Lake Leota Update

No lake fireworks this time

Janesville Gazette

I was all excited for some possible fireworks on the Lake Leota dredging project at Tuesday's council meeting.

But alas, there were none.

It's shaping up for a discussion and vote at the Tuesday, Sept. 9 council meeting though. Mayor Sandy Decker said that's when the council will decide if the dredging will be put to referendum or not.

Confusion and public opinion has been centered around several numbers floating around for the cost of the project.

Here's what we know now:

--Part of that confusion was corrected Tuesday night when park board chair and alderwoman Janis Ringhand said the park board mistakenly used $1.4 million instead of $1.7 million when making its recommendations last month.

--The park board recommended the council move forward with the dredging without a referendum at a cost of $1.7 million, depending upon the city’s ability to dump dirt on neighboring property owners’ land. The board first recommended the council hold a binding referendum, if possible, but state statutes do not allow that.

--Ringhand also has requested to the finance committee that the $2.5 million that was allocated in the capital budget about five years ago for dredging in 2009 remain.

While the $2.5 million may be more than is needed for the project, Ringhand said it’s better to over allocate than not have enough.

--In February, Vierbicher Associates presented a plan to dredge the lake for $1.7 million to $2.6 million, with the range depending on how far the about 200,000 cubic yards of lakebed material would have to be transported.

-- A lake dredging referendum only would be advisory, meant to gauge the public’s opinion, City Administrator Dan Wietecha wrote in a council member. Binding referendums are allowed for “a very short list of legislative acts, such as a charter ordinance or a town incorporating as a city,” he wrote.

-- To be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot, the specific language needs to be sent to Rock County by Sept. 23.

--The public works committee will talk about the issue and possibly make a recommendation at its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 26.