Seeds sown for potential community gardens
Ed Block appeared before the Prairie du Chien Common Council during the March 18 meeting. Block proposed a community gardens project for the city. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
By Steve Van Kooten
The Prairie du Chien Common Council approved the termination of the lease agreement between the city and Gilly’s Corn Maze during their March 18 meeting.
The termination, dated Feb. 14, was signed by City Administrator Chad Abram and Nicholas Gillitzer, who operated the corn maze.
“I was contacted by Nick, who has been leasing the 17.6 acres in TID (tax incremental district) 9 for the corn maze. He’s no longer going to be doing that, so I need approval tonight to approve the termination of the lease,” Abram said.
The most current lease between the two parties was signed on March 23 of this past year, and Gillitzer contacted the city to pursue ending the agreement, according to documentation provided to the council.
The termination also stipulates that Gillitzer must remove “all crops, structures and improvements” that he made while on the property.
The council also unanimously approved bidding out the property for this year’s planting season. Ads started running in the paper this week.
Abram said the bid process will likely take place before mid-April.
Community garden
Ed Block, a resident of Prairie du Chien, appeared before the council asking permission to evaluate selected city plots for a possible community garden.
According to Alderman at Large Jaaren Riebe, the Parks Board and Public Works Committee recommended the council review Block’s proposal.
Block presented numerous possibilities for a garden, including examples from other cities.
“Basically, it’s people coming together. It’s not them going to a place. It’s people from all over town that would come together and work on the gardens,” he said.
Before approaching the city, Block talked to the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce, Extension Office and other organizations to gauge community interest and received positive feedback.He also suggested that businesses or other organizations may be interested in contributing funding and supplies, including fencing, shelter, stage and other ideas.
“This was another thing I was thinking about. Community members — maybe some businesses here — that have lumber or things like that would contribute to building some benches or give some discounts at the very least,” said Block.
A garden could be used for food crops and for other purposes, including mixing in recreation areas and different types of gardening. It could include elevated beds and other amenities for people with disabilities or small children to still utilize the area.
”It all depends on how fancy or how formal we want to be,” Block said. “I would love to see something like this in our town, where we have raised beds, pathways and about a three- or four-foot high fence.”
Other possible benefits could include, a scenic place for community events and a way for the city to utilize some land that is currently vacant.
Block pointed out that plots in the city, even if vacant, still have some degree of care cost to them from mowing and other maintenance expenditures.
“When you have a community garden, you basically do away with all of that,” he said.
Block also suggested the city could charge a nominal fee for plots of space. No decision has been made on that matter.
Block asked for permission to look at spaces recommended by the city administrator and to assemble a committee for the gardens. The committee would have some people from organizations like the Master Gardeners and the UW-Extension Office as well as “anybody that would be interested in helping.”
“We’d have rules and regulations, like you can’t have any chemicals on there, you can’t grow anything illegal on there and some pretty common sense things,” he said.
The council agreed to have Block look at designated plots in the city to evaluate and to return with design concepts and ideas for a community gardening space.
In attendance were alderpersons Andy Ringgold, Mark Bowar, Bob Granzow, Vicki Waller, Riebe and Crary. Mayor David Hemmer, Abram and Police Chief Kyle Teynor were also present. Nate Bremmer and Kayla Ingham were absent.
Other business
• The city is looking for someone to handle watering the hanging baskets throughout town. The job is seven days a week through the summer months.
• The next council meeting is on April 8 to accommodate the spring election on April 1.
