Mabel’s city council met on February 9. The bulk of the meeting time was spent on two issues the council has previously discussed.
First, the council discussed the annual Trees Program. The owners of Plant Lady Landscapes (Jessi and Joe) addressed the council with their proposal to provide trees for the program. Jessi stated, “The trees that we are going to be sourcing are all grown within a 150-mile radius of Mabel, and they’re all grown in areas that have the same soil structure as here in Mabel… Most of the trees are going to be about seven to nine feet tall at time of planting… so they’re nice established trees.” She said that each tree will also have mulch placed around it, and she addressed several of the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). She added that if the city votes to move forward with the program, homeowners would pay 50% for any trees ordered, and the city would pay the remainder. Later in the meeting, the council formally voted to approve the city participating in the program this year, using the proposal as presented by Plant Lady Landscapes.
Next, the council returned to the topic of a military “ammunition engine” that could be moved and displayed at the Steam Engine Grounds. Noah Manning, representing the Toot & Whistle Club, spoke to the council on the matter. He explained that the engine is a “Baraboo Engine” which was built and used in the 1940s. He said, “The purpose was to produce… propellents which were used for small arms, cannons, grenades and armed rockets.” He added that out of 18 such engines that originally existed, only two remain (one in Mabel, and one in Baraboo, Wis.)
Manning summarized, “What we’re asking is, our plan would be if we could put a cement pad by the tank down there (on the Steam Engine Grounds) and then assemble it, paint it, and then put either a high nice fence around it to keep people off of it, or a shelter around it to enclose it. And the Toot & Whistle Club is 100% behind the funding of it.” He added that information about the engine could also be displayed.
Some council members voiced more interest in the idea, now that there is a proposal to make the engine look nice and to keep it from being climbed upon. Mayor Westby voiced opposition to the request, stating, “This thing has been sitting around for 20 years, and now all of a sudden it’s been a big push… And again, when you come into the Steam Engine grounds, I’m still saying we need curb appeal. We don’t need something that only maybe a handful of people know what’s going on there.” He also voiced concerns that even though the plans sound appealing now, many projects end up fizzling out due to a gradual loss of helpers. Westby also said there’s been preliminary discussion about the possibility of displaying a military helicopter at the Steam Engine grounds, and he felt that type of item would be much more meaningful to the average visitor.
The council discussed whether the engine could be displayed in a different spot, but no feasible ideas came up. The council voted to table the issue until a future council meeting, so that more information can be gathered and considered.
Kirsten Wyffels asked Mayor Westby for an update about the possibility of Dollar General opening a store in Mabel. Westby replied, “I’ve called them every day, in fact, twice today, and I just keep leaving messages, and no response.”
Larson asked Jeff Rein for an update on the new business owned by Joe Houdek, the Pizza Palace & Pub. Rein replied, “Joe’s bar has been open, but for beverages only. There has been no food available yet, he’s still working on some things.” Larson stated, “Well, that’s good. He has his paid liquor license.”
The next meeting of the Mabel council will be March 9 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome.