Marquette Road to be completed Nov. 30
The final leg of the Marquette Road construction project in Prairie du Chien will be done this week and open to all traffic late in the day Friday, Nov. 30. Pictured, a machine brushes the new highway surface in preparation for project completion. (Photo by Correne Martin)
By Correne Martin
A completion date for Marquette Road construction was announced, a new council person was sworn in, the SMRT Bus vehicles were assigned to La Crosse County, and the council vocalized its unofficial budgetary intent for two economic development entities. This all took place at last week’s council meeting, Nov. 20.
Mayor Dave Hemmer said Friday, Nov. 30 is the day Marquette Road/Highway 35 will reopen to all traffic. The road work is expected to be finished this week. Then, following a ribbon cutting late in the day on Friday, the road will officially open.
“With a couple of late-season weather delays, the multi-purpose path won’t be done until spring because they can’t lay blacktop down and expect it to set up now. They will come re-do that area,” Hemmer said. He also noted, according to the electrical contractor, the street lamps had not “come in yet.” So the road may possibly open without them on Friday.
Alderwoman sworn in
A new alderperson, Kelssi Copus, was sworn in by City Clerk Tina Fuller at the council meeting, following council approval. She will represent the third aldermanic district, in place of Todd Crotty, who stepped down mid-term, after being appointed to the council himself in January 2016. Copus is a first grade teacher in the Prairie du Chien Area School District. She said she’s looking forward to making positive connections between the city and district.
SMRT bus reassignment
In the works for some time, the assignment of the SMRT Commuter Bus fleet, paperwork and cost to La Crosse County was finally approved by the council. The city of Prairie du Chien has sponsored its grants and overseen the system, operated by Running Inc., since 2012. The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission has been contracted by the city to coordinate, organize and promote SMRT Bus efforts. With increasing ridership, the bus includes various routes to and from Prairie du Chien and La Crosse, including a number of communities in between.
According to a May council report from City Planner Garth Frable, La Crosse County intends to take over ownership of the grant and purchase the vehicles by January 2019.
Economic development budget requests
Driftless Development President Duane Rogers and PdC Main Street President Marlene Dyer spoke briefly to the council to validate their annual budget requests from the city and ensure support from the council. The council seemed supportive of $10,000 each for the two organizations, which collectively work toward leveraging economic development efforts for the region.
Rogers explained a few of their goals for the coming years: 1) forming an employee mastermind group to focus on attracting quality employees for area businesses; 2) conducting a housing study; 3) determining the retail sectors that are lacking in county communities; 4) working on broadband development across the county; and 5) making communities more attractive for younger families. In terms of funds, Driftless Development’s goal is an annual budget of $250,000.
“Right now, we’re $50,000-$70,000 away from that goal,” Rogers stated.
He added, historically, the county has given $70,000 toward what is now Driftless Development, and the city has given $10,000 to PdC Main Street. That alone is $80,000 toward the $250,000, and the remainder is hoped to come from private sector contributions.
In the beginning of 2018, PdC Main Street—the city’s economic development entity—came together with Driftless Development—which absorbed Crawford County’s economic development body over the past 12-18 months.
The council and its finance committee will take these pleas as well as those from all city departments and community organizations into consideration when figuring the final budget for the coming year. The budget will be up for final approval, following a public hearing, at the Dec. 11 council meeting.
Chamber addition under budget
Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob Moses also reported to the council Tuesday night, regarding a long-discussed addition to the tourist information center.
“We break ground April 1,” Moses said. He commented that he anticipates coming in about $10,000 under budget, since a layout rearrangement has been made, eliminating the need for an additional bathroom for after-hours meeting users.
He said the DOT owns the land, the city owns the building and the chamber leases the building from the city. The city and DOT recently signed another 40-year lease.
Grant application
In other minor business, a resolution was approved authorizing the city to apply for a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Community Development Investment Grant. This would support Sheckler Development LLC’s waterfront hotel project in downtown Prairie du Chien, particularly finishing of a third floor.
