Citizen to the Rubber Stamps: Rescind Pier Approval

[Note: Oshkosh citizen Teri Shors sent the following memo to the Oshkosh Common Council. She forwarded a copy to TonyPalmeri.Com].

To: Mayor William Castle Jr., Deputy Mayor Frank Tower, Council Members Paul J. Esslinger, Shirley Brabender Mattox, Burk Tower, Bryan L. Bain, and Meredith Scheuermann.

RE: Rescind approved resolution of Otter Street Fishing Club Pier, proposed to be a 124 X 100 ft. T-Shaped Pier extending into the middle of Miller's Bay at New York Avenue.

The reason I am voicing my objection to the Otter Street Fishing Club Pier now is because like so many other Oshkosh residents, I did not realize that this matter was being addressed by the City Council earlier.

I was present at the well-attended public hearing regarding the DNR permit application submitted by Tom Stephany to construct the Otter Street Fishing Club Pier. This hearing should help the DNR make its final decision regarding this application. The DNR will base their decision on whether or not the pier would be a detriment to the scenic beauty of the location proposed and whether or not fish and other wildlife habitats will be harmed by such a construction.

As a biologist and concerned resident of Oshkosh, I am asking all of you to please re-visit this issue. A decision to destroy the only preserved open space in Menominee Park by the addition of a 124 X 100 ft. T-dock structure will be regretted for many years to come. It was evident from the public hearing that the Otter Street Fishing Club has not done their homework. The Club members are depending upon the city to deal with all of the safety and liability issues regarding the pier. Below is a list of issues that were addressed at the public hearing.

• The Pier's sole function is to provide a location for children to fish.
• The Pier will be located in the only remaining open space in the park.
• The Pier will have no railings, no lighting, no reflectors.
• The Pier will have no parking or restroom facilities.
• The Pier will be maintained by power-washing it approximately once a week.
• Street parking by pier users would be at a busy and complex intersection (corner of New York, Hazel and Menominee Drive).
  
  I am opposed to the application for such a pier for the following reasons:
  
• It will obstruct the only preserved open space of the park that residents and visitors have enjoyed for decades. This space is the pride of Oshkosh. There are many population pressures today. We need to preserve some open space. The park now has an "active space." Alternative locations should be investigated.
• Ames Point affords fishing both in the Lake and the Bay. Fishermen rarely use Ames Point. Now given the fact that Ames Point is underutilized, does Oshkosh need another fishing facility?
• The pier would also be located in a shallow part of the Bay in which few pan fish and some carp exist. The fishing is less than marginal.
• No survey of the wildlife in this area has been conducted since 1993. This area should be surveyed for what wildlife exists before any change should be considered.
• Given the marginal fishing, this pier will turn into a seagull haven laden with seagull droppings that are a biohazard. Seagulls can carry Avian Influenza Virus in their droppings. The city of Sheboygan should be consulted on how to deal with seagull over-population.
• According to Mr. Stephany, safety and liability issues are the responsibility of the city. A pier with no railings, lighting or reflectors is not safe. Boats will potentially damage the pier at night.
• The Pier affords no official parking facilities or restrooms. Street parking is located at a complex intersection of Oshkosh, raising safety concerns. The lack of restroom facilities may result in the direct deposit of human waste into the Bay resulting in algal blooms and polluted water.
• The pier is aimed to serve one special interest group. A public park is a public park. Boaters, walkers, handicapped individuals etc. should have access to this pier because it is located in a public park. Mr. Stephany insists that this will be a pier for children fishing only. His vision is one of a private pier in a public location.

The change requested by the Otter Street Fishing Club will change Miller's Bay for the worse. Planning a new fishing pier takes time and resources. It is evident that the proposed new pier has not been planned appropriately. More investigation is needed before a final decision is made.

Please rescind the resolution to approve the Otter Street Fishing Club Pier at the New York Avenue location. There are too many open issues regarding this pier. Residents of Oshkosh have raised their concerns at the public hearing regarding the application for the DNR permit for the pier. It is unfortunate that this issue was passed by the City Council. Perhaps it was passed due to misinformation or a lack of information. I am confident that the City Council will recognize this and add this to the Council's agenda as soon as possible.

Teri Shors
Associate Professor of Biology and Microbiology
Menominee Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54901
shors@uwosh.edu