[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6123959,"mediaKeyId","2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b","parentId",2686827,"title","Resident seeks city recognition for Johnny Watts; school supporters plan naming ceremony at Beloit Memorial High","audioSeconds",383,"startMs",2307000,"endMs",2690000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b&start=2307&end=2690","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b/thumbnail_2307000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6123959/Beloit/Rock-County/Wisconsin/Resident-seeks-city-recognition-for-Johnny-Watts-school-supporters-plan-naming-ceremony-at-Beloit-Memorial-High","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123959-8b39ea312ee0b8f94ae85eb3d7b583eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079410&Signature=V4jbR7PC3UIPcEbcT4Hk0oVCkzicBLhLCFeMf-TNEI5O4ayjltXYXgm8TXd2IEIWnMdScw-eO6UOz3FCQHJMLfQG7hEo5AP6uSZfxBiIY860mVKQ88qmue2LR3Yn5cSWptWnTDJgCNG8ie66b75HTuGz58c25LLhe8Dm6SZZdA6-YrcisX89bXet0FEUgsiyFoCsqIA~GJWJpYN6gWf3d4oD-8js8rNOiRN8oaKQkEmk6zujdXWGJOP1MrTaeKfiRCWI-s8HOBGPjD5sMC3KLyBFX3wgbUXpgAx2hnf0QPNP77Y2dgwkxlvszBtwqdaCylgGd953sYUr8t9txQ821Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Beloit, WI","date","2025-03-18T13:03:49Z","article","James Simmons addressed the council during public comment to advocate formal city recognition of a school district effort to name the Barkin Arena basketball court for Johnny Watts.

Simmons said a school-district committee voted unanimously to name the court the Johnny Watts Court and described Watts’ high-school championships in 1932–1934 and a widely told account of him playing with a broken wrist in the 1933 title game. Simmons said the school district forwarded event details to the governor’s office and requested the governor or lieutenant governor attend the naming ceremony scheduled for Nov. 13, 2025, at Beloit Memorial High School; the school district’s event notice lists expected attendance of 2,000 and that the event is open to the media. Simmons asked that the city issue a recognition or proclamation for Johnny Watts’ day in Beloit to allow students to learn the story.

Simmons said the family supports the recognition, that the school board carefully reviewed Watts’ history over two years before the unanimous vote, and that the district hopes the ceremony will help unite young people in the community. No council action was taken during public comment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Beloit City Council Meeting - March 17th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident told the council the school district has unanimously approved naming the Barkin Arena basketball court for Johnny Watts and requested city recognition for a Nov. 13, 2025 naming event, asking the governor or lieutenant governor to attend.","taxTitle","Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin","taxId",52805,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123964,"Councilor urges public comment on Riverside Enhancement Project, says proposal conflicts with Beloit carbon-neutral goals",115,2824000,2939000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b&start=2824&end=2939","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b/thumbnail_2824000.jpg","/articles/6123964/Beloit/Rock-County/Wisconsin/Councilor-urges-public-comment-on-Riverside-Enhancement-Project-says-proposal-conflicts-with-Beloit-carbon-neutral-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123964-3fc4ed3f031b38a55fcaa8cddbb055dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079410&Signature=k1r-lfjl-w5eVFb-bsZSu0gAx0pOz1WmgD-iwMTNdKVSACQxDaZtwAri20CeFM187AnkiCgWv1W8CAGQo~4F4TNr5HEEaB8GO0XfA~kg9WK5DrCgGDoIin1GDVrZVRu6OWyyvw15JHE3HCVgblx87LebL1sxfNjLpDebQDD8bLX4TPyx2duav5bqggxoZCDG9sunwUZ0W1SUd5q3R3EqUPBWUc77heCjGwB6NXBavMOO66wAduGNqkWbrA7F2wb-t2ismh8at1X9zwrHX8uTxroKEdf4F22~fD3pOWfehGf4oADbfLvL1vwgAxFbXPbJLTnJBluuTy3NHM~3Q2O~9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilor Blakely used the council-activities portion of the meeting to urge residents to comment to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on a proposal called the Riverside Enhancement Project.

Blakely said the project, proposed by Wisconsin Power and Light, would construct a new electric generation facility consisting of seven reciprocating internal combustion engine units fueled by natural gas. Although the site is technically in the Town of Beloit, Blakely said it would directly affect the city and would run counter to the city’s carbon-neutral-by-2040 goal and climate action planning. She encouraged residents to submit comments through the PSC public-participation site by the meeting-cited deadline of Thursday, March 20.

Blakely pointed residents to the PSC’s public participation page and urged a robust local response to register concerns about air quality and alignment with local climate objectives. No formal council action on the proposal was taken at the meeting.","Councilor Blakely urged residents to submit comments to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on the Riverside Enhancement Project, saying the proposed natural-gas-fired generation would conflict with the city’s carbon-neutral goals. The PSC comment deadline cited in the meeting was Thursday, March 20.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123969,"Beloit holds public hearing on 2024 CAPER: staff reports CDBG accomplishments, service counts and challenges",809,1463000,2272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b&start=1463&end=2272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b/thumbnail_1463000.jpg","/articles/6123969/Beloit/Rock-County/Wisconsin/Beloit-holds-public-hearing-on-2024-CAPER-staff-reports-CDBG-accomplishments-service-counts-and-challenges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123969-5d61ab34e754eb411590027f328d9b84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079410&Signature=esafogHCeeWJog53eZYByVxWfHoy2SbLRiQCZGKW4uayLQp4gz1XU5yin-Z6ji0RXlgzOt3nAABvfauT2qt1NstBMKHKXjRBO-GilgDTA-GdZKq35ecmUuBDRNUtSxSBygkwVdm-unvikzBGoRzvY9eXWGSErLWOMz7~wNAb-S6Eb6gwFMCXbaB5IdKtvxDmmrx7yKug0YnmFOwBLVbnPGMLWk0dZDbh32bT9n9vQ~Th186jh~mZo~ltl49Sq~VuTW~tnk8WEPGoufjjeHkiR~RsozrXKu6KqOY8wAt3IkidDJy9JgM~MLVKLDyvNxiERQB7h1UFB0hChiy9tqNmjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff opened a public hearing on the 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), the year-end report required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that summarizes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) activities and accomplishments.

Terry, a city staff presenter, and Bianca, the grants administrator, reviewed 2024 priorities, funding allocations and subrecipient accomplishments. Staff said HUD requires the CAPER and that the city’s 30-day public comment period was open from Feb. 26 through March 28; the CAPER must be submitted to HUD by March 31, 2025.

Staff reported the following funding allocations and accomplishments (figures as stated at the hearing): $150,000 allocated to affordable housing; $56,150 to homeless services; $94,950 to case management; $20,650 to future-ready skills; and $335,000 toward improving housing stock. Staff said the program assisted a total of 1,945 individuals (the stated goal was 1,742). A carryover from 2023 and some staffing challenges were noted as context for performance on several activities.

Subrecipient and neighborhood activity highlights included Community Action’s Merrill Community Center, ECHO’s emergency rent and utility assistance, Family Promise of Greater Beloit’s emergency shelter work and Legal Action of Wisconsin’s community lawyer project. Staff said neighborhood revitalization work focused on the Merrill and Hackett neighborhoods under the city’s NRSA addendum and that two neighborhood cleanups were completed.

Staff identified common challenges for subrecipients: transportation barriers, shelter wait lists, inflation and a shortage of housing units available to transition clients into permanent housing.

The public hearing was opened and closed at the meeting; staff invited written comments during the public-review period for incorporation into the CAPER.","City staff presented the 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Community Development Block Grant-funded activities. The report summarized allocations, program accomplishments, neighborhood-focused activities in Merrill and Hackett, and common challenges cited by subrecipients.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123974,"Beloit council suspends rules to approve Chapin Street rezoning; lays over three other rezoning requests and approves $15.815 million bond sale",188,3226000,3414000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b&start=3226&end=3414","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b/thumbnail_3226000.jpg","/articles/6123974/Beloit/Rock-County/Wisconsin/Beloit-council-suspends-rules-to-approve-Chapin-Street-rezoning-lays-over-three-other-rezoning-requests-and-approves-15815-million-bond-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123974-50013fd750c529389b8b19a7352e19c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079410&Signature=fsG2T1WhWFB0auJrU3Mg1d0KLcAbbsgtSQILoOYYIeHXYm6dHVK-knb8Ey1JZ9gSaNGI5etar9iR79cymiRpBoBU-C89fvfFmXSYYJEjeeDjpdTOiEyfPPtnQkxki02IKZkfgf9MWCzCfEs-P~32-Z2PFekQK6N5JSgV5PVnziG8FvxXQsJ63d6SMXrjkOwBXXLIw4KinwVBBC8yfK3ReJguAN6eHtoMd4x6MliOwW8MNLVP1lLabeU6VwBR4n9LMJaCXNi9L8jfePGUG0rO1pHuiVoz20fJ~TNKwYAS0V9TkBZurQSxJOLJFH71ZmRUEZ6fIHLd2LznGAICEEGGFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Beloit City Council took several final and procedural votes on zoning and financing at its March meeting.

Zoning and rezoning

Ordinance 38-61: The council approved Ordinance 38-61, which amends the zoning district map to permit single-family residential use at 717 and 725 Chapin Street. Planning staff told the council the college had already sold one of the properties and the new owners sought residential use. The council suspended its usual rule to consider the ordinance immediately; motion to suspend the rules was moved from the floor and the ordinance was then approved on a voice vote. Motion to approve was made by Councilor Adama and seconded by Councilor Blakely.

Ordinance 38-63 (1990 East Bradley Street): Planning staff reported that the property was annexed earlier without a temporary zoning assignment and staff recommended permanent R1B single-family zoning. The council opened and closed the public hearing and then voted to lay over the item on a motion by Councilor Forbeck, second by Councilor Dentsch.

Ordinance 38-62 (113 Bluff Street): The applicant sought rezoning from R1B to R2 (two-family residential) for a property built as a duplex; staff said the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan after a recent amendment. The council opened and closed the public hearing and laid the item over on a motion by Councilor Forbeck, second by Councilor Dentsch.

Ordinance 38-64 (1014 Master Street): The council opened and closed the public hearing on a request to make temporary R1A zoning permanent and voted to lay the item over on a motion by Councilor Blakely, second by Councilor Adama.

Finance: promissory notes sale

Resolution 2025-0038: The council approved a resolution authorizing issuance and sale of general obligation promissory notes, series 2025A, to finance the capital improvement program. City staff reported a competitive sale produced five bids; BOK Financial Securities of Milwaukee submitted the winning bid with a true interest cost of 3.759%. The final borrowing amount presented for approval was $15,815,000, lower than earlier estimates; the sale reduced net principal and interest obligations by $657,122 compared with the presale estimate. Standard & Poor’s affirmed the city’s rating at AA-minus. The motion to approve was made by Councilor Forbeck and seconded by Councilor Day; the council approved the resolution on a roll-call vote, recorded as Aye from Councilors Blakely, Adama, Day, Forbeck, Dentsch and Council President Levy (6-0).","Council approved Ordinance 38-61 to rezone 717 and 725 Chapin Street for single-family residential use after suspending rules; three other rezoning petitions were laid over for future consideration. The council also authorized the sale of general obligation promissory notes after a competitive sale produced a lower-than-expected borrowing cost.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":42,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123979,"Council President Kevin D. Levy says Beloit is \"moving in the right direction,\" highlights crime, housing and homelessness work",646000,1029000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b&start=646&end=1029","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2686827-1a46abf961fd75bf4e538f3ac437091b/thumbnail_646000.jpg","/articles/6123979/Beloit/Rock-County/Wisconsin/Council-President-Kevin-D-Levy-says-Beloit-is-moving-in-the-right-direction-highlights-crime-housing-and-homelessness-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123979-f8b132314712d532a97373aba9e386db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079410&Signature=ZQQKtfA2VMgcmn5kfbrUE-oARbUZgz5uqc6FFCsFn4IKpNT4Ps4PS-eQhSDcn4tHM9xTb6xDJKC~aTD~oRYSqiY2R2kN43YcRE8IJHoZ5Znc-7kdfWCZOraXNIUcPCIEJ7va4KEhMyIESXdS8uWJ19CuNqvmfjz13br4YYd1zf7SVtLJUwiWWmqq6j4l2IYD55E3V04Ges9PBLKBSFSdXURI6ukZe6w9WeuCO4hygEKKTpq9L5fKJQv5-qzGWmbd2ISwtbPYIlZYFhrelIDsZ1z1i5LqYU3-AsiVkUb2cy9gariEdiERE3mDC5vQTs4s9TWwwocTN7-ybHoJYfFdWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council President Kevin D. Levy delivered the City of Beloit’s annual State of the City address, telling residents and staff that the city is “moving in the right direction” while acknowledging further work remains.

Levy said overall crime fell by 7.3% and that the police department’s clearance rate has improved, which he attributed in part to a “3.5 increase in tips received by Crime Stoppers.” He also highlighted community policing and public safety outreach programs, including mentoring partnerships and demonstrations by police and fire personnel.

On housing, Levy outlined recent development and financing actions aimed at increasing supply and affordability. He said the city created eight new residential development contracts and established a TIF housing fund that provided $6,000,000 for affordable rental housing. He cited $363,000 allocated for downtown upper-floor housing grants, a $1,000,000 market-rate housing initiative, 47 parcels under contract for new housing and 48 housing units either added to the inventory or under contract to be built.

Levy described the city’s use of American Rescue Plan Act funding to address homelessness, saying the council committed $2,000,000 in ARPA funds for the “next steps family resiliency pro center,” intended to provide transitional housing, wraparound services and child care for people experiencing homelessness. He said nearly 2,300 people have been served through ARPA-funded homelessness services and prevention programs and that 231 people received overnight shelter via that funding.

Levy also noted local cultural milestones and economic development, including the commissioning of the USS Beloit, a PBS Wisconsin documentary about the city’s history, and the arrival of a casino, which he said staff helped bring to fruition.

Levy closed by thanking city staff and residents and urging continued collaboration to address remaining challenges in public safety, housing and community services.","At a State of the City address, Council President Kevin D. Levy highlighted a drop in crime, new and pending housing investments, $2 million in ARPA funding for transitional housing and the arrival of a casino, while urging continued work on community priorities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident seeks city recognition for Johnny Watts; school supporters plan naming ceremony at Beloit Memorial High

Councilor urges public comment on Riverside Enhancement Project, says proposal conflicts with Beloit carbon-neutral goals

Beloit holds public hearing on 2024 CAPER: staff reports CDBG accomplishments, service counts and challenges

Beloit council suspends rules to approve Chapin Street rezoning; lays over three other rezoning requests and approves $15.815 million bond sale

Council President Kevin D. Levy says Beloit is "moving in the right direction," highlights crime, housing and homelessness work