Village of Fontana News
Fontana Fourth Fest in Reid Park July 3 and 4, 2010
The Village of Fontana and the Big Foot Lions Club are planning a Fourth of July weekend festival that will feature a Battle of the Bands Competition, an arts and craft fair and a concession and beer tent in the Village’s lakefront Reid Park.
The inaugural Fontana Fourth Fest has been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 3 and 4, 2010. The event will conclude with the annual Village of Fontana Independence Day fireworks display at dusk on the 4th of July.
Battle of the Bands Competition
The winning band in the two-day Battle of the Bands Competition will receive a contract to play the opening slot (Noon to 3:00 PM) at the annual Big Foot Lions Club Lobster Boil & Steak Fry in Reid Park on Saturday, July 31, 2010. The winning band will be determined by ballot. Ballots will be sold for $5 each to people attending the event. Participating bands will play one set, with the total length of the sets to be 60 to 90 minutes depending on the final schedule. Original and cover bands will be welcomed, and the sound system will be provided. Bands will be required to submit a CD or tape of at least three songs.
The Battle of the Bands competition will begin at 2:00 PM on both days. The event will end at 9:00 PM on Saturday, July 3, 2010, and at 6:00 PM on Sunday, July 4, 2010.
Bands that wish to be considered for the Battle of the Bands Competition should submit a CD or tape and contact information to Village Clerk Dennis Martin at the Fontana Village Hall, 175 Valley View Drive, PO Box 200, Fontana, WI 53125.
Arts and Crafts Fair
The Village of Fontana also is organizing an arts and craft fair for a portion of Reid Park, with individual spaces to be marked off and rented to vendors. Vendors will be responsible to supply their own white tent and tables. Vendors will be required to have their spaces cleared by 6:00 PM on Sunday, July 4, 2010. For more information, contact Village Administrator/Treasurer Kelly Hayden at the Fontana Village Hall at (262) 275-6136 or click on the following links:
Arts/Craft Fair Information
Arts/Craft Fair Application
The Big Foot Lions Club concession tent will be offering brats and hot dogs, pork chop sandwiches, popcorn, chips, soda, water, Miller beer products and wine coolers from Noon to 9:00 PM both days.
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.
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.
Village Purchases MacGowan Parcels for $350,000
The Village of Fontana Community Development Authority closed on the purchase of two adjacent parcels of land for $350,000 from Patricia MacGowan on Monday, June 15, 2009,
Both parcels have the address of 138 Fontana Boulevard, Fontana, WI. One lot is a vacant parcel (Tax Key No. SOP 00052), and the adjacent parcel has a retail/apartment building (Tax Key NO. SOP 00052A) with a second-floor apartment that is currently being leased by two residential tenants. The lower commercial unit is not occupied.
The CDA Board will be soliciting developers to work with on a development project similar to the Mill Street Condominium/Commercial development.
Village Receives Structural Engineering Report for Lakefront Building
The structural analysis report for the lakefront marina building owned by the Village of Fontana has been submitted by PDI/Graef. The report will be discussed by the CDA Board at its monthly meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2009 beginning at 6:00 pm. Structural Analysis Report
Blue Ribbon Committee Tabulates Surveys
The Blue Ribbon Lakefront Building Committee tabulated the results of a public opinion survey that was mailed out last fall to all property owners and residents. The surveys were due back to the Village by October 3, 2008. Lakefront Survey
Survey Results
Question No. 18 Answers
VILLAGE OF FONTANA Street Department crew members (from left) Kevin Kohley, Mark Radtke and Joseph Special are clearing the rotted wood from the old Reid Park gazebo into a front-end loader Monday morning, October 9, 2009.
Reid Park Gazebo Replacement Project Commences
The 18-year-old gazebo in the Village of Fontana’s Reid Park was razed Friday morning, October 9, 2009 because following an inspection by the Village Building and Zoning Department the lakefront structure was deemed unsafe and a liability to the Village.
Planning has been underway for several months on a replacement project for the gazebo after it was determined that the deteriorating structure was starting to shift and sway with the wind. The gazebo was constructed with untreated cedar wood in 1991, and the soundness of the structure became a liability concern this past season.
The Park Commission was considering a renovation project, but the rotten condition of the wooden portions of the structure dictated the reconstruction proposal. After knocking down the structure, the rotted wood was transported to the DPW garage site for disposal. The concrete foundation is still in good condition.
The Village Board directed the Building Inspector to make the final determination on the soundness of the structure, and approved a motion at its October 5, 2009 meeting to go on record to assure the public that planning is underway for the construction of a new gazebo on the foundation.
The gazebo was dedicated by the Fontana Library and Civic Center Association, Fontana Women's Club and Fontana Garden Club on September 1, 1991 (according to the dedication plaque cemented into the concrete foundation).
Village Board Approves Compost Site Changes
The Village Board recently approved some changes to the Department of Public Works Compost Site at the Village Garage at 300 Wild Duck Road.
Disposal of Yard Waste
Property owners are no longer permitted in the Compost Facility. Instead, property owners may use the newly created Yard Waste Collection Site, located at the Duck Pond Recreation Area. The hours of operation for the Yard Waste Collection Site are Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3:30 pm, and Saturday from 8 am to noon.
Curb-Side Chipping Services
The Village provides curb-side chipping services; however, these services are now provided during the first week of each month from April through October. At the discretion of the Public Works Department, when a brush pile is determined to be too cumbersome to efficiently run through the wood chipper, the pile may be hauled away at a cost of $50 per load.
Leaf Vacuum Services
The Village provides leaf vacuum services at no charge to property owners in the spring and fall. Property owners must deposit leaves no farther than 10 feet from their front street, but not on the pavement itself. Placement of leaves within the roadway is against village ordinance and may be subject to a fine. Leaf piles shall be free of any foreign materials (stones, brush, foreign plant material, grass clippings, etc.) and the presence of such materials will prevent pickup.
Contractor Services
With the exception of leaf removal, all contractor services must include the removal of all debris and yard waste generated as a part of their work. The Village will not be responsible for removing any contractor generated material (with the exception of leaves) from the curb. There will be no contractor generated waste allowed at the Village of Fontana Compost Facility, or the Yard Waste Collection Site. Any contractor identified as utilizing the compost area or the Yard Waste Collection Site shall be subject to a $1,000 fine.
CDA Offers Facade Improvement Program
The Village of Fontana Community Development Authority (CDA) established the Facade Improvement Program to stimulate exterior building improvements to existing commercial buildings within the boundaries of Tax Increment Financing District No.1.
Renvoations that are sufficient in scope to produce visible changes to the building facades may be eligible for consideration. Application Process
Garlic Mustard Alert
Residents Urged by Park Commission to Pull Invasive Weed
The Park Commission announced at its May 17, 2006 meeting that garlic mustard is starting to bloom in the Village of Fontana.
The Park Commission urged residents to pull the invasive weed from their yards and gardens.
Once pulled, the garlic mustard plants should be kept separate from other yard waste. Pulled garlic mustard plants should be taken to the Duck Pond area and put on the burn pile, or they should be placed and sealed in plastic bags and put out with the garbage for collection by Keizer and Sons on Monday mornings.
Park Commission Listing Landmark Trees
Residents May Nominate Trees
Following the recent adoption of the Natural Resources Conservation Ordinance, the Village of Fontana Park Commission is developing a list of Landmark Trees.
The Natural Resources Conservation Ordinance supports and encourages the preservation of Fontana trees in a variety of ways. One of them is the provision to create the designation of “Landmark Tree.” It states that “a Landmark Tree shall mean any tree so designated by the Park Commission or the Tree Board for its natural beauty, majestic stature, historical significance, location, memorial designation or other qualities deemed appropriate.” These trees will have a measure of extra protection under the new ordinance.
The Park Commission is developing a list of such trees in the Village. It will include Memorial Trees planted in many of the village parks. Also listed will be the three “Champion Trees” designated by the Wisconsin DNR: a Black Walnut in Buena Vista Club, a Black Walnut located at North Lakeshore Drive and North Lower Gardens Road, and a Copper Beech located at 519 S. Lakeshore Drive.
The commission is seeking the assistance of residents in this effort. Landmark Tree Nomination Forms can be obtained at Village Hall.
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. 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.”
Main Lift Station Project
Beach House Project
Duck Pond Pavilion Wing Addition Project
Archived News Releases
|
