A whole lot of shakin' going on: what's new on all the municipal projects throughout the city

 If you've been paying attention, there's been a lot of work going on
at various places throughout the city. As we get closer to summer's end, I thought I'd bring everyone up to speed on just where we stand with each project.

The new municipal water tower

Perhaps more than anything else this summer I am asked frequently if the new tower is operational yet. The answer is 'no'. Why? Well, I'll share with you what I've been told: the company that painted the tower (both inside and out) painted the insides a bit too thickly. Apparently, it's a safety concern so they had to sandblast the thing on the inside to remove a layer or two.

Having said this, I'm told that they will begin disinfecting the tank and filling it on August 13-14. About a week later samples will be taken and pending those results we will be fully functional come August 20. I can't wait.

The Gotham Sports Complex

Construction began right around Memorial Day and has proceeded right along with no real hiccups to speak of. The asphalt and cement were laid, the fencing posts were erected and the fencing installed. On Monday, all the basketball poles and backboards were installed. The courts, both Pickleball and Basketball/Tennis, will be painted as you read this. All things are on course to be finalized in time for our September 14 ribbon-cutting. If we have a fall like last year very shortly you should hear the plink-plunk of pickleball and thumping of basketballs coming from a sports complex on City Park Drive. I can't wait.

The 38-acres/Swiderski development

from SC Swiderski-Chetek

While the earthmovers have yet to show up on the grounds of the old
breeder farm on Knapp Street, we are currently firming up plans for the ground-breaking ceremony set to occur on Tuesday, August 26 from 12-1 pm. Once they break ground, S.C. Swiderski promises to complete the project within two years. Contrary to the rumor mill this will not be low-income housing or – curiously – housing for illegal aliens. Nope. This is a 116-unit housing development, primarily rentals, that hopefully will attract new residents to our community. If you want to see the scope of it, check out the video at SCSwiderski-Chetek

Back in December, Swiderski representatives gave a presentation at the city council meeting that was reported by the Chetek Alert. According to that article, apart from the four

single-family homes the rest of the 116 units will be rentals in various floor plans generally ranging between $1,100-$1,850 per month and to include heat, water, sewer, cable, WIFI, trash removal and lawn care. I can't wait.

The old Waste Water Treatment Plant

This past spring demolition began at the old Wastewater Treatment
Plant (WWTP). If you've dropped off your recycling lately you may have noticed that that project has come to a standstill. What gives? Apparently tearing down an old WWTP is a little bit more involved than, say, tearing down most other structures. One factor that can complicate demolition is that by law, the ground on which the plant stood has to be deposited in a safe manner. I'm assured that they're working the problem and sooner than later the job will be completed. I can't wait.

Original picture courtesy of Mark Peterson
(SBR circled in red)

The new Waste Water Treatment Plant

Thought we were done with that project? Of course, we are. But a
design challenge presents itself. The Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) – the structure that is in the field immediately to the south of the plant – needs a cover for it to prevent freezing of water lines to it. This was something that our guys dealt with all last spring. Why wasn't it part of the original project? you may ask. There is a longer explanation but the short answer is the engineers didn't think we needed one. But now it appears that we do. Public Works Director Drew Smith informed the council last month that it is his recommendation that we pursue construction of such a dome over the SBR to prevent freeze-ups this coming winter. The hope is that we can go to bid sooner than later and have it covered before the real cold weather settles in. I can't wait.

While the Canadian wildfires have been the source of the unsettling haze in our air this past summer, the dust of these combined projects should be a welcome sign to us that stuff is gettin' done as Jerry Lee Lewis would put it 'cause a whole lot of shakin' is going on. And yeah, just like you, I can't wait for these things to be good and done.

Ceremonial "first flush"

Photo credit: Mark Peterson

At long last, the day has come. We are about to do the ribbon-cutting on our new Waste Water Treatment Plant. On Tuesday, May 20, Public Works Director Dan Knapp, members of the City Council and a few other notables will gather out at the new plant and witness, as it were, the ceremonial “first flush.” It's a day that has been long in the making.

Every year all municipal treatment plants get a report card as to how well they're functioning which includes what comes in (aka, “influent”) and what goes out (aka, “effluent”), including how we are filtering and processing phosphorous. And though our plant was built in 1982 we continue to score, most years, straight As. So, why, you may ask, the recent $26 million adjustment?

Former WWTP operator Mike McGinnis giving
me the tour of the old plant back in 2016

First of all, recall that the old plant was built in the last century. Its simply getting harder and harder to find spare parts. But more importantly, when it comes to phosphorous levels, measured in parts per million, the DNR moved the goal post with regards to new water quality standards. No matter what we would have tried to do with our old plant, she could never meet passing grades. And if the DNR says you shall, well,...we shall.

This was the Roberts plant visit

This was a miniature-test plant we experimented with

We decided to go with a version
similar to Bloomer's

Back in 2020, we began exploring our future Waste Water Treatment Plant by running a miniature test plant on site for a month or two as well as making a few field trips to plants in Roberts and Bloomer. Ultimately we chose to go with the sand filter version much like the plant in Bloomer. CBS² was awarded the bid in 2022 and began designing it. Of course, plans for facilities such as these can't be bought at the local Wal-Mart. It took perhaps a year to design the thing. Finally, in June 2023, the council along with a few other important folks, each turned over a gold shovel-full of dirt in the south industrial park, home of the new plant directly across from Chetek Lanes.

The ceremonial ground-breaking in June 2023

It's been a long row to hoe – especially for our Public Works Director Dan Knapp. From start to finish he's had to deal with all kinds of headaches along the way caused by supply chain issues, faulty parts and the one company in the Lower 48 that grows reeds going belly-up after the bid process had been completed. But at last, here we are. Our new plant is on-line and functioning as it was designed to function (barring a few hiccups here and there).

Photo credit Mark Peterson

Photo credit Mark Peterson

The process of finding these reeds
is truly serendipitous

We're inviting the public to an Open House on Tuesday, May 20, at the new plant to see for yourselves what you can get for $26 million dollars (minus the $10 million grant we got from the feds). From 3-6 pm Dan and some of the crew will be on hand to field questions and give guided tours. This plant is a wonderful addition to the city's infrastructure that will assist us in continuing to grow for many years to come.

Come and see for yourself on Tuesday, May 20
(Photo credit Mark Peterson)

Scott, Earl and a short comment about the April 1 election

Next week the citizens of Ward 1 will go to the polls to choose their alderman for years 2025-27. Both current Ward 1 Alderman Scott Bachowski and former Ward 2 Alderman Earl Grover (who recently moved into Ward 1) are vying to represent the ward. Scott has served on the council since 2017 and Earl since 2019. 

While it is up to the residents of the First Ward to choose their representative, I do recommend that they check out this week's edition of the Chetek Alert to read each of the candidates responses to the questions that were posed to them. I think their answers are informative on each of the candidate's positions and perspective with regards to serving on the Common Council. 

If you're still not sure who you will vote for,
it's well worth the $1.50 to read the cover story

Recently, Earl approached me and asked that I state for the record why I removed him as council representative on the Parks Committee. According to him people have asked him why he was “fired” from that committee. Here is my response: It is the mayor's prerogative to appoint council members to the various committees that help the council govern city business. Personnel, Budget, Streets, Economic Development are four that come to mind. In my nine years of service as mayor, I have “changed horses” twice – i.e., replaced existing committee members in favor of another: once for the Ambulance Commission and the second for the Parks committee. 

We are due to break ground later this spring

If you have followed the story with the development of the Gotham Park Sports Complex I have from the beginning been very clear about my position: developing this park will be a very good thing and when complete it will be a great addition to the City. With the enthusiasm generated by private citizens from both the city and the neighboring townships to-date over $200 thousand dollars in private funds has been raised. With a goal of $235K it is clear it is going to happen. Over the course of a couple of meetings when he was serving on the Parks Committee, it became clear to me that Earl's perspective on developing the park was at cross-purposes with the other members of the committee. Frequently the meetings would get derailed by contention over the scope and the means to develop the park. By his own words, Earl sees the Gotham Park Sports Complex as a long-term development whereas the rest of the committee was eager to raise the money now. I therefore made an executive decision to “change horses” in order to keep this project moving forward. If the city can not afford to develop the park, we clearly are in need of private citizens to raise the money. They have and continue to do so and I didn't want the committee members to be discouraged feeling like they were “fighting city hall.” 

While it may be semantics what some may call “firing” I simply refer to as reorganizing the committee in such a way to give this project a fighting chance of getting done this year. To his credit, Earl accepted my decision willingly and graciously stepped aside. I then placed Scott on this committee who has been in support of the project from the very beginning.

I wish both Scott and Earl the very best of luck in the election next Tuesday, April 1. Clearly, at the end of the day only one of them will be victorious. I trust the residents of Ward 1 will do what they think is best for their side of town and for the rest of us who call this city home.

Ward 1 in blue

Waters rising

It's been awhile since I gave a piece of my mind of the in's and outs of the goings-on in the City and lately there's a lot to speak to.

Pray for his full recovery

Third Ward Alderman Terry Hight

First and foremost, Third Ward Alderman Terry Hight suffered a
stroke recently. He's at home and recovering. In his words, “I feel very lucky to still be alive.” While he is lucid and upright, he is dealing with some physical limitations at the time being. When he comes to mind please pray for him. We are all hoping that he will respond well to physical therapy and be back soon enough to fill his Third Ward chair. Again, he'd like us all to know that he may be down but he's not out.

The Second Ward

Trevor and his family

Second Ward Earl Grover has sold his home on Knapp Street and he and Kathy have bought a home in the First Ward. At the February council meeting he tendered his resignation as Second Ward Alderman effective February 28. He is challenging current First Ward Alderman Scott Bachowski in the spring election. Earl has represented the Second Ward for five years having been originally seated by mayoral appointment when the previous Second Ward-person relocated out of state. In Earl's tenure on the council he has served as the council's representative on the Chetek Area Fire District commission as well as on Utilities and formerly on Parks & Rec.

When a ward-person vacates their seat, it is part of the mayor's responsibility to recruit a member of that particular ward to fill it. Trevor Dysland is a husband and father of two who lives in the Second Ward and after some thought, and the council's approval, has been appointed to complete the rest of Earl's term. At the end of this year, if he finds he enjoys serving in this capacity, he may take out papers to get on the ballot of the Spring Election in 2026 to represent the Second Ward. But hail and well-met, Trevor, and thank you for your service to the Second Ward.

The Water Tower Arises

At long last Maguire has arrived in town and began assembling our new water tower right next to our current water stand. I spoke with crew chief Jake and he asserts that all things being equal they should be done in 60 days (or sometime in mid-April). The thing will be painted as soon as good painting weather arrives. We've never had a pedestal tower and this one we're assured will be seen from the highway.

From the Complaint Department

Nobody who serves in elected office can escape criticism. Whether rightly or wrongly deserved, it comes with the territory. Recently someone posted at the City of Chetek's FB page their ire at the increases in their property taxes as well as their garbage, water and sewer bill.

Exhibit #1: The Martins' 2024 tax bill (slightly altered for privacy's sake)

While I can't address why this person's property taxes went up, when I review our own tax bill from 2024 I find that 11.2% was paid to Barron County, 14.6% went to Northwoods Technical College, 21% went to the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Area School District and only 1% went to the City of Chetek. One percent! Depending on where you live, the square footage of your home and other variables that affect your bottom line the percentages are the same for everyone. In my opinion, holding taxes to a one percent increase by a governmental agency is commendable to say the least.

Overview shot of the new WWTP (courtesy of Mark Peterson)

Now with regards to the higher garbage, sewer and water bill, yes we are all feeling the pinch. Unfortunately, the City has very little say about these things. If the DNR tells you that your current waste water treatment plant is over 40 years old and is aging out and will never meet the new standards of phosphorous-limits, you shall replace it. And we have – to the tune of nearly $16 million dollars (not counting the $10 million in grant money we received from the feds). While it's true water rates are going up on account of the water tower project, there's a few things to keep in mind. Namely, we do not set our water rates; rather the Public Service Commission (PSC) does. Water rates were last increased in 2021. Ehler's and Associates is a financial service company that we get counsel from and they recommend a 1-2% increase annually so that it is not quite such a big leap when the PSC does their full rate review. That may sound like “pass-the-buck”-speak but it is what it is.

Ward 1 is the blue area and home to our most recent TID

A few weeks ago, a former school board member of the Chetek-Weyerhaeuser School District posted a Letter to the Editor in the Chetek Alert blaming higher school taxes in part on the City of Chetek for creating the Tax Increment District (TID) in which the new waste water treatment plant, the water tower and the new development that S.C. Swiderski will break ground on later this year. A financial expert I am not and personally I find trying to simplify (or, if you prefer, “dumb-down”) Tax Increment Financing (TIF) challenging to say the least. What I do know is that all municipalities create TIDs as a way of development. The north industrial park that includes Sugar 'n Spice, Core Products, Parker-Hannafin, and Ahers Tech used to be a TID. To create that, the City Clerk and the then Mayor attended a hearing to make their case and upon approval for the next 20 years all the taxes in that TID stayed there to lay the water and sewer lines and build the roads and infrastructure that service the north industrial park. I think we all agree that it's been a good thing for the city. As this current one will prove to be and help pay for the Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Water Tower which paves the way for the new development which promises to bring tax revenues in the six digit realm back to the city. More residents in the city means more revenues in order to spread the love around. So in the long run, the City feels that the creation of this TID is a very good thing.

Finally, about last Tuesday

I want to apologize on behalf of the council for the lack of decorum and respect that was exhibited by all council members, save Alderman Hight who was not present, at last Tuesday's council meeting. It was embarrassing to say the least. There were moments when the adults in the room were acting in a juvenile fashion. Tempers flared and things were said. Having a robust, spirited debate about certain matters is fine – healthy even - so long as it stays about the matter at hand. When it becomes personal, however, each one of us has to take a breath and determine if restraint is the better course of valor. In a council meeting the mayor serves as the referee. I'll be the first to say I need to do a better job of keeping the meeting on task and operating according to Robert's Rules of Order. I know every member of the council wants to see the city develop in a fiscally prudent way. Getting “there”, at times, is where the fault lines develop. Here's hoping we each do some personal inventory and fence-mending where necessary.