Bethel Won't Get CDA Grant After All

It came down to the definition of commercial property, and with a Bethel Lutheran simply did not meet it.

The Common Council voted down the request for a $3,000 grant to assist with improvements, including a monument sign, landscaping and parking lot renovations planned at the church, which faces Janesville Road. The congregation had hoped that the road construction would have allowed them to use the funds to offset a portion of the expected $31,000 in costs for the improvements.

However, despite church council member Rodger Runyon's argument that several businesses would benefit from the work to replace the sign that will be demolished and subsequent landscaping, the bottom line was that it was a church or institution, and did not meet the criteria for the grant.

"The CDA came to a different conclusion on this same topic about two years ago," said Alderman Dan Soltysiak. "The grant specifies commercial properties and I don't agree that this meets that criteria. These are tax dollars being used, but there is no tax money paid by this property."

Alderman Kert Harenda also pointed out that the church was already being compensated by the county for the land that was being taken for road widening. He said the CDA should have first modified its requirements before allowing the grant.

"I think it's a wonderful thing that they want to improve, but we're putting the cart before the horse here," he said.

Even CDA members Aldermen Rob Wolfe and Rob Glazier had to agree that the bottom line had to be what the current program requirements were, and reversed their original decision.

Church members said they were disappointed in the decision, but understood the argument, and said that regardless, improvements would be made.