By Craig Marx, Editor

The City of Antigo Common Council session held on Wednesday, July 12th saw two public hearings on the agenda meant to change approximately 8.25 acres of industrial-zoned land on Hogan Street, north of Remington Lake, to a residential district with the future development of “multi-family units immediately north of 1322 Hogan Street” as the projected goal.

While open to the public, no one came forth to speak on the ordinance amendments and both were subsequently closed for discussion. Both changes to the ordinances were later passed at the meeting, each 7-1.

The agenda’s only resolution, 72-17, concerned the vacating of Dean’s Circle, was pulled as both parties involved had yet to reach an agreement. According to the City Plan Commission’s meeting of July 11, the resolution outline is as follows:

“Allen Keeper, owner of the south half of the Moonlit Meadows Plat, will be selling the property to Mike Schmidt. They are both requesting vacation of Dean’s Circle to construct a new residence in that area. We do not have any infrastructure nor has there been any other utilities constructed within this area.”

Papaws Café is set to open as a new breakfast and sandwich venue in downtown Antigo, occupying the storefront previously held by Belle’s Smokehouse at 800 Fifth Avenue. Described as a “sandwich shop where a person would have a chance to have a beer too” by owner Clarence Bouwma, the city council approved the new restaurant’s Class B liquor license request 6-2.

Bouwma also applied for a permit to close a segment of Clermont Street near his new restaurant for Papaws’ grand opening to be held on August 5th. The closure would encompasses roughly the length of Clermont and Fifth Avenue northwards to the Elks Club, where Bouwma wishes to have a dunk tank and bounce houses to celebrate Papaws’ opening. After presenting the idea before the council, various questions of insurance liabilities and the durations of the closure (originally proposed as being from 8 AM to 10 PM, under provisions of Antigo permit codes, only a ten-hour closure can be granted) arose. As the bounce houses would need to anchored without damaging the adjacent roadway or sidewalks, along with necessary insurance, the council voted 7-1 to amend the permit request and 6-2 to approve the action contingent upon an abridged timeframe (10 AM to 8 PM) and city insurance assessments.

The city council also recognized Amy Lynch for a her dedicated work as a Human Resource Specialist, helping aiding the Antigo Library Selection Committee in helping find a new library director.

Lastly, the vacant Sixth Ward alderperson position was reviewed and an application accepted by the city council from Rick LeBrun. Having now worked on the Hotel Motel Commission for the City of Antigo, LeBrun was accepted as the ward’s new alderperson and will take over the position as of the council’s next meeting (August 9th, 2017).