City greenlights goats, hears skate park advocate

By John McLoone

PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council approved Monday night a resolution to reserve three parking spots along Lake Street for vehicles using the non-motorized boat launch.

There is no parking available at present for those launching non-motorized boats. The measure was forwarded to the council by its Parks and Public Property Committee.

Committee Chair Bailey Ruona said temporary signage will be installed and permanent signs should be up in weeks.

Ruona also said that garbage cans have been removed from the boat launch because of refuse abuse.

“Those are gone away. There’s too much dumping. We’ve had a mattress dumped there,” she said.

It was suggested that signage be displayed informing people that they are required to take home their trash.

“What you bring in, you bring out,” said Ruona.

In terms of business on the agenda, the only other official matter for the night was confirming the following appointments to the newly formed Prescott Tourism Commission: Megan Langer, Chad Steger, Kimberly Braun, Mitch Wormington, Angie Miner, Elizabeth Lansing and Todd London.

The Tourism Commission will oversee spending of 70 percent of money generated through the tax on motel and other overnight stays in the city.

With that done in fairly short order, Mayor Robert Daugherty opened up the floor for public comment.

More goats

Goats are being utilized for vegetation management and the prairie restoration at Freedom Park, and the city also will use them to get rid of buckthorn and other invasive weeds as part of its plan to rehabilitate Magee Park.

Representatives of Town of Clifton-based Goats on the Go appeared before the council because of a request from a neighbor of Freedom Park to use goats on her property.

Doug and April Greene wanted to see if the city has an ordinance in place governing use of goats at private residences.

“We’ve been contacted by a resident, so we wanted to come as a representative of the grazing community to see what questions you may have,” April Greene said.

Goats on the Go has been contacted by Linda Erickson, 787 Monroe St., who said she and a neighbor would like to utilize goats on their properties.

“I think it’s great. We’re all about goats,” said Ruona. “Make sure you have proper fencing on the backside so they can’t get down to the railroad tracks. It’s something we should talk about. I think it’s awesome people are trying to control some of these invasive species.”

Dennis Greene said the primary target of the goats is helping rid property of buckthorn.

“These are people taking the initiative to take care of the buckthorn themselves. The buckthorn is taking over our woods. It’s going to kill everything else ou,” he said.

Erickson said, “We have the ravine, and the buckthorn has gone out of control. We don’t want to clear cut. The goats take care of everything. They munch it all.”

Since the city doesn’t have an ordinance, the Greenes were given the green light.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Daugherty.

He cautioned the city that if they do put regulations in place, to make sure goat services working in the community are insured.

Daugherty told the Greene’s to stop in at city hall with proof of insurance, and they could get the goats to work.

“I encourage you to discuss it and come up with a policy so you can keep everyone safe and make sure it’s done well in your community,” said April Greene.

Skate park

The city council recently decided to have the skate park dismantled, and resident Robert Duuy, 110 Court St., asked the council to reconsider that decision.

The skate park was located ou Dexter Street. Components of the park were in poor condition, and vandalism was occurring there.

“I just come in asking you guys to reconsider that,” he said. “I fully understand the concern about the vandalism at the skate park.”

He said that the skateboard facility meets the needs of kids who may not want to be involved in team sports.

“These are kids that don’t fit into that mold, don’t fit into the team sport environment,” he said. “I found my outlet more in arts and skateboard. I like to think I didn’t turn out to be too bad a guy. Most of these kids are drawn to those high action sports. They deserve options and better options than running around down creating havoc.”

Ruona said the current skate park was shut down solely because of the condition it was in, and the Parks and Public Property Committee is open to discussing new ideas.

“I don’t think anyone is saying skate parks are a bad thing. I don’t think anyone is arguing that. Right now, it’s just not a safe skate park.”

She said a new park would have to be made from concrete and not wood like the current one. She invited Duuy to the Aug. 12 committee meeting to get the ball rolling.

“How do we get it in a budget. That’s what we have to look at. We have to do it the right way. We can’t bring plywood back in,” she said.

Dennis and April Green of Goats on the Go in the Town of Clifton spoke to the Prescott City Council Monday night about allowing their goats to work on buckthorn at private residences.

Photo by John McLoone