This sadly is a huge embarrassment to the town of Evansville to have let this happen. This lake used to be the heart of the park and the heart of the town. As a child growing up in Evansville, I remember learning how to ice skate on this lake, feeding the ducks and watching the wildlife, taking quiet walks around it, and having picnics next to it. Now it's an ugly eyesore. In the 70's it was dredged for a mere $25,000. Where are these astronomical numbers coming from? If you need revenue back from it- sell off the prime soil after it's dredged, open a paddle boat company to run spring, summer and fall and charge a fee for boat rentals so people can actually use it, charge for ice skating in the winter- whatever you need to do to restore it!

It is absolutely awful how much this is going to cost. I thought for a while maybe they would get the numbers down, but its the same old, same old. YIKES.. The numbers are huge. It was funny listening to them, and watching them realize they just could not do it, all at once. I think its going to be a hard thing to get passed.

I was really shocked that the numbers were played around with so much at the meeting. The amount started at 1.7 million and then was increased to 2.0 million. There was much discussion about the rest of the project (box culvert under RR tracks) and its additional cost of $200,000 to $400,000. The Council opted to not include this cost in the referendum because some felt it would change peoples decision. Your right having the true facts and costs will change peoples decision. In the end it was 2 million and the council will make the other 200,000-400,000 a seperate project that the taxpayers will be see added onto their taxes as well. Give us real details not ones you think we want to hear. What a joke. Read the writing on the referendum, "An amount NOT TO EXCEED 2 MILLION" it means nothing.

I believe there was a referendum in 90/92? When they could have fixed it for 200,000.00 Why the hxxx did they not fix it then? Now we are over the 2 million mark on way or another. But to me its not just how much this will add to my taxes but how about as well the upgrades to the waste water treatment plant are coming in closer to 3 million than the 2.25 million as first thought. To many projects , the economy sucks. People are unemployed. People are trying to decide food or heat? food or insurance? food or house payment? The timing is awful. If this were not to go through they can just try again later. They never should have touched it. It was never meant to be a lake, it was a mill pond. That is what its history is.

They never should have touched it , UNTIL they had the o.k. of the people of Evansville through a referendum. They should have done it over ten years ago when it could have been done at a fraction of the cost. The bank is empty they don't have the money to do it. The future of the lake is very much is question. It may be pretty to look at but at what cost? How it going to come back to us ten fold?? Its not. Even with the lake full 4 years ago, it did not bring enough to Evansville economy to cover pulling weeds, much less dredging. Are they going to start charging for looking at it? Anything they would try to charge for would mean someone would have to man the lake, and they would have to be paid. You start charging you become liable more than what they already are.

This lake NEEDS TO BE FIXED,plain and simple. They should NEVER of drained it,without following through with a plan to restore it. Evansville is a very old & pretty town,this park was a stopping spot for many travelers,and doing some shopping on the way out. GET-ER-DUN You will get ten fold in return!

I think they will have a hard time getting this to pass. Really the ref. no may be 2 million but its going to cost a additional 650,000.00 so the total cost of this project is 2,651.000million.. WOW>>>> We will pay for it one way or another if this project goes through. So they have never got the numbers under control , its just they are putting off doing part of it until later.. IT is a very expensive project. One the city can not afford.

I agree with jmonty. Rosewood remembers the lake as I do. Bring back this treasure.

I should explain further what I think should be done.

Restore the creek and the habitat.

Clean-up park and fix the park infrastructure.
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I believe the Evansville is dying and a lake and dam will forever be too great an expense.
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Towns do die... just look at Union.

Excellent: Finally a chance to say NO.

As I've said, Evansville would be wise to figure out some way to develop the lake to generate revenue for its upkeep. This is NOT the only wrenching dredge-or-drain decision the village has faced -- in fact it has had several in the lake's relatively short history. The silt maintenance issue is a critical challenge for a lake in this location.

I lived in Evansville for 30 years before moving to Janesville, I loved the historic old homes, the beautiful Lake Leota, the charm of the town. People used to boat, swim, and fish in this lake. How did this town let this happen, by keeping it up every year it wouldn't have cost as much as it will now. This is the centerpice of the town, bring back the park so everyone can start using it again. Don't destroy a landmark.