LITTLE GEMS
Last week’s plan commission meeting was all about South Street and the potential for an all-purpose pedestrian path.
The people came, lots of them (more than forty), and most were residents of South Street. Many also came from other areas around the street who felt that their own lives would be affected by the construction of the path. Every citizen attending and speaking was in opposition to the path, except one: Lake Geneva’s former Mayor, Tom Hartz, the man who created the idea for the path and then pursued attracting a one-million-dollar grant.
The issues and concerns surrounding the installation of the path seem to outweigh the benefits, at least, seemingly, for so many. The residents of the South Road area are very concerned about safety, as the path would cross almost all their driveways, making entering and exiting from garages built into or next to the residences, a continuous risk that residents do not want to take on. Another very concerning issue residents of the area vocalized were the loss of so many mature and beautiful trees. The trees along South Street make this rural roadway a real treasure and residents do not want to lose that treasure. Anyone driving down the street is taken in by the beauty. Now all those trees are ‘decorated’ with yellow tape, like the blue paint applied to those cows about to be slaughtered. There are over fifty yellow-taped trees along South Road, so picture in your mind such an imagined drive after they are gone.
Alderperson Fesenmaier spoke at the meeting on behalf of her constituents and was appalled that the path is still under consideration. She questioned why the city did not ask for public input before the Tap Grant was applied for. The Tap Grant itself is not enough to cover the cost of the path as it provides just over $800,000, with the city obligated to match thirty percent of that amount ($240,000). The project is expected to cost much more than that, however, and could go as high as three million dollars ($3,000,000). Then there is continuing maintenance of the path, which will add ongoing costs. Fesenmaier spoke eloquently and firmly to the commissioners and city officials, requesting the project be stopped before any more cost is incurred.
This feisty but so ‘spot on’ alderperson then went on to reinforce the fact that grants should never be handled this way this one has been in the future. Due to the overwhelming amount of opposition, the city invited a representative of the DOT to Monday night’s public works meeting. The presentation regarding the project was to enlighten the public and city officials on possible amendments to the path that may change opinions on the project. Are enough changes possible to get residents on board with the path? Nothing has been decided at this point, and all the information is not in, so now everyone waits
The road construction between Lake Geneva, heading west toward the Grand Geneva, still sucks.
But watching the wrongheaded construction, from planning to implementation, may prove to get even more interesting as the days of winter approach. It’s taken the road crew over three months just to ‘nearly’ finish the first half of the road on the northern side. Two lanes are nearly done, with the lines going on the surface last weekend. Now the real fun will begin. Since the first part of the road development has taken a good three and a half months, let’s assume that part will be finished by the end of August. Okay, look at September, October, November, and mid-December. 15 December would seem to be a conservative estimate for the completion of the project. Well, Wisconsin weather is going to have a whole lot to say about that conclusion. Maybe they’ll get lucky. A normal December night in Lake Geneva is around twenty degrees. A bad year can change that to below zero with almost no warning. Good luck on pouring and sealing asphalt in that kind of weather. Travelers using that road may well have to come to adjust to driving on only two lanes until next spring…or summer.
Person of the Week
Clay, a Lake Geneva enthusiast, uses his electric scooter to make getting around downtown easier and more efficient
