Riverside Park committee topic broached at Vilas board meeting

Although the Riverside Park was not on the agenda for Vilas County board’s Aug. 25 meeting, the topic still managed to make an appearance — first via the public comment portion of the meeting and then during the chairman’s report.

At the start of the meeting, resident Kathryn Craffey questioned why the Riverside Park and Vilas County Fairgrounds were not included on the August agenda. According to Craffey, minutes from the June meeting stated Assistant Corporation Counsel Nicholas George would update the original resolution to create a committee to decide what to do with the property to make it more visible and utilized, and then present it during the August meeting. The county board did not meet in July.

Craffey also noted the resolution would first be brought to the Forestry and Recreation Committee for approval, which did not happen.

Craffey called the community “very patient” on the committee topic, which was first brought up during the Jan. 27 meeting where county board Chairman Jerry Burkett stated “it will happen” (referring to the formation of a committee).

“Seven months later, we still do not have a resolution, or such committee, and are being given the runaround,” Craffey said. She accused the county leaders of engaging in intentional delay tactics in order to include the zoning change of Riverside Park from parkland to residential zoning in the Comprehensive Plan the city is currently working to update.

“The community could be shortchanged a beautiful public park alongside the Eagle River,” Craffey said.
Resident Lynne Petruzates also spoke in the public comment period, requesting the board to add a standing monthly item to the agenda where updates could be given on the status of the committee and park.
Burkett addressed Craffey’s public comments during his chairman’s report at the end of the meeting.
“Nic (Nicholas George) will be appropriately chastised for not being on the agenda,” he said.

He went on to say that agendas for the Tuesday meetings are posted by Friday. Anyone who would like an item added to the meeting agenda can contact the county by Monday morning to have it added, as 24 hours notice before a meeting time is required to change an agenda.

Burkett went on to say that, as chairman, he has other priorities to attend to, including the 22,000 people who live in the county; the employees who make the county work; and budget talks.

“I talk to Darcy (Smith, finance director) on average once per day. Budget, budget, budget,” he said. He also brought up insurance costs, FEMA grant money to pay for damage from the July 27 storm that caused damage to the area, and law enforcement to keep residents and visitors safe as other high priorities.
“These priorities are going to always come before that (Riverside) committee,” Burkett said. He also touted the need for a county administrator, saying, “We need to find the money to hire one.”

Supervisor Holly Tomlanovich, who also was appointed to chair the Riverside Park committee at a previous meeting, was absent from the Aug. 25 gathering. In her absence, Clerk Kim Olkowski read a letter penned by Tomlanovich about why a committee has not been secured yet.

She said she has tried a number of times to get those individuals who are set to be on the committee to finalize a time to get together. A date of Aug. 27 was tentatively set, but the quorum of five members was not met.

“Potential committee members are not responding,” Tomlanovich wrote, and again asked potential members to contact her to move the committee forward.