Lake Geneva aldermen vote down bid for public works parking lot project (copy)

Lake Geneva aldermen feel other projects need to be completed within the city before a Public Works Department parking lot receives some tender, loving, care.

Members of the Lake Geneva City Council voted down a $123,179 bid from the Poblocki Paving Company in New Berlin, Sept. 9, to complete repair work to a parking lot at the Public Works Department.

The bid was rejected by a 5-3 vote with alderwomen Mary Jo Fesenmaier, Sherri Ames, Cindy Yager, Peg Esposito and Linda Frame voting "no," and aldermen Joel Hoiland, Ken Howell and Shari Straube voting in favor.

Members of the City Council's Finance, Licensing and Regulation Committee approved the bid during their Sept. 3 meeting by a 4-1 vote with Fesenmaier voting "no."

The project was set to include repair work to a parking lot in front of Street Department buildings one and three on Carey Street.

"It takes care of that entire stretch where you see a lot of folks just pulling up and running into those workshops, usually pretty quickly," Bridget Barry, staff engineer for Kapur & Associates said during the Finance, Licensing and Regulation Committee meeting. "It's not where they park full time, but we're redoing all the asphalt as well as the concrete in front of those building doors and other things, because it has not been touched up in many years."

During the City Council meeting, Frame said several road improvement projects should be completed first before the Public Works Department parking lot is repaired.

"There are a number of residents who disagree with this, because we need to take care of our residential streets," Frame said. "In my district alone, there's a lot of pavement that needs to be repaired that has been ignored for a long time. In other districts, I think they would see that as well. I understand the department of Public Works gets a lot of new things that they need. I support that. However, I think we need to put this one on the back burner."

Frame said repair work also needs to be done to several of the roads in Oak Hill Cemetery.

"We have been ignoring the cemetery also, which is in dire need of a capital improvement," Frame said. "We've had several people who have brought this up in our Cemetery Board meetings, and the pavement up there is actually gross. We got deep holes there, and you can't even take a vehicle through it. It's hard to walk on those roads, and that's part of the residents' issues."

Ames said she also feels other city projects should be completed before work is done to the Public Works Department parking lot.

"I think we need to start spending our tax money on things that the residents can see like Highway 50, getting that repaired, and getting Channel 25 back on," Ames said. "These are things the residents can see us doing and that's who we have to answer to. I think we need to remember who we're representing here."

Hoiland said the parking lot should be repaired because the public works staff maintains the city streets and their vehicles need to be in quality condition in order for them to do their jobs.

He said the project also is included in the city's budget.

"There's no doubt that there's many areas of the city that need maintenance and repairs," Hoiland said. "But let's keep in mind that the Public Works Department is our maintenance and repairs department and if they have parking lot issues, if they have road issues that are impacting their vehicles, that's one major issue because they're out there plowing our snow, mowing our grass and those types of things. The other thing is we budgeted for this, so that's another factor."

Hoiland said the project should be completed before the winter season hits the area.

"The season to put this in is fast fading. Perhaps at the end of October or November when it gets could, they can't continue to do this," Hoiland said. "So if it's going to get done, we need to approve it today so it can get done in a timely manner. I urge you to support this because this needs to be done."

Flashing beacons approved for Main Street

Also during the meeting, the City Council members unanimously approved to install rapid flashing beacons on Main Street near Mill Street.

The project is set to cost about $15,000 with the money coming from the city's contingency fund.

Mayor Todd Krause said he has met with Police Chief Edward Gritzner and Public Works Director Tom Earle regarding the project and they feel the flashing beacons need to be install near the crosswalks in that area to make motorists more aware of pedestrians.

"It's a three-way crossing and quite dangerous and not marked well," Krause said. "What we're looking to do is to put rapid flashings on the appropriate side of the eastbound and westbound lanes, and then additionally put another crosswalk indicator on the other side of it. So we get kind of a double whammy."

Frame said she has received phone calls from residents asking why the flashing beacons are being installed in that area of Main Street, and she said it is because of the amount of traffic in that area and because it is often difficult for motorists to see pedestrians near that intersection.

"That is a faster area and there is a lot of traffic congestion and for the people who are standing on the curb, there is no bump out, and the drivers can't see them and the cars whizzing by can't see them because of the parked cars on either side of the street," Frame said. "So that's why, it's much more dangerous and very important."