KFIZ News Monday 4/17/17

Convent Of The Holy Nativity Demolition Being Considered

Fond du Lac’s Historic Preservation Commission this week will consider a request for the demolition of the Convent of the Holy Nativity through a raze or repair order.  The Commission has three options. It can defer approval for up to a year, defer for a short period of time or allow demolition. A June 2015 fire substantially damaged the historic structure at 101 East Division Street. In December of that year the owner did some temporary roof repairs and boarded up the windows. Nothing has been done since then. Fire and water damage have caused rot and temporary repairs made by the owner are starting to deteriorate. The Commission meets Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Room D of the City-County Government Center.

South Hickory Street Closure

Fond du Lac’s Public Works Department tells us South Hickory Street will be completely closed between Forest Avenue and Division Street through the end of the day tomorrow.   The southbound lane of traffic only, will reopen to traffic Wednesday and reopen to full traffic at the end of the day Friday. The closure will allow the water department to replace a water service leak. A signed detour will be marked and motorists are encouraged to travel Forest Avenue, Seymour Street, and Division Street, as a detour around this block.   

Lorrigan Chairs Last Meeting As FDL City Council President

Fond du Lac City Council President Lee Ann Lorrigan chaired her last Council meeting as president last week. During the meeting Councilman Greg Giles complimented her on the job she did as Council President over the last two years. Lorrigan will still be with the Council for another year, but decided to not seek another term as Council President. She thanked those who have helped her out while she was Council President. She thanked both City staff and her fellow Council members. She says their willingness to work together made things easier for her. Tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. the Council will hold its annual organizational meeting. Catherine Block, Greg Giles, and Brian Kolstad will be sworn in for new two years terms following their successful reelection efforts. The Council will also elect a Council President and Vice-President. The meeting will be held in Room D of the City-County Government Center. 

MPTC Promise Program Unveiled

Moraine Park Technical College took advantage of a recent open house at its Fond du Lac campus to announce a free tuition program for low-income students. Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald says the Promise program will be available to students from 28 area high schools. She says it is not free college, but a free tuition program for students who are graduating from high school.  There will be eligibility requirements and students have to live up to that promise to get the free tuition. She says for many it might be their only opportunity to get a post secondary education because of their financial situation. She says for some they can’t afford college and they may also be unable to navigate the system. She says the program will help students navigate the system. She says they also hope that the promise program will help fill a skills gap for local employers as more of the work force retires during the next 10 to 15 years. 

Icy Roads Kept FDL County Highway Crews Busy

Fond du Lac County Highway Commissioner Tom Janke says it was a tough winter. But he says it wasn’t so much the snow as the freezing rain and ice that taxed their employees and their road salt supply. He says it was relatively mild for snow events, but there were a lot of ice events and a lot of salt was used. He says they can use a lot of manpower for snow events, but they’ve found it can be just as busy when roads become icy. He says when they have ice you have to call in everybody.

Walker to Sign Two Bills Into Law Today

(WRN) Governor Scott Walker will sign two pieces of legislation into law today at stops around the state. Walker is scheduled to sign a bill that prevents local governments from requiring companies bidding on public works contracts to have project labor agreements with their employees. He’s also expected to sign legislation that makes it legal to possess CBD oil – a marijuana-extract that can be used to treat seizure disorders in children. The governor will sign the labor agreement bill during a ceremony at a business in De Pere, and the C-B-D oil legislation at the Veterans Terrace in Burlington.

High Wheeling Bikes Presentation

The City’s Historic Preservation Commission will be sponsoring a free speaker event on Thursday, May 4th at 6 p.m. at Lakeside Park. The presentation is “Wheel Fever”, and speaker and author Jesse Gant will discuss the history of bicycling in the state of Wisconsin. Prior to the event, members of the Wisconsin Wheelmen will be demonstrating and riding high-wheel bike replicas. The public is welcome to see what riding these high-wheel bikes from the 1890s was like.