LIVING HERE
The expansion of the roadway between Edwards Boulevard to Curtis Street from two lanes to three lanes project has been denied by the state.
The DOT decided it is currently not warranted and they will not participate in the project and it would be on the city if they wanted it done. City Alderperson Fusenmaier requested that the Public Works Department manager ask the DOT if they would be willing to focus on adding east and west bound turn lanes into the Hillmoor property only. The city is expecting future traffic in and out of this property to increase substantially in the near future and is looking for help funding the infrastructure needs anticipated. The issue was continued until the DOT responds to the request. Edwards Boulevard is the obvious overflow for the Hillmoor property, no matter what is developed there. If the state will not participate, then the city must step in or leave Hillmoor to lay there as the badly kept park it might just out to be.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has made a presentation to the City of Lake Geneva regarding the Premier Resort Area Tax (PRAT).
In order to enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution declaring itself to be a premier resort area at least 40% of the taxable property must be tourist related. Does the city qualify? If not by how much? Will they file for an exception if they are under 40%? The proceeds from the tax must be used for infrastructure expenses within the jurisdiction of the premier resort area. This can include purchasing, constructing, or improving parking lots, transportation costs associated with roads and bridges; sewer and water facilities, exposition center facilities used primarily for conventions, expositions, trade shows, musical or dramatic events, or other events, parks, boat ramps, beaches, and other recreational facilities; fire-fighting equipment; police vehicles; ambulances; and other equipment or materials dedicated to public safety or public works.
These additional funds could help with a lot of the necessities, wants and dreams that the city has. It seems only fair that the visitors help pay for the additional cost of the wear and tear the city must take on. A county or municipality receives 97% of the taxes reported minus the municipality’s or county’s portion of the retailers’ discounts. Every seller making sales of products or services that are subject to the 5% Wisconsin state sales tax, would be subject to the premier resort area tax on such sales if the sale, license, lease, or rental takes place in a premier resort area, and the seller is classified in the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual which includes almost everything but government agencies. This could be a big advantage for Lake Geneva, especially with all the repairs the streets need and the parking nightmare.
Will the City of Lake Geneva go to referendum to vote on the PRAT? Only time will tell. Lake Geneva City Council President must be applauded for his fierce support of this much needed financial aid. Mr. Hedlund has not been one to receive such plaudits from the GSR but this time, he’s working away to get even more.
What’s going on with the YMCA.
At the Meeting of the Whole, the first one to be held in quite some time, the “Y” board representatives came up with their newly revealed plan to be the featured ‘anchor’ structure and operation to be built on the Hillmoor property newly acquired by the City of Lake Geneva. The property already ceded to the Y out on Edwards Boulevard isn’t sufficient for their publicity needs, or whatever, apparently. They want a central role in Lake Geneva’s existence and presence. Their slides, representing what they want to build, beautiful as they were at the meeting, were denied by the mayor in being published on the city’s website. Those representations of the plan were also not given out in the council package as is generally the case for those items put on the council agenda.
So, what’s going on? The “Y” now wants to raise twenty million dollars in its phase one plan to build. Highway 50 and Edwards Boulevard traffic problems appear to be ‘no problem’ for the building of this fitness center, along with parking lots, etc. Is Lake Geneva going to be bought into this plan? The presentation was made simply to be a presentation, however, so no action was taken or planned for the future.
Dr. Livingston, I presume. Jim Livingston is running for re-election in the Town of Linn. He’ll be on the ballot running against somebody nobody’s ever heard of before, but it is a rural township, after all. Livingston, a retired engineer of some qualitative distinction, has done a wonderful job as a member of the current town board and the township would be well served to have him repeat. He’s always present and he’s always got something intellectually interesting and true to relate.
