Prairie du Chien: Council passes ordinances, renews marina lease
By Steve Van Kooten
The second common council meeting of 2025 resulted in the adoption of multiple ordinances and the extension of the lease between the city and the Dillmans for the marina on St. Feriole Island.
In attendance were alderpersons Jaaren Riebe, Andy Ringgold, Kayla Ingham, Bob Granzow, Nate Bremmer, Vicki Waller and Nick Crary. Mayor David Hemmer, City Administrator Chad Abram, City Planner Nate Gilberts, Police Chief Kyle Teynor and Street Superintendent Nick Gilberts were also in attendance. Mark Bowar was absent.
The city approved an amended four-year extension of the marina lease agreement between the city and Dillman Brothers, llc.
The marina is described as the riverfront property on the west side of the Marais de St. Feriole from Washington Street north to the southern boundary of the parking lot for the public boat landing. Additionally, the lease covers an area west of the parking lot where the former marina offices were located.
“We have a lease with Dillman Brothers, LLC, and they were looking to extend that for another four years, the same as it is now, with one change that they’re going to supply us [with] one slip for our emergency vehicles, whether it be the police or fire boat,” Riebe said.
“Nothing else has changed… It’s an extension of the amendment agreement with the one slip provided to the city free of charge for emergency services,” Abram added.
Abram said Dillman Brothers has complied with the lease agreement, which, among other things, required the installation of electrical services to the docks and slips. He added that those services are expected to be completed by the spring.
The extension will last through Dec. 31, 2028.
Dillman Brothers pays $5,000 per year to the city to use the marina, according to the lease.
Ordinances
The council unanimously approved two ordinances during the meeting.
The first ordinance clarified or changed speed limits in different areas of the city, including school zones.
“Basically, we’re just cleaning up the overpass and some of the state highways of what [were already posted], but the ordinance was not up to date. One change is in front of LaRiviere and the horse park right there. That city-owned roadway is reduced from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour,” Riebe said.
Wells Street from the intersection with Fremont Street to the East end of Wells Street and Water Street between Blackhawk Avenue and Villa Louis Road will be changed to 15 miles per hour.
Other streets with speed limits that are reduced to 15 miles per hour include Dousman Street between its intersections with Dunn and Taylor Streets, North Beaumont Road between Washington and Cedar Street, South Michigan Street between East Iowa and East Dunn Streets and South Wacouta Avenue between East Dunn and East Iowa Streets. These changes only affect the speed limit when schools are in session, according to the ordinance text.
East Blackhawk Avenue between Marquette Road and the east city limits, South Marquette Road between Blackhawk Avenue and 200 feet south of Campion Boulevard and North Marquette Road to 200 feet south of East Cedar Street will be 30 miles per hour.
South Marquette Road from 200 feet south of Campion to the south “corporate limits” of the city will be 35 miles per hour. Other streets set at 35 miles per hour include Frederick Street from Wisconsin 35 to the BNSF railroad crossing, Cliffwood Drive from 35 to County Road K and Vineyard Road from its origin to the end of the city roadway.
North Marquette Road from 200 feet south of East Cedar Street to the northern boundary of the city will be 45 miles per hour.
Riebe called the changes “a safety issue” for entrance roadways into the city.
Different signage for these changes will be erected, according to Nick Gilberts.
The second ordinance recreates a portion of the municipal code that defines the hours of operation and limitations for the brush and compost sites.
The compost site hours will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week between April 1 and Nov. 30, with closure on holidays.
The brush site hours will be 8 a.m. to noon on the first Monday of eachmonth between April and November and the second and third Saturday of each month between May and September.
Previously, the brush site was also open on Saturdays during April and October.
“The brush site hours are being reduced in April and October because we are already providing curbside pickup for brush during our city-wide cleanup during those months,” Nick Gilberts wrote the next day. “The number of residents using the site during those months was very low the last few years. We will start picking up brush on the third Monday of the month in April and October in conjunction with the city-wide cleanup.”
The brush site’s reduced hours will not affect the city’s pickup services during natural disasters or other emergencies.
“As any other time when there [is] a huge storm that brush has impacted, the city will still come around and do their part during those times, so don’t think, ‘Oh, there’s this huge storm that came; now what do we do because the brush site isn’t open?’” Ingham said. “The city will still come around during those natural events.”
Both ordinances will take effect after they are published, which is required by state law.
Other business
• Abram said the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department Director Mike Wallace informed him that the Fort Fun survey was completed, with approximately 70 people participating. Results were reviewed this past week.
• In recognition of the 50th Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon, the mayor declared Jan. 19 through Jan. 25 will be designated as Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon Week in the city of Prairie du Chien.
