BID wants funds from condos

By Kay James, Dells Events

wde-news@capitalnewspapers.com

Two members of the Wisconsin Dells Business Improvement District committee are to approach Chula Vista and Trappers Turn about incorporating those resorts into the BID.

BID Chairman Bill Brown appointed Mayor Eric Helland and Alderperson Dan Gavinski to the task of convincing the two resorts that may be the key to enlarging the territory that BID encompasses.

“If we do not have Chula, this will be down the drain,” said Mark Sweet, of the Downtown Business Committee who attends BID meetings but is not a member of the committee.

The BID has been discussing its purpose, boundaries and rates for several months. Last month, the BID tentatively agreed to extend its boundaries to include properties annexed into the city since the BID was formed 10 years ago and to include properties left out when it was formed.

Brown pointed out to committee members that state law provides that a business improvement district can be terminated when owners of 50 percent of property assessed under the BID’s operating plan file a petition requesting termination of the BID. State law also provides that when a BID is formed if 40 percent of the owners of the assessed property object, the BID cannot be formed.

According to estimates supplied by Assistant Public Works Director Chris Tollaksen, the total valuation of property that could be added to the BID would be about $126 million. That is more than 40 percent and a little less than 50 percent of the current valuation.

“Someone needs to get out and sell this idea real quick,” said Public Works Director Mike Horkan. He noted that in order to prepare its budget to meet the city timetable the BID needs to have a solid proposal for expansion at its next meeting. That meeting is Wednesday, July 15 at 9 a.m.

Part of selling the idea is what the rate for the new properties will be, Helland said.

He and Alderperson Brian Holzem, another BID member, said a lower rate might be necessary for the condominium owners at Chula Vista who would be individually billed. At the current rate, Holzem said the assessment would be about $78 for a condo owner at the BID’s lowest rate and if that rate were cut in half it would be about $30.

In other action, the BID authorized putting up eight signs per block over the River District banners on five blocks of Broadway promoting Wo-Zha-Wa and Autumn Harvest Fest. The BID had new banners put up over top the existing ones by Nick Laskaris promoting the 4th of July.

Tollaksen told BID that 79 light poles have banners from the railroad tracks to Cedar Street on Broadway. Another 31 poles have banners across the bridge to Lake Delton and those banners are larger than the ones on Broadway. From Cedar Street, east, 49 light poles have places for banners but no banners, and from the Lower Dells intersection to the I-90-94 ramps, 24 poles have banners that are another size.

After getting up the ones promoting Wo-Zha-Wa and Harvest Fest, the BID will determine the costs of rotating and putting up more banners. BID members Jesse Defosse and Justin Draper are to work with Brown to determine costs.

In other business, the BID did the following:

-- Approved a canopy sign for Mirror Maze on Broadway.

-- Heard a report on Taste of the Dells. Next year’s Taste will be June 12-13.

-- Approved spending about $4,000 for decorations along Broadway for Harvest Fest.

-- Heard Mayor Helland authorize Chairman Brown to find someone to be treasurer.

-- Heard a report from Defosse on ways to cut the summer entertainment budget such as not setting it up until March and negotiating more with performers.

-- Discussed an employee for the BID. Defosse said a BID employee could be a salesman for downtown. The person could be someone people call when considering opening a business in the Dells and organizing festivals downtown.

Helland said the BID needs to decide whether it is worthwhile to spend its money on advertising and guides, and entertainment or if it would be better off investing in personnel.

The hiring of personnel issue, the BID finances and expansion, its 2010 budget and the signs will be up for discussion again July 15.