Emerald Ash Borer Plan to Cost $50K

Fox Point will treat 681 village-owned trees as part of its emerald ash borer management plan.

Fox Point will spend $50,000 to continue emerald ash borer treatment on village-owned trees. Trustees on Tuesday approved a contract with Wachtel Tree Service, which will treat 681 village-owned ash trees through soil treatments and trunk injections. Soil treatments will protect the trees for one year. Trees that have a diameter of 2 feet or less will receive one soil treatment, while trees that have a diameter between 15 and 17 inches will receive two soil treatments. Trunk injections are used for trees larger than 18 inches in diameter, and will protect the trees for two years.  The village's emerald ash borer treatment plan began in 2011, when the village removed 129 ash trees—30 of which were later replaced with different species. The …

• Photos (1)

Frazer, Fonstad Retain Fox Point Village Board Seats

Challenger Terry McGauran garnered 23 percent of the votes Tuesday, but that wasn't quite enough to unseat incumbents Douglas Frazer and Eric Fonstad.

In one of three local contested elections on Tuesday in Fox Point and Bayside, the race to fill two seats on the Fox Point Village Board ended with both incumbents retaining their seats.  Frazer, 55, is a tax and estate planning lawyer who has lived in Fox Point for 19 years. He said the biggest issue facing the village is the 45-year-old swimming pool.  "This will be a large capital project that will require a lot of thought, planning, and creativity on the part of the village board," he said before the election. "I would encourage the board to take the matter up in our next budget deliberations with an eye to beginning work in 2014." Fonstad, 65, is a retired corporate attorney who has lived in the village for nearly 11 years. He said …

• Photos (1)

$1.2 Million Road Construction Coming to Whitney Road

The project will incorporate road, water and sewer construction on Willow, Whitney and Regent Roads.

Road construction will soon becoming to Whitney, Willow, and Regent Roads in Fox Point. The Fox Point Village Board on Tuesday night allocated $1.2 million for the project that includes road, water and sewer construction on those roads. Scott Brandmeier, the village engineer and director of public works, said the condition of Whitney Road was in poor condition, and has been planned in conjunction with other storm sewer work that was initially planned more than 10 years ago. “The project arose out of years of planning associated with the road,” Brandmeier said. All of Whitney Road will be reconstructed. Willow Road will be reconstructed between Regent Road and Santa Monica Boulevard, while Regent Road would be replaced between Regent Road …

• Photos (4)

Fox Point Moves to Demolish Footbridge

After years of debate, the Village Board is seeking bids for the removal of the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge, although a private effort will continue to raise funds for a new bridge.

Fox Point's Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge seems destined for demolition, based on the Village Board's actions Tuesday night. After three years of debating the future of the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge, trustees asked Ayres Consulting to solicit bids for the removal of the bridge. The consultants have already estimated the bridge removal would cost $359,000, but the final bidding documents would also include the cost of limited landscaping of paths around the ravine. Once the bids are solicited, trustees would have to give final approval for the demolition to move forward. The abutments and piers needed to support a future bridge will remain in tact, should the board decide to eventually construct a new bridge. But for now, the structure …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Absolutelyfabulous

7:05 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

In the interim one can easily set up a facebook page outlining your position, costs to taxpayers, village trustee emails/phone numbers to call as well as allowing for people interested to conduct discussions and so forth and so forth at no cost but a bit of time. I believe one can also set up petitions online as well. "Do you have an issue that you feel strongly about that you want your friends …   more ›

Eric Fonstad, Candidate for Fox Point Village Board

Fonstad is one of three candidates running in the April 2 election for Fox Point trustee.

Name: Eric Fonstad Address: 7405 N. Beach Dr.  Age: 65 Occupation: Retired corporate attorney Education: 1966 Mauston High School, 1970 UW Madison BS Engineering, 1973 UW Madison Law, 1985 UW Milwaukee MBA Family: Married 33 years; one daughter How long have you lived in the village? 10 1/2 years Have you held or run for political office? Elected Fox Point trustee in 2007. Re-elected in 2010. Related experience: Six years Fox Point Village Trustee, Fox Point Plan Commission, Fox Point Board of Review

• Photos (1)

Footbridge Foe Calls for $12.5K Survey of Taxpayers

In a letter to the Village Board, a new taxpayers group requests $12,500 to survey all Fox Point residents about the use of taxpayer money for the Bridge Lane footbridge project.

A newly-formed Fox Point Taxpayers Alliance is requesting $12,500 from the Village Board to survey all Fox Point taxpayers about the use of taxpayer money for the Bridge Lane footbridge project. Larry Booth, a longtime opponent of the footbridge who serves as the president of the new group, said the Taxpayers Alliance deserves access to village funds, just as the Footbridge Friends received $30,000 to start its $625,000 fundraising campaign. Booth said the majority of residents are not aware of the cost of the footbridge project. In a letter to the board, Booth said trustees should give equal credence to villagers who do not support the footbridge project. "Therefore, in the interest of fairness, citizen participation and the obligation of…

•  23 Comments
• Photos (1)

New Fox Point Village Manager Could Earn $95K to $107K

A consulting firm expects to place an ad for a new manager in a month, with the goal of having a new manager in place by June.

The Fox Point Village Board decided on a salary range of $95,000 to $107,000 for the next village manager. The Fox Point Village Board has retained the services of Oshkosh-based Public Administration Associates to search for a new village manager. The village's former manager, Susan Robertson, resigned in late December to pursue a city administrator position Sun Valley, Idaho. The consultant recommended a salary range of $95,000 to $107,000 for Fox Point. In 2012, the Fox Point village manager earned $107,583, and with a two percent increase, the position would have paid $109,735 in 2013.  The consultant gathered 2012 salaries from 10 communities in the North Shore and Lake Country. The list shows administrator salaries ranging from $95,…

• Photos (1)

How Important Is Fox Point's Footbridge?

We wrote this story last week and several of you made comments. We wondered what you thought.

Footbridge Fundraiser Falls Short of Goal

Because the group only raised one-third of the required funds, Fox Point trustees are wondering whether they should extend the fundraising deadline or put an end to the project.

The Bridge Lane Ravine footbridge project is in jeopardy, after supporters only raised one-third of the money required.  The Fox Point Village Board must now decide what to do. Options include extending the fundraising deadline, giving supporters another chance to raise $600,000 toward the $1.2 million project, paying for the repairs with municipal funds or removing the bridge connecting Barnett and Bridge lanes.  In April, the Village Board lent $30,000 to Footbridge Friends so they could lead a fundraising campaign to raise $625,000, half the anticipated project cost. The resolution said the board could reconsider the project if Footbridge Friends failed to meet its fundraising goal by Jan. 31. At a Tuesday night board meeting attended …

•  14 Comments
• Photos (4)

Bob Cory

1:03 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013

You are absolutely correct! Where is the village voice?   more ›