Sigwart Puts Focus on Long-term Viability in Run for Mayor
Candidate John Sigwart puts focus on development in Port Washington's downtown as well as long-term planning for the city.
Editor's note: This is the second in a series profiling the four candidates running to be the next Port Washington mayor. The other three candidates include: Ricky Ranz, Tom Mlada and Jim Vollmar.
Becoming the next mayor for Port Washington would finally provide the platform candidate John Sigwart has been looking for as he turns his focus to the city's future.
Sigwart, who worked as the city engineer and the public works director for the city of Port Washington in the 1970s, said his strongest interest is in infrastructure and long-term city planning.
During 1975, Sigwart helped with plans for the construction of the water tower in Port, building it big enough to service Saukville as well.
"Thirty-six years later, we're no closer to serving Saukville than we were in 1975," Sigwart said. "We could pump sewage and water to Saukville, and it would get the wastewater plant off the lake front."
If elected mayor, Sigwart would like to start a joint board between elected officials in both Port and Saukville to start conversations about collaborative services between the city and the village, hoping to hold quarterly meetings "to do some real, solid, long-range planning for the two communities."
Another long-term idea includes development of the coal docks. "I personally want to see the coal dock improved not just for use for the public, but under a really well-planned, longterm solution," Sigwart said.
Sigwart also hopes the city can work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to build a museum on the coal docks dedicated to Lake Michigan maritime history. NOAA is hoping to create an offshore sanctuary to preserve and interpret the many shipwrecks that occurred from Two Rivers to south of Port Washington, and the group has also expressed interest in finding a place for a museum.
Sigwart suggested perhaps placing an observation tower on the coal docks instead of Upper Lake Park, where it was originally suggested to be built.
Sigwart is a 67-year-old, retired civil engineer with six children and eight grandchildren. He ran for the 7th District aldermanic spot against incumbent Dan Becker but lost in spring.
Sigwart said he has some short-term goals for his mayoral run, as well, and is a big proponent of supporting local businesses.
"Coal dock progress and the downtown tie for my priorities … because downtown really is on the cusp of coming back," he said. Sigwart said he bought all except one Christmas gift from stores in Port Washington.
"I did go to Grafton to buy one thing, but everything else I bought in Port," Sigwart said. "And it wasn’t hard. It was fun."
Sigwart helps to run the city's weekly Farmer's Market during the warmer months, and is a big supporter of local festivals. He sits on the committee for the Maritime Heritage Festival.
"I think (Maritime Fest is) going to continue to grow, and it really is a good image for the city," he said.
Sigwart also plans to host regular office hours, likely on Tuesdays and Thursdays before committee and council meetings that take place on those evenings.
"What I really hope is that people will feel easy to come in and either plant their gripes or make their points or spill their dreams or whatever it may be," he said.
"I’d like to (become mayor) … make sure that the (city) planning is done I’d like to see done," Sigwart said. "I have a real comittment to the city."
Mary Boyle
12:45 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
I adore John and think he's a great candidate. That being said, one concern of mine is the coal dock. I truly feel that trying to make any sort of community center in the shadow of the power plant is a big mistake. A bridge from Rotary Park to the coal dock is an extremely unlikely reality, so to get there by foot is a long way for most people - taking you OUT of the downtown that so desperately needs people in it. To get to the coal dock by car, though not very far, still takes you - for all intents and purposes - out of the downtown, as well. The enormous amount of money and time to develop the coal dock would be much better invested into our downtown and lakefront.
Port does need a Community Center - a place where people/groups can gather and parties can be hosted, etc. - but it needs to be IN our downtown. In my opinion, the coal dock should be left as a bird sanctuary/nature preserve. In fact, if it could be increased down the lakefront - maybe even as far as Lion's Den Gorge - and offered cross country skiing/snowshoe trails and camping, imagine the number of people that would bring to Port! We would have year round outdoor recreation instead of just the summer boaters.
I do, however, love John's idea about getting the water treatment plant off the lake. If that is feasible, that should be made a priority. The lakefront and our main street downtown full of historic buildings are Port's most important assets - we need to focus on those assets.
Terry
3:10 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
This is the second of these candidate posts. We have heard great ideas about the moral health and the infrastructure of the city. But, are these two areas the ones requiring immediate attention?
I am a bit disappointed that neither of the two candidates has addressed the cities greatest need, and that is the need to improve the cities revenue. Infrastructure improvements are great, but quite expensive. So is the cost of providing the services that we have come to expect in this city.
And while I agree that supporting local business is desirable, Port lacks the variety to make this truly viable. The downtown has a lot of quaint shops I like to visit, but they just aren't viable for the day to day living items a family needs. For those, we need to go to our surrounding neighbors and spend our money there.
We need a mayor that will drive for new commercial and industrial development. We need to give people additional reasons along with our quaint downtown to visit Port. We need a mayor that will look at prime commercial locations, such as the 32 corridor, and develop it properly, not build more condos and subdivisions.
Protectionism never works long term. Give people reasons to come to port and they will shop the downtown. Until then, surrounding communities will continue to profit at our expense.
Sam Vedder
3:25 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
You both bring up excellent, excellent points. We need to be very careful with the coal dock. Like Mary said, we cannot put something there that will pull people out of downtown. The bridge is a a huge expense and has next to no chance of happening. I like the camping, trails and other year round activities idea (not so much a bird sanctuary, but that's me). Moving the water treatment plant would be awesome. If John thinks he can make that happen, it would be a major win for the city opening up some prime beach land.
And Terry, your assessment is right on the money. Businesses in downtown are great, but we need people to support them. Development of our commercial and industrial base is critical to developing the downtown. Without that base, businesses in downtown Port will continue to struggle.
Stacy Peters
6:31 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
I worked with John on the community building of Possibility Playground and now on Maritime Heritage Festive and he would make an excellent Mayor. Creating a long term vision for our city is a definite priority. If you don’t know where you want to go, how are you going to get there? It is wonderful to see so many candidates with great ideas and passion for our city. This will definitely help us to continue to move forward and make this city an even more wonderful place to live. I am truly looking forward to hearing more details from all of the candidates!
James Meyer
7:16 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
I really like the two ideas; (1) getting rid of the waste water treatment plant and (2) a regional draw, such as the NOAA museum on the coal docks. Both would significantly improve the lakefront and provide a springboard moving forward.
Terry
8:28 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I also like the idea of moving the waste treatment plant. But I don't see it as a priority or realistic at this point. The cost of doing so would be astronomical, not to mention finding another place to put it, and right now we just can't afford it. Lets work on expanding the revenue base first and later when times are better and funds available, then we can work on the wish list.
Jason Godersky
7:45 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Downtown, the coal dock, and the water treatment plant are nice. Who can't get behind any of these ideas?
Maybe though what is most important to this community is finding a way to replace the 1000+ factory jobs we lost when Simplicity, Trak Int, and Bolens all closed. What is being done to help the tax base of port.
What everyone of these candidates is talking about is what they all think are real issues. Downtown will always have the same problem or advantage its always had (the lake). The coal dock is a problem for another day and the water is clean regardless of the asthetics of the lake front.
Ports problems are as they have been for the past 10 years. Where are the blue collar jobs that carried this city for decades? The current administration turned away Oshkosh truck (no small operator) who will attract someone here (and I don't care how) that will put good paying jobs in our backyard?
I think John is most likely to accomplish this. But 1 suggestion. Caterpillar just bought Bucyrus. Both specialize in heavy mining equipment. Scott Walker and WI will be starting a major mining operation in Northern Wi next year. Perhaps they will want to expand. We have the facilities here for them to do it.
I apologize for typos I'm on a phone.