By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
The New Washington Hatchery Festival will have a new overseeing body for future editions. The Community Improvement Corporation, which has run the event since its inception, has stepped down as governing body with the Sons of the American Legion taking over.
Tim and Dan Suver of this group were present before Village Council to ask for its blessing going forward and to coordinate efforts.
The CIC started the Hatchery Festival as a way to pay for the uptown revitalization project. Profits from the festival went toward paying off this loan, and with that debt now paid the group has stepped aside.
“It’s a good thing for the town, a good thing for the community,” Dan Suver said, “Nobody wants to see it die.”
Council did give its blessing and promised to continue its support of the event by providing the electric and trash services for the festival. In the past they had also donated some money to the CIC to help pay for police time, with the group picking up the cash difference. They indicated that they would be willing to work out a similar arrangement.
Rides and concessions are locked in for several more years due to contract arrangements, but a couple aspects of the festival still need addressed. The Sons of the Legion are planning to run the beer garden and handle entertainment, but they are looking for groups to do the chicken barbecue, raffle, parade, 5k run, and setup/tear down. Groups interested in participating are encouraged to contact the Sons of the Legion. Whereas in the past all profits went toward paying down the debt, profits of future editions will be split among the participating groups, with a reserve laid back to ensure that the festival can continue.
“Thanks for taking the initiative,” Council member Jerri Lucius said.
Lucius also presented findings from the insurance renewal for street department workers Steve Aichholz and Rocky Wechter. She recommended that the plan remain the same as last year. Last year’s monthly premium was $3044.15 for the pair and this year’s will be $3697.21 for the pair. Village Clerk Julie Cronau agreed that staying with the current plan was the best way forward, any change to the plan would require a complete renegotiation. Also, in the changing world of insurance, there are no assurances what next year will bring.
The village has been discussing naming the driveway that runs past the pool house toward the baseball fields Robertson Way in honor of the late Police Chief Scott Robertson. At the last meeting, Mayor Ben Lash had also brought up the idea of calling St. Rt. 103 through town some version of “Robertson Memorial Way.” This would be done without changing the name of the street or route and would not cause anyone to have to change addresses. He has seen this in other towns and liked the idea for New Washington.
During the discussion of both of these ideas, Cronau brought up the fact that the driveway at the park is not an official alley. Therefore, any naming of it would require surveying, engineering, and official designation of the driveway as an alley. In light of this information, council decided to go with the memorial designation for St. Rt. 103. When final wording is approved, signs will be placed at either end of 103 at the corporation limits.
Also in legislation, the Ordinance 969 to rezone for the cell tower passed on its third and final reading. And, Charlie’s Tree Service bid of $1250 to remove six trees and six stumps from around town was ratified.
Council went into executive session and when it returned council members passed a resolution authorizing accepting applications for the position of the village police chief.