‘Baraboo Bits’ Features

Baraboo – The “Smart Growth” map available at the city of Baraboo’s website lays out a plan for the city’s future expansion.  One portion of the plan has already been put into action with the annexing of agricultural land to the east of the city on Highway 33.  The annexation seeks to extend business zones out along the highway and into the fertile valley while channeling residential growth onto the hills to the north.

Vacationers know this proposed growth area because it is in the gateway corridor from the interstate highway (I90/94) into the city of Baraboo. Once off the interstate at exit 106, Hwy 33 passes Cascade Mountain Ski Resort and soon enters the Baraboo river valley through the landmark “Narrows”. Once through the narrows, drivers enjoy an amazing scenic drive (see image below) along the spine of the Baraboo hills until reaching the city some 12 miles west.

View west from the top of the lower narrows

Now, we could certainly spend time debating the wisdom of paving over prime agricultural land in a river valley for the sake of more fast food joints and quick marts when there is other less fertile land available (In fact, I’m sure we will in time. ) We could ask how much additional water will be diverted from our watershed while along the way increasing the damaging floods which are already a problem in our area. We could talk about the wildlife that will ultimately be displaced including sandhill cranes and even Bald Eagles that have recently been wintering along the river.

From a tourism and branding stand point we could talk about simply keeping the main gateway route to a community famous for its natural beauty, well, beautiful. We could talk of preserving an unobstructed view of Devil’s Lake’s east bluff which, along with the southern spine of the Baraboo range are the signatures of our community and more. But for the moment there seems to be an even more obvious and practical question….

Former Premo's Auto Dealership - Closed for years, now used as storage.

How do city planners foresee keeping sustainable businesses in this corridor in the first place?  3 buildings that have been on the corridor for years stand mostly empty now.  In fact they were either empty or on their way down even during the good economic years not long ago.  You have to wonder if planning business zoning expansions beyond a section of town that is struggling to sustain business now, is really all that “smart” in the first place.  If we can’t fill the buildings we have standing empty today, then to hopscotch them for greener pastures (in more ways than one) risks creating nothing but unsightly urban sprawl.

* Image Above: Isenberg’s hardware store closed this year.  The building beyond stands mostly empty as Pierce’s Marketplace “East” closed after only a short existence, having moved into the building left empty previously by Darrow’s supermarket.

Friday, September 3rd is the next Sauk County Humane Society SOS Day.  On the first Friday of each month the shelter converts their education room into a temporary surgical suite where they will spay and neuter 30-35 cats and dogs in a single day. While most of the animals cared for belong to the shelter, reduced price spay and neutering services are also offered to low-income individuals who qualify.  For more information contact the Sauk County Humane Society at (608) 356-2520 or visit their website at www.saukhumane.org.

*Image Provided by SCHS.

There is a lot of road work being done around the city of Baraboo at the moment.  Hill Street near the new dog park and Second Avenue are just two of the many streets currently getting the hot tar & gravel treatment.   Today we noticed that the access way to lower Oschner’s Park and the Baraboo Riverwalk is also being spruced up.  For all the inconvenience that road work can cause (Not to mention all the loose gravel flying around), it’s nice to see the streets getting some needed attention. Goodness knows that for some of them, it’s been awhile!

Proof that pigs do indeed fly!  Hill Street, on Baraboo’s south side, finally being resurfaced.

It’s a common issue in communities all over the country.  When new road construction goes in we often keep aesthetics in mind. At first great care is taken to install green plantings, decorations and most recently, fancy stamped asphalt. Yet over time the zeal for beauty soon fades along with the paint. Trees die,  grass turns to mud and litter collects around the edges.   It’s too bad too. Read the rest of this entry »

Opinion – Now let me see if we have this straight.  The Sauk County Homeless Haven is closed to remove asbestos, there is no on-site manager, and they have fired Betty Kruger who has been the major force behind providing shelter for the homeless in our area since practically the dawn of time, simply to “bring in new blood?”  Is that it?  Interestingly, yesterday while at the post office on personal business we came across two formal “residents” who cannot seem to get their mail because it’s going to the haven and they can’t get a hold of anyone to do anything about it. Read the rest of this entry »

A bit of light rain did little to dampen the Baraboo fireworks display last evening.  For the most part the rain held off until well after midnight, allowing 4th of July parties to go on without interruption.  The summer fun will just keeping right on rolling this week as the Sauk County Fair kicks off  on Tuesday.  The fair will be held at the Sauk County Fairgrounds on the east side of Baraboo. The event begins tomorrow  July 6th, and will run through the 11th. Carnival rides begin 5 p.m. Tuesday and run evenings until 11 p.m. For more information about the Sauk County Fair click here.

Now in a town of 11,000 people you will tend to get a lot of “forest for the trees” issues. Here’s one; Currently the city is discussing year-round alternate side parking to accommodate the street sweepers.  Why?  Well, according to the local paper it’s because the state Department of Natural Resources wants to see a 20-percent reduction in the amount of sand, grit and other pollutants flowing off city streets into the Baraboo River.  Funny that.  Every time I drive by those slowly melting mountains of snow plow sludge, grit and garbage dumped in the Circus World Museum parking lot and left to melt into the river each spring.. I got the impression the city government didn’t really care.  My advice?  Yeah, maybe alternate parking is something to be considered but for pity’s sake, start with the obvious….

“Baraboo Bits” is a new section we’re adding to the Skillet Creek Journal.  It’s a quick hit commentary by me,  Derrick Mayoleth, the owner of Skillet Creek, on this week in the Baraboo Hills.  We’ll cover a wide range of topics in short little bites covering environment & nature, local issues, occasional politics, and sometimes we’ll just go with the wind.  Spelling errors will be added for flavor! Now of course you may not agree with something I’ve said.  Funny how that happens! I encourage you to comment ( In a civil fashion of course) and who knows, I could be wrong… I often am.

So with that, let’s get on with it.  Welcome to part 1 of “Baraboo Bits”.

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