Funny you should ask: what's the big deal about that new house being built by the airport?

Sec. 118-89. - Airport heights limitation zone.

Airport hazard means any structure or object of natural growth, which obstructs the air space required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous to such landing or taking off.

(c) Height limitation zones.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no structure shall be constructed, installed, altered, located or permitted to remain after such construction, installation, alteration or location to a height in excess of the height limit indicated on the map referred to in Subsection (b) of this section.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no trees shall be allowed to grow to a height in excess of the height limit indicated on the map referred to in Subsection (b) of this section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no drones shall be operated at or above a height in excess of the height limit indicated on the map referred to in Subsection (b) of this section.

(d)Exceptions. 

The restrictions contained in Subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to objects which are less than 35 feet in height above ground level at the object site within one-half-mile of the airport boundary or to structures less than 50 feet in height above ground within the area beginning one-half mile from the airport boundary and extending to one mile from the airport boundary or to structures less than 100 feet in height above the ground within the area beginning one mile from the airport boundary and extending to three miles from the airport boundary.

An old Google map of our grass runway as it pictures only one house on Nielsen Lane

If you subscribe to the Chetek Alert you know that last month we had a bit of a dust-up during the City Council meeting over a new house being built on Nielsen Lane near the grassy runway. A small contingent of local pilots appointed commercial pilot Al Knowlton to speak on their behalf alerting the city what a safety hazard that house presents.

Here's the issue: a house rises near the end of the grass runway

“Since statistics show most fatal crashes occur during takeoff, the homes at the end of the runway could be deadly obstacles. They should not have been built in the first place. We don't build houses within 50 feet of a freeway for those reasons. Cars go fast.” (Al Knowlton as quoted in the Chetek Alert 5/16/18)

Greg Brodt, another local pilot who has similar safety concerns about the construction of this house, privately messaged me the following questions:

Did the city issue a building permit [for the dwelling] off the west end of the runaway?

If so, this could be very dangerous. Did the airport commission approve it or make any recommendations? Were there any concerns that the State had?

Let me answer those questions. First of all, Yes. The city did issue a building permit for this house.

Every house that is built within the city limits has to be okayed by Joe Atwood the City Inspector before it's built. This house is no different. The inferred concern about the height of the house does not apply. According to Section 118-89 anything under 35 feet tall within one-half mile of the airport is legit. I think the peak of the house being built is slightly under 25-feet tall. That's where our jurisdiction ends. If it's under 35 feet (and clearly it is) than we cannot tell someone not to build in that spot.

As to the question regarding the airport commission approving or not approving the construction of the house (which the city cannot refuse a permit to the owner anyway), technically speaking there is no airport commission any longer. Last year after several meetings in a row not able to meet for lack of quorum it was the recommendation to the council that we disband the commission which we voted unanimously to do. From that moment on the city council essentially became the airport commission and Public Works Director Dan Knapp airport manager. As to the concerns specific to this house none were raised before they dug the hole as the airport manager had none to make.

“I'd hate to see someone crash into it or them to complain about noise” (Greg Brodt). As would I. As would all of us. I certainly understand the pilots are motivated by concerns for public safety but again there is nothing the city can do to restrict this home owner from building their home on Nielsen Lane. I also agree with Greg about noise issues: If you build your house next to an airport than you forfeit your right to complain about the noise airplanes make. Agreed. There's plenty of people on South Street and Phillips Street who have come accustomed to the sound of planes coming in and taking off. The folks on Nielsen Lane are no different.

This is what nobody wants ever to see at Southworth Airport

In my brief tenure as mayor council meetings can get kinda sporty at times as people for and against an issue sound off before the council and at times at each other. Obviously it's because they care about the matter at hand. Our job as the council is to listen respectfully and make the best call we can based on the current ordinances that govern our daily lives. In this case, our airport manager informs us that while in the event of a catastrophic event a plane could crash into a house there is no code that limits the construction of this home. Let's hope we never have cause to regret that the city never purchased the navigation rights to these properties back in 2003 when this subdivision was created.

Gambling with the tax-payers' money?

“You got to know when 

to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away,
And know when to run.
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealing's done.”

- The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

If you haven't heard (and my guess is you probably have) there's a whole lot of municipal dollars that have been exchanging hands lately - or about to exchange - and if you're like me you may be just a mite curious as to where all this money is coming from.

Central States

You see the fine print?
That's what a bill for $2Mil looks like

For starters, the settlement with Central States. On Good Friday, Carmen and I affixed our signatures to a 10-year note for $770K (and some change) to officially exit the Central States Pension Fund, the pension for those members of our public works crew who belong to the Teamsters. The original bill for our fair share of the liability was plus $2 million dollars but through an accepted industry formula our attorney negotiated this amount down to $770K. The 10-year note amortized over 20 years comes to about what we were originally paying each month to Central States (approximately $4,500). In July 2017, when we ceased sending pension funds to the union, we began funding our public works crews' personal retirement fund (otherwise known as a 457 plan) at the same amount we had been sending to the Teamsters. In other words, we'll be double-dipping for some time to come - paying on this note, continuing to contribute to the guys' pensions. This money comes out of the general fund.

And just like that we committed ourselves to $770K

More new sidewalks coming soon

Then there's the new sidewalks. A few weeks ago the City Council approved $50K worth of new sidewalks this summer. This includes among other sections:

Stout Street: from Second Street to the Chetek Area Alano Club (next to City Hall)

• Moore Street: from the Police Station to Second Street
• Knapp Street: Corner of Knapp and Second Street by Time and Again
• Knapp Street: the section of walk in front of Jason Fostvedt's new building (the former Chetek Beauty Salon)
• Knapp Street: Corner of Knapp and Third Street by the former Cabin Fever
• Knapp Street: Corner of Third and Knapp at Synergy Co-op (formerly Lakeland Co-op) side of the street
• Knapp Street: from the old Car Quest building to the railroad tracks
• Main Street Park: the section in front of Main Street Park on Second Street

Last year when our sidewalk replacement campaign began in earnest the decision was made that no business would be assessed for the expense since its to everyone's benefit to have safe and aesthetically pleasing walkways in the Central Business District. So if no one is being assessed for the expense of tearing up and replacing the new walks where is the money coming from? Well, we have tapped into a source to fund this project – it's one of our capital improvement funds.

If there is one thing I've learned since being elected mayor is that there are funds always being set-aside for later purchases. When Dan goes to buy a new truck (i.e., a new-to-us truck) money has been set aside for that very thing already. Same goes with any new piece of equipment we may need or require. You can call it a “rainy day” fund if you like but we just can't call it that (according to the rules set by the State). The main thing to know is nobody was taxed for the sidewalks. We just took the money from this account to pay for these new sidewalks.

New owners of the Chetek Cafe building

And then there's the talk of the town – the two-way deal of Chetek Cafe purchasing Bob's Grill and the city purchasing the old cafe. Why would the city get involved in a deal like this? Simple: we're interested in Norbert's property (i.e., Chetek Cafe). Actually, its a win-win-win situation: Dwayne “Frog” Trowbridge has been wanting to get out of Bob's Grill for some time, Norbert & Patty have been wanting to expand and we see potential in their piece of real estate. What is the city going to do with a cafe? Well, we're not opening up a hot dog stand that's for sure. I prefer to look at it this way: we have a Police Department in an old post office and a library in an old wood shop. If....(and that is a BIG if) the Chetek Area Alano Club (who is housed in the old fire hall right next to the current city hall) we're willing to sell their property back to the city then we would end up with half of the block. If all that were to come together (and the stars were to align) we would retain the services of people who do community development to help us envision what we might be able to do with that half block. Perhaps a future multi-purpose governmental facility which would house both Police Department, City Hall and Library – or some other combination? If you've wondered aloud, 'What are they thinking?' well, that's what we're thinking.

Part of the deal is that this iconic sign will go to the museum

Norbert will refurbish and take this sign with him to his new digs

Are we shooting too high? Well you know what Emerson said, “Hitch your wagon to a star.” Worst case scenario and the Alano Club chooses to hold on to their building and our best laid plans run awry we still end up with a prime piece of real estate on Second Street that we can market to a future business. If you're a person like myself whose income doesn't really change from year to year, it seems like a big risk and a lot of zeros. But in municipal spending terms, $170K is a pretty good price and an acceptable risk to take on. This too would be paid out of that aforementioned capital improvement fund at no additional expense to the tax payers.

The light may be turning off at Bob's but Spudniks will remain - that, too, is part of the deal

There's more to tell you about but this is just the stuff that I can talk about at the present time. After all, it would not be good form to talk particulars about matters that the council hasn't even been fully apprised about yet. Am I sounding like some high roller who's flush and in a hurry to get over to the St Croix Casino on the other side of the county? Other than the payout to Central States (which was a necessity) I guess these expenditures are a bit of a gamble - but it's a good bet, an investment in the future of our city that we're hoping reaps rich dividends for all of us.