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Peggy Perry: ‘It was time to give something back this community’ |
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
“I felt like this was the time to get involved. I don’t work outside the house, so I would be available for committee meetings or special council meetings. Caledonia is a great place to live and we have developed some life-long friendships here. I was asked if I would consider being on the city council. I said I would. I feel I can contribute and give something back to this community.”
That’s the way newly appointed Caledonia City Councilmember Peggy Perry responded when asked why she agreed to fill out the remaining nine months of an open council position.
Perry was appointed during a special council meeting on March 19 to serve for the remainder of the year. She fills the council spot vacated when former Councilman Paul Fisch tendered his resignation Feb. 29.
Fisch, who served as a councilman for the past nine years, had been re-elected to his third term on the council in November, 2006.
Because Fisch’s term was less than half completed, the city had the option to either appoint someone to fill out the rest of this year, or operate with three councilmen and the mayor. A special election for the remaining two years of the term will be held during the general elections this November.
Four persons indicated that they would be willing to fill Fisch’s position. They were Perry, Robert Burns (who served on the city council for 14 years, four as a councilman and 10 as the city’s mayor), Joe Rud, and Norman Snodgrass.
Perry and her husband Dr. Richard Perry and their two daughters, Austen (15) and Lauren (12), have been residents of Caledonia since May 2001. Previous to that, they lived in Waukon, Iowa, where Richard has been working as a family practitioner for the past 30 years.
“We moved to Caledonia for the great school system they have here,” Perry recalled. “It was a good move, the right fit.”
Perry explained with Caledonia located approximately half way between Waukon and La Crosse, it made her husband’s driving to twice-weekly meetings at the Franciscan-Skemp Healthcare center in La Crosse more tolerable.
The native of Rockford, Ill. and a graduate of UW-LaCrosse has gotten involved with her new community in a number of ways. She has served as a soccer coach for the girls youth soccer program for the past five springs, and as the girls middle school soccer coach the past two years in the fall.
Perry has been an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Caledonia, including serving as president of the congregation. As part of her involvement in her church, she was part of a two-week mission to Ethiopia.
“The mission trip to Ethiopia was a life-altering experience. When you see how people in other parts of the world live, it gives you an entirely new perspective on life. Things that you used to feel were so important become so trivial.”
Perry also joined the local Rotary Club, but the meeting time didn’t fit her schedule.
She got involved with the ISD #299 Foundation several years ago, and now serves as one of the organization’s directors.
“The 299 Foundation is a great organization. It does so much for the school district and the students. It provides money for about 90 percent of the field trips offered to Caledonia Area Elementary School students, and helps pay for many of the field trips at the middle school and high school too. The foundation also helps purchase supplies and educational materials that aren’t covered by school budgets. The foundation gives out eight to 10 scholarships to graduating seniors each year.”
As far as the city council is concerned, Perry noted there are some “hot topics” the local governing body is currently facing.
“The city’s comprehensive plan has identified the problem between industrial zoned property and residential. It (the comprehensive plan) brought out the need for better buffers between the two zones. If there are conflicts, no one will be happy. And, you will have reductions in property values for both parties.
“I really feel the 150 foot setback gives the city more leeway with regulating issues. If there are proposed uses in the industrial zone that don’t infringe on residential areas, the city can grant a variance. The city uses variances, so does the county. That’s what they are for.”
Perry said trying to bring more business to the downtown business district is one of her priorities. She also feels promoting tourism is a must for Caledonia.
And as far as the proposed criminal justice center (CJC), Perry noted, “I’m not against it being downtown. I don’t think there are many people who are against it being downtown…but not the proposed size. It must fit. I feel the county has two choices- either scale it down to fit in the downtown location, or build it on the edge of town.”
While Perry has agreed to serve out the remainder of 2008, she’s going to take a “wait and see” approach concerning if she will or will not file for the remaining two years of the term.
“My family comes first. If I feel this is something I can handle without taking too much away from my family, I will file later this year. I’ve never been involved in politics before, but I have always been interested. I’ll just have to see if this is something I can do in the future.”
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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