LIVING HERE

Ice report for Geneva Lake area. Doug Ide, from Doug Ide Fishing, shared a report on the ice here, currently covering Geneva Lake.
One of the tools he uses is an Ice Scout, and this valuable tool can be purchased at Lakeside Bait and Tackle. Lakeside has ice shanties that can be rented, ice fishing supplies, and the place is a great resource when it comes to the lake fun and ice safety. The Fontana area of Geneva Lake has little ice yet, but it has plenty of wind, waves, and white caps. Williams Bay is dealing a good measure of ‘push ice’ right now, which is rough stuff pushed in and broken up, only to refreeze, against the shoreline. Linn Road on Lake Geneva is reporting two inches of ice so it’s not ready yet. to be ventured out on.

Trinkle Estates in Lake Geneva, about 25 yards out, has about five inches but a little further out open water can be seen. Geneva Bay is dealing with a lot of chop and push ice. About 75 yards out, just south of the boat launch Geneva Bay is showing 8 inches but this depth is not consistent, so don’t drop your guard yet. Lake Como and Delavan tend to freeze and have a little more ice security, and both are measuring anywhere from six to eight and a half inches in a variety of locations.

Safety should always come first when heading out to do some ice fishing. Always let someone know when and where you are going and, if possible, don’t go alone.

Lake Geneva’s Boat Launch has its issues. 
The location is not convenient for traffic flow, which is a controversial touchy topic that will continue to be an unresolved issue. The number of attendants, the hours they work, and what their duties are and should be when it comes to collecting fees and keeping the launching area moving smoothly is in debate, and then there is the clean boat clean lake campaign to help the lake free of invasive species and healthy well into the future.

The fee collection might be crossed off that list, as the Harbor Master has been working on solutions. Harbor Master Russell would like to move away from the Park Mobile option for the boat launch fees. The Park Mobile App has enforcement issues that would require leasing a reader in order for the PD to read it and enforce it. The reader’s lease is approximately $8,000 every three years. The VIPLY option is a wiser financial option with no capital cost at all. This App is already in use for beach passes to Riviera Beach and could be set up to be very similar. Instructions are: move to the boat launch, choose resident or non-resident, pick the size of the boat being launched, pay the fee, park, scan a QR code, and write the code on a hanger ticket and place it in your car or truck window. Very easy for the users and for enforcement personnel.

The Piers Harbor and Lakefront commission agreed unanimously to this idea. Cash for access to the beach will likely be no more. The kiosks take cash but give no change, and if a change is needed a user currently needs to go downstairs to the beach attendant for that change. This creates a lot of problems, holds up the line, and creates accounting complications. The idea of having the kiosks only accept exact amounts would work but the machines are not set up that way and it is not an option with the current kiosks. Some of the commissioners are hesitant in going cashless but agree with the concerns cash has attached to it. The use of credit cards, or VIPLY, as the only options at the beach moved forward with a recommendation to FLR, and if it makes it to the city council for final approval, the beach as well as the boat launch may be utilizing the technology of today and hopefully with pleasant results.

That many poor people lack credit cards or credit at all appears to mean that such people will not be welcomed at Lake Geneva’s beach.

The Lake Geneva Theater revamp and rebuild is fully underway.
Chad and Peter, the owner and the builder, appeared before the Lake Geneva Plan Commission on Monday to clarify and codify the changes required of the project at their last meeting together.  The changes were made, and those changes were approved by the commission.

Bill Huntress appeared at the commission meeting and spoke when allowed before the nuts and bolts of the meeting really got underway.  Huntress spoke about the fact, as reported in the GSR several times over the last few weeks, about the fact that the money the theater owner was ceded by the city came with specifications and requirements.  The changes being made to the theater complex now, to wit:
adding a beer garden beer and wine service and tapa food restaurant are not within the scope of the agreement the city and the owner signed a few years ago.

The Plan Commission opened discussion on the issue Bill brought up but did not go into detail about the city’s contract with Chad.  They instead decided to refer the matter to the next city council meeting so the mayor and those members of the city council attending the next meeting can go over the contract and what might have to be done, since it appears that this new iteration of the theater does not meet the requirements laid out in that contract.  Only the city council, in concert with the city attorney who drew up the contract, can properly consider what has been done and what might have to be done to either find the owner in default or modify the original contract to allow for the new repurposing of the structure.

Online shopping including ordering, delivery, and pickup continues to become more and more popular.
The pandemic really gave an already growing craze heightened awareness that has a thriving place into the future. Walmart is one of the big contenders in the online shopping game and offers delivery or contactless pickup. Walmart has partnered with door dash to accommodate orders requesting delivery, which utilize the pick-up stalls. The orders for pick-up currently have a place on the south end of the parking lot. It is super simple you pull in, park, call the number on the numbered stall sign and let them know you are there for your order.  An associate brings it out, loads your car, and away you go. As this becomes the new normal, Walmart wants to create a safer more efficient process for its associates and patrons. The new pick-up area will be on the north side of the parking lot before the automotive parking area. This area is less traveled and less congested, offering more space to work with and making it possible to increase the number of stalls available for pick-up. The planned changes will be layout and include plenty of signage to make it safe and easy for everyone involved. If you haven’t already grocery shopped online, you should really give it try. Pick-up service is free, and delivery is a small fee for that wonderful service. Both options are very convenient and a real-time saver, especially for moms with young kids who make a quick shopping trip not so quick sometimes.