12.29.2020 Snow Emergency – Lifted 1:24 PM 12/30/2020

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The Snow Emergency is lifted and no longer in effect.

A snow emergency has been issued by the Ridgeway Public Works Director.

This will be effective starting at 4:00 pm Tuesday, December 29, 2020 and will remain in effect thru 4:00 pm on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Please be sure to remove all vehicles from Village streets during the snow emergency.

12.23.2020 Projects, Improvements, Taxes

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Village of Ridgeway 2021 Projects/Improvements:

Water Tower-painting & repairs $540,000 on a 10-year loan:

    • The water utility is regulated by the Public Service Commission.
      • Prior to them telling us to do these repairs, at a much higher cost, it is to our advantage to do this on our own.
      • It is better to do the repairs & painting at the same time to save on overall costs.
    • The water utility is borrowing the funds from the Village.
    • The Village took out the loan for this.
      • The Village is ultimately responsible for the loan payments if the water utility does not have the funds to pay them.
      • If the water utility is able to make the payment, then the funds are in a reserve fund for the Village.
      • Many municipalities do this to help the utility with infrastructure needs.
      • This process also allows the municipality to build a reserve fund for future needs.

Small plow truck & Ball Park Improvements-$170,000 on a 5-year loan:

    • The small plow truck is being replaced.
      • Most are replaced in 5 years as they do take a beating doing the work they do.
      • The Village did not replace this when replacing the other vehicles in 2016.
      • The old truck will be sold at auction and proceeds will go directly to the loan as a principal only payment to shorten the length of the loan.

The big ball diamond has had issues for many years.

    • Many players & teams don’t like playing on the diamond due to these issues.
    • The Parks Committee and Finance Committees worked with an engineer to get some plans and costs.
    • They chose the most appropriate plan, with a modification to reduce the cost.

Cardinal Community Center (former RES) purchase & restoration-first project, $450,000 on a 7-year loan:

    • The loan is to replace the boiler with forced air heat, in zones, that can be controlled based on usage.
    • Asbestos testing will be done to determine the next steps
    • The Village Office & Marshal Office will occupy part of the space in 2021 which will make for a better and more cohesive work environment and improved communication.
    • Dodgeville Library has expressed interest in the use of the library in the building, as it is pretty much turn key.
    • The Village will be exploring grant opportunities to help with the overall project since it will include community space
      • Senior Center
      • Library & Media Center
      • Fulll Kitchen

More information can be found in these articles from the Dodgeville Chronicle:
https://thedodgevillechronicle.com/main.asp?ArticleID=10850&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=8&S=1
https://thedodgevillechronicle.com/main.asp?ArticleID=10818&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=8&S=1

FUNDING FOR PROJECTS/TAXES:

When the Village takes out a loan, the annual loan payment for that budget year is levied on your taxes. In 2021 the loan payments levied were $189,368.17. The actual levy increases from 2019 to 2020 were $70,818.06. The other taxing jurisdictions also had levy increases, which are part of your overall tax.

Cardinal Way Subdivision construction is not being taxed to the residents. This is being paid for by the sale of the lots. This is also located in our Tax Increment District. As part of the TID, the increase tax revenue generated from improvements, stays in the Village for the term of the TID. In our case, that will be through improvements through 2030.

Recent Grant Proceeds:

2018 Wastewater Treatment Facility Plant

  • Total cost $4,304,702.00.
    • $2,327,702.00 received from USDA Rural Development
    • Remaining amount of $1,977,000 funded by USDA RD at 2% interest.
  • 2019 Street Project
    • Total Cost $1,159,868.00
    • $1,000,000 CDBG Matching
    • Village had to spend $500,000
      • CDBG matched the $500,000
    • $288,109 DNR Safe Drinking Water Grant
    • Village portion after grants-$371,759.00

2021 Street Project

  • Total projected cost $1,600,000
    • $1,000,000 CDBG Grant Award
    • Village will apply again for the DNR Safe Drinking Water grant and loan funds.

If you would like more information please feel free to stop at the Village office and the staff will be more than happy to help you.

All of the above information was discussed in open meetings held by the Village Board, Plan Commission, and various Committees. All residents are encouraged to join in these meetings. Due to COVID, meetings have been held virtually via Zoom. There is no limit to the number of attendees and there is also a phone number to call in rather than joining virtually. All meetings are posted at the Village Hall/Fire Station, in the display cabinet outside Farmers Savings Bank, in the lobby of the Ridgeway Post Office as well as, the Village Website, which simultaneously posts to the Village Facebook page. 

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2021 Dog Licenses

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Reminder: 2020 Dog licenses expire December 31st. 

  • The 2021 tags are now available at the Village of Ridgeway Clerk’s Office during normal business hours
  •  Fees:
    • In tact-$18.00
    • Spayed or neutered-$8.00
  • Up to date rabies certificates are required
    • Licenses cannot be issued with expired rabies
    • Feel free to call the office at 608-924-5881 if you are not sure if the most current information is on file at the Village.
  • Limit-3 pets per household per Village Ordinance 8.05
    • To view the full ordinance click here

11.18.2020 Cardinal Way Phase II Construction Update

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Week of November 9-13, 2020:

  1. Completed punch list.
  2. We will hold retainage back on the pay application in December.
  3. The contractor will be back in the spring to address any issues, such as landscaping.

Week of November 16-20, 2020:

  1. Alliant Energy and Charter Communication to be on-site to begin utility installation.

Week of November 23, 2020 and November 30, 2020:

  1. MG&E to be on-site the week of November 23, 2020 or the week of November 30, 2020 to begin utility installation.

10.23.2020 Cardinal Way Phase II Construction Update

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Week of October 19-23, 2020

  • Street(s) preparation for curb and gutter.  Installed breaker run and gravel on streets.
  • Curb and gutter installation was completed
  • Pressure test on sanitary sewer
  • Sanitary sewer televising
  • Sidewalk preparation
  • Lots of clean up

Week of October 26-30, 2020

  • Monday and Tuesday – sidewalk installation
  • Wednesday and Thursday – final street(s) preparation
  • Friday – Binder course hot mix asphalt installation (weather permitting)
    • Surface course to be installed in the spring of 2021

10.16.2020 Cardinal Way Phase 2 Construction Update

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Week of October 12-16, 2020

  • All water main installations were completed this week, including most of the water services.  Any water services not finished Friday were installed today (Saturday).
  • All storm sewer installation was finished as well.

Week of October 19-23, 2020

  • The contractor will be constructing the road (Tallman Court and Cardinal Way).  Breaker run and crushed aggregate base course will be installed starting Monday, October 19th.  Plan is to have two (2) crews on-site so things should move pretty quickly.
  • String line will be set on Tuesday, October 20th for the 24” concrete curb and gutter installation.
  • Wednesday, October 21st the 24” concrete curb and gutter will be installed.
    • Once the curb and gutter is poured on Wednesday, the residents on Tallman Court will need to stay off the new concrete for seven (7) days. Cars can be parked on the street, but do not drive over or on the new concrete curb & gutter for 7 days.
  • The rest of the week will be spent prepping for sidewalk installation the week of October 26th.

10.12.2020 Cardinal Way Phase II Construction Update

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Completed the week of October 5-9, 2020

  • Sanitary sewer installation, including sanitary sewer laterals.
  • Water main installation 90% completed (excluding water services).  Water services can be installed when we get a safe sample back.

Projected for the week of October 12-16, 2020

  • Finish up water main installation
  • Get started on storm sewer installation
  • On Wednesday the 14th, tying in the water main on Cardinal Way (Phase I).

Week of October 19-23, 2020

  • Concrete tentatively coming on Wednesday, October 21st for curb and gutter installation.

 

2020 CDBG Grant Award Announcement

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2020 Community Development Block Grant-Public Facilities

 Recently, Governor Tony Evers announced more than $36 million in funding for 42 public infrastructure and facility projects across Wisconsin. The funding is awarded to local units of government as part of a competitive grant process for the 2020 Community Development Block Grants for Public Facilities (CDBG-PF) program.

“Investing in core infrastructure services ensures Wisconsinites can remain proud of the communities in which they live, work and raise families, as well as maintain a positive and healthy quality of life,” said Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Brennan.

Administered through DOA’s Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources, CDBG-PF grants are open to all units of general and local governments that do not receive CDBG awards directly through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CDBG-PF grants have the programmatic goals of:

  • ensuring the affordability of basic services that enhance community vitality;
  • supporting the revitalization of established neighborhoods, downtown business districts, and blighted sites;
  • assisting with capital improvement projects that support previous planning efforts and are part of broader community development strategies;
  • improving the accessibility of public facilities; and
  • encouraging the use of energy-efficient design, retrofitting, and equipment, as well as projects that benefit bicyclists and pedestrians.

Proposed activities for project include water main, sewer main and storm sewer replacements, in addition to the street reconstruction for Keane (Richards to E Dead End), Weaver (Main to Kirby), Kirby (Weaver to Jarvis), Alley (200′ E of Main, Richards to Jarvis behind bank and post office) and Hughitt (Wells to S Dead End) Streets.

The Village of Ridgeway grant amount, and total project cost is listed below:
COMMUNITY TOTAL PROJECT COST CDBG AWARD

Village of Ridgeway

$1,600,000

$1,000,000

If you wish to see a full list of recipients click here

07.27.2020 Surveyors

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Village residents you may be seeing surveyors around town this week. The areas you may see them will be near the school building and neighboring streets. You may not see their truck as it may be parked further away from your property, but they will be wearing yellow vests. As they are doing their surveying, they may walk through your yard.