BOSCOBEL - Boscobel will enter the digital age with new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping. That’s according to a unanimous roll call vote at the Common Council meeting of July 24.

A price tag of $18,000 covers initial setup, with an estimated cost of $5,000 in equipment. Annual maintenance currently runs at $7,000. Costs will be shared between the city and Boscobel Utilities.

The project has three main purposes, according to Troy Maggied of Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, which has proposed the work. It provides at-a-glance details for city-owned land for sale in the industrial park; it offers city workers and consultants a detailed and interactive map of all city infrastructure, such as water, electric, and wastewater systems; and it highlights a user-friendly interface to find parks, trails, ATV routes and other relevant information for both residents and visitors to the city.

Mike Reynolds, City Engineer/Director of Public Works, spoke in favor of the service.

“We’ve got paper maps and they’re kept up to date,” he said. “But obviously with technology, GIS is where we need to be.”

Costs shared

The project serves several different purposes, and thus its cost can be split across several different entities.

Maggied identified economic development, municipal infrastructure, and public information as three distinct functions of the mapping project. Some of these would qualify as improvements to Boscobel’s TIF district, which includes the industrial park.

Since the purpose of tax increment financing (TIF) is to set aside tax revenues to improve a designated part of the city, these costs can be absorbed by the TIF without coming out of the city’s general fund.  Approximately 30 to 35 lots remain for sale in the industrial complex, according to Reynolds.

Of the total $18,000 cost for the mapping project, $10,625, or 59 percent of it, qualifies as improving the TIF district. The other $7,375 will be covered by the utilities department, according to Reynolds.

The annual maintenance fee of $7,000 would cover keeping the map segments updated with new information, as well as training, tech support, and some software expenses.

That fee would be split between the utility department and the city.

“We would share with the city depending on what was being updated. But $7,000 a year is not that much anyway as a total, so I would certainly recommend getting on track with this.”

Library busy

Library Director Janelle Miller reports that total circulation is up 10 percent in June, while traditional book circulation is up 19 percent.

“We’re on track to be at our pre-COVID levels, which is really good to see,” she said.

Miller will announce upcoming author events in the Dial at a future date.

Other business

In a meeting that lasted just under a half-hour, the council also approved:

• A tobacco license for Family Dollar Tree and an alcohol beverage operator’s license for Shano Rai Macleod at the Pour House.

• Street closings at the Pour House for the Boscobel Athletic Boosters steak feed on September 8 through 10.