The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • Page 11

Plan Building Of $250,000 Flight Center Construction of a $250,000 hangar and flight center at the La Crosse Municipal Airport is scheduled to begin this spring, and both city officials and private developers predict it will mean a new era of growth for the airport. Financed by Valley Associates, Janesville, the building is to be used jointly by Mississippi Valley Airlines (MVA) and the La Crosse Flite Center, a firm headed by John Nightengale. The building is scheduled to contain more than 20.000 square feet, have a 100-foot door opening, a 30-foot center clearance, and feet of office, reception, training and meeting room space. will be the biggest and no doubt the best building on the Airport Manager James Cote said. James Koos, general manager of MVA, said his firm plans to use about half the space for his company's operations, storage and maintenance needs.

is home. This is our operational Koos said adding the project guarantees La Crosse will be the headquarters of the commuter airline. Koos said the project also is designed to tie in with planned airline expansion. He said market studies are already under way in eastern and northern Iowa, the southern half of Minnesota, and southern Wisconsin. He also said the company is considering possible purchase of a 42-passenger plane.

Its largest plane now carries 16 passengers. operation is scheduled to offer fuel service, light aircraft maintenance, pilot offices, meeting facilities, conference rooms, charter aircraft and air ambulance service, and ground flight instruction. will mean at least 15 new employes for he added. Also in the discussion stage is possible use of the facility by Western Wisconsin Technical Institute for courses in airline maintenance, plus a planned Cooperative Educational Serv ices Agency 11 program in flying for high school students. La Crosse Tribune, Friday, March 10, Hangar and Flight Center Scheduled For June Completion Developers Say It Means New Era For La Crosse Municipal Airport i Fiscal Control Board Orders Razing Estimates A Decision Near On Old Central? By DONALD W.

AFFOLTER Tribune Staff Writer The old Central issue remains alive for at least another month. While the Fiscal Control Board Thursday night, by a 19 to 3 vote, ordered plans and estimates for razing the old high school, it will act on plans next month, and, if it chooses to raze the school, on how to pay for it. Since the Common Council alone voted 14 to 7 not to buy the school from the La Crosse Area Public School District, the FCB must decide how to sell it and under what terms. This could result in a power play between aldermen who want the old school site at 15th and Cass Streets developed for high tax-yield purposes and neighbors who oppose apartment development but favor open space. Legislation to sell the school site with a requirement that it be for use was defeated with only Aldermen James Shoger (6th Ward) and John Schubert (11th Ward) favoring it.

First, however, aldermen must dispose on an ordinance offered by Alderman Roger Vogt (7th Ward) to zone the property into the and semipublic This would exclude private development. Actually, any legislation put before either the FCB (which is made up of the 21 aldermen and six town chairmen) or the council probably will result in a bevy of counterproposals during deliberations as aldermen continue their indecisiveness. Debate Thursday night took about an hour. When legislation to have the city buy the school for park and recreational purposes was considered. Aldermen Raymond Keller (2nd Ward) requested and got an amendment that the resolution provide only that the city buy it without saying for what.

The council at least be able to if the city will buy it, said Keller. have no control over it whatever." he said. this council votes to buy that property you have absolutely no say-so in the ultimate decision on it without the Fiscal Control Board being Alderman Roger Vogt (7th Ward) supported him, saying we have to clear land later on (for open space), going to cost an awful lot of money just like at the He alluded to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse buying land for campus expansion, and said the city may need the Central site for a swimming pool (to replace Memorial Pool) or a school site. The only comments made by persons opposing the city purchase came from Alderman Ferdinand Sontag (4th Ward), who called it for the city which built the school to have to buy it, and from Alderman Clayton Johnson (3rd Ward), who called efforts a Seven aldermen opposed deleting a reference to parks and recreational uses from the resolution to have the city buy the school. They were Aldermen George Hickey (1st Ward), Johnson, John Schubert (11th), Frank Kaufmann (15th), Merlin Bauer (16th) and Donald Medinger (18th).

Aldermen then debated whether the city should buy the site. Said Alderman Harold Swanson (20th Ward): see how the city can afford to buy the Johnson agreed, speculating that it would cost $80,000 to buy it and $30,000 to raze the school. Keller argued the buying price could be from to $80,000, saying federal aid is available for buying the school, razing it and developing the site for parks and recreational purposes. A motion to return the issue to committee to consider that approach failed, as did a later resolution to consider that approach. On the motion to re-refer, Swanson said; we going to again show the people we make any A motion to shut off debate at that point was favored 13 to 8, but a 14 to 7 vote was required.

Only token debate followed, however, with aldermen rejecting re-referral, and rejecting a motion by Keller to put the words and recreational back into the legislation. When debate had subsided, the seven minority members voting to buy the school were Keller, Shoger. Vogt. Thomas Roellich (12th Ward). Bauer, Kenneth Niedbalski (17th) and Robert Johnson (21st).

Just before the council adjourned shortly after 11 p.m., Alderman Patrick Zielke (19th Ward) asked for a report on the alternatives. are quite a few and getting a bit he said. McArdle Pushes Benefit Bill For Viet Vets City Young Man Among Lobbyists By SANFORD GOLTZ Tribune Editorial Page Editor But lobbyists come in amateur versions, too. and one of them in Madison for a couple of days is MADISON The popular im- Terry McArdle. son of Mr.

and age of a legislative lobbyist is Mrs. James McArdle. 708 N. 10th that of an over-50 type. La Crosse.

Usually paunchy from too McArdle. a senior at the little exercise and too much time University of Wisconsin-Stout in sitting, or prowling the corridors Menomonie, is one of two of- buttonholding legislators. And ficers of the Stout State Vets this time of year, with the 1971 Club in Madison to push for legislature due to blow town by passage of a benefit bill for the weekend, most of the Vietnam-era veterans. He was wear a nervous here last week. too.

smile. I They're afraid their pet bills won't make it or that the bills here to stall will somehow come out of the corral chute and get passed in the final confusion. Like the pro lobbyist, the first problem is to get the club's bill which has already passed the senate onto an assembly calendar and up to a vote. And that's not easy; both houses are operating on calendars on which each member can place one pet measure, and even some of those may not see daylight before adjournment. Several thousand veterans in Madison would benefit from the senate bill that McArdle's club is backing.

There are 485 veterans currently on the Stout campus alone. It would supplement federal GI bill benefits to the tune of up to $250 a semester ($165 at trimester schools) toward tuition. Federal benefits now are $175 a month for an unmarried veteran, but unlike World War II days he must pay tuition, books and fees out of that check. "A vet just can't make it on that." McArdle said Wednesday. federal benefit may go to $200 soon, but that will be taken up by tuition increases next They had the same provision for inclusion last week in the governor's minibudget bill (it was one of some 90 proposed amendments) but it was turned down.

Now McArdle and his friend are poring over stacks of roll calls from that venture, to sort out their allies and try to get the senate bill up for a vote. They'll need luck and persuasive powers. This session has produced more than 3.000 bills and many times that many amendments, and the majority of them will be headed for a paper recycling plant after this week. HEADS CAUCUS Mrs. Sandra Fletcher, 215 S.

26th Saturday will coordinate the 3rd District caucus in Eau Claire for the John Lindsay for President group. Mrs. Fletcher said the caucus will be different in that it will seek of the when six delegates and four alternates are selected to the national Democratic convention should Lindsay be the 3rd District's choice. 71 Losses By Fire Told Council Squad Car Buy-Back Deal A La Crosse car dealer will get for buying one of the old squad $407 less than it had allowed for cars back. trade-in value on a squad car, This vehicle, plus the six new under a buy-back arrangement squad cars, will increase the fleet approved Thursday night by the to seven.

La Crosse Common Council. in another purchase Thursday Dahl Motors, 3rd and night, the council authorized Division had allowed the buying two motor scooters from city an average of $1,800 for Cushman Motor trade-in value when its low bid of Minneapolis. for $4,388.28 $11,836 for six squad cars was for the police department. accepted last month by the Ttirrt rnnnpii Two old motorcycles and 1956 models will be It is selling one squad car back traded in for $1,395. Police Chief Ronald C.

Wold Wold for the past few years last month, before the bid was had attempted to trade the accepted, had asked if he could motorcycles for new cycles, but trade in five squad cars for six the council refused him the new ones so he could increase funds. He then decided to get the fleet of squad cars. motor scooters instead and got The council, rather than dis- the funds, turb the bidding procedure, Police cadets will use the recommended he get a proposal scooters in their work, he said. Fires in 1971 in La Crosse cost $153,000. two lives and $100,123 in proper- The highest loss in the past 20 ty loss.

years was $693,296 in 1961, when Both deaths, mentioned in the a wing of Lutheran Hospital was La Crosse Fire gutted by fire, and the lowest annual report for 1971, were in was $39,657 in 1957. Carol Ellefson. 7, died In his comments on the year, in the department's only extra Kloss said that the department alarm fire during the year, on still has Feb. 26 at 310 Alexander St. needs additional help in the fire The other death was Feb.

17, inspection and prevention divis- when Jerome Shuda. 55. of 1516 and needs a training site. 19th died during a (ire in njscussi recruitment Kloss his home said; Fire Chief Frank Kloss said who apply and are the $100,000 loss last year com- considered good applicants pared with $106,849 in 1970 and generally withdraw because they with a 20-year average of found employment elsewhere. Despite the so-called unemployment problem in the area the department has been able to hire only five out of the eight men allowed under Emergency Employment Act Requests for additional help in inspection and for a training site are renewed.

field of code requirements is broad and said Kloss. this important function we must meet the needs of the The number of inspections increased by 2.171, to 9.395 for the year. As for the training site. request for funds made it in the 1972 capital budget until the Common Council decided to scale down the improvements program. It was then deferred to 1973.

in the training effort places the men in a precarious position and the people they attempt to help in he said. ability of the men is only as good as their opportunity to practice and develop confidence in themselves and Kloss also called for on plans for a fire fighting facility at the La Crosse Municipal Airport. Aldermen Seek Loophole For Depot Use Still Hope For A Recycling Center While the legal firm for Burlington property, except the bonding purposes. Chapman and depot, and to develop the area Cutler. Chicago, say that the La into a parking area.

Crosse Parking Utility cannot -Sent to committee Chapman lease property unless it and letter to see if needed for parking. La Crosse aldermen can find any loopholes, aldermen hope they can find a loophole so they can lease the old Burlington Depot, 2nd and Pearl Streets, for a recycling center. In double action Thursday night, the council: The La Crosse chapter of the Indoor Sports Club wants to lease the old depot for use as a center to collect and sell paper, cans and bottles for recycling. The Greater La Crosse Chamber the utility to hire the city street department to of Commerce Pollution Control raze all buildings on the Rezoning, Clinic Permit Requested School Board Plans Closed Salary Talk Housing Addition A renewed bid for a planned development zoning for a public housing project on the North Side and a request by the Adolf Gundersen Foundation for a conditional-use permit for a third and fourth story addition to the Gundersen Clinic were given to the Common Council Thursday night. Botti will be given public hearings April 6.

The La Crosse Housing Authority had planned to build 72 units in 36 duplexes in the uc and none to the north, will rejected Monday night by the proposed housing Pr0Ject north both our church provide a playground for tenants' Common Council Committee-of- of Taylor Street on the North neighborhood. Side. The council Thursday employes. In another zoning matter, Bethany Evangelical Free Church asked for a special multiple-dwelling zoning (high rises) at 1610 North St. and 1610 Onalaska Ave.

Saying the building there is too old and in poor condition, and that the congregation is outgrowing the building. F. Gordon Day. trustee chairman, said the church feels a multiple-dwelling zoning should be to the advantage of million. 100-unit apartment house to be constructed by Weis Builders, Inc.

Weis is now expected to seek authority from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to construct the project under Section 236 (the subsidized rent section of the Federal Housing Act). In a letter given to the council Thursday, the firm's La Crosse attorney said the firm will have only one access to Highway 14 The La Crosse Area Public School District Board of Education is scheduled to meet in a secret session at 5 p.m. Monday in the offices at 5th and Cass Streets to review salaries of principals and three staff members. The salaries are presumably to be offered for action at the regular board meeting Tuesday Narrow Defeat For Room Tax A 3 per cent room tax, soundly night we thought try also rezoned Frank-Len. again for planned property immediately south of said Harry Huber, authority board chairman.

The bid for planned development there two years ago was blocked by neighbors. Huber said the authority will get more building for its money if it can construct row houses as proposed in the planned development request because one wali can serve two units. Edward S. Carlsson, administrator of the Gundersen Clinic, said the clinic addition will enable the clinic to add 40 to 45 doctors and 130 to 140 other St. Pius School for a $1.5 Boiler Plans Go-Ahead Given Preparation of plans for converting a boiler at Mary E.

Sawyer Auditorium from oil to gas backed up by oil, and for repairing the roof at Fire Station 4 were approved Thursday night by the La Crosse Common Council. Conversion of the boiler is to give the auditorium two serviceable boilers instead of one. children, and will have a fence or shrub on the north side of the property. Neighbors had requested these assurances. In other action, the council: Passed an ordinance prohibiting firms and institutions voluntarily providing off-street parking when the city adopted an off-street parking ordinance, from reducing, the spaces below those required by the ordinance.

a new zoning classification, the community business district, where buildings up to 160 feet tall will be allowed. The present height restriction is 100 feet. the-Whole, was narrowly defeated Thursday night by the full council. The vote Thursday night was 12 to 9. Alderman Thomas Jloellich (12th Ward), who offered the night.

Unlike La Crosse Education Association members (teachers), whose salaries are negotiated on a master contract according to experience and training, principals and other central office employes are offered a contract. In effect, the person receiving a contract offer chooses between acceptance or resignation. Principals and staff persons are not permitted under state law t.o bargain as a group. Another factor in determining salaries is length of the school year. Principals of elementary, junior high and senior high schools all work different length years.

Staff members in the school office usually work a full-year contract, although some exceptions exist. The three staff members in the school office are: Willard Hanson, coordinator of secondary Committee is promoting the measure. During the next month, aldermen presumably hope to get a definitive conclusion that the depot is not needed for parking so it can be used for the recycling center. Public Works Director Bob D. Schroeder, president of the Board of Public Works which administers the utility, was directed by the grounds and buildings committee to determine: the depot is needed for parking.

is a fair rate of return. much property the recycling center needs. The Indoor Sports Club, in turn, will decide if it finds the proposed rental within its means. Alderman Clayton Johnson (3rd Ward) asked Barbara Conway, with the chamber's pollution control committee, if a site on Isle la Plume might not be feasible for a recycling center if the council cannot or will not lease the depot. Mrs.

Conway replied it would be feasible. While the grounds and buildings committee proposed leasing the depot for $1 a year, Chapman and Cutler said the city, under commitments to bondholders of the $395,000 bond issue for parking ramp construction, must get a rate of The law firm also said that utility properties the extent must be used for parking. Go-Ahead Given On Isle La Plume Lab Completion of plans and advertising for bids for construction of a new laboratory at the Isle la Plume Disposal Plant were authorized Thursday night by the La Crosse Common Council. The city had received preliminary approval for state aid covering 25 per cent of the The project, including conversion of the old laboratory into office space and installing an additional vacuum filter, is expected to cost about $125,000. Plans should be completed next week and bids taken in May, says La Crosse Public Works Director Bob D.

Schroeder. He said the present laboratory project cost, and for federal aid at the disposal plant where covering up to 55 per cent of the tests required by the state are cost. run is too small. Pettibone Island Leases OK'd For Five Years Occupants of land on South residents, only five are sub- Barron (Pettibone) Island, leasing property. One sublessee, whether lessees or sublessees, as' however, has moved.

legislation, picked up support education; Kathryn Cappelen, from Alderman Raymond Keller coordinator of elementary (2nd), Lee Foley (8th). Loren Wardwell (9th) and Joseph Addis (10th), who had opposed it Monday night. Supporting both Monday and Thursday nights were Aldermen Richard Arneson (5th Ward), Roellich, Kenneth Niedbalski (17th), Donald Medinger (18th), and John Schubert (11th). education; and Storandt, director programs. Kenneth of federal 3 Rings Stolen The theft of three rings worth a total of $20 from Gile Jewelers, 415 Jay was reported to city police Thursday afternoon.

of Wednesday, will get five-year leases, under legislation approved Thursday night by the Common Council. Vacant buildings, however, may be occupied only by the owners and cannot be sublet. In a few cases, where persons own more than one building, this will result in the disuse of some buildings. In a report to the council, Parks Director Eugene B. Fry said that of 36 remaining While the majority hold leases originally awarded by the Pettibone Park Commission (which has since turned the land over to, the city), 11 do not have them, said Fry.

They too will get leases, however. Under the provisions, if those now subleasing move, the owner of the building cannot sublease it again. Alderman Kenneth Niedbalski (17th Ward), arguing that the council wouldn't give a three- year lease to the West Side Boat Club to improve property, said the council now seems bent on giving five-year leases to those who have health code violations. He proposed giving them only a one-year lease, but was voted down, 13-8. The leases, calling for a $100-a- year rental fee for land, were approved 15-6.

The six opponents were Aldermen James Shoger (6th Ward), Roger Vogt (7th), Curtis Storck (14th), Merlin Bauer (16th), Niedbalski and Robert Johnson (21st)..