TIF closed, ambulance contract approved, and that crumbling retaining wall on Hwy. 35 needs to be fixed ASAP in Prescott

In a half hour last Monday night, the Prescott City Council took care of a lot of big business: A five-year contract for ambulance service was approved. A tax incremental financing district was terminated. A deck easement was OK’d, though Mayor David Hovel raised some questions. And that crumbling wall at the condominium development on the east side of Hwy. 35 on the hill toward downtown has to get fixed.

In agenda order: TIF DISTRICT – The council voted unanimously to shut down TIF 3 at the end of this year. In a TIF district, tax revenue generated within the district is used to pay for infrastructure improvements involved in developing that district. That TIF cash-flowed quickly, which means the city will have an additional $619,000 that it will move to another TIF district in the downtown area that doesn’t cash flow as well. The city at earlier meetings has talked about allocating $150,000 to affordable housing in that area.

AMBULANCE CONTRACT – Allina Health Care will be taking over the ambulance service, and they plan to have an ambulance in Prescott still.

A year ago, the city, the Oak Grove and the Township of Clifton faced a daunting financial burden and feared a huge increase in ambulance fees. However, with Allina stepping forward to take over the ambulance service from the City of River Falls, rates are stabilized.

The contract states that Allina “will provide a regularly scheduled ambulance crew 24 hours per day in Prescott. This ambulance will be staffed at the paramedic level most of the time, i.e., 24 hours/day except in exigent circumstances.”

A lease agreement for the ambulance still needs to be negotiated, administrator Jayne Brand told the council.

The local ambulance cooperative had been warned prior to the agreement with Allina that ambulance fees could be $31 per capita. Instead, the agreement calls for a per capita fee of $19 for the first two years and then increasing 50 cents per capita for the next three years.

The contract is with the City of River Falls, which has an agreement with Allina.

“As far as the per capita for each residence and what that would have been, we all would have felt that and then in the meantime we possibly would not have had our own ambulance here in Prescott,” council member Dar Hintz said. “We’re going to have our own ambulance here. It’s going to be staffed by a paramedic, so we’re still getting a really good service.”

The agreement actually saves Prescott, Oak Grove and Clifton money, as they pay $22 per capita now.

“The only thing we need to work out is the lease for what they’re going to need to lease from us for the ambulance building. They’re not going to need the entire building. They’re going to use one side of the garage and then they’re going to have some area that will be their private space. We’re going to agree to mutually share the kitchen and bathrooms,” said Brand.

The council unanimously approved the contract.

MUDDY WATERS DECK – Part of the deck at popular downtown spot Muddy Waters is on city right of way. The council unanimously approved granting an easement to Patricia Schichel and Steven Mann of Muddy Waters.

Hovel asked the council to consider that the deck was built in the public right of way and without a permit.

“Why should we give him an easement for something he never got a permit for. I’m just throwing it out there because then it wouldn’t be our issue right now. That’s my only concern,” said Hovel.

Council member Bailey Ruona, who chairs the Parks and Public Property Committee, said, “He brings a lot of stuff to this community. He helps us with other things. He brings in a Christmas tree.”

“I understand that,” said Hovel. “But that’s not a reason to ignore the fact he didn’t follow procedures.”

THE WALL – The large retaining wall along Hwy. 35 that’s crumbling and has been partially tarped since storm water damaged it last summer needs to be fixed. Soon. That’s the message from the city council, and a letter will be sent to the condo’s homeowners’ association.

Brand said she’s yet to see a final plan for repair of the wall. She pointed out that if pieces of it fall, it will be on state highway right-of-way.

“I have numerous emails and phone calls into their engineer, but he always says he’s going to send me the plan, and I haven’t seen any plans,” she said.

“I just feel like it’s becoming a safety issue,” said Ruona.

The homeowners association reportedly had cost estimates and a contractor lined up but hasn’t submitted plans for permitting the project.

It was noted that big rainfalls have become typical in August and the condition of the wall is causing erosion that could lead to building damage.

“What’s concerning is the erosion that can happen underneath that right now because it’s exposed and that’s a huge hazard if it starts eroding underneath foundation below the frost line,” said Ruona.