SURPRISING STUFF

Cutting costs by not cutting grass is on the table in the public works department of Lake Geneva.
This is a topic that has been thrown around in different city meetings and, most recently, was discussed in more detail at the special public works meeting last week. Native plants were discussed as being beneficial to this cause and beneficial to native wildlife, as well. Replacing grass with native plants could potentially save money in mowing costs every year and ease the workload of public works employees. There are different areas that public works mow around Lake Geneva and it may be a good place to start this project.

A stretch along Edwards Boulevard, the lakefront, a small traffic triangle on Williams Street, and areas along the White River in the Disc Park are locations where native plants could create an interesting and pleasing view instead of the high maintenance grass that currently exists. This is not as simple a project as it first sounds.  All the different committees would need to be educated on what native plants could be found and purchased, as well as the maintenance of those plants would need to be studied.

The public works crew would need to be educated on the care and maintenance (if any is needed) of the native plants. There are also safety and visibility issues that may need to be considered. The avian committee is on board with the idea, and its members believe native plants would be extremely beneficial for migrating birds, and wildlife in general. Support for this idea was entertained at the meeting by the public works department and committee. The park board has also shown interest in the native plant idea and would like to hear more about it. The public works committee is taking the next step and having the public works director take a closer look and get educated on the different plant options that may be available, and the care of such plants.

Public Works Director Earle will put together a report to present at the next park board meeting to be held on April 19th. Implementation of this idea isn’t going to be ready for spring planting in 2022, but if all goes well and everyone is in agreement, then native planting could be done in the spring of 2023.

Geneva Lake has open waters, warmer weather on the way, and vacationers are no doubt getting ready to enjoy everything the lake has to offer.
A sure sign that summer is getting closer is Lake Geneva Cruise Line selling season tickets, now available for purchase online. Weekend tours will be available in April (weather depending) and daily tours begin on May 1st. Everyone is looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors after a long winter, and the lake is the perfect setting to do just that while relaxing and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

One of the most popular tours is the mailboat, where some lakeside residents have mail delivered right to a pier-mounted mailbox, and the mailboat never stops, sometimes resulting in unexpected entertainment and a wet mail delivery person! The mailboat tours sell out early so make sure to book as soon as possible. Tickets are available at www.cruiselakegeneva.com.

Sometimes, just sometimes, people who seem headed in one direction, suddenly do an about-face and head back toward rationality.
Rich Hedlund.  Alderperson of some seniority.  Soon to retire from the city council.  He was noted in a previous article by the Geneva Shore Report as a ‘part-time’ member of the Good Old Boy network that has remained lain across the political existence of Lake Geneva for two decades, if not more.  He recently voted against the Lake Geneva Regional News, in its attempt to garner another ten grand to put on a bacon fest…of all things. Hedlund voted against the city laying down (through the tourism commission) ten grand to buy the influence of a newspaper that has only a passing association with bacon (that would be pork).  Hedlund fired a round for objective freedom, even though the round struck on fallow fields.  The vote went against Hedlund and for the ‘purchase’ of the Regional News integrity.  It was remarkably refreshing to see Hedlund vote that way.