Published: Dec. 17, 2015
Common Council to discuss fate of ‘Bridge to Nowhere’
Housing at old Barton school also on agenda
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News
The bridge over the Milwaukee River behind the West Bend
Theatre in downtown may be standing on its last legs.
At Monday’s West Bend Common Council meeting, the council is
expected to go into closed session and discuss the bridge’s future, according
to the council’s budget for its 6:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall, 115 S. Main St.
In addition, the next step is expected to be taken to turn
the Barton Elementary School property into a multi-family residential district,
which means a proposed residential facility is closer to reality.
Other agenda items include discussion about the Senior
Center funding request, possible grant agreement approval with Senior Center
Activities Inc. and a presentation of the 2016 capital improvement plan. A
petition drive is ongoing to save the bridge, nicknamed the “Bridge To Nowhere,”
which hasn’t been used in almost a decade. If the bridge is going to be saved,
whether it’s worth saving and paying for its restoration are among the issues.
If the West Bend Theater isn’t refurbished and if funding
falls short to restore the bridge, it will likely be torn down early next year.
Mayor Kraig Sadownikow has said he can’t support something
that would cost taxpayers money.
City Administrator TJ Justice declined to comment on what
the closedsession discussion will entail and what it may mean for the bridge.
However, he said if any action was going to be taken about
the bridge by the Common Council from closed session, it won’t be until
January.
The council will hear a proposal to approve an ordinance to
rezone the former Barton Elementary School, 614 School Place, from
institutional and public service district and single- family residential
district to multi-family residential district.
“It is a necessary piece to allow that proposal to be
advanced,” Justice said.
On Nov. 17, the council unanimously approved a proposal to
negotiate a new contract with Kunkel Engineering Group.
On Monday, the council will be presented the contract for
vote.
Kunkel, based out of Beaver Dam, was one of six firms to put
in a bid to provide municipal engineering services to the city.
Some of the highlights of the contract include:
■ A
two-year deal with option to extend one year at a time for up to three years.
■ A
base salary of $118,000 per year which will not increase for the duration of
the contract.
■ An
established fee structure for project-specific tasks outside of the base
contract; fees to be adjusted annually based on rate of inflation.
“It’s a significant step in that a two-year relationship and
experiment is coming to a conclusion at the end of the year,” Justice said. “It
breeds new life into a relationship that’ll be extended for at least another
two years.”
At the Nov. 17 meeting, Justice said it is a “great
proposal” and “it bodes well for the city.”
Also related to Kunkel and the city, a request is expected
to be made for a lease agreement to have Kunkel offices at City Hall.
If approved, Kunkel will have a nearly 1,000-squarefoot
office on the third floor of City Hall. The rate would be $10 per square foot
per annum, equaling $833.33 per month. The term of the lease will last the
length of the contract and either party will have the option to terminate the
lease with a written, 30-day notice.
Alderman Ed Duquaine said in November, “We find value that
they’re in City Hall.”
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