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Village Posts September Meeting Calendar

The Village of Fontana monthly meeting calendar has been released. September 2010

DPW Taking Out Chipper Early This Month

Because of the Labor Day holiday and special activities planned for the next several weekends, the Village of Fontana Public Works Department crew will be going out with the chipper Friday, August 27, 2010 and will be finishing the sweep of the village on Monday and Tuesday, August 30 and 31, 2010.

During the summer months, the chipper is normally sent out the first full week of each month.

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. The Village does not handle brush from any lot clearing activities.

Leaf Services Commence In Late Fall

The curb-side leaf vacuum services ended for the season in May. Property owners and residents may take leafs and yard waste to the Duck Pond Recreation Area collection site Monday through Saturday from 7:00 am to dusk.

During spring and late fall, 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 unpredictable nature of the 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 10 feet form the street, but not on the pavement. Any leaves that are not picked up because they are outside the 10-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.

Park Commission Pig in the Park Event September 4

The Village of Fontana Park Commission's third annual Pig in the Park event is scheduled for Saturday, September 4, 2010, from 4:00 to 10:00 PM in Reid Park. As well as a traditional pig roast, the event offers brats and hot dogs and other refreshments; a children's area with craft activities and other attractions; and a beet tent area with live entertainment.

Entertainment is scheduled to be provided by the Great Lakes Naval Band and by the Saltwater Cowboys, featuring local singer/guitarist Michal Van Dyke.

All proceeds raised at the event benefit the Park Commission's Little Foot Playground fund. Tickets will be available in advance at the Village Hall, but may also be obtained at the event.

Village Seeks RFPs for Contracted Services

The Village of Fontana has issued nine Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the contracted Village services for 2011. RFPs are due to the Village by August 31, 2010.

Auditor

Attorney

Prosecution Services

Refuse Collection

Recyclable Collection

Village Engineer

Village Planner

Computer Services

Cleaning Services

THE VILLAGE OF FONTANA Park Commission presented a Certificate of Appreciation of Jill Wegner at the monthly meeting held Wednesday, July 21, 2010. Wegner submitted her resignation from the Park Commission after more than three years of service. Park Commissioners pictured at the meeting are (from left) Sarah Lobdell, Wegner, Cindy Wilson, Sharon O'Brien, Sharon Conklin and Dan Green. Not pictured is Laura Coates.

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

VILLAGE OF FONTANA Trustee Cindy Wilson presented a Certification of Appreciation at the Village Board meeting Monday, June 7, 2010 to Boy Scout Daniel Freitag for coordinating and helping to complete the Shabbona Path project as his Eagle Scout Project.

Boy Scout Leads Volunteer Path Construction Project

Local Boy Scout Daniel Freitag coordinated and participated in a volunteer group construction project to complete the Village of Fontana's Shabbona Path Project on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Freitag completed the work as his Eagle Badge Project.

Other Boy Scouts, their family members and volunteers who helped with the project were Nick Dixon and Trish & Mark Dixon (adults); Quentin Arnold and Bryan Arnold (adult); Olinh Craig; Thallin Baker; Chris Hansen; Greg Kovarik; David Luczak; Tyler Santeler; Garrett Cary; Kyle Collins; Jordan Gottman; Carter Hehr; Lucas Swank; Dean Smith; David Horowitz; Matt Ripkey; Shaun Sovsky; Austin Snudden; Randy Janes; Gus Wedig; Steven Schauf; Daniel Gilstrap; Mike Kunes; Luke Kahl; neighbors Mike Maksimovich and Cyndi Hyatt and Peter Novak and Novak's Deli provided food and drinks; Sheldon Landscaping; Engineer Dale Broeckert; the Village of Fontana Department of Public Works; and Village Trustee and CDA Commissioner Cindy Wilson.

Village Offers Compost, Wood Chips, Mulch

The Village of Fontana Department of Public Works is offering compost, wood chips and mulch that can be picked up by residents or delivered, while supplies last.

Residents may pick up product at the Duck Pond Recreation Area or have it delivered for a fee of $50 per load. Non-residents, who live within 5 miles of the Village, may have product delivered for $75 per load.

The cost for the product for Village residents is: compost, free; screened compost, $20 per cubic yard; wood chips, free; double-ground wood chips, $15 per cubic yard; mulch, $15 per cubic yard.

The cost for the product for non-residents is: compost, $5 per cubic yard; screened compost, $25 per cubic yard; wood chips, $5 per cubic yard; double-ground wood chips, $20 per cubic yard; mulch, $20 per cubic yard.

For more information, call the Village Hall at (262) 275-6136, or stop in during open hours from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm weekdays, and 8:00 am to noon on Saturdays.

Village Hall Open Saturday Mornings

The Village Hall again is open for customer service from 8:00 am to Noon on Saturdays through Labor Day weekend.

Village Hall is open Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Parking Stickers, Beach Passes Available at Village Hall

The Village of Fontana 2010 Resident Parking stickers and Municipal Beach season passes are now available for purchase at Village Hall. The Village of Fontana Police Department will begin enforcing the parking meters April 15, 2010.

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 and property owners may purchase their vehicle parking stickers for $10 each at the Village Hall. There is a maximum of four parking stickers allowed per tax parcel.

Beach Opens Memorial Day Weekend

The municipal beach opened for the season on Memorial Day Weekend. Residents may purchase up to six Municipal Beach season passes for $3 each, and up to six more for $5 each.

Big Foot High School District residents may purchase season passes for $30 each, and nonresident beach passes may be purchased for $60 each.

The daily admission fee for the beach is $6 for adults, and $3 for children ages 6 to 12. Children who are age 5 and younger are admitted to the beach for no charge.

Village Implements Pay Stations for Parking

The Village of Fontana has installed two centralized parking pay station units -- one on the southeast corner of Third Avenue and Reid Street and one in the boat trailer parking lot -- for the parking stalls in lieu of erecting individual parking meters.

The pay stations are the same units that are used at the train station in Harvard, IL.

Stall numbers have been painted on the surface for each parking space . During the season from April 15 to October 15, motorists who do not have the Village of Fontana resident “F” sticker have to pay for parking at the centralized pay station using the individual parking stall numbers. A ticket is printed for display in the parked vehicles.

Parking is still free for motorists with Village of Fontana resident “F” stickers displayed on the driver’s side of the vehicle's front windshield.

Congressman Ryan Mobile Office Coming to Fontana

Congressman Paul Ryan’s Mobile Office will be stopping at the Fontana Village Hall to provide services to constituents as part of the annual spring and summer schedule on one more Thursday morning.

The Mobile Office will be at the Village Hall from 9:00 to 10:00 am on Thursday, July 22, 2010.

Charter Cable Will Continue to Carry WBBM-TV (CBS) Chicago

Charter Communications has announced that WBBM-TV (CBS) Chicago will remain on Charter’s Walworth County channel line-up. Charter is currently in negotiations for renewal of the terms of its carriage of WBBM-TV with station owner CBS, a process that occurs every three years. While terms discussed in earlier phases of negotiations would have resulted in the discontinuation of carriage of WBBM-TV, Charter and WBBM-TV have agreed to terms that enables continued WBBM carriage on Charter in the Walworth County area.

In accordance with the terms of Charter’s new agreement with WBBM-TV, which will allow continued carriage of the station, but solely on Charter’s digital line-up, WBBM will be relocated from its current channel position on analog channel 7 to Basic Digital channel 969, effective April 20, 2010. Customers will require a digital receiver from Charter, or need to have a digital TV with a QAM tuner in order to view channel 969. Customers with a QAM tuner will need to auto program their digital TV on April 20 in order to tune in this channel.

More information about Charter services can be found online at www.charter.com.

BIG FOOT Lions Club members Kevin Racky (lef) and Joe Abell (right) present a $6,000 check to Fontana Village President Arvid Petersen at the Village Board meeting Monday night, February 1, 2010. The donation was the Lions Club's annual appropriation for the Little Foot Playground Pirate Ship fund.

THE FONTANA VILLAGE BOARD presented a congratulatory plaque to the Big Foot High School Varsity Football Team at the monthly meeting Monday night, February 1, 2010. The Chiefs compiled a perfect 14-0 record this past season on way to winning the WIAA Division IV State Championship. Pictured at the meeting are (from left) Trustee Tom McGreevy, team member Mike Walker, coaches Pat Hollihan and Jim Haeni, Trustee George Spadoni, and team member Alec McGreevy.

VILLAGE PRESIDENT Arvid Petersen presents a Certificate of Recognition to Fontana resident Peg Bair at the monthly meeting of the Fontana Village Board Monday night, February 1, 2010. The Certificate of Recognition states: In recognition of your March 3, 2009 promotion to brigadier general in the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Congratulations for being the first woman to serve as a general in the Wisconsin National Guard. The Village of Fontana is proud of your current service as the chief of staff of the Wisconsin Air National Guard and commander of the Wisconsin Air National Guard headquarters. Thank you for your service to our country, which started as a registered nurse in the U.S. Air Force, after which you transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 1981, the Montana Air National Guard in 1986, and the Milwaukee-based 128th Medical Squadron of the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 2000.

Village Publishing Electronic Newsletter

The Village of Fontana quarterly newsletter will no longer be printed and mailed to property owners and residents. The newsletter will be posted the first week of January, April, July and October on the Village Website at: www.villageoffontana.com.

Property owners and residents may submit requests to have a PDF file of the newsletter emailed to them, or they may pick up printed hard copies at the Village Hall and Public Library. To request an emailed copy of the newsletter, property owners and residents should send their email address to: villageclerk@villageoffontana.com.

Local Iceboat Club Filmed on Geneva Lake

Matt Mason, a local professional photographer, took some amazing video footage January 13, 2010 of many of the Boe-Craft owners on Geneva Lake.  The area of sailable ice was small but was sufficient size to make the video.  Website

Dog Licenses Available at Village Hall

Village of Fontana residents who own dogs are reminded that April 1, 2010 is the deadline to avoid the $5 late penalty fee for 2010 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 $13 per pet. The fee for unaltered dogs, male and female, is $23 per pet.

Village Complete Count 2010 Census Committee Commences Efforts

The Village of Fontana Complete Count 2010 Census Committee held its first meeting Thursday, November 12, 1009 at which promotional and informational measures were discussed. Preliminary Minutes

The U.S. Census Bureau is teaming with the local counties and municipalities to encourage public participation in the important event. The U.S. Census Bureau also has created a website that features all the information and documents for the 2010 Census.

As well as publicizing the U.S. Census Bureau and Walworth County initiatives, the local committee established a Questionnaire Acceptance Center and Be Counted Program site at the Village Hall. VOF Local Distribution Plan

Census Information - English

Census Information - Spanish

Dog Walking on Beach Ends for Season

In an effort to help abate the pollution problem created by the large flocks of geese and seagulls that gather on the beach during the fall, the Village of Fontana encourages residents to walk their dogs on the municipal beach from October 15 through March 31.

The Village Board amended the Municipal Code several years ago to allow for people to walk dogs on the beach after the summer season has ended. During the summer season, dogs are only allowed at the Duck Pond Recreation Area “dog track” area.

FONTANA Garden Club President Gwenn Granquist presented a check for $1,000 to the Park Commission to help fund the prairie seeding project at the Duck Pond Recreation Area. The volunteer event to sow and spread the seeds at the Duck Pond is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2009 beginning at 10:00 am at the Village Hall. Pictured at the October 21, 2009 Park Commission meeting are (fom left) Garden Club member Gail Hibbard, President Gwenn Granquist, and Park Commission member Sharon Conklin, Chairperson Sarah Lobdell and Vice Chairperson Jill Wegner.

THE FONTANA Public Library Youth Program featured a Fire-Bear Workshop on October 8, 2009. The event was held in conjunction with Fire Prevention week. Participants made 13-inch bears that included firefighters outfits. Some of the participants were (from left) Jackson and Brandee Brown, Witney Workman, Avery Beetstra and Wylde Chupich.

A VILLAGE OF FONTANA recognition plaque was presented by Jennifer Pollitt, daughter of Past Village President Ronald Pollitt, to Fontana Fire and Rescue Department member David Blizard at the Village Board meeting Monday, August 3, 2009. Jennifer stated at the meeting that when he was serving as the Village President her father wanted to recognize Blizard for his four year's of service with the U.S. Marine Corps; however, they were unable to coordinate their schedules prior to President Pollitt's unexpected passing on February 17, 2009.

Village Conducting Cross Connection Inspections

The Village of Fontana Building and Zoning Department is continuing with the state required cross-connection inspections and with stormwater infiltration inspections. Residential property owners will receive postcards requested them to schedule and the inspections.
The Village is required to develop and implement a comprehensive cross-connection control program to ensure that there is not a risk of contamination of the drinking water supply that could be caused by back-siphonage or back flow. The inspector will assist property owners in identifying actual or potential cross-connection problems on their property.
A cross-connection inspection consists of an on-site visual inspection of appliances and fixtures that utilize and are connected to a water source.

Dishwashers, humidifiers, water softeners, hose bibbs, faucets, washing machines, boilers, icemakers, lawn irrigation, swimming pools and water closets will be inspected for proper back-flow prevention devices and connections. The inspection takes from 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Following the inspection, property owners will receive a written report which will note any cross-connection hazards and the method for bringing the system into compliance.

The state requires commercial and industrial services to be inspected once every two years, and all residential properties to be inspected every 10 years.

Monthly Tornado Siren Test Set for Third Wednesday

The Village of Fontana Police Department has announced that Walworth County will be conducting its monthly testing of Tornado Sirens on the third Wednesday of each month at noon.

The third Wednesday of the month is also the day the County conducts its MABAS test at 10:00 am. The National Weather Service people always do their tornado tests on Wednesdays at noon.

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

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

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 Rescue Squad 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

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.