© 2024 WXPR
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Downtown Minocqua Infrastructure Work Will Begin In 2020

Wikimedia Commons Royal Broil

MINOCQUA – Downtown Minocqua will be busier than usual in 2020 when curb and gutter, sidewalk and below ground utility upgrades are to be done.

The town board Wednesday approved advertising for an engineering firm to prepare a master plan for the multiple projects.

The requests for proposals (RFP) are due by April 19 with a recommendation by Public Works Director Mark Pertile to the board for May 27. The town will be responsible for paying for the storm sewers and above grade infrastructure work.

The Lakeland Sanitary District, which “is on board” with the project, will be responsible for costs of the sanitary sewer and water systems work. The town will seek a state grant to cover some of the costs, but the prospect doesn’t appear high it was noted. If the state legislature approves the town’s pending request for a premier resort area tax, then those funds would be available also.

According to the RFP, the timeline calls for preliminary design and master plan completion no later than Oct. 1, 2019. The final plan will be done over that winter with construction to begin in spring 2020. Work will consist of replacing curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewers, as well as upgrades to street lighting, water mains and sanitary sewers, with drainage improvements. The board has not yet discussed whether to do all the projects at once, or to do them in phases.

In another downtown project, the board approved the Torpy Park pavilion layout and removal of several trees that will be necessary. The Minocqua Lions Club will shoulder the cost of building a new pavilion to be located between the current pavilion and Minocqua Brewing Company. At the urging of board members, the location of the 60-by-96-foot structure was shifted five feet to the west to give more space for concertgoers. Two white pine trees that have substantial limb loss and four “low value” spruce trees will be removed. The town will plant replacement trees. In other actions, the board agreed to new setbacks for some areas in the downtown area as recommended by the plan commission with the exception of existing buildings.

Supervisor John Thompson said he wanted to ensure “property rights” were protected and called for existing building to be authorized on existing footprints if demolished for any reason. The rest of the board agreed. Town Chairman Mark Hartzheim said many property owners would likely welcome the new setbacks as it would prevent owners of adjacent properties from building “from lot line to lot line.” The county zoning department will assist the town in drafting appropriate language for a resolution to that effect. It will come back to the board for a final vote, with an invite to the public to comment on the proposal.

Also approved were the following: • Preliminary first addendum to the Booth Lake Landing Condominium for a garage structure. • A rezone request by Donald Helm from District #1A-Forestry to District #02-Single Family for a parcel south of Pine Lake Road. Town Chairman Mark Hartzheim announced the re-appointments of the following: library board of trustees – Hank Roessel (president), Jean Mejerle, Pat Pechura and Kim Widmer; Plan Commission -- Phil Albert and Joe Hegge; Bear Lake Protection & Rehabilitation District – Billy Fried.

Up North Updates
* indicates required
Related Content