Monday News 2/25/19
25 February 2019 News
Ripon Park And Recreation Committee Discusses Mitchell Donation
Ripon’s Park and Recreation Committee began discussions this past week about how to best use the nearly $485,000 left to the city by the Lloyd Mitchell estate. The committee heard five different ideas. The Senior Center would like a new building. Ripon Main Street would like to develop green spaces on Watson Street in the area near the American House or the Rotary Square. Another idea was to develop a park in the Sandmar Development area where park land was given to the city. The Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-County Area would like a building in Ripon and Ripon Public Works Director Mike Ahrenberg mentioned a new pavilion in Barlow Park to replace the one near the tennis court. Committee members feel they need more specifics on each of those needs and will discuss them further at next month’s meeting. The city has a year to commit to a use for the money.
Ripon Fortunate During Recent Natural Gas Leak
Ripon Area Fire District Chief Tim Saul says they got lucky during a recent natural gas leak in downtown Ripon. He says there were dangerous levels of gas that seeped into a building at 117 East Jackson Street on February 16th. “We got really lucky. Alliant Energy and myself both we couldn’t understand why it didn’t explode. Just because you have a gas leak outside doesn’t mean its not inside your house seeping through through the ground somewhere you know it’s going to take its own path.” As a precaution Red’s Bar, which was east of the building, was evacuated. The movie theater didn’t need to be evacuated. Alliant Energy cut power to the building while it was being ventilated. Saul says some will feel that evacuating buildings during a gas leak isn’t necessary, but the explosion and fire in Sun Prairie last year shows its not.
Committee Will Make Recommendations On Future Of FDL County Sales Tax
Fond du Lac County Executive Al Buechel says the county would like to repeal the sunset for the county half-percent sales tax and is considering sharing some of that revenue with cities, towns and villages in the county. Two resolutions to that effect will be considered by the county’s Finance, Personnel, and Economic Development Committee this week. He says the resolution for sharing that revenue would be for 10 percent, which would be roughly $800,000 a year. Amounts would vary based on a community’s size. “So as an example Ripon would be getting somewhere in the neighborhood of I think its $74,000 from that sales tax annually. So that’s one difference that they want to put in place.” The committee’s meeting is at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon in Room H of the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac.
Ripon Common Council Preview
The Ripon Common Council tonight will consider approving a three-year contract with the Police Union and a park fee schedule. If the agreement with the police union is approved it would be retroactive to the beginning of the year. Also during the meeting the Council will continue discussions about the Barlow Park Loop and how it is being used by parents to drop off students at the Barlow Park Elementary School. The room tax agreement with the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce will also be discussed. The Council meets at 7 pm at the Ripon City Hall.
Tickets Going Fast For Ripon Wine Walk
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith urges those who want to participate in this April’s Wine Walk to get their tickets soon because 80 percent of the tickets have been sold. He says you get quite a bit for the $25 you pay for the ticket. “You will get twenty one-ounce pours from the participating locations in downtown Ripon. Tickets are $25 and they are going quickly. You can either get them online or you can stop in our office and get them.” Only 500 tickets are available for the Friday, April 12th event, which will run from 5:30 to 8:30 that evening. Mansmith says many of those participating in the walk come from outside the community, which helps the downtown businesses.
Mercury Marine Honored As Manufacturer Of The Year
Mercury Marine was named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year in the Mega category during the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce annual awards ceremony in Milwaukee Thursday night. It’s the third time the Fond du Lac based company has won the prestigious award. Mercury Marine also was named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year in 2006 and 2014. Mercury Marine President John Pfeifer says it is gratifying to be recognized by the WMC. Mercury is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
Pollinator Grants Awarded
Four area high schools are among 12 across the state awarded grants to establish habitat for imperiled insect pollinators and monarch butterflies. Those four schools are in Beaver Dam, Campbellsport, Mayville and Randolph. The grants were awarded to Wisconsin agricultural and science educators by Sand County Foundation, We Energies Foundation, Syngenta, Bayer Crop Science, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Dairyland Power Cooperative. Each grant recipient will receive native wildflower seedlings, a training webinar and consultation, and a $1,000 grant for the school district or FFA chapter to offset project expenses.
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