By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Delavan Common Council approved a proposal Aug. 13 from Vandewalle and Associates for up to $12,000 to help implement the downtown strategic plan that the council approved in May.
Alderman Bruce DeWitt said he voted against the plan in May because he had some concerns about some specific parts of it, not the plan itself. Since it was approved, DeWitt said moving forward is better than doing nothing. He said he thinks building and business owners in the downtown should contribute to the implementation of the plan.
Alderman Gary Stebnitz, who said he was concerned about the $12,000 cost of Vandewalle’s proposal, also said he is concerned about the city becoming a repeat recipient of requests to be a funding source for the plan, though he said he believes the plan should move forward.
DeWitt said the city will pay Tax Incremental District No. 5, which was created to revitalize the downtown, so that if the TIF is successful, it can pay the city back in the future.
Alderman Ryan Schroeder said the assistance from Vandewalle is necessary because the city is spending taxpayer money on a plan, and it needs help facilitating the plan.
“No one person or group can do it alone,” he said. “It will be a group effort.”
A memo from Administrator Denise Pieroni said the need for assistance was identified at a recent meeting of downtown business and property owners. She said people at the meeting were excited and need to be kept engaged in the process.
The assistance from Vandewalle will include identifying and appointing action teams for top priority projects; writing descriptions of roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes for the action teams; preparing detailed work plans for each action team; identifying potential funding sources for projects; and initiating implementation activities for top priority projects.
No money was earmarked in the 2013 budget for implementation assistance but Pieroni said money could be transferred from savings on the annual road program.
Pieroni said it is important the plan be implemented and not just take up space on city shelves. She said Vandewalle is experienced in this area and will add value to implementing the plan.
The council also approved the composition of a Downtown Delavan Project Management Team and authorized Mayor Mel Nieuwenhuis to appoint members to it. The team will have one representative from the Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the Common Council, the Delavan Historical Society, the Friends of the Phoenix Park Bandshell, downtown property owners and a financial institution. The team will have three representatives from downtown business owners with at least one of them being a member of the Downtown Business Association and one from a Hispanic business.
Two ex-officio members of the team will be Pieroni and the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce to provide administrative support.
Industrial park
The council approved a one-year extension of an agreement with MLG Commercial to market the industrial park by a 5-1 vote. Alderman Chris Phillips was opposed.
Phillips questioned the commission MLG makes on sales in the park. The agreement provides that MLG gets 10 percent or $4,500 per acre, whichever is higher, on any sale it markets, and he said that commission could be very high if a large lot is sold.
John Henderson, corporate real estate executive for MLG, said that is true, but if a land sale of that size is made, the benefits to the city in new jobs and tax base would greatly outweigh the commission paid to MLG. Henderson said his firm puts a lot of time and effort into marketing the city’s land. He acknowledged no sales have been made but pointed out no sales have been made anywhere in Walworth County. Henderson said the commission in this agreement is the same MLG has with every other municipality, and the company cannot afford to do the work for less.
Recreation services
The council approved a partnership with the Delavan-Darien School District to provide instructors for recreational activities for the district’s Community Learning Center program. The district was awarded a grant to hold the program at Turtle Creek Elementary School.
The Community Learning Center program will provide after school activities and support for students who typically need help in school or are of lower income. According to the agreement, the city will provide instructors for 35 to 37 students for recreational activities and schedule activities. The city will provide two instructors at $9 an hour. The school district will provide staff members to help as well.
The school district will pay the city $5,000 for the 2013-14 school year for the administration of the recreation services.
Club fundraiser
Nieuwenhuis announced the Boys and Girls Club of Walworth County has hired a unit director, Karin Slayton, and will hold its second annual golf outing Sept. 28.
“It would be wonderful if the community could show some support that day,” he said.
