Election Day
1/4/08 - Wisconsin voters will decide today if the pollsters were right. The presidency is the top item on this Election Day ballot – and most recent independent polls had Democrat Barack Obama with a double-digit lead over Republican John McCain. The last time a president carried Wisconsin by double-digits was in 1996. Democrat Bill Clinton won a second term with a 10-point-three percent margin over Republican Bob Dole, with Ross Perot also in the mix. The highest Wisconsin percentage for a Democrat was in 1988, when Michael Dukakis had 51-point-four-percent. The last time a Republican carried the Badger State was in 1984, when Ronald Reagan won a second term with just over 54-percent. But the G-O-P came very close the last two elections. George W. Bush lost both his contests here by less than one-half of one-percent.
Huge Turnout Expected in Wisconsin
11/4/08 - State officials expect a record three-point-two-million people to vote in today’s elections. That’s 74-percent of the voting-age population. And they’ll decide a lot more than the presidency. Control of the State Capitol is at stake. If Democrats can gain three seats in the Assembly, they’ll run both houses of the Legislature for the first time in over two decades. And with a Democratic governor in Jim Doyle, the party would have virtually no resistance passing things they couldn’t approve in the last session – like universal health care and a statewide public indoor smoking ban. All 99 seats are up in the Assembly, where Republicans now hold a 51-47 majority. Democrats have an 18-15 edge in the Senate, and they’re expected to keep that.
Teen Faces Charges in Hit and Run Death
11/4/08 - Charges may come today against a Wisconsin Dells man accused of killing a pedestrian in a hit-and-run crash. Authorities said 21-year-old John Hillman of Reeseville was found late Saturday night west of Lake Delton on Sauk County Trunk “H.” And the car which struck the victim was found later that night in a maintenance parking lot at the Christmas Mountain ski resort. Hillman, who was working in the Lake Delton area, was pronounced dead at the scene. 19-year-old Salvador Hernandez was arrested early Sunday morning. Sheriff’s officials say he faces possible charges of hit-and-run causing death, and driving while his license was suspended.
BD Budget Passes Out of Committee
11/04/08 - The Beaver Dam Administrative Committee approved the 2009 city budget last night. The $12.8 million dollar budget has a levy of about $7.3 million dollars, which is a 3.2% increase over last year. Director of Finances John Somers says because of growth in the city, the average homeowner will see a slight decrease in the city share of their taxes. The budget approved in committee last night does not include $149,000 in storm water control costs, which will instead be paid for through the newly-established storm water utility. The utility sets aside dedicated revenue for dealing with storm water problems, like drainage, flooding and erosion controls that will bring the city in compliance with state and federal discharge mandates. Some storm water-control projects had traditionally been paid for through the levy but will now be paid through utility fees. Some alderman had expressed concern that paying for storm water-control measures in both the levy and through fee’s would amount to double-taxation, but the removal of the $149,000 from the levy was approved with little debate. The city council will consider the budget at their November 17 meeting.
Meanwhile,
The Common Council last night approved the annual rate that city residents will pay for the newly established storm water utility.The annual rate for city utility customers of $48.61. Starting in March, residents will see a $12.15 increase on their utility bill.
Space Needs Report Approved - Next Step: ‘Implementation’
11/04/08 - The Beaver Dam Common Council officially approved the citywide facilities study report at last night’s meeting. Mayor Tom Kennedy says implementation is the next step in the plan, starting with the Police Department, which the report lists as the city’s number one priority. It recommends the police department and city administration switch places. Construction costs are estimated at around $6 million. Kennedy says he will now promote moving forward with the next phase: the procurement of a design firm to work on the expansion. The second priority is the Community Services and Senior Center, either a new building on a new site or the renovation of an existing building on a new site. The third priority is a 10,000 square foot expansion of the library. The fourth priority, considered a long term issue, is the establishment of a satellite facility for the fire department to keep up with city growth. The report does not recommend a location, nor does it suggest whether the city should build new or purchase existing property. The fifth priority is the relocation of the Department of Public Works and Park Shop facility to the site of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with the construction of new buildings.
Gas Continues to Drop
1/4/08 - Wisconsin voters will decide today if the pollsters were right. The presidency is the top item on this Election Day ballot – and most recent independent polls had Democrat Barack Obama with a double-digit lead over Republican John McCain. The last time a president carried Wisconsin by double-digits was in 1996. Democrat Bill Clinton won a second term with a 10-point-three percent margin over Republican Bob Dole, with Ross Perot also in the mix. The highest Wisconsin percentage for a Democrat was in 1988, when Michael Dukakis had 51-point-four-percent. The last time a Republican carried the Badger State was in 1984, when Ronald Reagan won a second term with just over 54-percent. But the G-O-P came very close the last two elections. George W. Bush lost both his contests here by less than one-half of one-percent.
Huge Turnout Expected in Wisconsin
11/4/08 - State officials expect a record three-point-two-million people to vote in today’s elections. That’s 74-percent of the voting-age population. And they’ll decide a lot more than the presidency. Control of the State Capitol is at stake. If Democrats can gain three seats in the Assembly, they’ll run both houses of the Legislature for the first time in over two decades. And with a Democratic governor in Jim Doyle, the party would have virtually no resistance passing things they couldn’t approve in the last session – like universal health care and a statewide public indoor smoking ban. All 99 seats are up in the Assembly, where Republicans now hold a 51-47 majority. Democrats have an 18-15 edge in the Senate, and they’re expected to keep that.
Teen Faces Charges in Hit and Run Death
11/4/08 - Charges may come today against a Wisconsin Dells man accused of killing a pedestrian in a hit-and-run crash. Authorities said 21-year-old John Hillman of Reeseville was found late Saturday night west of Lake Delton on Sauk County Trunk “H.” And the car which struck the victim was found later that night in a maintenance parking lot at the Christmas Mountain ski resort. Hillman, who was working in the Lake Delton area, was pronounced dead at the scene. 19-year-old Salvador Hernandez was arrested early Sunday morning. Sheriff’s officials say he faces possible charges of hit-and-run causing death, and driving while his license was suspended.
BD Budget Passes Out of Committee
11/04/08 - The Beaver Dam Administrative Committee approved the 2009 city budget last night. The $12.8 million dollar budget has a levy of about $7.3 million dollars, which is a 3.2% increase over last year. Director of Finances John Somers says because of growth in the city, the average homeowner will see a slight decrease in the city share of their taxes. The budget approved in committee last night does not include $149,000 in storm water control costs, which will instead be paid for through the newly-established storm water utility. The utility sets aside dedicated revenue for dealing with storm water problems, like drainage, flooding and erosion controls that will bring the city in compliance with state and federal discharge mandates. Some storm water-control projects had traditionally been paid for through the levy but will now be paid through utility fees. Some alderman had expressed concern that paying for storm water-control measures in both the levy and through fee’s would amount to double-taxation, but the removal of the $149,000 from the levy was approved with little debate. The city council will consider the budget at their November 17 meeting.
Meanwhile,
The Common Council last night approved the annual rate that city residents will pay for the newly established storm water utility.The annual rate for city utility customers of $48.61. Starting in March, residents will see a $12.15 increase on their utility bill.
Space Needs Report Approved - Next Step: ‘Implementation’
11/04/08 - The Beaver Dam Common Council officially approved the citywide facilities study report at last night’s meeting. Mayor Tom Kennedy says implementation is the next step in the plan, starting with the Police Department, which the report lists as the city’s number one priority. It recommends the police department and city administration switch places. Construction costs are estimated at around $6 million. Kennedy says he will now promote moving forward with the next phase: the procurement of a design firm to work on the expansion. The second priority is the Community Services and Senior Center, either a new building on a new site or the renovation of an existing building on a new site. The third priority is a 10,000 square foot expansion of the library. The fourth priority, considered a long term issue, is the establishment of a satellite facility for the fire department to keep up with city growth. The report does not recommend a location, nor does it suggest whether the city should build new or purchase existing property. The fifth priority is the relocation of the Department of Public Works and Park Shop facility to the site of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with the construction of new buildings.
Gas Continues to Drop
11/4/08 - Gas continued its tumble yesterday dropping 8-cents in Beaver Dam. A gallon of unleaded regular is now $2.31, which is just a cent cheaper than the state average. Last month Wisconsin residents were paying $1.16-more on average. Fond du Lac is paying 2.29, while Horicon is at 2.33. In Oconomowoc the low price is $2.35, while in Watertown it’s $2.39. The high price in the state is in Hayward at $2.55. Low price is $2.09 in St. Croix Falls. The nationwide average is $2.38, which in nearly 40-cents cheaper than one-year ago.
Reverse 911 a Possibility in Dodge County
11/4/08 - A resolution that would create a reverse 9-1-1 system in Dodge County is on the Board of Supervisors agenda for later this month. Emergency Management Director Joe Meagher says the automated system would allow county officials to call the more than 80,000 residents in the county to notify them about an emergency. Meagher says the system could have been a real benefit during the flood emergency in June. He says other emergency’s could include an escaped prisoner, a missing child and even closed roads. The total cost of the program for the first two years would be $50,000, which would be covered mostly by grant funding. Meagher says if approved he would like to have it up and running as soon as possible.
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