APRIL 2007

Dear Lake Geneva Utility Customer & Citizenry:

Introduction

Winter is finally behind us and Public Works & Utilities has begun its spring operations.  The Street Department has been sweeping up sand from the streets, picking up and cleaning parks, painting our facilities, preparing restrooms, servicing equipment and has begun the weekly collection of yardwaste and brush.  Yardwaste and brush collection began on April 2nd and weekly pick-up runs through May.

The Water Department has had a busy winter as we encouterd and repaired 7 water main breaks, and conducted the usually servicng and painting of facilities. 

Wastewater staff have also been quite busy servicing equipment, repairing manholes, cleaning lines, and painting facilities. 

With respect to projects, a vibrant City needs to take care of what it has or face an erosion of its quality of life.  To that extent, we have worked very hard to initiate many budget approved projects, a listing of which appears in a different section of this web site.  Projects underway include restoration of the 3 Graces Fountain at Flat Iron Park, the 2006 Street Maintenance contract carried over from last fall in the downtown, underground placement of overhead power and cable tv in the alley parallel to Main Street and south of it in the downtown, and many others.

Lake Geneva Utility Commission

The Utility Commission is a separate component unit of the City, operated and funded from revenues it generates from water and sewer usage by our customers.  It continues to be very busy.   The Water/Wastewater Main Office is currently undergoing its first addition since as best we can tell since 1890.  Current office staff share a 15' x 18' room with the front counter.  The proposed addition has broken ground and will be ready by June/July.  It is 20' x 45' in size.  The Director will join part of the office staff and move into the area which will feature a more accessible front entry and waiting area with seating, drive-up window, and room for file cabinets and future staffing.  The architecture of the additional space will compliment that of the existing building.

At the wastewater plant, our electrical control have been updated, and the facility conversion to SCADA or a computerized controls system is complete. 

The Water operation has undertaken the design of a future additional iron removal filter, is updating its electrical controls, installed a new water pressure booster station, and finished construction of its newest water tower on North Center Street. 

Public Works Activities

The Street Department as mentioned earlier has begun its yardwaste and brush pick-up program.  The 2007 collection schedule is available on this website and at City Hall.  Grass clippings may be mulched on your lawn or deposited in the Street Department containers located at the north dead-end of Carey Street.  Access to the City dumpster is 24-hours-per-day and seven-days-a-week.

Refer to the Public Works brochure for additional details on our other programs..  Brochures are available at City Hall, the Utility Commission and on this website.  T

Public Works Projects

In addition to operations, several projects are ready for spring activity.  They include:

2006 Street Maintenance Program

The 2006 contract has been awarded to R.W. Miller and Sons and focuses on the downtown area.  Identified streets are listed in the projects section of our website. 

Wells Street

This project is essentially complete except for landscaping restoration and some miscellaneous paving work.  The intersection of Main and Wells has been reconstructed with new signals and detector loops.  Vehicles can now safely make the necessary turning movements without worrying about striking either the old island sign or curbing.  The remainder of the project was primarily a resurfacing of Wells from Main to our south City limits and new sidewalk in places as well as new curb and gutter south of Townline Road to South Street.

Underground Electrical Work Downtown

Alley North of Main Street-The power company, telephone and cable tv and the City electrician converted all services to underground from overhead by pulling in wires to each of the nearly 50 affected customers.  The last of the poles were removed the Week of November 14th.

Alley South of Main Street-Alliant and the City are already making plans to convert this section from Cook to Center Street to underground using piping installed beneath the alley in the early 1990's.  Work will begin as early as the week after Easter and be completed before winter.

Veteran's Park

The City completed several improvements in 2006, and the landscaping is beginning to shape up.  The projects included:  grading the entire 13 acre acquisition into 3 new soccer fields, a softball field, a new lighted basketball facility, an 80 space lighted parking lot in the north middle area of the park, installing lighting at the west parking lot, a new bathroom/shop building, a new open shelter, and biking trails. 

Lakefront Work

OTHER OPERATIONS

Leaf & Brush Collection Brochure

The City Public Works Department provides a brochure which explains the collection rules and schedule.  If you didn't receive one with your tax bill, copies are available at City Hall or the Utility Commission offices at 361 West Main Street. 

Collection program rules are available under "collections" in this website or at the Lake Geneva Utility Commission and City Hall.

The public may also use our "yard waste dumpster" 24-hours a day, 365 days a year at the north dead end of North Carey Street.

Garbage Collection

Automated collection days are Monday and Wednesday in Lake Geneva.  A Public Works collection calendar has been prepared and is available at City Hall, the Utility Commission, and the Library. 

Please contact my office or to Brian of John's Disposal at 1-888-473-4701 with any collection problems or questions.

Street Department

The City's Street Department is located at 1065 Carey Street.  The Superintendent may be reached during the work day at 248-6644 Monday thru Friday.  The public may also contact the Director of Public Works and Utilities at 248-2311, call City Hall at 248-3673, or in emergencies contact the Police Department at 248-4455.

For details on the City of Lake Geneva's various Public Works projects, please click on "Projects & Programs" on the navigation bar.