Prairie du Chien City Council last night tabled action on a proposed storm water utility following a proposal, presented by a group of area businessmen, to do some of the major work themselves.

At the public hearing preceding the council meeting, Blair Dillman brought forth a proposal to do some of the city's highest-priority storm water projects at no cost to the city.

Dillman, representing a group of businesses which includes Design Homes, Cabella's, Dillman Equipment and Prairie Industries, proposed to do two or three this year and continue to do the same number each year until the major projects are completed.

Dillman identified three sites they would do first:

*an area off McLeod Street near Bennett Hardwoods where flooding is a problem, with an estimated repair cost of $17,000

*the ditch east of Jackson, where a bridge with three culverts beneath it would be replaced by a large box culvert, thus allowing water to flow more freely, estimated to cost $90,000

*an intake and ditch east of Fillmore, where debris currently gets into the drainage pipes and clogs them, estimated to cost $115,000.

Those projects alone, he said, would reduce the amount of money needed for storm water management by $122,000.

"We'd much rather support the city in that way than have a storm water management fund."

Dillman also suggested the creation of an advisory committee of businessmen who would work with the city in problem-solving.

Mayor Cheryl Mader expressed appreciation for the offer, but said, "A lot of people have put in hundreds of hours of work [on the utility proposal]. If we decide to put our faith in you, do we have any assurance?" Dillman said the group would be happy to enter into an agreement with the city.

Council member Joe Ruskey questioned the sincerity of the offer, stating, "You say you want business involvement. We've been meeting for a year an a half, but you only show up at the last minute."

Chris Mara spoke in favor of Dillman's proposal, saying that the business community believes once the major problems are addressed, the sewer, water and street departments should start budgeting for maintenance and won't need a utility.

City Administrator Gordon Gallagher stated that might sound good, but city budgets are based on priorities and "oftentimes underground things tend not to be a priority and the money gets diverted for something else."

Riebe added: "If I want to go on vacation, I take a second job to make more money. If we want to budget for utility work we need to put the money somewhere it can't be touched. I agree that if we can trim the budget that's an advantage, but I think we still need a utility."

In response to a statement by Mara that "If you heap costs on businesses you'll start driving them away," Waste Water Superintendent Terry Meyer responded that in a business retention survey, business representatives listed storm water maintenance as a high priority.

In the council meeting following the hearing, Joe Dorava of Vierbicher and Associates summed up the advantages of a utility:

*a consistent revenue source for planning utility management

*money in the utility would be dedicated only to storm water management

*it's a more equitable system in that it collects money based on runoff rather than property valuation

*the revised proposal reflects budget and rate distributions based on input from the public and the business community.

There will be a Prairie du Chien School District referendum concerning facility projects and debt refinancing on Tuesday, Oct. 30. District residents will vote on three questions in the referendum.

The first question asks residents whether to authorize $995,000 for the 2007-2008 school year for facility improvements of the high school including the HVAC plant (remove steam pipes and replace them with hot/chilled water pipes), asbestos abatement (mainly removing floor tile containing asbestos and replacing the tile), and other facility and grounds projects of the school district (replace two wood storage buildings with one pole/steel building and replacement of as much roof as possible).

The second question asks residents whether or not to authorize $995,000 for the 2008-2009 school year for facility improvements at the high school including the HVAC plant (chilled water system), south parking lot (resurfacing of existing asphalt and expansion of the south lot), renovation of locker room areas, and other district facility and grounds projects of the school district (such as continued replacement of as much roof as possible).

The Prairie du Chien School Board has vowed, that if the referendum regarding questions one and two are approved, the tax rate for school purposes will not be increased.

The third question concerns debt refinancing in an amount not to exceed $2.8 million. Should this part of the referendum pass, the money that the district already has in Fund 38 would simply be transferred into Fund 39. There would be no new borrowing. This refinancing would allow the district:

*to have increased flexibility under the revenue limits law.

*to combine all district debt into on fund.

*to "shop" for the best financing bonds or loans.

Facility and grounds projects identified in question one of the referendum include an estimated $135,000 for removal and replacement of pipes in the tunnels, $300,000 for removal of all known asbestos, $400,000 for the replacement of tile flooring, $100,000 for the 40x136 pole/steel storage building, and $60,000+ for roof repairs.

Facility and grounds projects identified in question two include $110,000 for unireventilators/air handlers, $250,000 for parking lot improvements, $435,000 for remodeling of locker rooms, $150,000 for HVAC chiller system, and whatever is left over (an unknown amount due to the bid process) for roof repairs.

In a brochure, district representatives state that the referendum is being proposed because the district:

*needs to protect its assets.

*needs to provide a learning environment for students.

*needs to keep ahead on repairs so that there will be no need to build a new school.

The brochure also states that the district is stable and that:

*enrollment is stable, but with a very slow decline.

*there are good buildings which need tender loving care.

*there is a fully certified staff.

*there is solid programming.

*there are great academics and activities.

*The schools are a source of pride for the whole area.

Starting next spring, Blackhawk Avenue in Prairie du Chien is scheduled to get a major face lift. But actually, it's far more than a face lift; the street will be redone from the inside out with an all new infrastructure„sanitary sewer, water mains and streets.

The street and water improvements will be funded largely through Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water low interest loans from the Department of Natural Resources. This part of the project will include Blackhawk Ave. from Main Street to Illinois; Beaumont Road from Wisconsin to Frederick; Main Street from Wisconsin to Washington and Prairie Street from Iowa to West Louis streets.

Following these improvements, Blackhawk Avenue, from Main Street to Illinois, will have new streetlights, sidewalks with decorative strips of stamped concrete, benches, drinking fountains, garbage cans and more green areas as well as informational signage.

At a public information meeting Monday night, Bill Nelson and Patrick Cleary of Vierbicher Associates, outlined the project and presented sketches of some of the proposed streetscape improvements.

New street lights will be patterned after those shown in a photo of downtown Prairie du Chien in the 1930s. Shorter than the current streetlights , they will also be more closely spaced, about four or five per block-Six foot black benches with steel rod slats and trash receptacles of a similar style will be positioned at several spots on each block.

Both movable planters and planting areas enclosed by steel fencing are envisioned in the plan, as well as two drinking fountains, one to be located near the Knowlton house and one at the corner of Main and Blackhawk.

Four types of trees have been selected as primary plantings: a seedless and thornless honey locust, a hybrid elm with resistance to Dutch Elm Disease, gingko and little leaf linden. River birch and amur maple have been chosen as accent plantings. It is important, said Cleary, to have a variety of trees so that no single disease can wipe them out.

Most of the existing trees, said Cleary, are maples, and in bad shape. They plan to keep two of those trees in the block between Prairie and Main Street, and one next to the Knowlton House near the intersection with Beaumont.

Sidewalks will be widened about a foot, and accented with a strip of decorative stamped concrete.

A pocket park is planned in the public lot at the corner of Main and Blackhawk, and, said Cleary, they are also looking at putting in a low stone wall along the parking area.

These visible improvements are all made possible because of a $660,000 enhancement grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Prairie du Chien Revitalization, Inc. has committed to seeking additional funding to make up the difference between the grant and the cost of the entire streetscape project (estimated at $825,000), according to Pam Ritchie, PRDI director.

She said they are hoping to obtain funding from both public and private entities, and will be giving residents an opportunity to purchase a street lamp, bench or other item for the streetscape, perhaps as a memorial.

A $300,000 block grant from the Department of Commerce can also be used for certain aspects of the infrastructure and streetscape work.

The design committee envisions a streetscape which ties in with and leads the eye toward what is already on St. Feriole island. Benches and amenities will reflect the same type of styling as those on the island, creating a natural flow.

They envision plaques, with quotations from "people who have walked these streets before us" embedded in the sidewalks. Other possibilities include a community bulletin board and informational kiosks. Exactly how much can be done will depend on the amount of money raised.

The new strip mall being built in Bridgeport Township next to the Wal-Mart SuperCenter is projected to be open in October.

Nathan Plaza will have a color theme to match the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Nathan Plaza will be the first of its kind in Wisconsin, said developer Douglas Bercu of Marietta, Georgia, who has 25 other centers in 10 states.

"I liked the area and felt it was a good market," said Bercu, who graduated from U.W. La Crosse.

"The town of Bridgeport was a big help," said Bercu, who is the head of Timber Development Corporation. "We're very happy with the turnout of the mall to date."

Bercu said that the mall will include Fantastic Sam's Hair Shop, Cottonwood Financial Check Cashing, Dollar Tree, Maurices, The Shoe Department, a Mexican restaurant called Las Fajitas, and a Chinese restaurant. There is one spot remaining to be filled.

Gateway Retail Center is still a viable project

Rumors to the contrary, the planned Gateway Retail Center to be located at 145 N. Marquette Road in Prairie du Chien is still a viable project.

Developer Marty Rifkin said the project has been delayed, but he hopes to have the first of two buildings started by this fall. Although they had planned to break ground this spring, Rifken said there were two major reasons for the delay: it took longer than anticipated before the Wolf Machine property became available, and they needed to cut overall costs by doing some building redesign.

They have appeared before the city planning committee to present their revised site plans and they are still waiting for some approvals from the city.

Rifkin said what may have given rise to some of the rumors was that he sold a piece of the property to Paul and Tina Clements, who plan to build "Twister"s," a restaurant, arcade and bar on the corner of Hayden St.

Tina Clements said the building will be 8,100 square feet, and while it is not intended for formal dining, it will be a step up from fast food. "The salad bar will be spectacular," she said, "and the entire place will be smoke free." If all goes according to plan, Clements said, they will break ground this fall.

Jenny Lessard may be the only woman in Crawford County who enjoys doing dishes. "After being so limited for four years," she says, "it's one of my small pleasures."