North English City Council Discuss Pool Going Independent

NORTH ENGLISH – During the March 6 meeting of the North English City Council, the council discussed the decision of Knoll Ridge Golf Course’s board to have the pool become a 501c3 not owned by the golf course. Councilwoman Beth Carter explained that it will take a year for the pool to go independent. She stated that members of the Knoll Ridge board discussed having the city partner with the pool to help with operational costs, staffing, and maintenance. The city currently makes yearly $5,000 donations to the pool, to make it open for the entire community, and also pays for the pool’s water and sewer bills.

Councilman Lou Garringer stated that, if the golf course does not want to be behind the pool, the city should not be behind it either. Carter stated that the new 501c3 had no idea how much the pool would cost to run or how much they will have to pay in insurance. Mayor Daniel Strohman stated that it was not in the best interest of the city to take over the pool and that, if the golf course cannot make the pool work, then the city won’t be able to either.

City Attorney Josh Kraushaar pointed out that, while city pools are nice for the community, they consistently lose money. Kraushaar explained that the pool would not be able to cover its expenses as a separate entity, even if it charged $10 admission. Kraushaar pointed out that the Williamsburg pool was considering not opening this year, due to years of losing money and because it struggles to find lifeguards, because McDonald’s pays better. According to Kraushaar, the pool might be able to stay open, through grants and city help, but would need to constantly fundraise to pay staff, something he called a “losing game.”

The council discussed the idea of adding a walking bridge over a 35-foot Creek on the Smoky Row Trail. Garringer stated it would cost an estimated $5,000 in materials and a little less in labor costs. City Employee David Knipfer stated the normal engineering company the city uses doesn’t have any pedestrian engineers and that walking bridges are actually more complicated than normal bridges.The council decided to hold off on any decision until Knipfer can talk to an engineer.

The council discussed moving forward with a non-compliant property in town. The property owner does not mow their lawn, has a possibly unlicensed “junk” boat sitting in their yard, and last fall poured “objectionable waste” into their sewers. Strohman stated he has given the property owner garbage cans and mowed their lawn, but that the property is still not compliant. This issue has been going on for three years. Kraushaar asked if the city wanted to spend the money required to take the property owner to court. Councilman Red Haugland said doing so would send a message that the city was serious. Garringer pointed out that the property is only one-block from Main Street.

Strohman stated that the city should send a warning letter. He stated that the property owner would not open any letters from the city, meaning they may have to ask the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department to deliver it. Councilman Andrew Custer gave the mayor a word of caution, saying that he’d seen other towns try to go on cleaning sprees and that doing so usually doesn’t go well. Strohman stated he would take the “heat and blame” for the city.

Haugland stated that there was one North English resident who owned goats, despite that being banned by city ordinances. Custer stated that he knew the owner and that the owner was planning to rent the goats out to eat overgrown grass. Custer stated he would talk to the goats’ owner.

The council discussed ways to bring more people to the Farmers’ Market. Carter stated there wasn’t much the city could do, besides attracting more vendors. She stated that moving it across the highway was a bad idea, because the city wants to direct people to Main Street. Garringer suggested banners.

The council approved a 28e agreement with the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department to spend $135,276 for law enforcement coverage. This is less than the $160,000 the council budgeted for, but more than the price of just under $119,000 the city has paid for the past three years. This 28e agreement is for one year, instead of three like the city has done in the past. The council approved sending a letter of support to Iowa County to receive a grant to pave V Ave. from 320th St. to the Washington County Line.