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BID MAKING CHANGES TO ITS HOLIDAY EVENTS
DENNIS HINES
The Lake Geneva Business Improvement District is moving its
annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony from Flat Iron Park's
Brunk Pavilion to the Riviera Plaza.
DENNIS HINES PHOTOS, REGIONAL NEWS
The Lake Geneva Business Improvement District is replacing its
annual Holiday Window Decorating contest with a tree decorating
contest.
The Lake Geneva Business Improvement District is making changes to its holiday events and activities.
The BID's "Light Up Lake Geneva Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony" will be conducted at the Riviera Plaza, 812 Wrigley Drive, instead of at Flat Iron Park's Brunk Pavilion.
The event is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Nov. 27 and will feature carolers, a visit from Santa Claus and the lighting of one of the trees at the plaza.
Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Drive, still will be decorated with lights, makeshift present boxes and a luminated "joy" sign, and the Brunk Pavilion will feature a gingerbread town-themed selfie station designed by Lake Geneva Schools students.
"We will have a first phase for that being built this year from the school district," BID Executive Director Alexandria Binanti said. "We will have that installed and that will keep growing every year to just mock up a tiny town inside the Brunk Pavilion."
The BID also plans to conduct a tree decorating contest instead of the annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Residents and business owners are encouraged to decorate trees throughout the downtown area.
The trees will be installed Nov. 27 and with voting begins Dec. 5. The winning team will receive $500, which they may decide to donate to a local nonprofit organization.
Santa visits this year are moving from Thursdays to Wednesdays to coincide with the BID's We Love Local Wednesdays program, in which participating businesses offer sales and specials, and city parking sticker holders receive free parking.
Santa visits are scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main St.; Dec. 9 at Lake Geneva Arts Foundation's Gallery 223 at 223 Broad St.; Dec. 16 at Something Sweet, 235 Broad St.; and Dec. 23 at the Cove of Lake Geneva, 111 Center St.
Council looks to revise child safety zone ordinance
DENNIS HINES
Lake Geneva is in the process of revising an ordinance which sets the distance for how far a registered sex offender may live from what are considered child safety zones.
On Oct. 26, City Council approved a proposal that would limit a registered sex offender from living within 750 feet of a school, daycare center, playground and youth camp by a 7-1 vote.
Offenders would have access to about 54.4% of available housing in the community.
Council members still have to approve an ordinance amendment related to the proposed distance.
In May 2025, alders repealed a provision in the ordinance that prohibited registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a child safety zone because it was considered unconstitutional.
City Administrator Dave De Angelis said the 750-foot provision would be defendable in court.
"At approximately 50%, the argument we could make as a community is we're trying to make sure we're not excluding anyone, while protecting it," De Angelis said.
Mayor Todd Krause agreed. "At the end of the day, we have to have a percentage of housing that can be offered or we're just shooting ourselves in the foot here," he said.
City Attorney Dan Draper said the restriction would prevent registered sex offenders from living in most areas of downtown, which is near Riviera Beach, because it includes Central-Denison and Eastview elementary schools.
Changes eyed for Lions Field House rentals
WILLIAMS BAY
DENNIS HINES
Williams Bay officials are proposing several changes to the Lions Field House rental agreement.
Trustee Steve Russell presented the changes during the Village Board's Committee of the Whole meeting Nov. 2.
The proposal included increasing the rental fee from $250 to $350 and the current $625 refundable damage deposit fee. However, renters still would have to pay for any damage that occurs during their events.
"It's easier to just charge off damages through an invoice than to collect a damage deposit and then return it to the property renter," Russell said. "Because any damage, if they don't pay the invoice, could be tacked onto a real estate tax bill at the end of the year."
Another proposed change is to charge renters a $100-an-hour fee if they do not vacate the premises by midnight.
A provision also has been added that states open containers of alcohol are not allowed outside the field house.
Improved security measures also are being proposed, including installing cameras or a key card entry system to the building.
"I don't think it's appropriate to put it on the police department to go over there and check at midnight and go back at 1 o'clock in the morning just to see if they vacated or to see if they cleaned up," Russell said. "Technology exists today that we can monitor it."
Another security option would be hiring a part-time employee to monitor the building during special events.
Trustees will discuss the proposed changes during an upcoming meeting.
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