SMALL GEMS
Christines, the retail store on Main Street in downtown Lake Geneva, took down an obnoxious political sign.
The ownership had placed a huge nasty sign in the front window going after a current politician. The Geneva Shore Report began a small quiet campaign to go against having such signs as a part of the local retail landscape, no matter what politician might be the subject of such an attack. The ownership of the store finally removed the sign, and the staff of the GSR could not be happier. There’s little place for such politics up and down Main Street as the nation is currently polarized with such stuff to the brim.
Holiday parking increase fails at the city council meeting.
The parking ad hoc committee has been meeting with the goal of finding solutions to the parking issues that have plagued Lake Geneva since the production of cars. The ad hoc committee proposed the city increase the Monday holidays during the busy season to $4 and hour increasing the parking revenue by approximately $100,000. The holidays affected include Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. The ad hoc was created with the goal of finding creative parking solutions that would increase parking options and decrease parking rates. This makes it look like the parking ad hoc is working for the city and looking for more ways to increase the city’s bottom line.
The Finance, licensing, and regulation committee liked the idea and sent it to the city council with the recommendation to approve. The council met Monday night and most thought the item had at least enough support to pass. Tammie Carstensen with Harbor Shores spoke during public comments stating that July 4th is too soon to implement the parking increase as many visitors have already booked trips to Lake Geneva with the knowledge that the parking rates are $2 hour on Mondays. This did not sit well with at least one of the yes-votes for the increase the mayor was counting on. Mayor Mayor is, and has been, in favor of the increase stating at the meeting “the city will never have enough money.”
A failed amendment was made to start the $4 on Labor Day. This vote required the mayor to break the tie but she voted no which meant it went back to the original agenda item. After much discussion and confusion, the original vote on the item to raise the parking rate to $4 on Monday holidays was taken and failed.
Place of the Week
Christine’s on Main Street. They took an obnoxious sign down. Go in. Buy something. Thank them.
