OUR PLACE

Lake Geneva boat slip blues.
Lake Geneva has an impressive lakefront with the Riviera complex, the Driehaus plaza highlighting the iconic fountain, the well visited beach, boats of all kinds coming and going, making it a hub of activity. Just east of all this sits the neglected lagoon. For years the lagoon has needed repairs and updates. The dredging of its waters has been on the agenda, never quite making it into the city’s budget. The dam repairs are being pushed back season after season. Most of all the unsafe, inadequate, and insufficient piers are in despair.

The Lake Geneva Harbor Master has put in the work and requested something be done. City officials agree but decisions and a plan has still need to be made. This work comes with a substantial cost and that seems to be a big part of the hold up. The city does not control all of the lagoon the Towers owns most of the slips on the north edge of the lagoon, the dam benefits all municipalities that border Geneva Lake, leaving the south slips and a small number on the northwest edge being Lake Geneva’s. The city has been reluctant to do what everyone knows needs to be done holding out for a commitment from all who will benefit to share in the cost.

The Lake Geneva Piers, Harbor, and Lakefront Committee with another push from the Harbor Master have finally planned to get more information to help with some kind of plan for the lagoon. The harbormaster will be sending out request for proposal to any and all pier companies. The RFP’s will be for the removal of all slips and replacement of piers. The replacement will include different versions of what that could potentially be. Once the numbers are in the city officials can plan on the future of the lagoon. The potential decision to do nothing is still on the table as the revenue the city receives from slip rentals in the lagoon is minimal and the cost of the work is expected to be quite substantial.

 Person of the Week

Mays, the wonderful barista at the Ridge