By Rich Palzewic
Staff Writer

BELLEVUE – The Green Bay Metro Fire Department recently added Bellevue to its area of service.

The merger, which takes effect Jan. 1, will save Bellevue about $4 million in building costs, and was formally approved by the village board at it’s Nov. 11 meeting.

“Because of the merger, Fire Station 2 along Allouez Avenue will no longer need to be replaced,” said Bellevue Village President Steve Soukup. “That building will be converted to something else.”

Bellevue’s nine full-time staff members will join the Green Bay Metro Fire Department, and the 22 paid, on-call staff will have the option to apply for future openings in the department.

Fire Chief David Litton said he’s hoping the department will have six openings at the end of the year.

“We’d like the part-time staff who meet our qualifications to get chances for interviews,” he said. “We hope to hire them to fill those spots, but I can’t guarantee it.”

Litton said the goal of the merger is to provide quicker response times.

Words of encouragement

At the meeting Nov. 11, Soukup read a positive email from a resident about the Nov. 3 election.

“I voted around 5 p.m.,” Soukup read. “It was extremely well organized. Yes, the line was long, but everything moved quickly. There were at least two women in line with small babies and one woman using a walker. Someone, I’m assuming a poll worker, moved the three ladies to the front of the line. Several people in line showed their approval by clapping. The poll workers were first-rate as usual.”

Soukup also shared a positive experience while he was recently at the grocery store in regards to the board’s October meeting.

“A gentleman came up to me and thanked me for listening and trying to come up with alternatives to the apartment housing near him (located generally south of Main Street and east of Glenmore Road),” said Soukup. “Every member of this board can tell you they’re always asked questions, no matter where we go. We listen to people.”

Soukup also told the board he plans to run for village president again in 2021.

“There have been a few perceptions from people out there this board doesn’t listen to them,” he said. “That’s so far from the truth. We do listen, and I listen every day. I’ve sat at many kitchen tables over the last 17 years trying to help people with their issues. I’ve also taken more than 1,000 phone calls to try and help people – I have a passion for helping. I work hard to make Bellevue the best it can be. Sometimes, the board may disagree, but we handle it professionally – every one of us.”

Odds and ends

In other news, the yard waste site, located at 3891 Eaton Road, will be closed for the year after Sunday, Nov. 22.

Residents are asked to drop off grass clippings, garden materials, leaves, brush, sod or stumps on or before that date.

As of Nov. 1, winter seasonal uses/trailers may now be parked in a driveway or on an approved hard surface adjacent to a garage, subject to the regulations of the Bellevue zoning code.

Examples of winter seasonal uses include snowmobile trailers, ATV trailers and utility trailers.

These items can be parked in these areas until May 1.

Residents have until Dec. 1 to put away any summer seasonal use items in a driveway or on an approved hard surface adjacent to a garage, subject to the regulations of the zoning code.

Summer seasonal uses may include boats, campers, RV’s or personal watercraft trailers.

These items may be returned next spring on April 1.