Fox Point Footbridge Gets Boost to $1.6 Million in 2013

Village Board approves $525,000 in extra funds to remove, repair or rebuild nearly 100-year-old pedestrian footbridge.

The Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge in Fox Point is getting a financial boost next year to $1.6 million with an extra $525,000 approved in the village's 2013 budget.  The budget had already borrowed $1.1 million for the bridge, but after village staff looked over reports from the project consultant, officials decided to boost that by an additional $525,000, bringing the total to $1,636,269. Residents are still expected to raise $625,000 to fund repair, replacement or removal of the infamous footbridge.  Not everyone thinks the bridge is worth the money, however. Patch reader and Fox Point resident Larry Booth  had this to say: "It's important to note that the $2.26 million cost of this obscure and unnecessary footbridge ($1.6 million in the …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (5)

Larry Booth

2:08 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Dick --- I really like your idea for lookout platforms. By the way, there are about 2,500 homes in Fox Point. That is $1,100 in taxes per hosehold to pay for this absurd footbridge!   more ›

Fox Point Taxes Up Slightly as Board OKs $6.9 Million Budget

An extra $525,000 was also inserted into 2013 budget for the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge project, brining the village's total budget for the bridge to $1.6 million.

Fox Point taxpayers are going to see a bump in the village portion of their property tax bills next month. The Village Board Thursday approved a $6.9 million budget for 2013 by a 6-1 vote, with Trustee Douglas H. Frazer casting the lone "no" vote. The $6.93 million budget for 2013 is up 1.7 percent from last year's $6.82 million budget. The board also voted to increase the property tax levy to $6.99 million, up 0.5 percent from last year's $6.95 million levy. But Frazer said increasing the levy to cover expenditures that aren't in the budget isn't the right move. Rather than raising taxes for expenses that aren't budgeted, he would have preferred a lower levy. "I think we missed an opportunity because we have the ability to adopt and …

•  19 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

Fox Point Lends $30,000 to Footbridge Fundraising Effort

Footbridge Friends originally requested $45,450 in public funds to pay a professional fundraiser to raise their $625,000 share for a new footbridge.

A fundraising group charged with raising $625,000 for the replacement of the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge went before the Village Board Monday night requesting $45,450 in start-up money to pay for a fundraising consultant. At a meeting attended by a dozen residents, the Fox Point Village Board instead decided to limit the initial seed money to $30,000, with the option of providing more money in the future. Trustees also required the group reimburse the money to the village. The fundraising group, Footbridge Friends, Inc., was recently incorporated with $1,500 in assistance from the village. The group has been tasked by trustees to raise $625,000 in donations, which is roughly half of the cost of construction a new bridge — not including …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (3)

Village Approves Additional $17,500 for Footbridge Planning

Village President Michael West says contractor Ayers should "Bring their A game."

Though the Fox Point Village Board still has not yet decided whether to rebuild, replace or remove the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge, they allocated another $17,500 to planning purposes at their meeting Tuesday. Ayers Associates, the contracter who the village recently authorized to plan a new bridge, asked for the additional funding to meet the Village Board's requests for renderings of the bridge in order to solicit donations. "These renderings is what this project is hinging upon," Trustee Christine Symchych said. The board has resolved not to move forward with construction before residents secure $625,000 in donations for the project, with a deadline of January 31, 2013. That value is approximately half of a rough estimation for the …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Don Jacobs

9:03 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012

Just a little speculation.......it would not be unusual for a municipality to request a bid from a contractor and then reduce the contractors scope of work to get the price down. It would also not be unusual for the municipality to then be unhappy with the work submitted by the contractor due to the reduced scope of work (read lower price/lower quality) and then authorize additional expenditures …   more ›

Fox Point Village Board Authorizes Planning for Replacement Footbridge

Ayers will design a brand new bridge in accordance with specifications from Village President Michael West, however, construction will not begin just yet.

Fox Point Village Board members voted Tuesday to have consultant Ayers Associates design a brand new bridge to replace the old Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge in accordance with specifications laid out by President Michael West. "Don’t forget, we are not committed to building a bridge," West said. Tuesday's decision does not tie the board to constructing anything that the consultant, Ayers Associates, creates. However, it does set the board on that path, as they utilize the allocated $37,773 contract with Ayers to plan a replacement bridge rather than repair or removal. Trustee Beverly Bell suggested modifying West's proposal to request Ayers also look into repair options, but other trustees voted it down. "If we take your motion, it is …

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Fox Point Village Finances

Resident Bob Cory says the footbridge only puts a burden on the debt service status.

Not long ago, the Village of Fox Point built a new police station. Perhaps even over-built it! The village has contributed its share of funds toward the Bayside combined dispatch center. The village regularly purchases new equipment and vehicles giving us a DPW fleet unmatched in the state. And the list goes on. I am sure that the village has a long wish list of capitol improvement projects it would like to undertake. Most of those projects are necessary to the operation and upkeep of village utilities, roads etc. As the village borrows funds for these projects our debt load increases steadily. At what point does this dept service experience an "overload" capacity? Does out borrowing strength diminish? Does our bonding status lower? To …

• Photos (1)

Letter to the Editor

In Tight Fiscal Times, a Footbridge is Not a Priority

Fox Point resident Bob Cory shares his thoughts on the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge.

Editor's Note: This letter was sent to Patch in response to another Letter to the Editor on the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge posted Tuesday. If you have a letter to the editor, please email it to the editor.   The village has initiated a foundation to raise funds for the project. They are to raise at least one-half of the necessary funds. If they raise one-half, residents will still have to put out the other-half. If they fall short of their goal, then the residents will put out one-half, plus whatever is short from such a foundation pursuit. In these times, this is not a worthwhile priority!!!! Bob Cory Resident of Fox Point for 25 years

• Photos (2)

Fox Point Hiring Another Firm to Study Bridge

The Boldt Company will take another look at replacement options for the footbridge.

The Fox Point Village Board on Tuesday evening approved yet another study for the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge, this time to be completed by The Boldt Company. Neighbors of the bridge, Jack and Cissy Bryson and Mary and James Connelly, asked the board what it needs to make a decision, questioning why a third firm needs to be brought in to study the bridge. Village President Michael West said it's a matter of the board obtaining enough information to make an informed decision. "As far as I'm concerned, this is new information," West said. The Boldt Company, a construction services firm out of Appleton, will meet with Ayers Associates to work with them on the previous studies that have been done on the bridge. According to the proposal from…

• Photos (1)

Fox Point Spends $71,000 on Footbridge Consultants

A total of six studies by two companies have been commissioned by the village.

The Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge has generated a lot of debate and discussion among many Fox Point residents since its closure in October 2010. While some residents have shared tearful speeches with the Village Board, others have strongly suggested any funding of the bridge could be better spent on things like road repairs. But one question both sides are asking: What has the village spent on the multiple reports that have completed on the bridge? According to Village Manager Susan Robertson, to date, the village has spent $71,105 on reports and updates from two structural engineering firms on the bridge. In April 2009, the board hired GRAEF-USA Inc.,which warned deterioration of the bridge had reached a point where it was no longer safe …

• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)