PRESCOTT – Prescott City Administrator Matt Wolf gave an update on city projects and operations at the meeting of the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce held Wednesday, Nov. 2 at First National Bank.

Wolf reported that the expansion project at the Prescott Food Pantry building at 911 Pearl St. is full speed ahead.

The project hit a couple snags due to some state red tape and rising construction costs, but it’s now ready to move forward.

The city received grant money to purchase the building and for renovations that gives the food pantry more space to meeting growing community needs. It will also have a kitchen facility and space for COVID testing, as the funding was from a state COVID-related Community Development Grant Fund initiative.

“A while back, the previous owner was selling that building and the fear was that the food pantry would have to move if that sale went through without the right owner, so they decided to move forward with applying for a Community Development Block Grant which we were very fortunate to receive,” he said. “We now are renovating that building and making it more accessible and doing something that hopefully in the future will make a great asset for Prescott.”

He said another big positive for Prescott is that K-9 officer Caesar and his handler, officer Jesse Neely, are just about ready to go to work in Prescott. The duo has been training for several months. A local fundraising effort made the K-9 program possible.

“Caesar and Jesse are going to be finishing up that training. They’ll be on a regular shift. We’re looking forward to that,” he said.

Some other items Wolf touched on were: Well Number Three

The city shut down the well due to higher- than-allowable nitrates last year and had to come up with a plan to solve the problem.

“We’re working now on remediation of that. What we’ve decided to do moving forward is treat that well through reverse osmosis,” he said.

The new treatment system is expected to be a $2.7 million project.

“We are currently working with the DNR on applying for a Safe Drinking Water Loan Program application, and we’re hoping to get funding,” he said.

The city also applied to the state Public Service Commission for a simplified water rate increase of 4.5 percent. The city also is studying doing a full rate study which would help solidify the water utility in the future.

“Our water fund is in needs, there’s no way to sugarcoat it with the projects we’re looking at. We’re running lower and lower in terms of our reserves that we have and our revenue that’s coming in over at water. So, one of the things that we are considering is also looking at a full rate case study to go over the next 10 years to see what kind of improvements we’re going to need and what are funds are in terms of our rates right now. That’s something we are still considering,” he said.

He said the city is able to put $400,000 in federal COVID-relief American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project.

“We were very fortunate to receive those and put them into that project. Luckily, that does buy down the cost a little bit,” he said.

Riverfront project

“This is something a little bit more fun,” Wolf said of the work underway to rebuild the Prescott Riverfront. “We’re working in the future to do a lot of revitalization projects downtown, and we did a lot of work this year on our Riverfront project. This phase is starting to wrap up.”

Benches will be installed still this fall, and the sculpture of Abe the Eagle was placed, with funding from Prescott tourism fund dollars.

“It’s a very cool, symbolic piece,” Wolf said of Abe, created by Dale Lewis who makes art from scrap metal.

New signage in downtown will also be installed this year, pointing to local landmarks and destinations.

“As we move forward and do more projects like updating our parks and upgrading our streets, we’ll utilize more of this style of signs,” Wolf said.

Installation of a new fishing dock and boat launch were approved recently by the city council.

“The boat launch has been needing some love for a couple years,” he said.

Parks update

Wolf also updated on the initial phase of the Fairy Wonderland Park being developed within Saint Croix Bluffs Park. Installation of the largest part of that park, the Dreamcatchers Cove, with playground equipment and interactive elements is underway.

“It’s not finished yet, but the first phase of their planned project has been put in,” he said. “We’re very fortunate to have this project. This was a group of individuals who unfortunately lost some younger children, and they have been raising money for this park. This is the first phase of what they hope will be a four- or five-phase project.”

In coming years, work is slated to begin in Magee Wilderness Park, which will also be the trailhead to the Coulee River Trail System being developed around Prescott and Oak Grove Township. Brush clearing was done at the park this year.

Other projects

He said there are residential and commercial projects underway, and the city plans a rebuild of Locust and Elm streets next year.

Wolf was asked about whether Prescott will consider pay parking stations downtown and whether better enforcement of parking rules in the downtown area can be done.

Wolf responded that city staff is working to put together alternatives and one could be that there will be some paid parking in the downtown area. He said community meetings will be held when a plan is ready to be proposed.

He said the city is also looking where a dog park could be placed, and the thinking is it may best be located near the city compost site east of the city limits on Highway 10, so there aren’t concerns that dogs barking would bother neighbors.

Concern was also raised from chamber members about why Verizon hasn’t updated its tower in the city. The city recently signed leases for cell towers from T-Mobile and AT& T, but Verizon rejected the city contract. Wolf said discussions have started back up, though, so he’s hopeful a lease agreement can be reached also with Verizon. He said the other tower lease deals bring about $30,000$35,000 to the city.

Prescott City Administrator Matt Wolf gave an update to members of the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce at their meeting Nov. 2 at First National Bank. Photo by John McLoone