City council approves bids for Whelen Park pavilion, bandshell

Work will begin later this summer on two major public space improvement projects in the city of Medford.

Members of the Medford City Council at their meeting Tuesday evening awarded bids totaling $936,000 to construct a new bathroom and pavilion in the Whelen Park project along the Riverwalk in the downtown and for a new bandshell that will be built in the Medford City Park.

Contractors S.D. Ellenbecker of Athens and Huotari Construction of Medford bid on both projects. Ellenbecker was the low bidder on the Whelen Park Pavilion with a cost not to exceed $633,900, Huotari had bid $700,840.75 for the project.

For the band shell, Huotari was the low bidder with a bid of $303,654.30 compared to Ellenbecker’s bid of $387,400.

“What is the timeline?” asked council member Mike Bub.

City coordinator Joe Harris said the contracts would be sent this week, but there is a lead time for ordering materials. “We are anticipating having it done by hunting season,” Harris said.

Mayor Mike Wellner said while Parkfest will need to use a temporary stage again this year, by next spring both projects will be up and running.

Council members voted unanimously to approve both bids.

Fireworks

Groups who are late in applying for fireworks permits will have to pay a penalty. Council members approved a change in the fireworks permit to increase the cost the closer it is to the event. The permit has a fee of $100 if turned in 45 days prior to the event. If filed with 44 or fewer days the fee is now $150 and anything under 15 days is automatically denied.

The city allows people to hire contractors to set off fireworks displays in certain non-residential areas of the city and the lead time on the permit application is for the fire department and law enforcement to check and see if there are concerns with those areas and work with the fireworks company.

Council member Christine Weix asked if there was a timeframe on the permit for when groups anticipated having the fireworks set off.

Harris said it is usually set as dusk, but noted that regardless of when a show started it would have to be done by midnight to meet the city’s noise ordinance.

In other business, council members:

  Approved a formal resolution declaring the intent to reimburse construction expenses for a water main project at the high school through borrowing with the Wisconsin Environmental Improvement Fund. Harris explained this was a formality in participating in the DNR program. Under the program between 40 and 50% of the principal cost of the loan would be forgiven.

  Approved issuing the annual permit requests for combination beer and liquor licenses, beer only licenses, tobacco and other licenses. The city is limited to 16 combination (tavern) licenses and all are being used. The city has no limit on beer, liquor or wine licenses. A total of 12 tobacco licenses were approved.

  Approved the permit request from Rhonda Hartwig to suspend city ordinance and allow open containers of alcohol on Main Street from State Street to Division Street for the Bringing Back the Street Dance   Approved the permit request from Marilyn Frank of Grass on the Black to suspend the open container rules for the bluegrass festival planned for July 7 to 9.

event that is scheduled for July 22.

On Tuesday Medford council members got a tour of the new apartment buildings on Pep’s Drive. The apartments are a combination of one and two bedroom units. Of the 48 units completed, a total of 39 have been rented. The fourth building in the project is expected to be completed later this summer.