JANUARY 2010

Dear Lake Geneva Utility Customer & Citizenry:

Introduction

Happy New Year.  The Street Department crews have conducted multiple plow runs and there is about a foot and a half of snow on the ground from before the holidays.  Our leaf and brush collection program came to an abrupt end before Thanksgiving weekend after making a few extra "sweeps" of the City for remnant piles of leaves.  The past few weeks crews have also been collecting the holiday trees placed curbside without strings of lights or plastic on them.

The Water Department has recently completed its fall hydrant flushing to remove any sediment from our lines.  We thank everyone for their patience.  As far as our facilities are concerned, we are about 40% complete as of early January with replacing our remote meter reading system with a fixed base reading system. 

Wastewater staff have also been quite busy servicing equipment, repairing manholes, cleaning lines, and painting facilities.  We also are preparing to begin the sanitary sewer main sliplining work awarded in late 2009. 

With respect to City 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 numerous budget approved projects, a listing of which appears in a different section of this web site.  Our major initiative for 2010 will be to complete the amended Tax Increment District #4 projects identified in the amended plan currently under consideration for adoption the joint board.

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.  Water consumption peaks at around 2 million gallons per day in the summer with average daily pumpage of about 1.3 mgd.  Wastewater flows are typically a little less to the plant than water pumped running an average of less than 1.2 mgd. 

Public Works Activities

The Street Department as mentioned earlier has begun its yardwaste and brush pick-up program in September, winding it up just prior to Thanksgiving.  The 2010 collection schedule is available on this website and at City Hall.  It may also be found included with the packet of information in your property tax bill.  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. 

Public Works Projects

In addition to operations, several projects are underway or completed.  They include:

2009 Street Maintenance Program

The only street paved was Main Street by the Main Street Bridge.

Main Street Bridge Replacement

This project called for replacement of the old Mill Race bridge at Main Street and Mill Street in the downtown.  It is complete except for the installation of pedestrian poles and signage at the amended crossing location.

Underground Electrical Work Downtown

Alley South of Main Street-Alliant and the City have converted this section from Cook to Center Street to underground using piping installed beneath the alley in the early 1990's.  Work is complete and the underground power is fully operational.  The overhead lines and poles are nearly all removed.

Lakefront Work

The West Library Park restroom building is complete and there are numerous improvements in the vicinity of the Lakefront in the TIF #4 plan currently up for final approval.

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.