Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Holmen moves closer to selling Star Hill to Lions Club for $600
HOLMEN, Wis. — A Holmen committee recommended Tuesday the village sell a section of land that has an illuminated cross and star to the Holmen Lions Club for $600.
The vote by the Finance and Personnel Committee was unanimous and came without discussion.
The Holmen Village Board will consider the sale when it meets at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Village officials have moved toward selling the land to avoid litigation after a Holmen resident lodged a complaint about the lighted cross display in early March. For five years, the village has owned the blufftop land on which the 40-foot cross stands, and village resident Eric Barnes asserted that violates the doctrine of separation of church and state.
A village-ordered appraisal of the small section of land that holds the cross and star valued the property at $100.
But the Washington, D.C.-based American Humanist Association reportedly had bid $1,000 for the 30-by-30-foot parcel and included a check for the full amount. The Madison-based Freedom from Religion Foundation topped that with a $1,200 bid.
Finance and Personnel Committee chairman Mark Seitz read a list of reasons Tuesday why the village should sell the property to the Lions Club: The $600 offer exceeds the appraised value; the village has the right to sell land to whomever it chooses; and the Lions Club originally put up the star and cross and has maintained it.
The sale to the Lions Club would mandate the area be fenced with signs stating it is the club property; the club will have an electric meter installed and pay for lighting the structure; and the club will restrict access to protect the adjacent village water reservoir.
“This is an effective way to bring this matter to a fair conclusion,” Seitz said.
No members of the public were at the meeting, but village Administrator/Clerk Catherine Schmit, attorney Alan Peterson and village President John Chapman did attend.
Village officials declined to comment after the meeting.
“Enough has been said already,” Chapman said.
For more on this story, see Friday’s issue of the Holmen Courier newspaper.
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