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Park Commission Plans July 19 Work Day for Trout Restoration Project
By Village of Fontana Park Commissioner Jill Wegner
Many residents may not be aware of the rare “jewel” that our Village possesses in Van Slyke Creek, which flows through the Hildebrand Nature Conservancy, and provides water to Geneva Lake. This spring-fed stream provides excellent year-round habitat for brown trout, whose numbers increase during the fall months when the fish travel upstream from the lake for spawning. In June 2006 the DNR performed an electroshocking survey and found a large, healthy population of brown trout (some in the 11- to 12-inch range) and abundant food production for these fish.
Southeastern Wisconsin contains mostly warm-water fisheries, and so a high-quality, cold-water resource such as Van Slyke Creek is a treasure in our part of the state. The Village is working together with Trout Unlimited to improve the water flow and habitat in the Conservancy by clearing debris and blockages and removing several old wooden dams near the headwaters which have restricted the flow for many years. To date, we have applied for and obtained a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program, and are in the process of investigating possible grants from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Wisconsin trout stamp funds. All of these organizations have reviewed this project and expressed an interest.
This is a project we are very proud of and we encourage citizens to become involved. This stream can become a showcase and provide incentives to others to become more involved in habitat improvement of all kinds.
We have scheduled a work day, together with volunteers from two chapters of Trout Unlimited for Saturday, July 19, 2008, beginning at 9:00 am to remove some of the wooden dams in the headwaters and remove debris throughout the remainder of the stream. All are welcome. Please contact Jill Wegner at (262) 275-5882 if interested in joining.
Summer Storywagon Series Ends July 22
The Lakeshores Library System 2008 Storywagon Series has the theme “Catch the Reading Bug!” this summer. The Storywagon Series is celebrating its 23rd year of bringing summertime entertainment to children of all ages at public libraries in Walworth and Racine counties.
One more performance is scheduled for the Fontana Public Library this summer on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 in the Village Hall Meeting Room, 175 Valley View Drive, beginning at 10:00 am . Program Schedule
Performer Bios
Village Posts July Meeting Calendar
The Village of Fontana monthly meeting calendar has been posted.
July 2008
The foundation has been poured for the new Village of Fontana Mill House Pavilion located at the back entrance to the Hildebrand Nature Conservancy off South Main Street across from Fontana Elementary School.
Crew members from STS begin drilling activities at the Duck Pond Recreation Area property on Monday, June 23, 2008. The monitor well drilling project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the week.
Village Holds First Meeting of 2008 Board of Review
Assessment Field Work, Open Book, Hearing Dates Scheduled
The Village of Fontana 2008 Board of Review First Meeting was held Wednesday, May 21, 2008 (Minutes), at which the Adjourned Meeting Date of Wednesday, September 24, 2008 was scheduled. The Board of Review will conduct hearings on September 24, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.
Accurate Appraisal, LLC began the field work for the Village of Fontana Market Revaluation Project in mid-June.
Following the mailing of the Assessment Change Notices, Open Book sessions will be held at the Village Hall on September 3, 4 and 6, 2008. On Wednesday, September 3, 2008, Open Book will be held from 9:00 am to 5 pm; on Thursday, September 4, 2008 it will be held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; and on Saturday, September 6, 2008 it will be held from 9:00 am to noon.
If, after the Open Book session, a property wishes to object to the assessment, they must file a “Form of Objection” to schedule an appointment before the Board of Review. An Intent to Object Form must be filed with the Municipal Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the Board of Review.
Appearances at the Board of Review are by prior appointment only. The Board of Review functions like a court in that it is required to evaluate evidence based on facts. Property owners must provide factual information showing that their property is incorrectly assessed. Notice of 2008 BOR
Notice of Adjourned Meeting
Library Announces ‘Catch the Reading Bug’ Program
The Fontana Public Library has announced the offerings in its “Catch the Reading Bug @ the Fontana Public Library” summer reading program. Summer Program Brochure
DPW Discontinues Leaf Vacuum Services for Summer
Village of Fontana Director of Public Works Craig Workman announced that the curbside leaf vacuum service has been discontinued for the summer months following the last sweep through the Village Thursday, June 19, 2008. The service will resume in the fall.
During the late fall and spring, the entire village is covered on a weekly basis starting at the northern Village limits, progressing through downtown and Country Club Estates, and finishing along South Lakeshore Drive at the eastern Village limits. Because of the unpredictability in leaf volume, it is impossible to schedule a specific day each week for a particular street or subdivision.
Property owners must rake the leaves no farther than 5 feet form the street, but not on the pavement. Any leaves that are not picked up because they are outside the 5-foot area should be raked to within the area for collection the following week. The leaf service does not include the collection of grass clippings.
Chipping Services
Curbside chipping services are conducted during the last week of each month, with the exception of December, January and February, when chipping services are conducted as necessary. The Village does not handle brush from any lot clearing activities.
No tree material that is larger than 6 inches in diameter will be accepted for chipping, and piles that contain non-recyclable materials will not be handled. All materials to be chipped must be stacked with the butt ends facing the street. A fee of $2.50 per minute will be charged after the first 15 minutes of each month, or for any pile that it too large to chip within 15 minutes.
Abbey Resort Offers Club Membership for Fontana Residents
Residents of the Village of Fontana are eligible to register for the Abbey Resort’s AbbeyLakeClub to receive exclusive discounts and email updates on special events and promotions. For more information, please see the attached flyer.
AbbeyLakeClub Application
Village residents can complete the application on-line and email it to the Abbey Resort at: info@theabbeyresort.com
In appreciation of the Village of Fontana’s support of the Abbey’s spectacular new AVANI Spa, Fontana residents are cordially invited to attend an open house celebration on Thursday, July 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the AVANI Spa.
First District Congressman Paul Ryan (right) was at the Fontana Village Hall for a “Listening Session” Thursday morning, May 29, 2008. Also in attendance at the event was State Representative Tom Lothian. The “Listening Session” provided an opportunity for members of the public to meet with Congressman Ryan, who updated the audience on current issues and answered questions from his constituents at the event.
The Color Guard leads the parade down Third Avenue to Reid Park during the Village of Fontana Memoria Day Parade Monday, May 26, 2008.
The Big Foot High School band performs in the Village of Fontana Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 26, 2008.
The Color Guard takes its position in Reid Park during the annual Village of Fontana Memorial Day Observance ceremony Monday morning, May 26, 2008.
Parking Sticker Reminder
The Village of Fontana Police Department would like to remind residents that as of Sunday, April 13, 2008, the parking meters in the Village parking lots and along the lakefront streets are being enforced and Resident Parking Stickers must be affixed to the front windshield of vehicles or parking citations will be issued.
Resident Parking Stickers must be affixed on the lower left hand side of the front windshield of the vehicle so that they are visible for the CSO Officers who patrol the meters and parking lots. A parking citation will be issued if a meter has expired and there is not a Resident Parking Sticker affixed to the lower left hand side of the front windshield of the vehicle. Resident Parking Stickers that are placed on the dashboards or affixed on other locations on the vehicle will not be visible to the CSO Officers and parking citations will be issued.
Residents may purchase their vehicle parking stickers for $10 each at the Village Hall.
Village Posts Noxious Weed Notice
The Village of Fontana has posted the annual Noxious Weed Notice in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 66.0407. Weed Notice
Park Commission Lists Tree Planting Suggestions
The Village of Fontana Park Commission supplied the following tree planting and mulching recommendations at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Preliminary Minutes
The newest recommendations for planting trees are the result of observations by horticulturists.
They have found that most tree roots are in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil and they spread outward from the tree as far or greater than the tree is tall. Taking this into consideration, new recommendations involve digging a broad planting “saucer” instead of a deep planting hole. This planting saucer is three times or more the diameter of the root ball. The depth of the saucer is only as deep as the root ball and the sides are sloped at a 30 degree angle.
Some even recommend a saucer that’s only 1-foot deep with a depression in the center to accommodate the tree’s root ball. This depression allows the root ball to be planted at grade and gives the plant stability, eliminating the need for staking. These new planting recommendations also include cutting away all wire, burlap, and other materials surrounding the root ball after the tree is set in place and positioned. Trees are thriving where these new planting procedures are being used.
Tree Mulching Recommendations:
Identify plant and its moisture / low oxygen tolerance.
Determine current mulch depth; tine rake to aerate / dry.
Use composted mulches only.
Well-drained soils: apply 2-inch (fine mulch) to 4-inch (coarse).
Poorly drained soils: apply 2-inch maximum.
Very poorly drained soils: use chemical weed controls.
Keep mulch 4 (young trees) to 8 (old trees) inches from trunk.
Soil test periodically for pH.
Avoid “sour” (smell ammonia) mulches.
Excavate soil to expose trunk flare; use coarse aggregate to fill.
Irrigation should not flood trunk or trunk flare.
Tine rake any slime mold or fungal mats to aerate.
Mulch out to the drip line if possible.
Share this knowledge with others. Avoid “mulch volcanoes.”
Residents Must Reregister for "CODE RED" System Alerts
Wrong Link Posted on Initial Story
About three years ago Walworth County Emergency Management set up an emergency call out system with a company called Code Red. If some sort of emergency were to happen this system lets us, the emergency responders, designate a specific contact area, from as small as a street to as large as the entire county. The emergency responders are then able to record and deliver a message with specific instructions. This could be for a missing child, evacuating an area, or providing other special instructions.
The system then dials phones in the designated area and plays back the recorded message. Currently the draw back to the system is it is privately owned and the phone companies are not allowed to give out unlisted numbers. The second draw back to the system is people using only cellular telephones or Internet-based phone services. Again these numbers are not allowed to be given out by those companies.
The two links below provide information about the company and a page where you can register your cellular and Internet-based phone numbers. Then if there is a local incident, we would be able to contact you through this system. The site is secure and does not give out or sell phone numbers. This is completely voluntary, though the benefit is being able to be contacted in an emergency situation.
If you do not have access to the Internet or know of somebody in the Village of Fontana or Walworth County who would not be able to register, forms and information are available at the Fontana Safety Building, Village Hall and Fontana Public Library.
This system has been used a couple of times in the county and is similar to what has been talked about on the news following the shooting at Northern Illinois University and how the school was able to alert students.
Company information is available at the following Website: http://www.coderedweb.com
To register a phone number visit the following Website: http://www.coderedweb.com/codereddataentry/index.cfm?GroupID=1032
Randall Arendt Seminar Held May 14
Internationally known landscape planner, site designer, author and lecturer Randall Arendt presented a seminar and workshop featuring the concepts of creative development design and sustainable approaches to commercial corridor redevelopment at the Fontana Village Hall Wednesday, May 14, 2008.
The program was titled “Reclaiming the Strip: Towards a Smarter, More Sustainable Future for our Gateway Approaches." The workshop presentation was sponsored by the Village of Fontana Community Development Authority. Press Release
Dog Licenses Available at Village Hall
Village of Fontana residents who own dogs are reminded that April 1, 2008 was the deadline to avoid the $5 late penalty fee for 2008 Dog Licenses. The licenses are available at the Fontana Village Hall, 175 Valley View Drive. All dogs older than 5 months are required to have a Village License.
The fee for altered dogs, male or female, is $10 per pet. The fee for unaltered dogs, male and female, is $20 per pet.
Village Hall Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Saturday from 8 AM to noon (excluding holidays).
DPW Streets Department employee Russell Adams is working to take out one of the old fence posts at the beach. The DPW crew removed the old cyclone fence in preparation for the installation of the new wrought iron fence.
 Big Foot Lions Club Lobster Boil & Steak Fry event chairmen Anders Pearce (left) and Joe Abell presented Park Commission President Sarah Lobdell a $1,500 check from the Club at the January 2008 Park Commission meeting. Pearce and Abell thanked the Village for the continued use of Reid Park for the fund-raising events. Abell stated that the lakefront park is great location and the club appreciates the opportunity to host its events where the visitors can enjoy the excellent view of the lake.
FW/WPCC Participating in
Chloride Removal Program
Chlorides: Affects our impact on environment?
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources established chloride standards for wastewater treatment plant discharge as part of the Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 106. The Fontana/Walworth Water Pollution Control Commission facilities (the wastewater treatment plant which serves the Village of Fontana, the Village of Walworth and the Kikkoman Foods Corporation) is required to meet these standards. Currently, there is no economically feasible method of removing chlorides from the wastewater stream at the treatment plant. Therefore, the sources of chloride introduced into the wastewater stream must be controlled before reaching the wastewater treatment plant.
Clean water is supplied from underground wells, which does contain minimal chloride concentration. Although kitchen waste and snow/ice melt infiltration may account for a portion of the chloride found in the wastewater, the majority of the chlorides appear to be introduced by residential, commercial and industrial water softeners or operation process. The solution is to regenerate the softener to allow for continued softening.
Chlorides: What can be done?
Several methods exist which can be implemented by the homeowner and business owner to assist in reducing the introduction of chloride into the wastewater stream. Here are some suggestions:
1. Soften only the water that needs to be softened.
2. If you have a timer-based softener, investigate if the timer is correctly set for your particular water use.
3. Contact your softener company to inspect your unit and recalibrate all settings.
4. Remember to disconnect your softener when you are away for the weekend or any extended period of time.
5. Investigate the possibility of installing a Demand Initiated Regeneration water softener. This type of softener minimizes salt use and results in a cost savings.
6. Recycle the brine from the softeners or removal of brine.
The local water softeners companies can provide assistance in assessing your current softener situation. They can analyze your water, provide guidelines for proper settings and use, and provide information on equipment upgrades if you so desire.
Your help in achieving the goal of reducing chlorides in your area is an important environmental concern. The wastewater treatment plant staff has been sampling and testing for chlorides in wastewater since 1994 and will continue sampling to track the progress of this chloride reduction campaign. The Central States WEA Conference in Madison on May 24, 2007 was regarding information on how other municipalities and industries are reducing the chloride in the effluent water. This is a state effort to find ways to reduce chloride of water that is returning to the lakes, streams, ponds and creeks. Notice
Village Offers Credit Card, Electronic Check Payment Options
The Village of Fontana has contracted with Official Payments Corporation to offer credit card and electronic check payment options for property taxes, non-parking citations, utility bills and other miscellaneous payments.
System Information
The prefabricated pedestrian underpass was delivered and installed in sections on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 to the construction site at Wild Duck and Dade Roads.
The Village of Fontana Department of Public Works contracted for a tub grinder to create mulch out of collected yard waste and tree limbs on Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The wood chips and compost are available for purchase from the DPW. Compost costs $10 per yard and wood chips cost $5 per yard, plus $50 for delivery expenses.
Village Posts Consumer Confidence Report
Village of Fontana Director of Public Works Craig Workman has posted the 2006 Consumer Confidence Report.
VOF Fire Department Releases Weather Alert Information
A press release that covers emergency weather alert procedures in the Village of Fontana has been released by Fontana Fire Department Chief Jon Kemmett. Press Release
Utility Bill Automatic Payment Plan
The Village of Fontana now offers its property owners a plan that authorizes quarterly utility bill payments to be deducted from a savings or checking account. Details
Walworth County News
Archived Alerts and Announcments:
VOF News Releases
Highway 67 Construction Project
Main Lift Station Project
Beach House Project
Duck Pond Pavilion Wing Addition Project
Disclaimer: The agendas, meeting minutes, notices and postings on this site are for convenience purposes only and may not represent the most current version. Therefore, they are not considered the official copy nor should they be considered a legal representation of the official copy. If you require a copy of the official version of one of these documents, please contact the Village Clerk’s office.
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