No grant money for Montello city dam

 

By Kathleen McGwin
The City of Montello is not eligible for a USDA Rural Development grant for the repair of the dam on Montello Lake, the city council learned at Monday’s meeting. Kent Fish from General Engineering explained that because the city bonded the loan recently taken out, it disqualified them for the grant. Mayor Derek Krentz said that the city bonded the loan because it gave them lower interest rates and they did not know it would eliminate them from receiving a grant. This news will probably mean the repair will require a request for an extension from the DNR on the order for repair, moving the work to the fall of 2011.

The Council now has to decide which of the two fixes they will do on the dam. The more expensive of the two would, in Fish’s opinion, be the better option, but either would meet the requirements for safety. Repairing it with Tainter gates would cost about $170,000 more than the other option. Tainter gates are named after a Wisconsin structural engineer and were invented and first used in Menomonie, Wisconsin in 1886. They are used worldwide and on dams and locks on the Columbia and Mississippi Rivers as well as on the Los Angeles Aqueduct. The council will decide on which repair to pursue at their August meeting.

John Faulkner, owner of Sundowner Motel and member of the Tourist Commission, gave a room tax report to the council. The report showed that 75% of 2009 room tax collected totaled $36,243.76. Municipalities that collect room tax were listed in order of most to least and were: Town of Montello, Village of Westfield, Town of Mecan, City of Montello, Town of Packwaukee, Town of Harris, Town of Douglas, Town of Buffalo, Village of Neshkoro, and Village of Oxford.

Room tax is one indicator of growth or decline of tourism. Gross receipts of 75% of room tax collected were 2006-$37,676; 2007-$38,678; 2008-$36,761; 2009-$36,243. Faulkner pointed out that 2008 was the year of the flooding, closing roads around Marquette County, and that the economic downturn has affected tourism numbers across the state. A report from the Wisconsin State Journal showed that state-wide tourist spending was down by $1 billion dollars in 2009 from 2008.

Mayor Krentz read a letter from the DNR asking for reassurance from the city that if the dredge bank road project required easement or purchase of city land by the boat landing parking lot, the city would be agreeable. After discussion, Krentz directed City Clerk Dawn Calnin to inform Tom Nygus of the DNR that the city would cooperate in this manner.

The council approved the Public Safety Meeting minutes of June 28 that approved variances for two upcoming fundraising events. On July 31, Town Pump will have a fundraiser for the Montello Fire Department and asked for permission to allow alcohol consumption in their parking lot, but no sale of alcohol. They will use wristbands and have security, Greg Sondalle, owner of the tavern told the council.

The other event will be on September 25 and is a fundraiser for the parking lot behind businesses on the south side of Montello Street. The Montello Committee of Marquette Now is sponsoring the event that will have music, food, and alcohol. Mark Mueller requested that the noise ordinance be extended from 10 PM to midnight for the event.

The council discussed the numerous complaints from citizens about a business on Main Street that Police Chief Olson said is violating signage, conditional use, and zoning ordinances. The business has already been warned and the city may move on assessing fines.

Little League and the problem of parents failing to volunteer at the concession stand was discussed. The fee for children to join Little League is kept at $10 with the condition that parents volunteer two hours of time at the concession stand during the season. Sales at the concession stand pay for costs of coaches, umpires, and other fees. Councilperson Sue Kozlowzki said that the same parents are volunteering over and over and that others refuse to sign up to fulfill their commitment. Raising fees is an option that has been adopted by many surrounding communities who then give over the concession stand to an outside group or business. Kozlowzki felt that raising the fees is not desirable because then families may not be able to pay and children will not be able to participate. According to the Park Board minutes of May 26, 192 children had signed up.

The possibility that taxpayers may have to pay more for road work on Douglas Avenue because of a delay in the planned construction due to one property owner who has chosen not to sell seven feet of land to the city for the road work was discussed. The property owner, who does not live in Montello according to Mayor Krentz, wants the city to purchase the entire property and has had an attorney send a letter to the city indicating this. The city is now consulting with its own attorney, which may delay the project, causing it to be put off until next year, which will require mobilization of equipment costs again.

The Mayor signed a proclamation declaring 2010 the 75th anniversary of the Montello Public Library and the council passed a resolution recognizing retired Deputy City Clerk and Treasurer Nancy Fitchie for her years of dedicated service.

At the Park Board meeting of June 30, a resolution regarding the concerns between Bud Daggett and the city regarding the use of the City Park was discussed. Mayor Krentz, after the council meeting, said that both sides agreed to return to the unwritten and informal process that had existed before the present dispute about who had control over what could happen at Daggett Park. Neither an ordinance nor a signed agreement were necessary, both sides agreed.