By Lee Reinsch
Correspondent

DE PERE – Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie prognosticated an early spring, and De Pere is making sure it’s going to be ready for it.

The De Pere Common Council passed a slew of warmer weather-related motions touching on topics ranging from pools to boat launches at its Tuesday, Feb. 2, meeting.

The board voted unanimously to:

• Pay for an access road at VFW Park with money from the VFW aquatic center referendum project. The cost of the access road is estimated to be about $31,700. While the project may not be directly connected to the pool, one affects the other, said City Administrator Larry Delo.

“We wouldn’t be redoing the road were it not for the pool,” Delo said. “It’s not just a general park project.”

• Change which fund will pay for a gas-fired heater for the VFW aquatic center. The money will come out of pool referendum funds, rather than from the city’s undesignated reserve fund. The cost of the heater and installation is expected to be around $6,700.

• Sign an $11,500 operation and maintenance contract with Carrico Aquatic Resources, Inc. of Jefferson, for the 2021 swimming season at the VFW and Legion Park swimming pools.

The sum includes water treatment chemicals and equipment needed to maintain the pools, training for De Pere staff, and regular visits to the pool to test water and equipment.

• Hire Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sport Surfaces, of Grafton, to consult with the city in the redesigning of the VFW tennis courts. The three-court facility will be reconfigured to one that has two tennis courts and two pickle ball courts. The design services will cost $2,000.

• Sign a $65,000 contract with Monster Tree Service of Northeast Wisconsin for tree pruning in part of the city.

• Give the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department permission to apply for a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant to fund the dock refurbishing at Perkofski boat launch. If awarded, the grant would pay half of the costs of refurbishing up to $5,000. The restoration aligns with the parks department’s goal of refurbishing one dock per year.

• Hire a consultant team to help the city create an updated 2040 comprehensive plan and a new west-side vision plan. Elements identified as key for the west-side vision plan include connectivity to biking and walking trails; public spaces and landscaping; public art; identifying zones; and incorporating the vision plan of St. Norbert College into the plan.

In a 7-1 vote, the board gave the parks department the green light to submit an application for another DNR grant, this one for dock expansion at Perkofski boat launch.

If awarded, it would pay up to $4,000 toward the project, but the city would have to match that amount.

Alder Dean Raasch voted against the measure, because it included $500 of the city-match portion coming from the city’s undesignated reserve fund.