The Dwight T. Parker Public Library’s designs and plans for their upcoming building expansion was approved first by the City of Fennimore Planning Commission, and then approved based on the commission’s recommendation by the city council during their monthly meeting and yearly organizational meeting held on Tuesday, April 15.
Library Director Cathy Smith stated that the next step is for final approval by the library board itself.
At the recent “library gala” held on April 9 it was announced that bids for potential contractors will be sent out April 25, with May 21 the deadline for bids to be received. Construction is slated to began July 1, with an anticipated end to construction in July 2026.
During the organizational meeting, in addition to committee appointments, 2nd ward alderperson David Streif was reelected as city council president.
TID Nos. 4 and 5’s closures were approved by the council, leaving the city will two active TIDs, the most recent being last spring’s land acquisition on the east side of town, near the current Business Park.
A TID, or Tax Increment District, is the actual physical area designated for potential development projects
City Clerk Ashley Edge stated in her report to the council that the city had 775 total voter for the recent April 1 election.
Reelected council members Jeff Hagen, David Streif, Jessie Strack, and Adam Day, all ran unopposed.
In his report, Fennimore Police Chief Chris French stated that the police department recently received a grant from the state for a new Preliminary Breath Test and calibration equipment.
The new calibration equipment is gas based instead of fluid based, making them easier to use
and less time consuming according to French.
Director of Public Works Jordan Fritche reported that the gym in the Memorial Building will closed for a week at the end of this month for resurfacing.
Fennimore Tree Board member Margaret Sprague during her report to council highlighted the Tree Board’s recent sponsoring of 85 trees to be planted in a national forest in honor of Fennimore Elementary School.
A lease agreement was approved between the city and the Marsden Park Trust were the city would be responsible for repairs and changes to the tennis court located in the park.
Lastly, Joel and Rebekka Hefty, owners of the Pomerening Apartments, located at 7th Street, spoke briefly to the council about the rain flow from Lincoln Avenue, the high school, etc, into the apartment complex’s parking lot, causing it to erode.
The Heftys stated that they plan on replacing the lot, but need to find a solution to the “water flow” problem.
Fennimore Mayor Ryan Boebel informed the Heftys that he had made the city engineer aware of the problem and it would addressed and added to the agenda during May’s council meeting.
The next meeting of the Fennimore City Council is scheduled for Monday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m., in he council chambers of the Memorial Building.
