Also listens to report on regulation of sex offenders
By John Koski
SLN Staff
At its meeting Monday, the Elkhorn Common Council approved spending a maximum of $15,000 on repairs to Sunset Pool in 2013, with any single repair over $5,000 brought to the Municipal Services and Utilities Committee for approval.
The measure will enable the aging pool to be open for the 2013 season while the council considers options for the pool’s future.
In December the council listened to a summary of a report prepared by Stantec Consulting, St. Paul, Minn., in which Jim Maland, head of Stantec’s aquatics group described the 45-year-old pool as “beyond its functional life, and its physical life is very thin.”
The report was prepared to help the council determine how to proceed. Options presented in the report had ranged from outright demolition to construction of an aquatics center that could carry a price tag of $7 million.
Sex offender regulation
The council listened to a presentation from Penny Vogt, corrections field supervisor, and Tina Gensler, sex offender registration specialist, both with the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Division of Community Corrections.
Vogt and Gensler had been invited to discuss how the city might better regulate sex offender placement.
Gensler noted that there are currently 292 registered sex offenders in Walworth County with 47 of them residing within the Elkhorn city limits. By comparison, she noted that Rock County currently has 456 registered sex offenders.
“Walworth County sex offenders have a 95.8 percent compliance rate, compared to a statewide compliance rate of 88.5 percent,” Vogt said.
She went on to note the importance of educating children to the danger of sexual abuse and exploitation.
“Fully 93 percent of victims know their offender,” she said. “That’s why it is so important to talk with our children and to educate them.”
On the other hand, Gensler said, “We don’t encourage creation of residency restrictions.” Doing so, she said, limits offenders from finding housing, “Stability is the number one thing we can do to help them,” she said.
Gensler went on to note that Walworth County prosecutors take sex offenders very seriously and that her department has an excellent working relationship with Walworth County prosecutors, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement personnel.
Other business
• The council authorized Stantec Consulting to provide a cost estimate to prepare a scope of services report relating to the possible extension of Market Street.
• The council authorized a 2.25 percent across-the-board wage increase for non-union general employees,
• It was noted that the Elkhorn Municipal Building and the Elkhorn Band Shell, located in Sunset Park, are now on the Sate and National Register of Historic Places. The council directed city staff to look into the cost of plaques that can be placed on the structures indicating that they are recognized historic places.
• The council discussed the ongoing traffic situation on N. Lincoln St. where residents have repeatedly complained of traffic traveling above the posted 25 mph speed limit and overweight and other restricted vehicles using the street.
Councilman Scott McClory said city staff will formally engage the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for input on how the city might be able to implement solutions.
“We will also evaluate short-term traffic-calming measures,” McClory said, adding that he encouraged residents to send suggestions to council members and the police department.
“We (the council and residents) will be talking a lot more about this,” added councilman Gary Payson Sr.
• The council approved the 2013 Sidewalk Program at an estimated cost of $140,000. The program will include 2,370 linear feet of sidewalk
• The council granted a temporary Class B retailer’s license to St Patrick’s School for Feb. 15 and March 1. The school will be holding Friday night fish fries on both dates.
