"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.