Residents call attention to school, community issues at council meeting
Lydia Thies, a Prairie du Chien resident, spoke to the Prairie du Chien Common Council on Jan.7. She urged the city to look at the community’s supports and resources for new/young families and businesses. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
By Steve Van Kooten
The Prairie du Chien School District’s financial future spilled over to the city’s common council meeting on the evening of Jan. 7.
Two Prairie du Chien residents, Lydia Thies and Joe Atkins, asked how the city council plans to address contributing issues, such as housing and resources for new businesses.
Thies, who has lived in Prairie for approximately one year and previously resided in Wauzeka, said her children have been enrolled in the school district their entire school careers.
“We did so because of the excellent education, resources and above-and-beyond opportunities the school district was able to offer our children,” Thies said. “As most of you know, that is changing due to the funding and low enrollment numbers.”
The school faces as much as $11 million in possible cuts in the next four years after a fall referendum failed to pass. The district expects enrollment to continue declining until at least the 2027-28 school year.
“It is my belief and many community members’ beliefs that the problem is deeper and bigger than just the state funding that we are no longer getting. It is the direction our community is going as a whole,” Thies said.
She asked the council to consider if the area’s high taxes, expensive rental prices and general trend toward a “retirement community” are hampering its growth, which affects the school.
“We are not a growing community when it comes to families, and our school is in crisis mode because of that,” Thies said.
Alderman Nick Crary said city officials identified issues like housing and maintaining businesses as “weaknesses” that will be addressed in the city’s 20-year comprehensive plan, which is in progress.
Atkins inquired whether the city has considered placing any kind of limitations on vacation rentals by owners (VRBO) in the area.
“It seems to me that while it’s good for you guys: you get property taxes from VRBOs, and the county gets their share, there’s no incentive because they’re VRBOs; there are no families living in them, thus there are no kids,” he said.
Alderman at Large Jaaren Riebe said other Wisconsin municipalities have passed ordinances to put minimum-stay limits on VRBOs; however, that has led to litigation with the State of Wisconsin.
“They’re in a lawsuit with the state right now, so that’s kind of the ones that are leading the charge on that, and if at that point it’s legal, I think then I would personallty address that to see if there’s something we could do,” he said. “At the same time I’m also a small government guy, so I don’t know if the government should be telling you what to do with your land. So, there’s a lot of moving parts there.”
Riebe said there was not an “easy answer” to the VRBO situation, even to make sure the rentals pay the room tax. VRBOs have faced criticism in many communities for contributing to higher prices to purchase property and reducing options for first-time home buyers.
In attendance were alderpersons Crary, Vicki Waller, Bob Granzow, Nate Bremmer, Riebe and Ringgold. City Administrator Chad Abram, Mayor David Hemmer and Police Chief Kyle Teynor were also present. Alderperson Kayla Ingham was absent.
Other business
• Teynor said the city has not received money from the Trump campaign for the rally at the end of September. Several municipalities have reported that his campaign has not paid their bills, including Grand Rapids, which reportedly billed the Trump campaign for $49,000 for two rallies. Prairie du Chien has requested approximately $22,000 in reimbursements for the city, Crawford and Grant counties, among others.
• Abram requested all city residents take a survey about the Fort Fun playground. “It’s a very old park, but it’s a highly used park… We have long-term goals for an all-inclusive abilities park.” Other communities, such as Platteville, built similar structures in the past few years.
• Abram thanked the fire department for their quick response to a house fire on Jan. 5, calling the response effort well-coordinated and organized. The McGregor Fire Department assisted on the call, and the Rural Bridgeport and Prairie du Chien Fire Department was on standby.
• Approved a certified survey map for the future location of a Pizza Ranch. Abram said the city has not closed on the property, but there is an estimated 10-month build once that is accomplished. A general contractor has already been hired, according to Abram.
