Welcome   to the official website of the Prairie du Chien

citizens' group called "We the People of Prairie" !

       We are a large and diverse group of ordinary citizens who live here in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, a picturesque small town with a population of 6,000 set in a "sweet spot" on the banks of the Mississippi River since 1673.

       Most of us in this group have lived here our whole lives, many of us second-, third-, and fourth-generation citizens of this town, and we have a diversity of newer residents as well. Most of us consider ourselves pretty average Americans, parents, families, working-class, small business owners and managers, employees, farmers, laborers, small entrepreneurs, retirees, and so on.  We love our town and are interested in the future of our community and of this area. 

       THE INITIAL GOALS of this organization are two-fold:

       1.  STOP THE ROUNDABOUTS that are being pushed by the current city council, because they would wreck the face of our town, destroy many homes and businesses, subject us to dangerous traffic roundabouts (three-in-a-row adjacent to heavily-used railroad tracks) threatening to increase traffic problems especially for elderly drivers and pedestrians, and stick property taxpayers with huge tax increases that we cannot afford, money that could be used for much more pressing and useful community-building projects. 

       2.  ELECT A NEW CITY COUNCIL that is willing to listen to the people of Prairie - not just to special interests - and to represent the citizens whom they are supposed to represent - the average residents who are in the great majority, and who are being ignored and disrespected by the current council.

       90% of Prairie citizens do not want roundabouts in our town. That fact is based on our recent, careful and accurate canvass of the town, and verified by our latest petition for a Referendum on the roundabouts - both of which show that 90% of citizens do not want the roundabouts.  

       But the city council refuses to respect or even acknowledge the 1,061 signatures of people of Prairie who signed those petitions. 

       OUR LONG-TERM GOALS are: - - - 3> Have more citizen-involvement in our government, so that we truly have a local government "of the people, by the people, and for the people". - - - 4> Maintain the unique character and quality of our beautiful town as it has developed naturally over the last 335 years. - - - 5> Help create a vision for a brighter future for Prairie. - - - 6> Strengthen our American rights and freedoms in Prairie. - - - 7> Evolve as a community where all citizens are respected, valued, and offered opportunities for personal and social progress. 

       The issue of these roundabouts -- and the way that the city council, the state Department of Transportation, and private interests, have been trying to force them upon this town -- are emblematic of the disconnect between "the powers that be" and average citizens. 

       SO FOR STARTERS, WE NEED YOUR HELP to try to stop those roundabouts --- to save our town --- and to show that we the people, the average citizens, are not without some power of our own. 

       PLEASE CONTRIBUTE to this effort today ! - - - Please make out a check to "We the People of Prairie" --- Any amount will be greatly appreciated! Only small amounts from private citizens are acceptable, up to $100 per contributor, but we will appreciate $5 or $10 or whatever you may be able to give. Business and corporate contributions are not acceptable. - - - All contributions will go directly to efforts to educate and encourage the public to get more involved in their city government, starting with stopping the roundabouts. - - - All of us here are volunteers -- no one is paid a penny -- we're just working to improve the situation because we love our town and want to see it prosper. 

       We do need some funds to print informational flyers, publish newspaper ads and so on, so any help you can provide will go directly to those kinds of uses. - - - Mail your check to "We the People of Prairie", Treasurer Kathleen Novey, 318 S. Marquette Rd., Prairie du Chien, WI 53821. Thank you very much.  -------------  "We the People of Prairie" is a non-profit organization registered with the Prairie du Chien City Clerk as required by state law.  Our bank account is registered with the IRS and complies with state public records and all other applicable laws and regulations.  ---  President Clement Wachuta, Treasurer Kathleen Novey.  Thank You.