Tim Hoyman of Onterra Inc. discusses the lake study.
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Lake district acts on two lighting projects July 28, 2010 Antigo Inland Lake District voters heard about plans for a long-range lake management study, and approved some immediate beautification projects Tuesday.
The sparsely attended session drew only 12 people, including six of the nine Common Council members, who serve as the district’s commissioners.
The most concrete action was a motion from the floor to take $7, 500 from the district’s fund balance to complete the decorative lighting project at the Hudson Street bridge.
Four corner lights, funded by donation, were installed at the bridge several years ago. The wiring was also completed for four additional lights but they were never budgeted.
Supporters said completing the work will highlight the attractive bridge, visible from Superior Street.
In a related matter, voters will ask the Antigo Common Council to earmark a portion of available funds from the Spring Brook boardwalk and trail project to complete the lighting design at the Fourth Avenue dam and trailhead.
Work would include installing two decorative lights and poles on the dam along with four lights in the adjacent park.
Voters approved a budget of just under $59,000, including the lighting, funded by a mill rate of 14 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
Adoption of the budget and tax levy came near the close of the meeting, which was largely devoted to a recap of the year’s past activities and plans for the next 12 months, largely involving water studies and attempts at flow improvements.
The levy includes $26,343 to continue to pay back a 10-year loan to cover the construction of the Spring Brook Boardwalk and Trail, completed earlier this year. The lion’s share of the project’s $778,000 cost was covered by grants, with the lake district contributing $200,000.
Also included in the levy is $10,000 to continue to fund a Spring Brook banks and woodland park restoration program through the parks department to eradicate nonnative plants and to restore lost wild plant species. For 2011, the district plans to concentrate on the removal of buck thorn, cattails and other species identified under the management plan.
The third component of the levy will be $15,000 set aside for future dredging, a long-term project.
The 14 cent mill rate translates to a property tax of $14 for the owner of a $100,000 piece of property. The rate is a dime higher than last year, but is an estimate only based on 2010 assessments. If the city’s values go up, that mill rate will decline.
The levy and mill rate will fund an overall budget of $69,265, with other spending coming from reserve funds. Those costs include $750 for spring clean-up; $500 for advertising, $6,000 to continue a water quality study, and $12,000 for an ongoing hydraulic study.
During the informational portion of the evening. Tim Hoyman, an aquatic ecologist and owner of Onterra LLC will describe the studies and components included within the lake management planning project as requested, and 75 percent funded, by the Department of Natural Resources.
That work includes surveys of various plants and weeds, assessment of the shoreland, watershed and water quality, and analysis.
The study will run through next year.
Tim Kassis was re-elected chairman of the board of commissioners with Vern Cahak, secretary, and Jim Darling, treasurer.
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