The Ski Sprites will have their final ski show of the season on Labor Day, Monday, September 3, with activities starting at noon.

There will be a trail kick-off event that will have some fun formalities at the corner of Lake Road and 10th Street West.

There will be a “Bike to the Beach, Stroll to the Sprites” trail activity. Matt Wahl will be on stage at the beach performing from 12:30-2:00 p.m. Wahl is a Wisconsin native who performs acoustic music.

Concessions will be on sale and there are 30 different prizes for the raffles that will take place all day long, including a $250 cash prize.

The final ski show will start at 2:00 and will feature alumni skiers as well as the current Ski Sprites team.

Ski Sprites, Matt Oakland, Rick Lafave, Ben Oakland, Sophie Elvig, Katie Weber and Abbie Brown are pictured above.

The Ski Sprites’ performing season is Memorial Day through Labor Day. The team prepares for the performing season throughout the year.

For more information on the Ski Sprites, visit their website at http://www.skisprites.com/html.

Jean A. Henning, 96, of Altoona, Wis., died August 25, 2007, at Oakwood Villa in Altoona.

She was born to Ray E. and Bessie J. (Dawson) Gile on March 4, 1911 in Milwaukee, Wis. As a young child, Jean moved with her family to Merrillan, Wis. She graduated from Merrillan High School in 1929 and attended Eau Claire State Teacher’s College. Jean married Arthur L. Henning, of Altoona, on September 6, 1932 at Woodstock, Ill. They celebrated a second wedding ceremony at the Gile home in Merrillan on December 11, 1932. Jean and Art spent their entire married life in Altoona.

Jean was appointed Postmaster at Altoona in 1940 and served until her retirement in 1969. She was very active in the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, and served as the Wisconsin State President of NAPUS in 1953. Jean and Art also owned and operated the Henning Insurance Agency for several years.

Jean was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Eau Claire and sang in the church choir. She also sang in Sweet Adelines and was very active in the March of Dimes and Democratic Party politics. Jean had attended the Presidential Inaugurations of Presidents Truman and Kennedy.

Jean loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, especially at the cottage in Three Lakes. She enjoyed music and played the piano. Jean had been a member of the Eastern Star for many years.

Survivors include her son, Ray (Joey) Henning; grandchildren, Mark (Vicki) Hagen, Laurie (Steve) Sullivan, Brian (Kelly) Henning, Chris (Jenee) Henning, Kyle (Janel) Henning, all of Altoona, and Amy (Jason) Nowak of New Berlin; great-grandchildren, Derek Hagen, Cortlyn Henning, Gage, Tristan, and Alaina Henning, Riley Nowak, Codi Boatman, Nicole Goodland, and Joshua Hutchinson; great-great-grandson, Brandon Peterson; and several nieces and nephews.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Bessie Gile; her husband, Arthur; her daughter, Betty Hagen; her son-in-law, Gerald Hagen; her sister, Mary Lee; and her brothers, Rulef (Bob) Gile, Gibson Gile, and William Gile.

Funeral services were held Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, with Pastor Thomas Bryan officiating. Interment was at Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire. Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel handled the arrangements.

Rebecca Abernathy, of Altoona, was recognized at the Young Women of Achievement Banquet on June 22, 2007 for earning her Girl Scouts’ Gold Award and for being a 2007 graduate. She is the daughter of Gail and Michael Abernathy, and has been involved in Girl Scouting for thirteen years. The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve.

Rebecca will attend the Chippewa Valley Technical College to pursue a career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Tim and Kathy Marko will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on September 3, 2007, at a gathering of their family. They were married September 3, 1982, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Congratulations, we love you both so much. Wishing you many more years to come. Love always, Jess, Nate, Tina, Andy, Josh, and the grandbabies.

Dear Altoona Star,

Thank you for your previous articles on the controversy surrounding the River Prairie development. I would like to comment on another project currently in development that will adversely affect the residential neighborhood in River Prairie.

The city is in negotiations with Verizon Wireless. LLC to rent the water tower in River Prairie for commercial use, by placing satellite antennas at the top of the tower as well as a building or buildings to house equipment there. Although placing this equipment on water towers is not in itself unusual, it is unusual to do so in a residential neighborhood. The strict zoning that would have protected us from this kind of undesirable encroachment was in place until as recently as July 9, when the city amended it.

On June 28, I attended the city council meeting where the R-1 zoning that surrounded the perimeter of the Estates at River Prairie was also changed to a new designation: “Mixed Use”. Although I can see why this would be desirable to developers, who are now free from the usual restraints that the R-1 zoning presents, the people who purchased lots and built here in the Estates were promised that the commercial development would all be “across the highway”.

We were also told by the developer that the water tower was to be no taller than the tree lines, and eventually it became the highest point in Altoona. Other promises were made previously to the Lake Altoona people who feared that the new River Prairie residential neighborhood would not be developed in a responsible manner. Some of the compromises the developer and the city appeased them with were bigger lots and a restrictive covenant that dictated, among other things, how many trees could be removed.

Also discussed in the restrictive covenant was that Outlot 1, the lot on which the water tower was later built, would remain either undeveloped, or be used for a park or a water tower. (Commercial businesses are prohibited in the Estates).

Two days after the June 28 meeting where the council approved the zoning change from R-1 to “Mixed Use”, signs went up all around the perimeter of the residential neighborhood advertising for commercial development. On July 9, the council went one step farther in paving the way for more exploitation by amending the R-1 zoning in the city to allow for conditional use permits within residential neighborhoods, which was previously not allowed.

A residential neighborhood is not the appropriate place for a wireless company to conduct what is a commercial business, particularly when it is forbidden by the restrictive covenant. Wireless companies are not public utilities. The standard protocol before considering any variance for a wireless company is for them to prove they have a gap in coverage that makes one particular location necessary. Verizon has no client base in Altoona, let alone a gap. They want this location simply because it will be cheaper to attach their equipment to our water tower then to build their own cell tower in a more appropriate location. The equipment is for future use in acquiring new customers, not to improve service for existing ones. The city is not requiring them to prove their need because they are interested in the rental income at all costs. Neither party has explored any alternative location. **

What is most disturbing about this entire project is the way that the city is going about this and other River Prairie projects. As you reported last week in the Altoona Star, the city is veering off course from the beautifully designed River Prairie conceptual design presented to them by SAA Engineering of Madison in 2003. This is the plan that welcomed and incorporated public input into the design. Because of budget shortfalls from previous years, Altoona is scrambling to convert as much of River Prairie to cash, via the zoning changes, as is possible. This is what has them in the position of needing the $18,000 that Verizon is offering them for use of the tower. Another peculularity is that Verizon is asking for a 25-year lease agreement, a length of time that is virtually unheard of in other communities.

Once the two neighborhoods affected by this heard about the proposed Verizon project, a meeting was held on August 13, between the Verizon representative, Plan Commission members, and city officials to answer our questions. Of great concern to some of us was the exact nature of how this transaction was being conducted. Information gathered from other cities in Wisconsin shows that typically an application is filled out and the processing fee is collected, then the application is submitted along with the supporting information. In this case, the negotiations went forward before the application process was submitted formally. The application we saw was neither dated, nor the fee area stamped or filled out by the city, and it was handwritten. The Verizon representative, whose job it is to secure permits and acquire sites, could not explain why the application was not dated. Further inquiries made to the city were not answered regarding whether or not a fee was originally collected. The city admits they have been in negotiations for approximately one year. Strong opposition from the both the Lake & River Prairie neighborhoods was offered during the three-hour meeting. At one point Verizon threatened that if we opposed the offer that when he left that night that he would not be back, stating that Altoona would then lose the money which would be “off the table”.

About a week after that meeting, the mayor sent out a letter asking for additional email correspondences from citizens who attended the meeting, stating that he felt that they may not have been comfortable speaking out in front of their peers. (The people who spoke out, including myself, were not in favor of the plan).

Now, Verizon has amended the first proposal with a second application, dated August 22, and made some minor adjustments; however, the plans for the tower location and a building have not changed. (The area for fee is now marked “paid”.) What is equally disturbing is that once located there, the plan is to allow for additional wireless companies to add their satellites as well. The new plan offered addition visual screening, but did not address that we object to it even being here. We wonder if the city is even thinking of the long-term ramifications of what this will do to hurt our neighborhood and other residential neighborhoods in the future.

This is particularly troubling when you see the pattern here of how the city is operating. We were told at the June 28 meeting that the rezoning could not be put off for even two weeks to allow for additional public input because “the developers are counting on this” (zoning change). According to the 8/5 Bottom Line, Altoona will receive $7.23 million for the sale of the recently rezoned property. When approached by the Verizon representatives and offered the $18,000 in rental money, the city wasted no time in getting the R-1 zoning amended to allow for conditional use permits, which they admit was done because of the request by Verizon to go into our residential neighborhood with their equipment.

In many municipalities, having and leaving this zoning intact is a positive restriction tool because it allows the local government to deny such requests from wireless companies without showing favoritism. Having amended this, they will have a harder time denying future requests who they may not want to do business with. (The FCC protects wireless companies from being denied access without good reason, if they need the coverage area to fill a gap. Leaving the conditional use permits out of residential neighborhoods would have prohibited all wireless companies from coming in. Now they will be obligated to consider any and all.)

Up next is the September 10 Plan Commission meeting, where the commission will decide whether or not to recommend Verizon’s application, which then goes for final approval to the council. Many of us are wondering why the city is pulling out all the stops for the developers and Verizon and failing to protect its citizens by leaving the strict zoning in place where it belongs.

Karen Padfield

Estates of River Prairie, Altoona

** Mike Golat said at the meeting between the City, neighbors, and Verizon, August 13 that if the cell satellite went elsewhere, Altoona could not get the revenue. He said they did not own any other land in Verizon’s desired coverage area.

Verizon has never provided a study done from any independent source that corroborates that this is the only feasible location.

The 8/5 Bottom Line quotes Mike Golat as stating that Altoona has retained a 10-acre parcel in River Prairie for future sale or development.

They also technically still own the land in the quadrant that O&S Holdings are considering. This is especially interesting because cell towers (called “stealth towers”) can be incorporated into tall signage at malls, flagpoles, etc., which is costly but a much more appropriate place for them.

The River Prairie project planning and lease signing is underway in the city of Altoona and some residents are less than pleased with the planning process and the changes to the original plan that have been proposed by California-based developer O&S Holdings.

Council member Colleen Weber explained that the River Prairie steering committee has established high-level goals. The city government, according to Weber, is trying to meet the guidelines they have established and achieve the goals laid out by the River Prairie Plan.

These high-level goals include providing long-term tax stabilization for all Altoona residents. Development in River Prairie shall pay for itself and not result in short-term tax increases to fund the project. The second goal is to provide a recreational and commercial center for the city, well-connected and accessible to all Altoona citizens. River Prairie shall be useful to Altoona’s citizens.

The steering committee has drafted these benchmarks to serve as overarching goals for the project and future development. This is stated in the River Prairie plan developed by Schreiber-Anderson Associates of Madison.

Weber stated that she is disappointed in the plans that she has seen to date. She said, “They do not do a good job of utilizing the river, incorporating multi-modal transportation, or enhancing the green space in the area.”

These details have been discussed at length. There have been numerous meetings and strict guidelines have been drafted to ensure the development adheres to the design standards, Weber said.

Weber also stated that the city has financial challenges to face and it is important to encourage development in the city. But she also said that she agrees with the constituents that the quality of life is just as important.

“Being able to safely ride bikes down to a restaurant with my family would greatly please us. An evening walk along the river would be wonderful and would encourage me to stop for a cup of coffee and support the retail in development,” she said. “A chance to walk the area that includes shopping and entertainment would be great.”

Dave Elvig, president of Altoona Outdoors and a member of the planning commission on River Prairie, also expressed concern about the latest conceptual plan and the signing of the developer’s agreement with O&S Holdings.

“We had envisioned a ‘mixed-use’ area, particularly for the riverfront area,” Elvig said. “In the end, O&S Holdings has proposed a plan that is retail use only.”

Elvig and Weber are not the only concerned citizens. The Star has received e-mails from citizens who prefer to remain anonymous about their concern with the northwest quadrant. People are questioning the changes that have been made from the original plans. They also are questioning decisions that have been made they feel that they were not a significant part of.

Elvig said, “The city is virtually giving away property to O&S Holdings and have been required to invest the whole purchase price back into the project.”

Weber encourages all Altoona residents to get involved with the planning and to stay informed as to the current news.

Both Elvig and Weber stated that these site plans are not final, but fear they could be if community members do not get involved.

The next planning commission meeting is Tuesday, September 10.

This week’s neighbor received her high school education in California in the 1970s. She moved to Eau Claire in 1990. She has resided in Altoona for the past 14 years.

She was the kitchen manager at Secret Garden in Altoona for five years. She is currently the Production lead at Senasys and has worked there for six years.

She is an avid Harley Davidson rider with her husband Mike.

She has two daughters, Stephanie and Amber, a son-in-law Pat, and two grandsons, Josh and John. Stephanie is a 2006 graduate of Altoona High School.

August 23, 2007

(I) Call Meeting to Order

Mayor Tom Meyer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. held in the Council Chambers at Altoona City Hall.

(II) Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Meyer led the Common Council and others in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(III) Roll Call The City Clerk called the roll. Council Persons Colleen Weber, Brendan Pratt, William Spangler, Ray Henning, Dale Stuber, and Red Hanks. Also present: Mayor Tom Meyer, Attorney Steve Weld, City Administrator Michael Golat, Finance Director Jon Pfeilsticker, Consulting City Engineer Tim Marko, Human Resources Coordinator Sheila Lehnen, and City Clerk Cindy Bauer. Guests: Kevin Krysinski of Johnson Block and Company and Paul Weinke, Legal Counsel.

(IV) Citizen Participation Period. There being no Citizen Participation, motion by Spangler/Henning to close Citizen Participation Period. Motion carried.

(V) Approval of minutes. Motion by Weber/Hanks to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2007 Regular Council Meeting. Motion carried.

(VI) City Officers/Department Heads Report.

Consulting City Engineer Marko updated the council on the Lake Road Project. Marko indicated that, weather dependant, the bike/pedestrian trail on Lake Road should be completed by Labor Day. Marko also updated the Council on the 6th Street West Project. He indicated they will be pouring concrete for the curb and gutter and sidewalks next week. City Committee Reports – none.

(VII) Unfinished Business – none.

(VIII) New Business

(1) Consider approval of Resolution 8B-07 to authorize closing of account for the year ended December 31, 2006 and to accept the CAFR for 2006.

City Administrator Golat mentioned that this resolution is an annual housekeeping to close the books for the year ended December 31, 2006. Golat said Krysinski gave a more detailed report to the Finance Committee prior to the Council Meeting.

Kevin Krysinski of Johnson Block was present to summarize the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2006 and answer any questions council members had regarding the report.

Motion by Spangler/Henning to approve Resolution 8B-07 as presented by Johnson Block to authorize closing of books of account for the year ended December 31, 2006 and to accept the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2006. Motion carried.

(VIII)(2) Discuss recreational amenities in River Prairie.

City Administrator Golat explained that this item is for discussion purposes only. Golat wanted input regarding recreational ideas in the River Prairie area. Golat distributed a draft copy of the “Shoppes at River Prairie” and briefly explained the draft site plan as proposed by O&S Holdings for the northwest quadrant of the River Prairie property.

Robb Majeski of CottageRidge Group talked of park amenities within their quadrants and asked for direction from the Council regarding their vision of a park or nature trail layout.

Ralph Ely of the VFW asked the Council if there would be a place in the River Prairie for a Veterans Memorial Park. Council Member Spangler mentioned there are five exercise trail stops within the northwest quadrant that could possibly be a good location for some type of memorial display. City Administrator Golat will check with O&S Holdings and look in to that possibility.

(VIII)(3) Consider Eastern Utility Extension Net Present Value (NPV) Analysis.

Finance Director Pfeilsticker presented to the Council the NPV Analysis for the possible extension of utilities to the east of the City. He explained that the NPV Analysis was also discussed and reviewed by the Finance Committee prior to the Council Meeting.

Motion by Spangler/Hanks to approve the Eastern Utility Extension Net Present Value Analysis calculation as presented by Finance Director Pfeilsticker. Motion carried.

(VIII)(4) Consider Ordinance 8C-07 creating and adopting Chapter 14.04 of the Altoona Municipal Code, “Storm Water Utility”.

City Administrator Golat explained that he gave a presentation a couple of weeks ago regarding the proposed ordinance for Storm Water Utility. Golat commented on the mandates and operational costs associated with managing storm water. Golat explained the fees are based on residential, commercial, industrial and institutional. Council Member Hanks felt we should call the storm water utility fees “taxes” instead of “fees”.

Following discussion, motion by Spangler/Henning to approve Ordinance 8C-07 creating and adopting Chapter 14.04 of the Altoona Municipal Code, “Storm Water Utility” as presented. Hanks against. Motion carried.

(VIII)(5) Consider Resolution 8C-07 Adopting Storm Water Utility Credit Policy as referenced in Section 14.04.080 of the Altoona Municipal Code, “Storm Water Utility”.

City Administrator Golat explained the Storm Water Utility Credit Policy. Golat indicated that a credit is available if residents or business owners meet certain requirements.

Motion by Spangler/Stuber to approve Resolution 8C-07 adopting the Storm Water Utility Credit Policy as referenced in Section 14.04.080 of the Altoona Municipal Code “Storm Water Utility”. Hanks against. Motion carried.

(VIII)(6) Consider Ordinance 8D-07 amending Section 5.24.030 F of the Altoona Municipal Code; Classes of licenses and fees to remove Pharmacist fees and establish new “Class C” wine license fees.

Clerk Bauer explained that we are amending Section 5.24.030 F of the Altoona Municipal Code to delete the pharmacist license because current state law requires the State of Wisconsin to issue all pharmacists licenses. Bauer said we are adding Retail “Class C” Wine Licenses to the classification of licenses for potential future requests; we currently do not have a classification or fee listing for Retail “Class C” Wine Licenses.

Motion by Weber/Spangler to approve Ordinance 8D-07 amending Section 5.24.030 F; Classes of licenses and fees to remove Pharmacist fees and to establish new “Class C” wine license fees. Motion carried.

(VIII)(7) Consider Ordinance 8E-07 amending Title 3, Chapter 3.08 of the Altoona Municipal Code of Ordinance to revise Addendum “A” Chapter 3.08 the City’s Fee Schedule.

City Administrator Golat explained Ordinance 8E-07 amending the City’s Fee Schedule. The only changes in the fees are the addition of Retail “Class C” Wine Licenses and the breakdown of Storm Water Fees based on Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Institutional.

Motion by Spangler/Stuber to approve Ordinance 8E-07 amending Title 3, Chapter 3.08 to revise Addendum “A” the City’s Fee Schedule to establish new “Class C” wine license fees and to add Storm Water Utility Rates. Motion carried.

(VIII)(8) Consider temporary easement agreement between the City and Bob Brown for the proposed Well #7 site.

(VIII)(9) Consider option to acquire property between the City and Bob Brown for Well #7 site.

(VIII)(10) Consider Contract with SEH for preparing design and bid documents and construction engineering services for Well #7 test well site.

City Administrator Golat asked that Items 8, 9, 10 be tabled until further review. Golat explained that he did not receive the temporary easement agreement with Bob Brown until this afternoon and would like more time to review the proposal. These items will be discussed at the next regular Council Meeting.

(VIII)(11) Consider approval of Bartender Licenses. The bartender license applications have been approved by the Altoona Police Department.

Motion by Henning/Pratt to approve the bartender licenses to Bridget Manning, Nicolas Acosta, Rebecca Nelson, and Karen Brasda. Motion carried.

(IX) Miscellaneous Business and Communications . Council Member Weber wished to acknowledge and thank Representative Jeff Smith for his attempt to get the easements from the Railroad for the bike/pedestrian trail on Lake Road. Weber felt he went above and beyond his duties to help the City of Altoona. Weber mentioned that Altoona Outdoors will be having a grand opening of the bike trail on Monday, September 3, 2007 at noon followed by activities at the Lake Altoona County Park.

(X) Adjournment. Motion by Weber/Henning to adjourn at 7:35 p.m. Motion carried.

A female driver was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on Hillcrest Parkway.

Six tickets were issued on the 200 block of Division Street for the sale of illegal substances. Two of the men were also cited for interfering with a police officer.

One arrest and two warnings were given for resisting and obstructing an officer after three complaints were filed for disorderly conduct. The incident took place on Brighton Street.

Two arrests were made on the 1400 block of Spooner Avenue. Both men were arrested for trespassing on a railroad. The complaint was called in by Union Pacific Railroad.

A female was arrested on Brighton Street for outstanding warrants and papers.

A male was arrested on the 1100 block of Mulberry Drive for possession of drug paraphernalia and outstanding warrants and papers.

A warning was issued to a male on the 1800 block of Garfield Avenue for public health nuisances.

One suspect is being questioned in relation to a theft case on the 900 block of Alsace Street. The suspect is male.

Police were called to the 900 block of Sandalwood Drive to check the welfare of a female homeowner.

A warning was issued to a male on 2nd Street East for a disturbance.

Emergency medical service was requested on Twin Oak Drive for a male.

A female juvenile was taken into custody on the 2500 block of Roberts Court.

A suspect is being questioned for a civil case. He was arrested on Garfield Avenue.

A female was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. She was also cited for failing to stop at a red light.

A male was arrested on 5th Street East and is being charged with domestic abuse, disorderly conduct, battery, and false imprisonment.

A ticket was issued to a male driver for speeding in excess of the posted sign on River Prairie Drive.

A female was taken into custody after trying to commit suicide on Goldenrod Lane. She has been committed to a mental hospital.

A female was arrested on the 900 block of Harlem Street for disorderly conduct.

A male was also arrested on the 900 block of Harlem Street at the same address for carrying a concealed weapon.

A man was warned for loud and unnecessary noise on 10th Street West.

A male was arrested for operating under the influence and cited for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

A male was arrested for third-degree sexual assault on the 1400 block of Hayden Avenue.

A warning was issued for harboring a vicious, rabid animal on the 2100 block of Garfield Avenue.

A male was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on Spooner Avenue.

A male was cited for disorderly conduct on the 1700 block of Bartlett Avenue.

A complaint was filed for criminal damage to property.

A complaint was called in from Mega Mart on 3rd Street East for a gas skip. The suspect has not been questioned.

A complaint was called from Whiskey Dicks for theft; there are no suspects in this case.

A warning was issued to a male after a complaint of a suspicious person on the 700 block of 1st Street East.

Three complaints were filed for suspicious persons on 10th Street West. The police are investigating.

A male called in after a fire alarm, the complaint was cleared and as were any suspects.

A report was called in from the Stanley Police Department; Altoona Police were requested to assist their agency.