Fontana adopts county hazard mitigation plan

An Aug. 22 benefit Firefighter Cancer Support Fund fundraiser has been organized in support of career firefighter and occupational cancer victim Ken Larsen of Lake Geneva, a firefighter and hazardous materials team leader with the Lake Geneva Fire Department and a Lieutenant with Illinois' H…

Taking to heart the old Boy Scout adage to “be prepared,” the Fontana Village Board of Trustees took a proactive step forward on Aug. 7 as it approved adoption of Walworth County’s 2022-2026 Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.

The updated five-year plan, which seeks to identify mitigation goals and actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to persons and property from the impacts of future hazards and disasters, is the successor to the county’s original 2009 and updated 2014 Walworth County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plans.

The multi-hazard mitigation plan was prepared in accordance with federal laws, including, as amended, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, and the National Dam Safety Program.

The scope of the plan, which outlines mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities, is limited to natural hazards that pose a threat to people and property in Walworth County. The plan does not address threats of terrorism or man-made hazards such as hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents.

Involved in the review and comment process of the plan update were the cities of Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva and Whitewater; the villages of Bloomfield, Darien, East Troy, Fontana, Genoa City, Sharon, Walworth and Williams Bay; Emergency Management directors of adjoining counties; the local American Red Cross chapter; and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

The City of Burlington, primarily located in Racine County, and the Village of Mukwonago, primarily located in Waukesha County, participated in the hazard mitigation planning process in their respective counties.

The 254-page plan consists of six chapters and a map series.

The first chapter offers an overview of the plan and the second chapter presents background information about Walworth County, including its setting, demographic and economic characteristics, climate, natural resources, architectural and historic resources, land use and development trends.

The third chapter addresses special needs populations and groups in Walworth County, while the fourth chapter details a complete inventory of critical facilities in the county.

Natural hazards are reviewed in the fifth chapter, along with estimated losses to buildings, infrastructure and critical facilities.

The final chapter of the plan presents a recommended natural hazards mitigation strategy for Walworth County and its individual municipalities, identifying goals, objectives and policies that will help craft appropriate solutions to the identified problems, as well as various potential options for funding identified projects.

Preparation and adoption of a community mitigation plan is a requirement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order for Walworth County and Walworth County municipalities to be eligible for federal mitigation funds under Section 104 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2002 and 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 201.

Appearing before the board, Fontana Police Department Chief of Police Jeff Cates spoke in support of the village approving adoption of the 2022-2026 Walworth County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.

“There’s really no downside to it,” Cates said. “If we adopt it, like most other communities have, it just opens to the door to grants for such things as flooding ... Most other communities in the county have adopted it and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t.”

The multi-jurisdictional plan has been approved by FEMA and the Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency.

Partial funding for the preparation of the initial plan and plan updates was provided by Wisconsin Emergency Management through a grant from the federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. Civi Tek Consulting prepared the initial plan and plan updates.

At the request of Fontana Department of Public Works Director Kevin Day and the recommendation of village Park Commission, trustees approved acceptance of a $4,000 bid from Kansasville-based B&M Fence Co., Inc. for a 60-foot extension of the Duck Pond soccer field fence to prevent soccer balls or children going onto adjacent property owners’ land.

The contract calls for the installation of 60 linear feet of 60-inch-high, 9-gauge galvanized chain link fence, inclusive of a protective 1-5/8-inch, 16-gauge top safety rail.

The Fontana Village Board approved the creation of Section 54-169 of the Municipal Ordinances regarding the transportation and removal of aquatic invasive species (AIS) as part of efforts by the Williams Bay-based Geneva Lake Environmental Agency (GLEA) to encourage municipalities around Geneva Lake to adopt ordinances aimed at preventing the spread of aquatic invasive plants and animals in Geneva Lake and surrounding bodies of water.

Section 54-169 prohibits the transport of Aquatic Invasive Species, with AIS being defined as set forth in Wisconsin Administrative Code Section NR40.0243(m) and any future amendments thereto.

Reads Section 54-169: “No person shall operate a vehicle or transport any board of any water craft to or from a public highway if aquatic invasive species are attached to said vehicle, boat or personal watercraft. All aquatic invasive species shall be removed from a vehicle, boat or personal water craft prior to placing such equipment into navigable waters.”

In other developments at the Aug. 7 meeting, the Fontana Village Board:

Approved modifying the zoning administor’s Friday hours from 9 a.m. to noon to 8-11 a.m.

Approved the resignation of full-time Fontana Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Simon Lee.

Approved the resignation of Fontana Police Department Officer Gregory Ryan.

Approved the hiring of Fontana Police Department Community Service Officer Ireland R. Dunnett.

Accepted the resignation of Michael Lucero from the village’s Tourism Commission.

Approved the issuance of operator’s licenses to Grace Hanson (Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn) and to Clayton Flies and Josefina Giroux (Gordy’s Boat House).

Approved moving forward with requiring annual ethics training for village employees and elected officials in lieu of moving forward with the proposed creation of a Code of Ethics addition to the Municipal Code of Ordinances.

Approved the proposed creation of Sections 18-56(i) and 18-38(f)(10) and amendment of Section 18-54 of the Municipal Code of Ordinances governing zoning and land use, with a public hearing to be set at a time to be announced.

Approved repealing and recreating Sections 78-94, 78-96(1), 78-94(c)78-94(d)(3), 78-97(c), 78-97(f)(3) and d78-95(a) of the Municipal Code of Ordinances governing water service utility rates to accommodate new water rates. The Fontana Village Board approved an across-the-board 8% simple water rate increase on June 12, effective Sept. 5.

Approved amending Section 18-108(i) of the Municipal Code of Ordinances governing tree and shrubbery cutting within Environmental Corridor (EC) Overlay Zoning Districts.

Approved and adopted rules and regulations for the public utility per Municipal Code of Ordinances Section 78-62, which states that “rules and regulations adopted by the village board shall be conclusively deemed the contract between the village and every person and user of village water, who shall, by the use of such water, be deemed conclusively to have assented to all such rules, rates and regulations.”

Approved a 50/50 cost-share split of $4,902.71 in cost reimbursement for sanitary lateral repairs performed by Burlington-based Wanasek Corp. at 1114 Jenkins Dr.

Approved a $6,750 proposal from Lyons-based D&K Services Utility Contractors, LLC to install 110 feet of storm sewer piping, along with a catch basin and grate, to address ongoing flooding problems at 277 Wauban Dr.

Approved acceptance of a $4,430.50 quote from Janesville-based Martelle Water Treatments for disinfection configuration at Well No. 3.

Approved acceptance of a $8,850 quote from Madison-based L.W. Allen Pump Systems to rebuild the old pump at the village’s Mill Street Lift Station for use as a backup pump.

Approved increasing Big Foot High School District resident beach pass rates from $60 to $75.

Approved a 5% across-the-board facility rental rate increase.

Approved the not-to-exceed expenditure of $750 to contract for aerial drone footage services to conduct an inventory of lakefront properties in the village.

Approved, coming out of closed executive session, eligibility lists for future employment openings at the Fontana Fire Department and Fontana Police Department. Eligible for hire are Daniel Ace, Robert Gaskins, paramedic Alexander Hahn, Matthew Rollin, paramedic Seth Rowton, Kenyon Smith and Justin Uitenbroek for the fire department, and David Aranda, Charles Eisenberg, Ryan Halsted, Daniel O’Connor and Shawn Sowa for the police department.

Taking top honors in the Wisconsin State Fair's juried 2023 Sporkies food competition was the Beer Cheese Wisconsin Lava Cake served up by WürstBar Executive Chef Curtis Peterson — salted Milwaukee Pretzel Co. slider buns injected with house-made beer cheese soup, topped with butter and pretzel salt, and drizzled with hot honey and red pepper flakes. An initial 9,000 orders were prepped for the fair. The Sporkies championship saw Peterson and his crew lay plans to prep an additional 6,000 orders to meet expected demand by hungry fairgoers.

Taking first place in the Wisconsin State Fair's trailblazing inaugural Drinkies non-alcoholic beverage competition was the Ferris Mule served up by Old Fashioned Sipper Club — a non-alcoholic mule crafted with fresh blackberries, ginger beer, freshly squeezed lime juice and agave nectar, all of which is hand-shaken and poured over ice, garnished with fresh blackberries, a rosemary sprig and lime wheel.

Taking top honors in the Wisconsin State Fair's judged 2023 Sporkies dood competition was the Beer Cheese Wisconsin Lava Cake served up by WürstBar Executive Chef Curtis Peterson — salted Milwaukee Pretzel Co. slider buns injected with house-made beer cheese soup, topped with butter and pretzel salt, and drizzled with hot honey and red pepper flakes. In advance of the State Fair, Peterson said 9,000 orders of Beer Cheese Wisconsin Lava Cake were prepped. With the first place win in the 2023 Sporkies celebrity judging, another 6,000 order were slated to be prepped to meet the expected fairgoer demand.

Opening the 11-day run of the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair on Aug. 3, Gov. Tony Evers (right) presented Wisconsin State Fair Board Chairman John Yingling (left) and State Fair Executive Director and CEO Shari Black (center) with a framed proclamation naming Aug. 3-13 as Wisconsin State Fair Days. The presentation came during opening ceremonies at the Bank Five Amphitheater at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis.

Poynette resident Ashley Hagenow, Wisconsin's 76th Alice in Dairyland, chats with young fans while signing autographs following her Aug. 3 "Back to School with Wisconsin Dairy" presentation in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion at the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair, which runs Aug. 3-13 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis. As Alice in Dairyland, Hagenow serves a full-time, year-long stint as a communications and marketing ambassador for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). For more opening day photos of the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair, see Page C8.

Placing second in the Wisconsin State Fair's jurried 2023 Sporkies food competition was The Porkie sundae served up by Camp Bar — vanilla custard layered with cheesecake bites and hot fudge, topped with crumbled graham cracker crust, more hot fudge, warm caramel, a graham cracker cookie, a cherry, and candied bacon dipped in chocolate and rolled in sprinkles.

Walworth County youth were among the agricultural exhibitors at the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis. Pictured on opening day, Aug. 3, is the Walworth County Junior Dairy Exhibit in the Upper Cattle Barns complex at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Opening day crowds begin to fill the Wisconsin State Fair's sprawling 200-acre fairgrounds campus in West Allis on Aug. 3, as seen from the park's Skyglider attraction. Seen in the distance is the skyscraping WonderFair Wheel. At 15 stories high, the WonderFair Wheel offers riders a breathtaking view of the Milwaukee area with visibility of more than 10 miles from the top of the wheel.

Several members of the Sharon 4-H Club were among those exhibiting at the Walworth County Youth Dairy Exhibit on opening day, including Jasmine Davenport of Sharon, a three-time State Fair exhibitor showing two spring and summer Brown Swiss yearlings. Class of 2023 Badger High School alumnus Davenport is an incoming accounting major at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha and an 11-year Walworth County Fair dairy cattle exhibitor

Milwaukee-based Kids from Wisconsin, an award-winning elite Broadway-caliber traveling youth musical troupe, entertains at the Bank Five Nine Amphitheatre at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis on Aug. 3 Nonprofit Kids from Wisconsin draws auditioned talent from across the state and is annually comprised of 36 singers, dancers and band members ages 15-20. Marking its 55th anniversary season in 2023, Kids from Wisconsin is the country’s only pre-professional organization of its kind.

Grandstand Avenue at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis was filled with opening day crowds on Aug. 3 as the 11-day 2023 Wisconsin State Fair kicked off. The State Fair, which runs through Sunday, Aug. 13, drew more than one million attendees last year.

Several members of the Sharon 4-H Club were among those exhibiting at the Walworth County Youth Dairy Exhibit on opening day of the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair at State Fair Park in West Allis, including first-time exhibitor Connar Schell of Clinton, exhibiting a spring yearling Holstein. Said Schell, an incoming junior at Clinton High School, of his first experience exhibiting at, and attending, the Wisconsin State Fai , "It's busy and fun, a good experience. There's a lot of stuff to do and a lot of stuff to see. It's pretty fun. I'm gonna be here for a full week so I can explore the whole week."

Live radio remotes from the Wisconsin State Fair are a popular fan-favorite attraction at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, giving listeners an inside look at the world of radio broadcasting and the opportunity to put faces to familiar voices. Here, co-hosts Sandy Maxx (left) and Steve Scaffidi chat live from WTMJ's Bank Five Nine Studio at State Fair during the 9 a.m. to noon "WTMJ N.O.W." (News, Opinions, Wisconsin + Why it Matters) show.

The Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol's Milwaukee 5 Composite Squadron Color Guard provided a patriotic start to the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair's Aug. 3 opening ceremonies at the Bank Five Nine Amphitheater at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Pictured, from left, are Isabella Schleuse, Kaeden Saunders, Ryan Whitney and Alex Schllhamer.

The Original Cream Puff Pavilion in the Dairy Building at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis draws a steady procession of visitors during the State Fair's 11-day run. The Wisconsin State Fair's iconic Original Cream Puff. sold since 1924, is the most popular food item at the fair. Sold individually and in 3- and 6-packs at the Cream Puff Pavilion and two remote to-go stands on the fairgrounds, some 400,000 signature WIsconsin State Fair cream puffs are sold annually. The nonprofit, West Allis-based Wisconsin Bakers Association operates the Cream Puff Bakery in the Original Cream Puff Pavilion.

The 2023 Wisconsin State Fair offers fairgoers a variety of free music stages across the breadth of the nearly 200-acre Wisconsin State Fair Park campus in West Allis during its ongoing 11-day Aug. 3-13 run. Here, Madison-based blued band The Jimmys perform at the fairground's Central Park on opening day, Aug. 3.

Taking first place in the Wisconsin State Fair's trailblazing inaugural Drinkies competition was the Ferris Mule served up bartender Brad Yates at Old Fashioned Sipper Club on the Wisconsin State Fair Park campus in West Allis. The non-alcoholic mule is crafted with fresh blackberries, ginger beer, freshly squeezed lime juice and agave nectar, all of which is hand-shaken and poured over ice, garnished with fresh blackberries, a rosemary sprig and lime wheel. Said Yates of the Drinkies competition, judged by a half-dozen local celebrities, "It's 100% competitive. Everybody had great stuff."

The nonprofit, West Allis-based Wisconsin Bakers Association sells some 400,000 of the State Fair's signature iconic cream puffs annually during the 11-day run of the Wisconsin State Fair at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis. The glass window walls of the Original Cream Puff Bakery in the State Fair's Dairy Building Original Cream Puff Pavilion allows hungry fairgoers a performance art look at the cream puff-making process.

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