THE BRIGHT SIDE-Lisa Otto

The Committee of the Whole meeting is a monthly meeting of the public.
This is the residents, or really anyone’s, chance to speak about issues they feel necessary to be heard. September’s meeting was last week, and the public came in force. The hot topic was short term rentals, and the people there all were opposed and frustrated with the way the city is handling, or rather, not handling the issue. Residents continue to show up at city meetings and are not letting up on the issue and want something done. Not only are neighborhoods concerned but residents all over the city share the same frustration. The people refer to these Airbnb, VRBO, vacation rentals, as DeFacto hotels.

Restrictions and enforcement are needed. Short-term rentals are overwhelming the city, which is not surprising, what with Lake Geneva being a tourist town, but it is also home to over seven thousand residents who are feeling the consequences of the rentals. These rentals continue to diminish the small town feel and tight knit community residents cherish and raise taxes, cost of properties, and monthly rents. At the last city council meeting city officials discussed these DeFacto hotels and the fact that most of them are not in compliance with city rules and yet continue to operate with no consequences.

A resident of Lake Geneva and a regular at city meetings shared some information she has researched somewhat and out of the over 200 vacation rentals listed in Lake Geneva on the internet only 75 are registered and in compliance with city ordinances. This is affecting the city, the residents, and remains completely unacceptable.

Place of the Week

Ralph’s Wonderful Gyros and Italian beef sandwiches