Letters to the editor

Dear Editor, I am a constituent of the Village of Black Earth. I have great concern regarding the reconstruction of the baseball fields and park area here in the Village. The two baseball fields, Barsness Field and the Black Earth Community Park baseball field, and the grounds, concession stand/bathrooms, and bleachers, were damaged in the flood in 2018. The Village of Black Earth has been working with the Village Engineer, Town & Country Engineering, to implement a plan for restoration of the damaged areas as well as changes to the layout of the grounds. The Village Parks and Recreation Committee discussed the restoration and invited Home Talent to provide input. Then, the majority of the Board reviewed and voted to approve a reconstruction plan and bond agreement to cover the expense of the project and bond fees. The grounds, as they stand today, are as the flood left them. They are unsafe for our children and athletes, and are unsightly. This area needs fixing. However, I don’t understand what I perceive as enthusiasm by some of the Village Trustees and the Village President for what I see as an aggrandized construction plan. In my opinion, this reconstruction plan went far beyond reasonable financial prudence for our Village. Why this plan and to what benefit to the overall community? The Board could have voted for a restorative reconstruction plan. Repair the damaged structures. Baseball could still be played and concessions could still be sold for this seasonal sport. But, the builders have been hired and the project broke ground to locate a new concession building a stone’s throw from the old one. The way I see it, the majority of this costly project is centered on baseball for which not everyone shares the same eagerness to support with this price tag. The majority of the Board voted to approve the terms of the bond, a loan of $879,000 plus $71,000 in bond fees. The anticipation is that FEMA will reimburse the Village for a portion of the expense after the Village completes reconstruction and payment for this project. However, I worry about that. FEMA reimbursement for this project is an “if”, not a guarantee, and a reimbursement for “up to 75%” leaves an uncertain amount that the taxpayers of our little Village will need to come up with. This will be the financial burden of the pool of people who pay property taxes. Along with the scary financial uncertainties associated with the project, there are the construction snafus adding the complexity of the project. To date, the construction of the new concession stand has been hampered by heavy rain and flooding. This is the reality of construction in an area historically prone to flooding. Also, the plan failed to adequately address utility, drain, sewer, and other design flood proofing compliant with Village’s own Floodplain Zoning Ordinance. And, the original parking design was identified by the Board to be wholly insufficient. The majority of the Board voted at the last Board meeting to approve the redesign of the stalls and add 13 more stalls for an estimated $25,500. These design oversights have added to the original project cost. In my opinion, these oversights should have been identified and priced before the original Board vote to approve the construction plans back in August. For these reasons, I question whether or not this project will be worth the expense to the taxpayers of the Village when it is all said and done. The terms for most of the trustees and the Village President will be expired by the year FEMA is expected to respond to the Village’s request for financial assistance. The residents who stick around will see how this unfolds. Mary Scott Black Earth Dear Editor, Saturday, October 5 a partnership between the Sauk City Historic Preservation Committee, the newly incorporated Friends of Sauk City History and the Free Congregation of Sauk County, held A Community Afternoon in the Park at Park Hall. Due to rain, the band, the ice cream (custard) social and the children’s games were all moved inside. The carriage rides were canceled due to the rain. Thanks go to many including Culver’s of Sauk City for providing the custard, Rod Anding for bringing his horses and carriage, the Iron Horse Cornet Band for providing great music from the Park Hall stage, to President and Mrs. Lincoln (Dale and Vicki Gullickson) for attending along with Susan B. Anthony (Kallina Karls of SPTG fame) and John Rigby in period costume. Thank you also to the many volunteers who assisted on Saturday! Thanks to monetary sponsors Joyce Steensrud, the FCSC. And the Friends of Sauk City History. Most of all we would like to thank the Sauk County UW-Extension, Arts and Culture Committee, Wisconsin Art Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts, for their Good Idea Grant. Without the grant, we could not have had this event! Connie Konkle, Susan Larkin, and Ellen Paul Community Afternoon in the Park Planning Committee