak to his employees. In response to a question about plastic bags from businesses such as Wal-Mart and Piggly Wiggly, Enke said they are not recyclable, but he know that Wal-Mart will take theirs back. He also said that he is requiring that newspapers be bagged or bundled so they do not blow out as the trucks drive down the road. City Administrator Gordon Gallagher reported that the negotiations committee had met with the city attorney and the police union and had reached a tentative contract agreement for the years 2005 to 2007 years. Council approved the report. The agreement must still be approved by the union. Council also authorized the hiring of a Community Service Officer. Police Chief Mike King said that due to reduction in employees the police are busier than before, and a community service officer could relieve them of many duties such as working on traffic and ordinance enforcement. This person would not carry firearms and would not require police training. The hiring was approved subject to approval by the police union. Hoppenjan resigns as Fire Chief Prairie du Chien City Council last night accepted the resignation of Fire Chief Mark Hoppenjan effective April 13. Hoppenjan, who has been fire chief for the past 10 years, said, "I've enjoyed my tenure here, but I think it's time to move on." Hoppenjan said "I would like to thank the council and the whole community for the opportunity to do the job and do as well as I have." Hoppenjan has accepted a position as Fire Chief in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis. Prairie du Chien area men enjoy 'World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-up' Three area men recently returned from a trip to the 49th Annual Rattlesnake Round-up in Sweetwater, Texas. The trip is billed as "The World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-up" and was held from March 7 through March 10. Making the trip were Eugene Sande from Decorah, who also has acreage in Eastman, and William Hubbard Sr. of Prairie du Chien and Eugene's son Cory Sande of Calmar, Iowa. The event is sponsored by the Sweetwater Jaycees and includes numerous events, one of which, of course, is the rattlesnake hunt. Eugene has hunted rattlesnakes since his high school days and has participated in several round-up events in the United States over the years. William, on the other hand, does not participate in the actual rattlesnake hunt but enjoys all of the surrounding activities. "I don't bother them," William said of the snakes. An abundance of rattlers have been a problem for farmers and ranchers in the Sweetwater area for many years. They have a nasty habit of biting livestock when they feel their turf is being invaded. The annual Round-up began as a strategy to rid the area of rattlers and has grown over the years into a highly-organized event, entertaining and educating thousands. The event caught on worldwide and a total of 267,483 pounds of rattlesnakes have been captured since 1959. Last year, 13,552 pounds of rattlesnakes were caught. The largest total is 17,986 pounds in 1982. The largest rattlesnake last year was 80 inches long. Eugene and William said that the goal is not just to simply control the rattlesnake population, which it does, but more is done with the snakes once they are captured. With the help of the Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Jaycees have gathered biological data and other pertinent information about rattlesnakes that has proven invaluable. Some of that information is obtained by working with snakes and other information comes from the venom that is milked during the Round-up. The venom is used to produce anti-venom serum and in the research of a cure for cancer and other diseases. Eugene and William said that the event is also highly educational. The Sweetwater Jaycees work with Texas A&M University to determine whether commercial round-ups have any adverse effects on the area or the future of the snake itself. In addition, the Jaycees educate people about how to act when they encounter a snake. People can live with rattlers in peace if the people are careful and understand why a rattler acts as it does. During the Round-up rattlers are on display for students and thousands of visitors. Many snakes are also skinned and eaten. In fact, everyone has fun watching the "World Championships of Rattlesnake Eating" held the final day of the Round-up. The Rattlesnake Round-up attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually from all 50 states, North and South America, Europe and Asia. Because of the enormity of the event, the Round-up has also drawn the attention of the national media such as ESPN, the Food Channel, National Geographic Explorer and many area newspapers. In addition to Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hunting, there are numerous other events, such as musical entertainment, the Rattlesnake Round-up Parade, the Brisket/Chili Cook-Off, the Miss Snake Charmer Scholarship Pageant, guided hunting tours, bus tours, the Sweetwater Knife, Gun and Coin Show, flea markets, a carnival and the Girl Scout Salsa Challenge/Dessert Cook-Off. Eugene and William said they had a great time at the event and will probably go back again. In addition, the weather was great in Sweetwater at a time when it was cold and snowy here in Prairie du Chien. "It was nice down there," said William. "It was between 70 and 80 every day."
PdC School District hires superintendent A new superintendent has been hired for the Prairie du Chien School District. Drew Johnson of Gilman was hired by the Prairie du Chien School Board during a special board meeting Wednesday night. Johnson, who has been the district administrator in the Gilman School District since 2001, will replace outgoing district administrator Jim O'Meara at Prairie du Chien. Johnson will begin his duties on July 1, 2007. O'Meara had previously announced his retirement, which will be effective June 30. Johnson is married with two children. In other business, the board approved the hiring of Chad Infield of Cassville as the new dean of students and Fund 80 director at Bluff View Intermediate School. Infield will begin his duties six days before the start of the 2007-2008 school year. He was most recently a full time substitute teacher in the Galena School District. He also taught for five years at Potosi Middle School. The dean of students-Fund 80 director position is a newly created position at Bluff View. Committee to explore energy reduction in city The newly-formed Energy Committee for Prairie du Chien met for the first time March 8 and set specific goals for the city's water and energy consumption for the remainder of 2007. The committee, organized by Waste Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Terry Meyer, was an idea conceived by Meyer after attending a seminar dedicated to water and energy conservation in municipalities. "I thought this was something we should take a harder look at," he said, "and to get the ball rolling we needed a committee." The committee set four specific goals for 2007: ´A five percent across-the-board reduction in energy consumption in all city buildings ´Have energy audits done in all city buildings ´Assign team members building inspection assignments and tasks to look at ways to conserve energy ´Publicize the goals. The committee plans to meet monthly, and at the next meeting a representative of Madison Gas and Electric will talk about that company's energy programs. They also hope to have an Alliant Energy representative meet with them soon, and at some future time would like a presentation by Wisconsin Focus on Energy to all city employees. Focus on Energy is a group funded by the utility companies to look at implementing cost-saving measures in businesses and municipalities. Although not listed as a specific goal, it is the committee's hope to enlist the community's help in energy conservation. "We'd like to be the catalyst to make everyone aware of the importance of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by conserving energy," said Meyer. "If the community sees that the city is taking a serious approach to this we hope our residents will be willing to move forward as well." As the committee collects energy conservation information and newsletters, the plan is to make those available for public access in the library. Committee members are Nancy Ashmore, Todd Clanton, Dirk Steiner, Bob Niedziejko and Meyer. Meeting Wednesday will continue discussion of Marquette Road project Proposed roundabouts remain a controversial issue with public The proposed reconstruction of Marquette Road (WIS 35) in Prairie du Chien will be discussed at a public information meeting March 21, at the Prairie du Chien City Hall, 214 E. Blackhawk Ave., 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and roundabouts will almost certainly be a topic of discussion. The proposed WIS 35 project begins near the intersection of Washington Street and Marquette Road and extends 0.7 miles south to near the intersection of Webster Street and Marquette Road with roundabouts to be constructed at Blackhawk Avenue and Wisconsin and Iowa Streets. The meeting will be conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) in an open house format with exhibits and maps available for review. A presentation will take place at 6 p.m. The actual construction will take place in 2012, but planning and discussion of the project began in 1998 with the formation of a transportation study group to look at options for preserving state highway mobility and safety through the city while preserving local residential and business access. Marquette Road was constructed in 1967 and is nearing the end of its projected life cycle. A project advisory committee, consisting of local officials and representatives of the DNR, Federal Highways, and the Corps of Engineers was also formed. A final report was issued in August, 2000, which dealt with both Highways 18 and 35. In August 2003, the transportation study team met with the project advisory committee and recommended the use of roundabouts instead of signals. City Council at the time approved the placement of roundabouts on Marquette Road at Blackhawk Avenue and Wisconsin and Iowa Streets. In June, 2005, the La Crosse office of the DOT took over the Marquette Road portion of the projects, and in March, 2006 presented City Council with additional information about roundabouts and recommended they be constructed. Studies show that Marquette Road carries up to 18,000 vehicles per day, and the lack of left turn lanes creates traffic back-ups. In addition, because of the high volume of traffic, it is very difficult for drivers to to make a left turn on to Marquette from a side road. According to the DOT, the crash rates on Marquette from Webster Street to Blackhawk Avenue are about double the state average for an urban street. The entire improvement project will include Marquette from Cliffwood to LaPointe, with the section from Washington to Webster slated for construction in 2012, Webster to LaPoint in 2013, and Washington to Cliffwood in 2014. The cost of the 2012 phase of the project, from Washington to Webster, is estimated at 3.2 million dollars. According to the DOT, the project will require a fair amount of property acquisition and relocation, with the majority of the impact encompassing the three roundabout intersections. The roundabouts remain the most controversial part of the project. According to the DOT, roundabouts provide up to a 90 percent reduction in fatalities, a 76 percent reduction in injury crashes and a 30-40 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes. They reduce the number of conflict points„places where vehicles could collide„from 32 at a conventional intersection to eight in a roundabout. In addition, roundabouts slow traffic, add aesthetic value with the landscaped central islands, and reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. The savings from lack of signal installation or repair is estimated at $5,000 per year. However, the DOT did not provide specific information about what impact a busy railroad track a block away might have on the roundabouts. At a March 13 meeting held for individuals directly affected by the proposed construction, members of the audience voiced concern about traffic flow and safety when traffic is delayed by trains. Since the railroad tracks are only a block west of Marquette, they worried about the potential for traffic snarls and delayed emergency vehicles. Project Engineer Craig Fisher said the backup [created by a passing train] in the roundabout would be similar to a backup at a signalized intersection, but the backup would empty out sooner. He did not, however, provide any other data. Persons who are unable to attend March 21 meeting can contribute comments about the project by contacting WisDOT Project Supervisor Ian Winger at: Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Southwest Region„La Crosse Office, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, WI 54601-6767, (608) 789-5541.
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