The Village of Iola Community Development Authority met on Tuesday, March 26, at Iola Village Hall and centered its attention on the signage at the intersection of State Highways 49 and 161.

Present for the meeting were Jennifer Schustek, Mark McCoy, Jim Rasmussen, Mark Sether, Clifford Mishler, Joe Opperman, Glenn Tetzlaff, Scott Bestul, Phil Johnsrud, and Ricky Ertl. Absent were Norm Mortenson and Charlie Wasrud.

Schustek and Opperman got approval from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Waupaca County Highway Department for a new Welcome to Iola sign.

Opperman presented design plans using an old truck with flowers in the bed of a truck. The truck, flowers, and flower containers are donations. The only cost would be for the concrete for the project and Sether stated that the CDA has had money set aside for signs specifically.

McCoy made a motion to move forward with sign plans and it passed. McCoy then made a motion to use CDA money for concrete for the 161/49 sign project and it passed too.

Ertl stated that he would be willing to allow the Village to Paint “Welcome to Iola” on his silo.  The village will be checking with DOT if this would be allowed.

Riverwalk repair

Mishler stated the biggest problem with the Riverwalk is the West End. Bestul stated he has worked on boardwalks like this where the same issues of heaving had occurred. Bestul suggested cutting off part of the post and using a timber anchor.

Mishler handed out a packet from the engineering firm that designed and installed the walkway. Johnsrud discussed what they used on the Ice Age Trail.  Bestul, Tetzlaff, and Rasmussen will look into options and go look at the walkway in Scandinavia that Bestul worked on.