Blue Ribbon - Lincoln Avenue 2007 Street Project - Fennimore, Wisconsin

MINUTES OF A BLUE RIBBON CORE COMMITTEE MEETING FOR
THE CITY OF FENNIMORE FOR THE 2007 LINCOLN AVENUE PROJECT
HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2006, beginning at noon

Present: Gil Pierick, Steve Lendosky, Karla Witzig, Linda Parrish, John Murphy and Margaret Sprague.

The following committee reports were made:

Signage and Advertising-Steve Lendosky reported that cost information has been gathered from three companies. The best deal is from Platteville where the 4' X8' signs desired will cost $260 each. There will be 4 signs purchased which will allow for panels to be attached for helping travelers find local businesses. The plywood sheet will have a fluorescent yellow/green coating. The business panels will be 8" x 30" with text only and will cost $40. Hope to have funds to cover the cost of the 4 large signs and possibly cost-share on the business signs. The committee will also be looking at special signage near the 4 welcome signs. DOT approval will be needed for these. The state will put up detour signs, but no other signs can be attached to them. Billboards are too costly to use for this project.
Beautification of the Downtown (Design) - A letter is being drafted to Ron Kreunen of the Wisconsin Railroad Commission Office in Madison. Mayor Rogers has talked to him about possible railroad foundation sponsorship of special "railroad" banners on the street light poles (like Cuba City has done with Presidents). Ron is excited about the project. Much information still needs to be gathered on costs, designs, etc. Also, the Transportation Enhancement Grant is due on April 14th. City staff will re-write the application to update the project based on new information from the DOT and research done by the committee. The committee will meet when this information has been prepared.
Streets Research - has not held a meeting recently. Will assist the "Downtown Business Focus" Committee with contacting local property owners to gather information in their upcoming survey.
Downtown Business Focus - The State is finalizing plans for the project. The City will have a complete set of plans soon, including work planned on side streets. They will develop a list of survey questions and will contact all property owners for final questions and concerns on the project. They need input from other committees on information needed. They will be addressing signage, rear entrances, parking, promotions, etc. They only want to see people once. They expect to complete the survey by the end of February.
Fundraising Committee -
- Texas Hold'EM Poker Tournament-Steve Lendosky is chairing this event which will be on February 11th beginning at 9 a.m. Seating will accommodate 200 players. There will be a food stand with pop, water, coffee, pizza and possibly popcorn. He is planning a series of 5 tournaments with a Champion being named at the end. 22 businesses have sponsored poker chips which will have their logo feature on the chips. He has purchased 5000 chips. He is looking at July and December 2006 and the early part of 2007 for future tournaments. He hopes to raise $1000 at the February event. There will be a suggested donation of $10 per player. There will be a raffle going on. Posters are out to promote the event. The word is being spread at UW-Platteville and Southwest Tech.
- Wine & Cheese Tasting Social-Tammy Richter and Robin Meiners will chair this event which will be held in March/April at Eagle Creek Inn. Carr Valley will donate the cheese. The committee hopes to find someone to donate the wine. The cost will be $25-$40. They hope to serve 200-300 people.
- Hardees Combo Fundraiser-These $1 donation cards will be a special fundraiser for the 2007 Lincoln Avenue project. The project runs from April through December. The donation cards will be distributed with utility bills, at the Tech School, at businesses and any other way committee members can come up with. They are good in Dodgeville also so they will be asked to assist us with the project.
- Other ideas:
  1. Youth Involvement-Meeting with Mike Berg, Elementary School Principal to discuss ways the youth in the community can get involved with raising funds for the project, maybe a "Kiss the Pig" contest.
  2. Non-Event Fundraiser-being considered. A letter is sent explaining the cost of going to a special event. In lieu of that, people are asked to send a donation for the project.
  3. All-Class Reunion Street Dance-possibly held in conjunction with the Alumni Basketball Tournament in April.
  4. Flea Market, Little League Tournament-other possibilities.
  5. v. No Grant funds available for the Project-per Paul Thares investigation.
- Limiting focus to 4 events at a time.
Website Information-there is a link on the home page of the Fennimore website to link to the 2007 Lincoln Avenue project information. Discussion on what should be included resulted in minutes, press releases and fundraiser dates. Let Linda Parrish know of anything other ideas.
Fennimore Times involvement-Correne is interested in attending the group's monthly meeting. However, Mondays and Tuesdays do not work for her. The group agreed to change their meeting date to the 2nd Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be February 9th at noon at the council chambers.
Other discussion-the April Chamber meeting will focus on the 2007 Lincoln Avenue project. This will be an evening meeting. Do we need a special speaker, someone who has been through a reconstruction project? The group will make a decision at the next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Submitted by: Margaret Sprague, City Clerk