A&W Moves Forward, New Park Fees Approved

Lovers of the frothy deliciousness at A&W will be happy to note the restaurant's relocation to the east side of I-94 is moving ahead.

Because of the widening of I-94 and the relocation of the west frontage road, restaurant owners Frank and Sharon Welch are planning to move A&W to a spot at Northwestern Avenue and East Frontage Road.

Caledonia trustees voted unanimously Monday night to approve the final certified survey map of the three lots east of the Pilot survey on Northwestern Avenue. The survey is conditional, based on the assumption that the Welch family provide a satisfactory storm water management plan.

The CSM was also contigent of the Village Board approving  - which they did - a Memorandum of Understanding between the Welch's, the trust of the owners of the land and the state Department of Transportation. The MOU was described as a "kind of complicated scenario" because the DOT will fund the construction of a new road that connects Adams to the Frontage Road.

Trustees also put forth a first reading for the ordinance that will change the zoning on those three parcels from general farming and residential to commercial. At the Feb. 18 meeting, board members will probably have a final reading and then approve the zoning change.

Park fees approved

Trustees approved 5-1 changing park fees primarily for the pavillion at Crawford Park. Kevin Wanggaard was the only dissention.

Parks Commission President Scott Warner told the board fees were held steady to keep them in line with neighboring communities. The commission did introduce a deposit and cancellation policy; $25 is required but will be returned if the park space is inspected and cleaned and a 50 percent processing fee will be assessed for canceling a rental in less than 30 days.

Fees at Lynwood, Gorney and Crawford parks are $75 for village residents and $100 for non-residents. The pavillion behind the Crawford Park concession stand rents for $100 for residents and $125 for non-residents.

Wanggaard said he couldn't support the fee structure because there wasn't enough difference between the resident and non-resident fees.

"Most of the people who rent our parks are not residents of the village," he said. "By only having a $25 difference it's advantageous for non-residents but not residents. Other communities have a greater difference."

But Warner said his group did their homework and checked the fees in neighboring communities before suggesting the fees stay steady and introducing the deposit and cancellation charges.

"We want to help promote better use of the parks," he said. "We looked at parks in the surrounding communities with the same amenities and these charges are in line."