The city council approved American Legion Post 184’s building permit request at the council's monthly meeting held Monday, Aug. 17. Post Commander Curt Cole spoke to the council and gave information on the shelter to be built in Memorial Park, next to the Memorial Building.

The 12’ wide x 16’ deep x 10’ high shelter will have a concrete pad and have electricity, Cole stated to the council, with the building and installation process done by Midwest Builders, Jim’s Building, and Downing Concrete.

Cole also stated the Legion was “close” to reaching their fund raising goal for the proposed shelter and the shelter would be similar to the new shelter at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

The council unanimously approved the Legion’s building permit request.

In her report, Fennimore City Clerk Ashley Edge stated that the city had 379 total voters for last Tuesday’s primary election. Out of those 379, 78 were absentees, and nine people registered to vote on election day.

She also reported that “It was our second time utilizing Badger Books, and things seem to be quicker for the voter, and much quicker at the end of the night, and the following days. We are already preparing for the November election, which will be here before we know it.”

Lastly, Edge stated in her report that the final day the pool will be open for the season will be Friday, Aug. 28.

Fennimore Police Chief Walt Dresen reported that Southwest Wisconsin Technical College has advised the department that they wish to continue the Liaison Program with the Fennimore Police Department. Dresen asked that the council approve a fixed rate of $50 per hour, rather than an adjustable rate based on actual costs, as this would be consistent with the agreement currently in place with Fennimore Community School District.

Dresen also reported the department’s new squad has been delivered to Belco for installation, and he expects the work to be completed within the next week. The 2019 Ford Explorer has been stripped of all police equipment and is ready for transfer or sale.

Lastly, several Fennimore officers participated in the National Night Out event organized and hosted by the Optimist Club of Fennimore on Aug. 4. Dresen stated that “This provided an excellent opportunity for officers to interact with community members,” which was approved by the council.

Regarding the city’s recent U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA)’s grant award, the council also approved Town and Country Engineering for the grant’s RFQ (Request for Quotation).

An RFQ is a formal business process or document where a company or public entity asks suppliers or contractors to provide pricing and delivery terms for specific, well-defined products or services.

Going along with that approval, the council also approved Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning as the city’s EDA grant administrator.

Lastly, the council approved a motion for the city to install new football field lights at the high school field that have been donated by Energy Management Consultants (EMC).

The next meeting of the city council is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21, at 5:30 p.m., in the council chambers of the Memorial Building.