Council requests update on billboard, will revisit event fees

The future of the city-owned billboard on State Highway 17 South was not on the agenda for Monday’s meeting of the Rhinelander Common Council but multiple alderpersons referenced it anyway, ultimately leading to a request for a formal update.

The billboard, which was purchased in October 2022 at a cost of $4,000, was far from the only topic the alderpersons were interested in revisiting. After learning from a former council member that a $100 fee is being charged to hold a block party on Wisconsin Avenue, an alderperson asked that the topic of fees charged to groups and organizations holding events on city property be reconsidered. Finally, the council voted to table until September the topic of the potential installation of a flagpole at Hodag Park.

The flag issue was introduced two weeks ago by alderman Tom Barnett who said he was approached by local veterans who would like to see a flag installed near the new amphitheater.

The council was enthusiastic about the idea but tabled it until the July 10 meeting to allow time for research. On Monday, city administrator Patrick Reagan reported that the parks department had estimated it would cost approximately $5,000 to install a flag, flagpole and solar light.

That information touched off a discussion that eventually included references to the purchase of the billboard back in 2022.

Alderman Steven Jopek started the discussion by asking if there is a veterans memorial in Rhinelander.

“Just something to think about, a lot of neighboring towns, Tomahawk and Merrill, they all have veterans memorials where a lot of their services are held,” he noted.

There is a veterans memorial at the Oneida County Courthouse that is the property of the county, but there is no dedicated city memorial, Mayor Kris Hanus responded.

Alderpersons David Holt and Eileen Daniel both indicated that $5,000 was a bigger number than they expected.

At that point, Barnett mentioned the billboard. 

“For me, I’m confused no one is asking questions about a billboard we spent a whole bunch of money on,” he said. “We have no idea what it’s even doing, don’t know if it’s generating any extra business, don’t know if anyone’s even seen it, but we’re going to balk over an American flag?”

Jopek, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve as well as the son of Wisconsin National Guard veteran and the brother of a National Guard sergeant killed while serving in Iraq in 2006, quickly clarified that he was not “balking” over the flag.

“Anybody who has served in the military, at this point, knows that we’re not big fans of government waste because we see a lot of that in the military, and so my concern is not for putting up the American flag or anything like that, it’s just a concern that we are rushing into spending money, again bringing up the sign (billboard)...”

“It has nothing to do with putting up an American flag at all, it’s just I want to make sure it’s done right and I want to make sure it’s not an afterthought,” he added. “I want to be careful about how we spend money, especially since the budget gets tighter every year.”

In his remarks, Jopek twice referenced the Highway 17 billboard, including noting that the cost of the billboard is similar to the estimate to install the flagpole.

For his part, Holt clarified that he also was not “balking” at the flag idea but was calling for the idea to be fully fleshed out before money is allocated.

“In principal, I think it’s a great idea,” he said.

The discussion ended after Daniel suggested tabling the matter until September so that it might be considered as part of the 2024 budget process. A motion to that effect passed unanimously. 

The billboard issue came up again at the end of the meeting when Hanus asked for future agenda topics. Jopek responded by requesting the panel “discuss the plan for the Highway 17 billboard please.”

Hanus advised that the Rhinelander Tourism Marketing Committee (RTMC) at a recent meeting confirmed that it has no interest in the billboard. 

“That was the final piece we were waiting for before bringing it back to council,” he said. 

In a brief interview Tuesday, Hanus stressed that it was the previous administration that began exploring the purchase of the billboard and his administration inherited it because no action was taken prior to the election. 

He also noted that if he had it do over again, he might not vote the same way.

“If I could go back, I’d probably vote no or abstain,” he said.

In October, the council deadlocked on the resolution authorizing the purchase. Hanus’s vote, his first ever to break a tie, resulted in the purchase. 

All of the alderpersons who brought up the billboard on Monday voted against the purchase.

At this point, Hanus said he simply would like to see the matter resolved. There are options, including selling it, renting it out or using as a “Welcome to Rhinelander” sign for that gateway into the city, and it will be up to council to decide how to proceed.

“It’s not the biggest priority compared to, you know, water, housing and all the road construction,” he noted. 

Monday’s meeting began with public comment from resident Sharann Schoppe who told the council that her neighbors on Wisconsin Avenue were dismayed to learn they must pay a $100 fee to hold a block party on their street.

Schoppe, who noted she served on the council some years ago when local businessman Jerry Shidell was mayor, stated it came as a surprise to the group that a fee would be required before they can hold their gathering.

“Our area on Wisconsin Avenue has had a block party for the last two years and this year we came to get our papers to register for the block party and we found out it’s going to cost us $100,” she explained, adding that the fee is confusing as the permit references parades, run/walks and concerts and their gathering doesn’t fit within those definitions.

“We’re an old-fashioned block party, all neighbors,” she said, adding that the event typically involves approximately 25 to 30 people gathering in a one-block area. 

The last block party took place in August 2022 without incident, she noted, adding that there was no fee at that time. (According to city officials, that’s because the new fee system, though approved last June, did not become effective until January 2023).  

“Since we’ve started our block parties our whole neighborhood has become much closer, watching out for each other, caring a little more, waving and knowing each other better,” she added.

After explaining the situation, Schoppe asked the council to consider “grandfathering” the Wisconsin Avenue block party or waiving the fee of $100 “for us taxpayers on this little street to sit in the road, which we’ve done, and then we’re off the road. And if there’s something going on, of course we can move quick. There’s not that many of us, one grill sometimes two depending how many we have. It’s just a good, old-fashioned gathering that everyone feels good about.”

As council rules dictate that alderpersons and city administration refrain from responding to remarks made during public comment, there was no immediate response to Schoppe’s request. However, during the future agenda item discussion, alderman Tom Kelly requested a discussion on “alternatives” to resolve the block party issue.

Holt also asked that the council revisit the fees for events held on city property.

“I would like to reopen discussion about the fee schedule that seems to come up almost every meeting and discuss whether the sentiments of the council are in line with what was passed,” he said.

To watch the entire council meeting, visit www.hodagtv.com.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].