May 1, 2008

Stories on the Front Page

 

City studies wind

by Laurel Menne

 

The city of Prescott wants to make the industrial park green.

They aren't talking about planting more grass and trees or scattering cash around. They are talking about the green that comes with solar street lights, possible wind energy and a host of other energy-wise additions.

The Prescott Industrial and Economic Committee considers legal and logistical matters involving industrial parks, Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts and anything else that deals with new business and industry in Prescott. Last fall, they started exploring wind energy as an alternative for the industrial park. It was completed Nov. 24, 2007 and the city received their copy then.

The group hired Energy Concepts of Hudson to do an assessment of the industrial park and submit suggestions for a wind assessment.

The result is a 28-page document available to the public which outlines the viability of bringing wind energy to Prescott.

The report considers a range of systems to qualify for a Focus on Energy Implementation Grant, which comes from the state of Wisconsin.

The city is concerned about its own energy use and is interested in a substantial system that will have a significant impact on city energy costs in addition to making the industrial park more attractive to new businesses.

"In a business climate, where competition for industry and job for small outlaying towns is fierce, the city of Prescott is being proactive in creating an appeal for their proposed business park. In addition to creating an image of sustainability, The city has the opportunity to be responsible for addressing its own electrical/carbon footprint by installing a larger wind system and offsetting its usage," the report summary states.

The report continues, "The business park is being proposed worth no obstructions to siting a wind system. There are no obstacles on the side nor any within 500 feet and beyond. The land to the NNW to the S all slopes significantly to the St. Croix river valley."

"This is as ideal of a site as you will find in Western WI," according to the report.

Energy Concepts also recommends new site lighting be stand-alone solar electric lights. They are recommended because they are cost effective at initial purchase and have no further costs, with the exception of upkeep. These are also being discussed for the industrial park.

Pierce County has a zoning ordinance for wind systems. At a recent Prescott Planning Commission Meeting, the committee looked at a conditional use ordinance for the industrial park, including wind energy. That conditional use ordinance has not been presented to or approved by approved by the Prescott City Council at this time.

The ordinance will again be discussed at the Monday, May 5 Prescott Planning Commission meeting.

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Couple cuts energy bill by 180 percent

by Shalena Janis

 

An Oak Grove couple continually contributes to the environment by removing their home from the electrical grid. In fact, they are selling electricity to Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services at the same rate they would pay for electricity from the company.

Robert and Shelley Fleming constructed a 135-foot windmill that generates 20 kilowatts every second its blades spin as wind blows through their yard.

"We didn't get it to be a money maker," said Shelley. "We did this to get a handle on our electric bill."

The windmill comes with a $65,000 price tag, timely research and contracts.

But in the end, Shelley said they literally do not have an electric bill, showing a $10.65 bill for the month of March.

The windmill produced 1,002 kilowatts that month and the Fleming's only consumed 849, providing Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services the additional wattage. After everything is calculated from the meters, surcharges and fees are assessed, leaving the $10.65 balance for Shelley to pay.

"Before we had the windmill," she said, "I was paying over $200 a month."

Always keeping an eye on the wattage, Robert said he noticed in five days last week the windmill produced over 1,000 kilowatts, exceeding an entire month's amount in just a few days. The 20-kilowatt generator attached to the windmill was made in Prior Lake, Minn., by Jacobs Wind Turbines, which is the only manufacturer of the 20-kilowatt generator in the United States.

Even though the windmill only has been working about five months, Robert said he is looking toward the long-term investments for constructing such a large project.

An income tax credit is available through the government as a "green" credit, which allows the Flemings to stretch the $65,000 over five to seven years.

By 2020, the windmill will pay off the price tag with low-to-nothing energy bills and tax credits over the next 10-12 years, said Robert.

"It's also just environmentally friendly," said Shelley.

"I also wanted to make an investment on that plot of land," said Robert as he pointed to the direction of the windmill that is about 60 yards from their back porch. "I can't grow any crops or raise cattle because it's just too small. This is the best way to turn an investment on that piece of land."

The Fleming's property sits in a triangle shape at the intersection of County Highway E and state Highway 10 east of Prescott in the township of Oak Grove, where from the road, the windmill is visible.

When deciding whether they should build the windmill, Shelley said the noise issue was never something that deterred them from making a final decision.

In fact, there is little to no noise from the windmill, she said as she sat at her dinning room table with no appliances or extra noise from the house. No swooping noises were heard from the wiping blades.

On a day with higher wind speeds, "the noise might be a bit louder than the gusting wind or a plane flying over," said Shelley.

The three 15-feet blades are made of foam-filled fiberglass for strength and weight, which also helps with noise control, sitting atop a 120-feet steel-lattice tower, said Robert. The height of the windmill sits 1,125 feet above elevation.

Taller is better, said Robert, because the height projects the blades over the tops of trees to catch the prevailing winds from any direction as the tail moves with the wind, allowing the blades to sit on a 360-degree swivel.

"The afternoon winds are stronger than in the morning," said Shelley.

The blades turn in a minimum of eight-miles-per-hour wind speeds, said Robert. If gusts exceed 60 miles, the windmill shuts down for safety precautions.

The annual average wind speeds for Pierce County are 13.5 to 15 miles per hour, according to research the Flemings conducted during the planning stages of constructing their windmill.

And because of other hazard issues, the windmill had to be plotted the height of the tower plus a 50-foot set back from any property line, said Robert, explaining it is less likely to fall on a neighboring property in inclement weather conditions, such as a tornado.

Although not yet popular in Western Wisconsin, a few other windmills are towering in Pierce County. A resident on County Highway FF in Clifton Township has a residential size windmill as well, said Robert.

Around the same time the Flemings began researching the possibility of a windmill, their parents went along with the project and were able to assemble one in June, which was Shelley and Robert's original completion date.

After researching on the Internet, going through planning commission meetings with Oak Grove Township and then with Pierce County, the Flemings were given a conditional use permit to construct the windmill on their residential property.

Since it is visible from state Highway 10, the couple said they have many bystanders knock on their front door, inquiring about the windmill.

Shelley said she hands everyone a business card for Joe Straley, who helped with greasing and assembling the gear box that turns the blades.

Anyone interested in learning about residential windmills, Shelley said she suggests contacting Straley's company at 320-356-7401. The company is located in Avon, Minn.

"You don't see a lot of these around here," said Robert. "There are a lot over by Milwaukee or Green Bay or in Minnesota, but not here."

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Southern-style cooking on menu at the Boxcar

by Shalena Janis

 

As John Solomon drove through Prescott on his way to San Diego, he stopped last year at Point Douglas Park and admired the beach and the landscape of Prescott's buildings along the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers. This was the first time he ever stopped in Prescott.

"I thought: Ah, this will do, and I grabbed a paper," he said because he was looking for a place to live. "I hate driving, and the west doesn't have winter. And Prescott reminds me of where I grew up."

After playing and touring with a band for over five years in the Twin Cities and all over the country, Solomon said he packed up his car and was traveling to San Diego, where he thought he would enjoy seeing the ocean.

"I was told I was crazy and never going to be successful when I wanted to be a musician," Solomon said. "So it was no different when I wanted to owned a successful restaurant owner."

Maybe it was an epiphany looking at the water on the St. Croix, but Solomon said he wanted to open a restaurant in Prescott and not drive to San Diego because he hates driving.

"I always wanted to open a restaurant," he said because he had experience as a private chef and influences from his family.

Starting with the idea of staying in Prescott, he stayed at the hotel until he met Pastor Beth Benson from Prescott's United Church of Christ, who gave him a place to stay.

Solomon's luck continued to grow in Prescott as he met with more generous and helpful people in the community ­ especially the old owners of Strawberry Fields at the intersection of Broad and Kinnickinnic Streets.

His plans began in the fall with construction. He wanted to make it completely different than what customers of Strawberry Fields knew of the building. As time went on, Solomon said his opening kept being pushed back, but he wanted it open by the Flood Run. The opening of the Boxcar was Thursday, April 17.

 The entrance to the Boxcar had a new feature added - an official sign - Friday, April 25. The restaurant opened for business Thursday, April 17 only a few days before this year's annual Flood Run. Photo by Shalena Janis.

Solomon is from Kansas City, Mo., where he grew up with slow, southern-style cooking - his meals are at the Boxcar.

"Down south everything cooks with bacon," Solomon said. "The food here is very southern cooking."

From pulled pork marinated over 24 hours and cooked for 12 hours to baby back ribs slowly smoked and roasted for eight hours, the Boxcar's menu keeps a few of Solomon's favorite recipes, but it changes every night with a few added specialties based on what is in Solomon's refrigerator.

"Slow-cooked food is a novelty up north, but down south it is a way of life," Solomon said. "Southern hospitality seems to work up here."

He said he is working with local farmers to purchase ingredients. Right now, a lot of his recipes have chives and dill because they are in season.

The changing menu allows Solomon to showcase local food, providing patrons more choices.

"Every night I sit down and look in the refrigerator," Solomon said. "To me, I always entertain in the kitchen for people."

He said he doesn't think his restaurant is fancy, but just a place to come in, drink a glass of wine or beer and taste the local food.

The décor provides an enjoyable setting for about 30 patrons for an early bird's breakfast or a night owl's late night meal. The Boxcar hours are: Tuesday through Thursday 6 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and closed on Mondays.

"I want this to be the community's place," Solomon said about the hours he established for the restaurant.

Music and food are his passion, Solomon said, so this opportunity has opened many doors in the welcoming and helpful community of Prescott.

"You have to be stupid enough to do something, and courageous enough to keep doing it," Solomon said. "Southern food is a whole different way of life."

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Arbor Inn owners settle into Prescott

by Laurel Menne

 

The owners of Arbor Inn are enjoying the process of settling into Prescott.

"To be honest, we found a lot of people didn't even know there was a bed and breakfast in Prescott," John Sherman said.

Deb and John Sherman bought the 18-year-old bed and breakfast in October 2007. They have gone through a busy winter and now are looking forward to the summer season, with some rooms booked as far away as October.

The Shermans have four rooms for guests that include a four-course breakfast and also offer spa services.

Three rooms have large whirlpool tubs and the fourth has a secluded deck and a hot tub for guest's use.

Deb became a licensed massage therapist six years ago and has a room in the Arbor Inn set aside for massage, foot therapy and reflexology and essential oil treatments.

She also is trained to do massage on a chair and is available to go to businesses.

The Shermans advertise on the Internet and upgraded their Web site. They find a lot of business comes from people doing web searches.

With the increase in gas prices, John said he expects to see more guests coming from closer areas.

"We are doing this full-time," John said. "It's a lot of work, but this is what we want to do right now."

Having met in school and walking to school together when they were kids, set a course for a life of working together.

"It's our job to find things for guests to do in the area," Deb said. "We make a point of visiting local restaurants so we can say we've been there, not just what we have heard."

The Shermans welcome tours and are planning an open house in May. For more information about the Arbor Inn or a tour, call 262-2222 or visit their Web site at www.thearborinn.com.

 

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