Ontario hires engineering firm for new development

By KAREN PARKER

County Line Publisher Emeritus

Ontario’s infrastructure improvements should start moving ahead, as the village board chose engineering firm Vierbicher Associates on Monday to administer the million-dollar grant the village had received to develop the 37-acre Taylor property.

To meet the needs of what the board hopes will be commercial development, utilities and roads will be developed on the village-owned property, which is on the south side of the village. Should that not transpire, the village will be obligated to repay the money. There does not appear to be any exact number of businesses that would be required to waive repayment of the grant; evidently, it’s at least one or more.

On a related note, the village received only one proposal to construct rental housing. The bid for $1.5 million would cover a seven-unit complex that would be built on the schoolhouse hill property on Church Street. Fifty-one percent of the units must be for low- and moderate-income tenants.

The bid comes from Community Development Alternatives of Prairie Du Chien. That firm, owned by Dale Klemme, also has been handling the FEMA buyouts of flood-damaged properties for the village.

Also, Klemme indicated he would investigate if grant money is available to purchase the old Meca Sportswear building for use as a community hall.

When questioned, board president Mark Smith said the renovated gymnasium at the former Ontario Elementary School building was meant only as an “interim” hall. He also suggested that an outdoor shelter may be built on the site of the old community hall on Garden Street, depending on how much money FEMA awards the village for the loss of the building, which was severely damaged in August 2018 flood.

Other business

• Trustee Sue Rego questioned Police Chief Dave Rynes if he had been taking the squad car out of town. He indicated he had taken it to Viroqua as part of ongoing investigation. He also noted that for his recent trip to the Police Chiefs Conference, he used his own car and did not bill the village for either gas or lodging.

• The board approved writing off about $500 in bad debt mostly small items. The debtors have left town and cannot be located.

• Depending on their condition, the village may salvage the fans from the Ontario Community Hall before it is torn down. The board agreed not to attempt to save the stage. 

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