Valley Sentinel - 08-11-2021

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Inside this edition

Community Calendar: Theater, live music and more!

Art from Around the Valley: Jen Salt’s “Vintage Car”

COVID-19 cases rising again with Sauk, Richland and Iowa Counties showing high case activity

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Spring Green, Wisconsin

Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 32 FREE, Single-Copy

Spring Green comes together to clear storm damage as severe weather hits the area Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief A week of severe weather as the greater region saw tornadoes and repeated severe storms this week, with Spring Green receiving over three inches of rain in the last seven days as of press time, according to the National Weather Service. High winds from a severe thunderstorm Tuesday evening brought down trees and snapped power poles and lines, with Alliant Energy reporting the damage causing over 1200 residents in Spring Green to lose power for several hours. In the aftermath of the storms, residents were seen assisting each other with the cleanup. “Oh my god, we’re so lucky,” said Barbara Mott, who had part of a tree fall on her roof, causing minor damage, with a much larger tree barely missing the house. “Neighbors are helping us and that’s amazing, neighbors helping neighbors.” Pictured, neighbors help clear trees at Mott’s residence on Wood Street. Much of the damage was centered on Wood and Daley Streets in Spring Green, with trees down throughout Spring Green.

Arena chooses location for much needed secondary well, discusses financing options Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The Arena Village Board met Aug. 3 for its regular, monthly meeting, where the board discussed location and financing prospects for a second village well, and discussed a somewhat controversial natural lawn ordinance. The board members reviewed location options for a secondary village well, based on the results of a well site study by MSA Engineering firm and the DNR, and voted to approve constructing the well at the sand volleyball courts at the community park on Sharon Street. The well will replace the volleyball courts and connect to water mains on Sharon Street and Christina Street and end at South Street and Main Street. The well project is estimated to cost approximately $1,932,000. In addition to the secondary well, the village will construct a secondary well house to maintain and service the well. The total cost for both projects is estimated to cost $3.17 million. The board heard from Brian Roemer

from Elhers, the financial advising firm that handles the Village’s Tax Increment District (TID) funds, at the Aug. 3 meeting on a few different funding deadlines and options for funding the well projects using TID funds. According to Roemer, per TID requirements, the village had before Sept. 28 to secure interim financing. The village has applied for an EIF loan, but Roemer said he doesn’t expect that to become effective until early 2022, if the board is approved. The board has three options to secure interim financing: —A State Loan Trust, which takes approximately 45 days to become effective and comes with higher interest rates, at about 4%. —Taking a loan from a local bank. Roemer a recommended hiring a special bond council to oversee paperwork for this option. —A public Market Transaction, which can be done by Elhers and would come with lower interest rates. The board is waiting for both the Department of Administration

and DNR to approve the proposed projects. The board will hold a special meeting on August 17 to discuss further financing options with representatives from Elhers. Natural Lawn Ordinance The board also took up approving a natural lawn ordinance, which regulates the parameters in which residents can plant and grow natural prairie grasses and flowers. Ultimately, the board voted to make some changes to the ordinance, including mandating the board approves all applications for natural lawns, following sign-off from both the fire chief and police chief for safety and property line limitations. The proposed changes will be sent to the village’s attorney for review, prior to board approval. The ordinance is set stipulate that property owners with approved natural lawns must provide the board with a yearly written plan and annual inspection by a horticulturist to ensure compliance. The inspection will be paid for by the property owner.

The ordinance also sets measurements and parameters for how tall and close to village and other private property the natural lawn can be. I’m addition, the owners must circulate a letter of intent to neighbors, who will have the chance to voice their opinions of the natural lawn to the board prior to approval of an application. During public comment, Oscar Wendt voiced his concern over the Ordinance, saying that the way it was currently written was troubling for neighbors. “Natural Lawn ordinance the way its written puts one neighbor against another, I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” Wendt said he was against the allowance of natural lawns, because he was concerned it would look “shabby and knock down property values.” He also voiced concerns regarding vermin, such as mice, living in the natural lawns. “What happens when rabies gets in there?” Wendt questioned.

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Local artist wins first place in the Dubuque Museum of Art Biennial show Taylor Scott, Managing Editor Spring Green artist Linda Kelen was recently awarded first place in the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) 2021 Biennial. The submissions for the juried show covered four states — Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota — with 27 artists and 55 artworks accepted out of over 600 submissions, with Spring Green’s own Kelen walking away with best in show. According to the museum, the show was founded in 2003 and is presented every two years as a competitive, juried exhibition intended to recognize and honor the

artistic talent that exists throughout the region. Other Wisconsin artists include Alyssa Love from Appleton, Bill Mitchell from Lancaster, Daniel O’Brien and Katie Schutte from Platteville, and Vera Scekic from Racine. The show is meant to offer artists’ perspectives on current events. “The DuMA Biennial is a provocative snapshot of the work of artists from across the region and their search for meaning and understanding during this historic moment,” shared Gary Stoppelman, Executive Director of DuMA. “The show sheds light on how artists in the

region have experienced, interpreted, and reacted to their experience of the last two years.” The museum said for this exhibition there was a focus on the domestic space and the use of recycled or repurposed materials used in innovative or unexpected ways. “The goal of any exhibition of contemporary art is to show a version of where we are right now,” says 2021 Biennial Juror Laura Burkhalter. She described the overall theme as “inventions in a time of strife. Not every work deals blatantly with the pain many experienced in 2020.

Many do, and many are more subtle.” This was Kelen’s second selection for shows at the DuMA, with the previous being a craft invitational. “This Biennial is the second show I’ve been fortunate enough to be in, and again, they have outdone themselves,” said Kelen Kelen will also be featured in the upcoming Fall Art Tour in the area. In the meantime, she suggests checking out the exhibition.

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