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November 17, 2009 Economic Sustainability committee
MINUTES: Liberty Grove Economic Sustainability Committee
November 17, 2009
Place: Women’s Club Building, 11953 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay
1. Call to order: Chairman Robert Tidball called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Present: Tidball, Nelson, Shumway.
2. Declaration of quorum: A Declaration of Quorum was announced by Tidball. Kubet Luchterhand joined the meeting at 7:10. Absent: Roger Bergen. Also present: 9 visitors, and Town Chairman Lowry
3. Public input: Tidball announced he would change the agenda and Items 4 and 5 would be reversed because so much public input was available and wanted to begin on Agenda item #5 by publicly announcing that a letter had been received regarding the Val-A Motel and directing conversation of the committee and those in attendance towards same:
4. Consider Val A Motel inquiries and resultant recommendation:
Carol Lango read a previously written letter of concern regarding the condition, and the impact of the condition, of the Val-A Motel property on Ellison Bay’s attempt at economic development. It was discussed that the matter of clean-up and health, safety and welfare for the residents of the Town in regards to the Val-A Motel had been ongoing since the mid-1990s and addressed by at least five previous Town Boards and the County of Door. Tidball stated that after receipt of the letter he had personally visited with the Olsons, owners of the property known as the Val-A Motel. He allowed that a history of clean-up help has been given. The owners of the property are getting older and are in poor health; the property has been on and off the market for sale. It was by stated by Lango that the letter was not intended to be mean-spirited, but was a matter of honest concern. As an Ellison Bay business owner, her patrons had asked her about the property; and she stated that it is again becoming an overwhelming project for the owners, and feels that the property has a direct impact on the economic development and viability for Ellison Bay. The property is one of the first things visitors see when they enter the Town. Shumway asked if the matter should be moved up to the Town Board; Nelson reminded that the matter had already been forwarded to the County in the past.
Comments included the fact that it is “old Door County” and piles of wood in the front yard aren’t illegal, as the owners heat with wood, and so long as any boat or vehicle is registered it is generally allowed outside storage. Many long-time, year ‘round residents of Door County utilize outside storage. The issue of the outside storage doesn’t bother some of the attendants but the majority of those in attendance felt that the matter should be addressed again on the issue of health, safety and welfare because of unknown conditions, but specifically because the property is in business district a/k/a Commercial Center. A request was made to review any and all County and Town Ordinances regarding on-site storage and junkyards, as well as a suggestion to have an ordinance limiting the number of days for an ongoing garage sale.
CONSENSUS: A subcommittee of two, Tidball and Luchterhand, was created to approach the Olsons with suggestions to deal with the continued complaints and Town time and money spent on discussion of this property, including a suggestion for another community clean-up of the property. Additional comments included the possibility of the Town purchasing the items for sale on the property; this was deemed impractical. This matter will be revisited on a future agenda; the Town will review the letter from the Sanitarian, review the Town and County ordinances and provide copies of same to the Committee prior to the next time this matter is a scheduled agenda item. MOTION: NELSON, SECOND, TIDBALL TO TABLE UNTIL THE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE OWNERS AND FORMULATE A REPORT. The Town will also provide the committee with the aforementioned items for review prior to this matter being on a future agenda.
5. Consider acceptance/adoption of mission statement: Tidball stated the Mission statement, as existing but currently in creation for the committee, currently relates to two or three basic items: Liberty Grove should be mindful of the “rural characteristics of ‘old Door County’”, and build on that theme for economic development; and (2) get ongoing input from existing business owners and (3) work on attracting new businesses. Nelson stated that the Town needs to keep current business operations but also needs to attract many new businesses. It was noted via Nelson, Tidball and Shumway that Door County Economic Development via Sam Perlman can and will be slated to be contacted for future agendas, as well as Rob Burke from Door County Economic Development, regarding ideas for business expansion using existing infrastructure. The Town Chairman added two comments: to take the core businesses and expand, and to emphasize that Ellison Bay does have high speed internet capable of green development. A suggestion for advertising office space was rejected, as the Village of Sister Bay currently has dozens of empty spaces with high speed internet for rent and sale, which are vacant. Several suggestions for the “walkability” of Ellison Bay were presented—it has a general store, gas station, restaurants, bank and post office all within walking distance. Within the realm of “walkability”, crosswalks were again brought up, and both Tidball and Lowry stated it was an ongoing matter with the Town Board working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Future Meeting Dates: A meeting was scheduled for December 17, 2009, time and location to be determined. It was determined a January meeting introducing the new Economic Development Committee and inviting all Ellison Bay and Liberty Grove business owners be scheduled and Liberty Grove business owners be invited via invitation via approval of the Town Board by consensus.
6. Adjourn: Motion: Nelson, Second: Tidball. All voting were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Archive:
September 7, 2010 Parks & Property Agenda
September 1, 2010 Finance Committee Agenda
September 1, 2010 Health, Safety, Welfare Agenda
August 23, 2010 Bike Path Steering Committee Agenda
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August 9, 2010 Highway Committee Agenda
August 4, 2010 Health, Safety, Welfare Committee Agenda
July 27, 2010 Economic Sustainability Committee Agenda
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