SMRT Bus adding La Farge route, Dock Holiday relocates boat docks
Council approves TIF assistance for new clinic
By Correne Martin
The Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) Bus system looks to add a La Farge route to its service in the near future. This decision is based upon anticipation of 5,000 additional rides annually and $5,000 in program support each year from La Farge’s Organic Valley, which would be the catalyst for the extra rides.
The Prairie du Chien Common Council approved an amendment to operating assistance for the system during its bi-monthly meeting Tuesday night. The council also approved a services agreement with Organic Valley.
“We’re always looking at expanding the services of the SMRT system and making it more efficient,” City Planner Garth Frable stated, “especially when the state continues to cut back on our aid to systems like this.”
The addition of a La Farge route will add 256 operating hours to the service. To offset these hours, a couple of the seven existing routes between La Crosse and Viroqua will likely be eliminated. Frable said the stops removed will be ones that have had low ridership.
He also noted that, in addition to Organic Valley’s commitment to financial contribution, numerous employers and public entities already help to subsidize the bus system. Those entities include Gundersen Lutheran, Crossing Rivers Health, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Southwest Tech and a number of local governments.
New clinic assisted
PdC Capital, LLC, is proposing a $1.7 million, 7,760-square-foot eye clinic and dental clinic for Gundersen Lutheran to be constructed southeast of the Blackhawk Avenue/Marquette Road roundabout in Prairie du Chien. Part of the project, which will involve Gundersen Eye Clinic moving from its downtown location, is the land purchase for $101,500. During Tuesday’s meeting, the council approved a tax increment financing (TIF) assistance request from PdC Capital for $11,500 from TID #4, contingent on the company providing proof of primary bank financing for the project.
“The goal with this is to improve liquidity and cash balance for this project so it can be completed quickly,” City Administrator Aaron Kramer said. “They are still targeting a February of 2016 opening of this clinic.”
Dock Holiday relocates
A McGregor business, Dock Holiday, met with the council Tuesday night to discuss relocation of its boat docks and boat slips to just west of St. Feriole Island, in Prairie du Chien. This is the area currently occupied by the city docks. Owner Richard Schroeder informed the council that, with the recent sale and demolition of the Holiday Shores motel in McGregor, the docks were up for use elsewhere.
“We assumed when they sold the property, they’d want us, but they don’t,” Schroeder said. “We’ve found Prairie du Chien to be very receptive and we’d love to call this our new home.”
The council agreed to the relocation and a lease with Dock Holiday for five years, with a five-year renewal, at a fee of $250 per year. According to the agreement, the dock owners will construct a main boat dock and eight boat slips with associated and adjacent finger docks, or slips. The dock will be anchored to the access ramp and the leased property. The relocation will take place at the beginning of the spring 2016 boating season.
Alderman Edward Hayes-Hall asked Schroeder if the city could work around the dock facility in the case that the river wall is remediated. Schroeder said the docks could be temporarily moved in that situation.
Kramer also noted that the current city docks at that location will be recycled. “This is a great step forward for that side of the river wall,” he said.
New roofs approved
The Wacouta Aquatic Park building and Hoffman Hall will both receive new roofs this fall and, according to Parks and Rec Director Mike Ulrich, both are in definite need of replacement. Midwest Builders, of Fennimore, has been awarded the pool roof project for $15,870 (plus any sheeting replacement as necessary). The budgeted amount for this was $42,000, leaving a $26,000 surplus, which will be funneled toward the Hoffman Hall roof project. CustoFoam, of Mauston, will do the work at Hoffman Hall for $185,840, including replacement of the roofing membrane, insulation and any deteriorated decking material.
The council previously approved using $180,000 from leftover Hoffman Hall Capital Campaign funds to pay for this project. Kramer said the remaining $5,840 will come from the 2014-2016 capital fund. The pool roof has a 40-year life expectancy and Hoffman Hall a 20-year expectancy.
Homecoming parade moved
The council approved a parade permit for the Prairie du Chien school district’s homecoming parade, scheduled for Sept. 23. According to Police Chief Chad Abram, the parade route will be the same as last year’s, which, due to Marquette Road construction, was located near the high school instead of on Blackhawk Avenue.
Staging for the parade will be at the Wolf Machine parking lot. The parade will travel 15th Street to Wells to Fremont to Taylor to Crawford and finally to the high school, Abram said. “We received good feedback after last year’s parade,” he stated.
Boy Scout presents project
Boy Scout Jacob Kotte, of Troop 320, appeared in front of the council to present plans for his Eagle Scout project. He would like to build three wooden, octagon benches and place them along the frisbee golf course on St. Feriole Island. He said the benches would be constructed of treated lumber and weatherproof screws and nails. They would be placed atop mulch and within a safe distance to allow for tree growth.
Other business
•A fourth contract with the state for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) project was OK’d by the council, allowing the transfer of $71,929 from the city’s 2014-2016 capital fund to eliminate the negative balance in the engineering account for the SRTS project. The project is now slated for completion in the spring of 2017, which would be nine years after the initial grant was approved.
“According to our calculations, we’ll have about $159,000 in pavement and $157,000 in paperwork, engineering and reviews,” Kramer said. “Even though we have the grant, there are no funds available at the state right now. There should be no reason for any more engineering at this point.”
The city originally obtained the Safe Routes to School grant in 2008, but Kramer said the project has been delayed and modified several times due to the lengthy and cumbersome state and federal regulations.
•A new agreement between the city and Bennett Hardwoods will retain the easements for the Bennett spur rail, unless both parties agree to remove them. The rail itself was removed as part of the North Ohio Street project. The council approved this action Tuesday night.
•In light of the train derailment that occurred Sunday night near the city’s Campion boat landing, Kramer said Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway officials contacted him Tuesday regarding streamlining notification protocols in such instances. BNSF also offered to assist in the city’s upcoming derailment training exercise. A date is yet to be determined.
•The council voted to offer the city’s vacant street department position to Mike Anthony, contingent upon a successful background check and passage of a drug and alcohol screening.
