OUR PLACE

The Lake Geneva City Council does it again.
Off into secret session.  There’s some sort of a lawsuit, or the threat of a lawsuit, or some such, as the public doesn’t get to know anything about what’s in the meeting, which, of course, rules out the very citizens paying the bills from knowing anything…and therefore, they cannot protest, decide, complain or anything else.

Here’s the ridiculously and idiotically written rule, with respect to legally allowing these supposedly honorable and decent city councilors to run roughshod right over the concerns, thoughts, or potential input into things the citizens ought to know about, but cannot: “Motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(g) for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved.”

Gibberish, more unaccountable and silly gibberish.  It’s also cowardly not to at least indicate who the hell is suing whom.

The precedent-setting Johnson (Marina Bay) case, when it comes to piers being built out to a distance they are not permitted to be built to.
The case of the DNR approving of an extension to the Marina Bay Pier, located on the shore of Wrigley Drive in Lake Geneva, to go out to 130 feet instead of the allowed 100 feet was appealed and the court agreed that the Marine Pier owners were not a municipal pier of any kind and therefore, as a private pier were and are required to obey the same regulations as every other private pier owner.  Here is the quoted conclusion of the appeals court with respect to forcing Marine Bay’s owner to retreat back to a hundred feet in length:

“The affidavit of City Administrator Dennis Jordan set out the public purposes and uses of the City’s piers. The public may access the piers from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily from April 15 through November 1. The public may sit or walk on the piers, patronize shops on the piers, fish from the piers, board commercial boats from the piers, purchase gas for boats, and rent boat slips. The public may use other municipal piers for boat launching and boat storage. Jordan’s affidavit stated that the revenue generated by the City’s piers is used to install and maintain the piers or to cover project costs in the tax incremental district in which the piers are located.  One public pier gas facility was replaced because it was completely deteriorated. Another pier was newly constructed. Otherwise, the City’s piers have not been reconstructed. Marina Bay’s private enterprise pier does not have the same characteristics as the municipal pier. We conclude that there were no material factual issues precluding dismissal on summary judgment of Marina Bay’s equal protection claim.”

This is the same action being recommended by citizen Dick Malmin, a resident owning a nearby home near the proposed pier.  That pier has recently been allowed by the DNR to continue building an extension to the Lazzaroni Pier to out to 130 feet.  Malmin feels that this course of action is best for nearby residents, the safety of boaters, swimmers, and drivers, as well as to prevent personal claiming and possession of private harbors.  After consulting with Tom Gardiner, his attorney, Mr. Malmin is apparently ready to proceed.  It is Dick’s stated intention to see that the principal and action upheld by the appeals court is repeated in the Lazzaroni case if that is at all possible.

Lake Lawn Development moves forward, as construction has begun along Highway 50.
The Delavan Common Council approved two steps of a process allowing Lake Lawn Resort to build several residential units on the east end of the property, to be called the ‘Harbor Club at Lake Lawn.’ The development will have two parts on either side of the marina. On one side will have a 20 multi-unit set of villas with two units per villa. The other side will include 61 single-family detached homes that will be occupied mainly as second homes by non-resident visitors. Floor plans are to be flexible, with most having a second-floor balcony to enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. Most will also have their homes extended out, forward of a garage in order to help avoid a ‘garage dominate’ look.

The exteriors of the villas and single-family homes, including yards and landscaping, will be handled by the development’s homeowner’s association to maintain consistency and a resort atmosphere. The property will also host a 40,915 square foot, two-story, convention center on the underutilized portion of the land. As agreed, upon, between Lake Lawn, the City of Delavan, and Fairwyn (think Symphony Bay developer), a number of properties will be available for short-term rental programs to be administered by Lake Lawn Lodge.

Improvements to the intersection at Highway 50 and Highway F are also part of the plan, as that intersection is where the main entrance to the development will be located. Signal lights and turn lanes will be added, and the new entrance to the development will provide a view of the marina. The entryway will be dedicated to the public, although the development will maintain itself per the development agreement with the city.