St. Feriole Island Improvement Fund could utilize tariffs for revenue
By Correne Martin
A St. Feriole Island Improvement Fund is being created by the city of Prairie du Chien, with plans for revenue to come from an increase in the island tariffs. A new tariff agreement is also being drafted. The Prairie du Chien Common Council approved moving forward with these actions during its regular meeting Tuesday night. A second and final reading of the proposals will be up for council approval on June 16.
Under the proposal, the tariff would be increased 100 percent over the next five years, in annual increments of 20 percent, with the majority of the new revenue going to the island improvement fund. After 2020, half of the new revenue would go into the fund and the other half would be placed in the city’s general fund.
According to City Administrator Aaron Kramer, this would provide a steady annual stream of revenue to make improvements to St. Feriole Island. Kramer said the tariff fees have not increased since the city and Blair Dillman, of Prairie Sand and Gravel, signed a tariff agreement in 1994. Kramer said the tariffs were actually reduced between 2004 and 2009.
At a May 19 meeting of the finance committee, Dillman said he was opposed to the proposal as is and would like to see the next 10 years of tariff revenue go only to improvements on the island and not into the general fund. In response to Dillman’s desires, Kramer said that, if some of the revenue was not filtered into the general fund, it would create a 10-year deficit of about $250,000.
The improvement fund and tariff revenue proposal presented to the council Tuesday night, during a first reading, included the general fund premise.
Agreement for development
Following closed session, the council approved a developer’s agreement between the city and Bridger Acquisitions, for a $1 million development project on the 100 block of South Marquette Road, across from Hartig Drug. The 8,050-square-feet of land is bordered by Marquette Road on the west, an alley on the east, Blackhawk Avenue on the north and Wisconsin Street on the south, but it does not include the 9,000-square-foot pocket park at the southeast corner of Marquette.
According to Bizapedia.com, Bridger Acquisitions is a Madison limited-liability company registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions since 2011. The company’s registered agent is listed as Todd Waller, of Madison.
“The building, as being represented to us, will be a very attractive addition to the entrance for our downtown,” Kramer said.
La Riviere Park harvest
A selective timber harvest of property at La Riviere Park was approved by the council, 5-2, with Ron Leys and Edward Hayes-Hall opposed, Tuesday night. Gary Harden, a consultant from Driftless Area Forestry, addressed the council regarding the harvest, which was previously approved by the council in the urban forestry and La Riviere Park plans. The park board also recommended approval of the action.
Many of the council’s questions Tuesday night were in regard to the payment plan, for which there are two options: a flat fee or a payment based on a percentage of the trees sold. The council chose payment based on percentage of sales.
Other business
The council also:
•approved implementing an adhesive sticker program for the boat launch passes in 2016. This action followed a second reading of the proposal. The stickers will replace the current paper boat passes.
•heard from Kramer that the city is working with an individual interested in bringing a horse-drawn carriage to the downtown and St. Feriole Island.
