"Funny you should ask..." (recent questions that I have been asked)

Like everybody else I'm hoping for the best

As Mayor I get asked a lot of questions (the mayor is supposed to know things after all, right?) Some I can answer. Others I have to go looking for answers. And then there's the kind that really there are no good answers for. Here's a few I've been asked over the last month.

Question: “So, do you know what's going to happen to our Gordy's?”

Every month I sit down with the residents of Atrium and have coffee with them. We talk about the news around town and questions they'd like to have answers for. At January's “Coffee with the Mayor” session I was asked this one.

Honestly, at the moment, I didn't know what the person was referring to. Since I've seen the news like everyone else. For the second time in a year Gordy's is in receivership. Just how they're going to come up with $46 million dollars is anybody's guess. However, I did have an informal conversation with Scott, one of the managers of our local Gordy's and he had this to say on the matter: “I have no idea what will happen to Gordy's. They don't tell me anything. But I can assure you that after twenty years in the food service industry you will not lose your grocery store. Someone will buy it. Your location and all the summer tourists you get makes me confident that Chetek will have a grocery store. It may not be Gordy's but it will be here.”

That was reassuring to hear. I know that we can get our milk, eggs and bread at Kwik Trip. And there are items that we can pick-up at the Dollar Store but what a shame it would be to lose our grocery store. Same goes for Horton's Hardware. When you can you should buy local.

Have you seen these piles along the tracks?

Q: “Is there anything that can be done about the piles of old junk/scrap railroad ties in the right of way on the Wisconsin Northern Railroad line between Cameron-Chetek-New Auburn?” This question came to me via email from John, a resident of Chetek. Here's how his email reads:

Is there anything that can be done about the piles of old junk / scrap railroad ties on the right of way on the Wisconsin Northern Railroad line between Cameron - Chetek - New Auburn, WI? They are very unsightly and don't do a thing for tourists / travelers coming through our area using Highway SS. This is just plain unsightly and causes one to think that no one cares.

I have contacted Rep Romain Quinn about one year ago and he was told that the railroad's contractor was going to clean up the piles of ties last April 2018. Here we are almost the end of November 2018 with no results! Is there anything that the City of Chetek can do to convince Wisconsin Northern Railroad to get the ties picked up and contribute to the clean up of Chetek and the Highway SS corridor? 

When I first got this email I didn't know what John was speaking about so I drove out to the north end of town to take a look and then I saw exactly what he meant. Funny, I have driven past these piles of old ties lots of times and never really noticed them until John brought them to my attention.

Shortly after receiving this email I happened to run into someone who worked for Wisconsin Northern (WN) and he concurred with what John had mentioned – that this issue was supposed to have been addressed last summer. At the time of this conversation (early December), WN had furloughed a number of employees (my friend included) but he gave me the phone number of Jayme Bignell, head of operations.

Let's hope it happens this spring!

With one phone call I got a hold of Mr. Bignell and he assured me that this spring the old ties will be cleaned up and removed. Isn't that what he told Rep. Quinn last year? It is. So let's hope that answer is on the up and up. In the meantime is there anything the City can do about it? Not really except communicate to Mr. Bignell that we sure hope that the mess gets cleaned up when he says it will.

Q: “When is the old Jost Law building coming down?”

I was just asked this yesterday. The short answer is sometime this spring – I think. Why am I being so indefinite? Well, it's like this. The city purchased the building from the Josts at the end of 2016 with the intent to raze the structure to make room for a future parking lot for The Center. When the new sidewalks on Moore Street went in Joe Atwood instructed Apple Valley to put an approach in on the walk in front of the Jost building for just that eventuality.

At the end of 2018, however, the moth-balled Property Committee was begun afresh. While the Plan Commission has already given a thumb's up on demo of the property the Council wants the newly reformed Property Committee to discuss the matter first before we give the green light for demoltion. As we learned from the process of razing the old Chetek Cafe building, before the Jost building can be taken down the tenants have to be given ample time to relocate. Then a firm has to be hired to test for asbestos and, if found, abate it. Only then can the building come down.

Even though it's a stick building and smaller than the old cafe structure it's location between the Mosaic building and The Center will call for more precision-work as opposed to the use of the big claw. However it comes down the process is not cheap. And after its down, we're probably looking at a new west entrance to The Center. But that's a matter for both the Property Committee and the Plan Commission to address. So, “it's-hurry-up-and-wait” which I realize for the two gentlemen who are the City's tenants at Moore Street puts them in a difficult position. What if upon the recommendation of the Property Committee the Council decides to do nothing at this time? While that could happen I have yet to hear a better idea of how the property could be used. But that's only my opinion.

Q: “Do you still like your job?” and “Do you sleep at night?”

Ah, yes and yes. These were asked recently by two different individuals who seemed concerned for my welfare. Do I still enjoy serving as mayor? Absolutely! When I answered that way the first person laughed because they thought they detected sarcasm. But I assured them - and I'll assure all of you - I really do enjoy it. Since being elected in 2016 I have learned so much about how our community runs and the many people that make it run so well. Are there challenges facing Chetek? Yes! Are there differences about how those challenges should be met? Yes! But rather than take offense at those who either think the Council is doing a poor job or I am – or both – regardless of which side of the issue we may be we all care about the welfare of this community. And that's a good thing especially if we happen to be fired up about a certain issue.

As to the person who wondered if I slept at night I simply assured them that I slept fine. A mayor isn't a king. He doesn't wave his wand and things go away or happen. A mayor isn't a boss who can Trump-like declare “You're fired!” or “We're gonna win and win and win.” The mayor of Chetek fills a non-partisan position working with fellow community members to try and overcome challenges and address the needs of our town. He doesn't have a vote (unless, of course, the council is split on a matter which rarely happens) but he can speak his peace. So at the end of the day I hope to do the best I can and then put it away for the night. Should I decide to run again next year, the good folks of Chetek will either confirm that I'm doing an adequate job or they'll vote someone new in – which is how democracy works. Either way, I want to do well by the town I call home. And to that end I sincerely appreciate all of you who have given me an atta-boy from time to time. It sure helps keep the fun in it.

If you have a question for the mayor you can email me at pjsworld@chibardun.net, call me at 715-925-6078 or just stop and bend my ear a bit next time we cross paths.

"What are you thinking?": Some thoughts on the purchase and demo of the old Chetek Cafe

All good things...

If you live around here then you know that the old Chetek Cafe building came down this week. On a frigid Monday morning the big rig from Stout Construction stuck its big claw into the west side of the building around 8 am and by 10 am the structure that began its life as part of the old Chetek school “way back in the day” before going through various phases of cafes and eateries has now gone the way of the dinosaur. As they say, all good things come to an end.

Courtesy of  Dahlhouse Enterprises

Later the next day

The city purchased the building back in May as part economic development and part municipal planning. We had a business owner who needed a buyer and another business owner who needed to expand. The city just greased the skids a bit, as it were, because we were interested in the location. At the time of the purchase our thinking was two-fold: if the Alano Club were interested in selling their building then perhaps we could look at both properties (as well as the one where City Hall now stands) as part of a future multi-governmental building hosting, say, City Hall and the Police Department. Or, if Alano preferred to stay put than market the lot as prime commercial property on Second Street.

Since the purchase, as you can imagine, many conversations have been taking place both at City Hall and all over town that run the gambit from the merely curious - “So, what will be going there in its place?” - to the clearly dumbfounded - “What was the city thinking when you did this?” I've heard several variations of either, I can assure you. I'm sure you have too. There are folks who think its a sign of progress and there are others who feel we just blew nearly a quarter of a million dollars for a whole lot of nothing (as well as a few more who are saddened that we were so eager to tip over one of the vintage structures in our community). Even among the council members – who voted unanimously for the purchase – sticker-shock began to set in as the estimates for abatement (the testing for and removal of asbestos) and demolition became evident. Who could blame them? It cost us $170,000 for the property, $2,100 to test for asbestos, $13,700 for removal of it and then $35,000 for demoltion. Do the math and that comes out to just shy of $221K for ultimately a vacant lot. What are we thinking?

Clearly opinions vary...

Not everybody thinks its a great idea

We purchased Cafe sight unseen. We didn't have a walk-through prior to purchase and the negotiating process was not that involved. We just wanted that property and the fact that it would help Norbert and Patty expand was a bonus. Once we took ownership of it and got a look-see it was clear that the stone structure in the back had serious foundation issues (as in a river runs through it). Initially, a few local business-owners approached us about the idea of renting

It was time

the building. But we were unwilling to put any money into it especially if we were going to raze it. And then once we got the estimates on abatement and demolition it became more worth to us as a vacant lot than an old, deteriorating structure that many considered an eye-sore. Otherwise, you're asking a future perspective business owner to pay $50K as well as the price of the lot before they've even turned over one bucket load worth of dirt. To us (that is, the Plan Commission and the Council) that seemed like a non-starter. Admittedly, none us anticipated the price tag for leveling the property to be so pricey but in for a penny, in for a pound. We had to see it through.

The sky wasn't falling
but the front end of the
building was!

“Think what the city could have done with that money?” someone asked me a few weeks ago. It's true. We could have spent the money differently – or not at all. If the Alano Club is not interested in moving then let's market the property as commercial real estate and see what we can see. If, however, they would be interested in selling their building then we should pause before we rush to sell. If you recall, last fall the front entrance of City Hall was temporarily closed as the cement facade above the doors is deteriorating. To repair it will cost us $30,000. Everything falls apart. If you're a homeowner you know this maxim to be true. Nothing stays the same. In recent years the current City Hall building twice has had to undergo significant improvements to address ongoing mold issues. Sooner or later, we're gonna need a new place to call home.

The future site of a new subdivision in our community

Since the purchase of the old Cafe as well as the old Jennie-O's breeder farm on the far west end of town, the Property Committee has been reestablished. Made up entirely of volunteers it will be their task to weigh the pros and cons of any future property purchases of the city and either recommend or pass on it. If they believe a piece of property should be acquired or a currently held property improved upon, they will pass their recommendation onto the Plan Commission who will also examine the matter and issue their opinion before it ends up on a council agenda item.

For example, we purchased the old Jost Law Office in 2016 with the intent of razing that structure for a future parking lot for The Center. It will now be the Property Committee's job to weigh that idea and determine if, indeed, that is the best use of that property. It may slow up the process but it also is a way to vette it. If they recommend demo and creation of a parking lot that decision will involve creating a new entrance for The Center on that side of the building. So several things need to be weighed before we go forward. And the two individuals who currently rent from us will also have to vacate. Like we are wont to say these days there are a lot of moving parts.

Time will only tell if the purchase of the cafe and the demolition of it was the best use of the taxpayers money. But speaking only for myself I believe we are investing in confidence – confidence in the future of our town. There is no free lunch. We all should know this by now. We can't have something for nothing (because even grant money comes from taxpayers). We all want to see Chetek continue to develop and grow. That requires a little faith, a little hope and a lot of love for the town we all call home.