By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
Town of Delavan police officer Roger Clapper was honored with a brief ceremony and plaque presentation on Dec. 17.
Clapper is retiring on Dec. 31 after serving the township for 35 years.
Chief Phil Smith noted that the department is 100 years old so Clapper has been an officer for more than a third of its existence. Smith put that into perspective by pointing out that Jimmy Carter was in his second year as president when Clapper began his career as a parking officer. Five other presidents, eight town chairmen, and six police chiefs have come and gone in that time. Smith said Clapper did a great job and wished him well.
Clapper thanked everyone for appreciating his service and said it had been an unbelievable ride.
“I enjoyed all 35 years of it,” he said. “I worked with some of the best officers.”
Clapper said he will miss the camaraderie he shared with his fellow officers.
“I never had another job where such camaraderie exists,” he said. “You go to work and put your life out there for the person you work with and they will do the same. There is no other job like it.”
Green Leaf Inn
The board approved a conditional use permit that will allow the Green Leaf Inn at 5072 Highway 50 to install solar panels on the property. The Plan Commission had recommended approval.
Resident Jim Wolfgram opposed the approval, saying the property seems to have many code violations involving debris.
“It’s a mess over there,” he said.
Wolfgram also asked why the property needs so much electricity when so little progress seems to be happening on the project.
Town Chairman Ryan Simons said the Plan Commission is concerned about the slow progression of construction on the property, but no code violations have been reported to the town except for a few weed ordinance violations.
The owners of the property are working toward opening an environmentally friendly hotel.
Boat launch fees
The board approved a new commercial park pass rate schedule for the boat launch at Community Park. The town has charged a flat rate of $195 to businesses that use the launch. Supervisor Chris Marsicano said the new schedule is designed to recover some of the costs of the recent improvements to the launch.
The new schedule has three tiers. Tier one is for boat service only at $400. Tier two adds shore lift service at $500. Tier three adds barge usage at $600.
Other business
The board approved a continuation of in-lake monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey for Delavan Lake. The survey will monitor lake water quality and cost the town $15,000. The USGS is contributing an additional $3,600 toward the cost.
The board approved reducing health insurance benefits for part-time employees. The township has been paying 50 percent of the premiums and will reduce that to 25 percent. A new 2014 employee handbook was also approved.
