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Delavan hears recreation plan

DELAVAN — The city could consider contracting with Geneva Lakes YMCA to manage Delavan's parks and recreation department.

YMCA Executive Director Joe Peyer on Tuesday pitched a plan to city officials.

Peyer also is a Delavan resident and interim recreation director for the city.

The city is accepting applications through Monday for a new parks and recreation director.

Peyer told the council and commission the city could save $60,000 by contracting with the YMCA to run the city's recreation department.

If the city contracted with the YMCA, Peyer said he would hire a full-time recreation supervisor to work in the city. He said he would keep working in Delavan and Lake Geneva, working in Delavan 10 to 15 hours per week.

Peyer proposes he oversee both the parks and recreation divisions of the department. That way, the department would not see gaps in service in the transition, he said. Peyer communicates regularly with parks staff in his role as interim recreation director, he said.

Peyer said his plan would cut the parks and recreation department's expenses by about $100,000 from the proposed 2009 spending. He proposes spending $177,000 in 2010 while bringing in $76,500 in revenue.

Peyer said it would be best if a plan was in place by July. By August, the window of opportunity for change would be closed, he said.

Delavan tweaking liquor license policy

Since Mayor Mel Nieuwenhuis has been on the Delavan City Council, he cannot remember a business being behind in tax payments.

But, times being what they are, seven businesses owe the city money. According to city ordinance, those businesses may not have their liquor licenses renewed.

But the city wants to see businesses thrive, Nieuwenhuis said. To that end, the city is setting up hearings so the businesses can defend their licenses. In the meantime, the city is working on a policy that would allow flexibility in the use of the ordinance, city attorney Steve Koch told the Gazette.

Council members Tuesday night directed Koch to make final improvements to the new policy and create an agreement form for the council. The council will vote on the new policy at a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Delavan Municipal Building, 123 S. Second St.

Here is a list of the businesses and the money they owe according to a memo from Treasurer Jennifer Wiese to the city council:

-- Buena Vista, 239 E. Walworth Ave., owes $77 in personal property tax.

-- La Guanajuata, 233 E. Walworth Ave., owes $155 in personal property tax.

-- Delavan House Hotel, 215 E. Walworth Ave., owes $3,000 in personal property tax and $33,500 in property tax.

-- Delavan Resort Management, owners of Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St., owes $761,300 in property taxes and more than $43,100 in other penalties and payments.

-- Los Agaues Restaurant, 401 E. Walworth Ave., owes $240 in personal property tax.

-- Comfort Suites, 313 Bauer Parkway, owes $3,200 in outstanding water and sewer bills and $97,000 in delinquent property taxes.

-- The former owner of the Latimer House, 523 E. Walworth Ave., owes a $64 water and sewer bill.