The last couple of weekends I have been volunteering through Rebuild Together Fox Valley for COTS. COTS operates shelters and programs that help homeless adults rebuild independent lives. They have a location in the Fox Valley on College Ave. in Appleton that accepts adults only. There is a two story duplex next door which for the past few years has remained vacant and was in need of repairs.
This duplex was one of the fall projects for Rebuild Together Fox Valley and the one I was a project leader on. The sponsor of this rebuild was Lowe's and had a $25,000 matching grant from JJ Keller. Volunteers from Coca-Cola were my workers on this project.
We remodeled the duplex to livable conditions, and now two mothers with children will be able to live together as a family. Cindy Sahotsky, the COTS executive director told me that previously, women living in the shelter would have to give their children up to social services. Now, there is the opportunity for COTS to help families as well.
My fellow Project Manager, Jim, and I finished the work on the duplex last night. The two new families will be able to move into the duplex this November. The mothers will be able to live in the duplex up to two years while they find jobs in the workforce and find a way to get back on their feet. COTS welcomes any donations for household items including furniture.
October 25, 2010
Pedestrian Bicycle Strategy Workshop Scheduled
Help make walking, running, and biking in Grand Chute more safe,
convenient, and enjoyable!
The Town of Grand Chute will be developing a Pedestrian and Bicycle
Strategy over the next few months. When completed, this document will
help the Town set priorities for future projects, leverage funding and
grants, and create policies that help ensure future development provides
facilities for walkers and bicyclists.
Please join us at our first workshop!
Tuesday, November 9th @ 7 p.m.
Grand Chute Town Hall,
1900 Grand Chute Boulevard
We need your help locating areas that are unsafe for walking or biking,
identifying places that are difficult to reach by foot or bike, and
recommending improvements that we could make.
Please contact Kevin J. Vonck, Special Projects Coordinator @ #
920-380-2910 with any questions.
convenient, and enjoyable!
The Town of Grand Chute will be developing a Pedestrian and Bicycle
Strategy over the next few months. When completed, this document will
help the Town set priorities for future projects, leverage funding and
grants, and create policies that help ensure future development provides
facilities for walkers and bicyclists.
Please join us at our first workshop!
Tuesday, November 9th @ 7 p.m.
Grand Chute Town Hall,
1900 Grand Chute Boulevard
We need your help locating areas that are unsafe for walking or biking,
identifying places that are difficult to reach by foot or bike, and
recommending improvements that we could make.
Please contact Kevin J. Vonck, Special Projects Coordinator @ #
920-380-2910 with any questions.
October 20, 2010
Police department adds full time position
Good News! The Grand Chute Police Department was able to consolidate three part time officer positions and create one full time position on the department for the upcoming 2011 budget. This was a smart move due to the high turnover rate of the part time officers. Many recruits would be hired by GCPD only to move on when a full time position became available at another department. There are high training costs associated with each new hire and overtime rates spiked when officers would have to cover open part time shifts.
The benefits to this move are two-fold. There will be more uniform coverage with a another full time officer and the department should see a reduction in overtime (one of the department's major expenses). The best part of all, the department was able to do this without any increase at all to their 2011 budget.
The benefits to this move are two-fold. There will be more uniform coverage with a another full time officer and the department should see a reduction in overtime (one of the department's major expenses). The best part of all, the department was able to do this without any increase at all to their 2011 budget.
September 27, 2010
Every little bit helps
The town continually looks for ways to save money. The Town self funded the employee dental plan this year. Year to date savings to the Town is $23,721.
Mall Drive Reconstruction continues
You may have noticed the construction on Mall Drive. The purpose is to make traffic flow easier for businesses. The road is still open for traffic flow to the Fox River Mall and other stores along Mall Drive. Directional signs have been installed to inform motorists where to go. Local businesses have been allowed to place thier own temporary business signs in front of the right of way.
A fiber optic line that was previously not in conflict with the proposed project had to have a portion relocated. This created an approximately three day delay. Town staff is in constant contact with the subcontractor to ensure this project is not delayed past the original expected completion date.
A fiber optic line that was previously not in conflict with the proposed project had to have a portion relocated. This created an approximately three day delay. Town staff is in constant contact with the subcontractor to ensure this project is not delayed past the original expected completion date.
Budget planning sessions set for October
The time has come to start putting together the 2011 budget. The Town of Grand
Chute has expanded in 2010 just over six million dollars in new construction. Meaning this is the value of new taxable structures. The town has also negotiated successfully with all three unions for three year contracts. Of significance, is the town's ability to negotiate reduction in the amount the town contributes toward our employees' health insurance. Town employees will be required to pay a larger percentage.
The Town in 2010 approved substantial vehicle replacement program to help with our aging fleet. Hopefully, this amount can be reduced in 2011.
As I said in previous posts, the town's financial situation ranks near the top in the state, allowing us to borrow at reduced rates and lend with favorable returns.
With the good standing, the town will review reconstruction of a 118 parcel
development by North Bluemound. The town will also fill cracked pavement
or chip seal to extend the longevity of roads.
Recently the town approved construction of two ponds. One is located near Hwy 41 on Spencer St. and the other on Woodman Dr. by Fleet Farm. These two ponds will take the town closer to the (Un-funded) EPA mandated water shed control that is set at 40% by 2013.
The town will look at more ponds in 2011 and 2012 in order to meet these requirements. Discussion with other towns may include requests to extend the requirements, because of the financial drain on communities in these difficult times.
I will keep you posted as we meet for our initial meeting next month. if you have any questions or suggestions for me to bring to the meeting please call or e-mail.
Chute has expanded in 2010 just over six million dollars in new construction. Meaning this is the value of new taxable structures. The town has also negotiated successfully with all three unions for three year contracts. Of significance, is the town's ability to negotiate reduction in the amount the town contributes toward our employees' health insurance. Town employees will be required to pay a larger percentage.
The Town in 2010 approved substantial vehicle replacement program to help with our aging fleet. Hopefully, this amount can be reduced in 2011.
As I said in previous posts, the town's financial situation ranks near the top in the state, allowing us to borrow at reduced rates and lend with favorable returns.
With the good standing, the town will review reconstruction of a 118 parcel
development by North Bluemound. The town will also fill cracked pavement
or chip seal to extend the longevity of roads.
Recently the town approved construction of two ponds. One is located near Hwy 41 on Spencer St. and the other on Woodman Dr. by Fleet Farm. These two ponds will take the town closer to the (Un-funded) EPA mandated water shed control that is set at 40% by 2013.
The town will look at more ponds in 2011 and 2012 in order to meet these requirements. Discussion with other towns may include requests to extend the requirements, because of the financial drain on communities in these difficult times.
I will keep you posted as we meet for our initial meeting next month. if you have any questions or suggestions for me to bring to the meeting please call or e-mail.
September 14, 2010
WestFest wrapup
The Grand Chute Kiwanis are busy counting all the proceeds from this year's WestFest. We are also reviewing what did and didn't work well and what to expand upon for next year. The event date has been nailed down for next year. It will be Saturday, August 20, 2011, so mark your calendars now!
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