Council authorizes new development agreement for Prairie Bluffs Court

By Steve Van Kooten

Due to the elections earlier this month, the Prairie du Chien Common Council moved their first November meeting back one week, meaning the council met on November 12 and 19.

Both meetings were short; however, the city still adopted a new city ordinance, signed a new agreement for Prairie Bluffs Court and entered into a service agreement for the wastewater treatment facility.

In attendance at both meetings were alderpersons Nick Crary, Vicki Waller, Bob Granzow, Kayla Ingham, Mark Bowar, Nate Bremmer, Jaaren Riebe and Andy Ringgold. 

Mayor David Hemmer, City Administrator Chad Abram, Police Chief Kyle Teynor and Street Superintendent Nick Gilberts were also present at the November 12 meeting.

Hemmer, Abram, Gilberts, Teynor and Utilities Supervisor Larry Gates were present for the November 19 meeting.

At the November 19 meeting, the council authorized a development agreement to possibly bring a Pizza Ranch to Prairie Bluffs Court.

The council also directed the city attorney to close on the property for the business.

Prairie Bluffs Court is a tax-incremental district in the city and the former site of the Blackhawk Junction Mall. Mississippi Meats is the only business currently located within the TID. The city acquired the area in 2019 from the county and received a $1.6 million neighborhood investment grant to develop the area after it was classified as blighted.

According to Abram, the neighborhood investment grant funds used to complete infrastructural work on the area were “a great incentive” to bring new businesses to the city.

On November 12, Abram announced that the city received a one-year extension to use the money awarded from the grant. The new deadline is Dec. 31, 2025.

Pizza Ranch, Inc. Chief Development Officer Mark Souba confirmed that a prospective franchisee is interested in bringing a franchise to the Prairie du Chien area. He said that a franchisee agreement has not been signed as of November 22, but the company is “doing their homework” and the project is still in the feasibility stage.

Souba also told the Courier Press that the prospective franchisee reportedly had a positive relationship with the city up to this point.

He said Pizza Ranch, Inc. is “excited” with the possibility of coming to the area, and the company, franchisee and city are “trying to make it happen.”

Speed limits

At the November 12 meeting, the council approved an ordinance that altered the speed limits of some streets in the city.

“This will change the speed limits around all the schools that we have in our town to 15 miles per hour while school is in session,” said Ingham. She is a member of the plan commission, which recommended the ordinance for council approval.

The ordinance listed the previous speed limits as “unreasonable, unsafe and imprudent.”

Streets affected include Wells Street from the intersection with Fremont Street to the east end of Wells Street, Dousman Street from the intersection with Dunn Street to the intersection with Wells Street, North Beaumont Road from Washington Street to Cedar Street, South Michigan Street from East Iowa Street to East Dunn Street and South Wacouta Avenue from east Dunn Street to East Iowa Street.

“This was also a discussion between Nick [Gilberts], Kyle [Teynor] and myself and has also been approved by the city attorney,” Abram said.

Wastewater facility

The council approved an engineering services contract with Delta 3 for improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment facility.

At the council’s February 6 meeting, Jordan Fure, a civil engineer with Delta 3, presented an evaluation of the wastewater facility to the council. The evaluation estimated improvements would cost between $9 and $11.2 million.

“This would be the first step into putting those improvements into action,” Fure told the council on November 19.

According to the contract, the project will include improvements to service equipment and structures, including the blower building, influent bar screens and chemical feed systems, among many other areas.

Delta 3’s contract includes a facility planning report, which will be completed next year. The firm will also complete plans and specs to be submitted as part of the application to the Clean Water Fund in 2026 and work with the city during the bidding process in 2027.

Delta 3 will also provide data collection and analysis services, evaluate three project alternatives to the upgrades and prepare reports to conform with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources standards.

Additionally, the engineering firm will provide estimates, cost analysis and other professional engineering services within the scope of the project. The cost of the contract is $32,000.

Abram said there is a “good chance” the city will receive money from the government to help pay for the project. 

On May 17, U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden announced that he made a $10.6 million community project funding request for the project. The request may grant federal money to municipal projects. Senator Tammy Baldwin made a similar move to procure approximately $5 million for the city’s public safety center.

“I had a conversation with Molly [Bohn] from Derrick Van Orden’s office, and as you are aware, there was some money available for this project,” Abram said. “The whole amount has passed the first step, and it’s pretty much the same pace or the same timeline as the public safety center. So, there will be another discussion in November. In March, a decision will be made, and we’ll be notified.”

Other business

• The city installed new swings at Lawler, O’Brien, Lochner and the Fireman’s parks. The new equipment became available to the public earlier this month.

• The council approved rezoning the location along State Street for the public safety center from R-1 low-density residential to a planned community development. According to Abram, notices were sent to neighbors in the community for a public hearing that occurred at the November 12 meeting.

• The Wisconsin Commercial Ports Conference Commission presented a check for $5,000 to the Prairie du Chien Historical Society. The conference held social gatherings at the Fort Crawford Museum.

• The finance committee approved $7,000 worth of additions to the city’s new dump truck, which was purchased in 2023. Universal Truck Equipment will install upgrades, including sensors for road temperature to guide salt application, safety features and a backup camera. The truck purchase price increased to $139,000, and the city will include the purchase in the borrowing to pay for the public safety center, according to Abram.