Tension Filled Night in Waupun
2/3/09 - More than 40-years of emotions bubbled to surface last night in Waupun where a Fox Lake area citizen’s group laid out their reasons to the school board why Fox Lake and Alto Elementary should remain open, even if a referendum later this month were to fail. One of those reasons included the importance of having a school in a small community. The major theme of the night, however, was a perceived divide among Waupun students and those that come in from outside of the city. A number of Fox Lake community members spoke of how they feel like second class citizens when dealing with the school district. However, board members countered saying the wedge dividing the communities is not being driven by Waupun residents. Last night was most likely the last meeting to discuss the February 17th primary that will ask voters to pass three questions that includes one that would allow the district to exceed the revenue cap by a total of nearly $5-million over three years to allow the district to continue operating a number of buildings as they currently do. If the referendum were not to pass District Administrator Randy Refsland says his recommendation will be to close Fox Lake and Alto Elementary.
No Prayer at DC Board of Supervisor Meetings
2/3/09 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors will not be saying a prayer at the beginning of each of their meetings for a while. That’s after District 29 Supervisor Dean Fuller filed a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation about prayers referencing Christianity and Jesus Christ being performed at five meetings over the past year. In a letter addressed to Board Chairman Russ Kottke, the F-F-R-F states that the practice is unconstitutional as it is a violation of the separation of church and state. It goes on to state the prayers led by Supervisor Randy Grebel during an official government meeting, open to the public, demonstrates the County’s preference for Christianity and illegally promotes religion over non-religion. During yesterday’s Executive Committee session a number of supervisors expressed their disagreement with Fullers decision to file the complaint, and Supervisor Dave Frohling says he doesn’t believe Fuller is acting on his constituent’s behalf. Dodge County Administrator Jim Mielke and Corporate Council John Corey will be looking into their options before the next board meeting later this month.
DNR Issues ER Notice of Violation
2/3/09 - The owner of the Fountain Inn in Beaver Dam has been issued a “Notice of Violation” from the Wisconsin DNR. The tavern at 203 Front Street, formerly known as Emotional Rescue, is one of eleven buildings constructed over the Beaver Dam River that is targeted by the city and the DNR for demolition because such structures are in violation of state statute. Jay Hoeft is the only property owner than has refused to sell and his building was recently placed on the State Historic Registry. The letter dated January 27 informs Hoeft that the Department has power to “impose a forfeiture” on a building infringing on the public rights related to navigable waters. The letter states that the DNR is aware that the building was recently placed on the State Historic Registry and “will comply with the historic registry processes in seeking enforcement.” The DNR’s next step is to request a referral to the Department of Justice requesting court ordered removal of the building with the cost of demolition paid for by the property owner. Hoeft had no reaction to the letter but tells us he will sit down with the DNR next week regarding the matter. Mayor Tom Kennedy provided the council with copies of the letter during an update on the redevelopment plan at last night’s city council meeting. Both Kennedy and Hoeft acknowledge that this process could be drawn out for years.
City Seeking Grants for Downtown Demolition
2/3/09 - The city of Beaver Dam is pursuing grant funding to help pay the costs of their downtown redevelopment project. Officials are hoping to secure a Community Development Block Grant to pay for part of the demolition costs of the ten buildings along Front and Center Streets sitting over the Beaver Dam River in violation of state statute. The Operations Committee last night signed-off on plans to use a $14,000 Waterfront Development Grant to hire a firm to update a 2007 Verbicher Associates downtown study. The update of the study would detail post-flood redevelopment efforts and would be vital in gaining grant approval. A local match would be required but city officials believe the purchase price of the ten downtown buildings would suffice.
City Mulls Stimulus Dollar Potential
2/3/09 - Members of the Beaver Dam Operations Committee discussed city projects that would be a priority if the state were to secure economic stimulus funds. With the governor setting up a new office in Madison, Engineering Coordinator Ritchie Piltz says now is the time to identify public works projects. Suggestions centered on the city’s Capital Improvements Plan and the many items that were delayed by one year as funding was diverted to the downtown redevelopment plan, including the reconstruction of Warren Street and Green Valley Road as well as the Jefferson School detention basin that is part of the Storm Water Utility project. At the top of the list was the police department / municipal building expansion project. Assemblyman Jeff Fitzgerald told the city its way too early to determine how much money, if any, the city would be eligible for and how it could be used.
2/3/09 - More than 40-years of emotions bubbled to surface last night in Waupun where a Fox Lake area citizen’s group laid out their reasons to the school board why Fox Lake and Alto Elementary should remain open, even if a referendum later this month were to fail. One of those reasons included the importance of having a school in a small community. The major theme of the night, however, was a perceived divide among Waupun students and those that come in from outside of the city. A number of Fox Lake community members spoke of how they feel like second class citizens when dealing with the school district. However, board members countered saying the wedge dividing the communities is not being driven by Waupun residents. Last night was most likely the last meeting to discuss the February 17th primary that will ask voters to pass three questions that includes one that would allow the district to exceed the revenue cap by a total of nearly $5-million over three years to allow the district to continue operating a number of buildings as they currently do. If the referendum were not to pass District Administrator Randy Refsland says his recommendation will be to close Fox Lake and Alto Elementary.
No Prayer at DC Board of Supervisor Meetings
2/3/09 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors will not be saying a prayer at the beginning of each of their meetings for a while. That’s after District 29 Supervisor Dean Fuller filed a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation about prayers referencing Christianity and Jesus Christ being performed at five meetings over the past year. In a letter addressed to Board Chairman Russ Kottke, the F-F-R-F states that the practice is unconstitutional as it is a violation of the separation of church and state. It goes on to state the prayers led by Supervisor Randy Grebel during an official government meeting, open to the public, demonstrates the County’s preference for Christianity and illegally promotes religion over non-religion. During yesterday’s Executive Committee session a number of supervisors expressed their disagreement with Fullers decision to file the complaint, and Supervisor Dave Frohling says he doesn’t believe Fuller is acting on his constituent’s behalf. Dodge County Administrator Jim Mielke and Corporate Council John Corey will be looking into their options before the next board meeting later this month.
DNR Issues ER Notice of Violation
2/3/09 - The owner of the Fountain Inn in Beaver Dam has been issued a “Notice of Violation” from the Wisconsin DNR. The tavern at 203 Front Street, formerly known as Emotional Rescue, is one of eleven buildings constructed over the Beaver Dam River that is targeted by the city and the DNR for demolition because such structures are in violation of state statute. Jay Hoeft is the only property owner than has refused to sell and his building was recently placed on the State Historic Registry. The letter dated January 27 informs Hoeft that the Department has power to “impose a forfeiture” on a building infringing on the public rights related to navigable waters. The letter states that the DNR is aware that the building was recently placed on the State Historic Registry and “will comply with the historic registry processes in seeking enforcement.” The DNR’s next step is to request a referral to the Department of Justice requesting court ordered removal of the building with the cost of demolition paid for by the property owner. Hoeft had no reaction to the letter but tells us he will sit down with the DNR next week regarding the matter. Mayor Tom Kennedy provided the council with copies of the letter during an update on the redevelopment plan at last night’s city council meeting. Both Kennedy and Hoeft acknowledge that this process could be drawn out for years.
City Seeking Grants for Downtown Demolition
2/3/09 - The city of Beaver Dam is pursuing grant funding to help pay the costs of their downtown redevelopment project. Officials are hoping to secure a Community Development Block Grant to pay for part of the demolition costs of the ten buildings along Front and Center Streets sitting over the Beaver Dam River in violation of state statute. The Operations Committee last night signed-off on plans to use a $14,000 Waterfront Development Grant to hire a firm to update a 2007 Verbicher Associates downtown study. The update of the study would detail post-flood redevelopment efforts and would be vital in gaining grant approval. A local match would be required but city officials believe the purchase price of the ten downtown buildings would suffice.
City Mulls Stimulus Dollar Potential
2/3/09 - Members of the Beaver Dam Operations Committee discussed city projects that would be a priority if the state were to secure economic stimulus funds. With the governor setting up a new office in Madison, Engineering Coordinator Ritchie Piltz says now is the time to identify public works projects. Suggestions centered on the city’s Capital Improvements Plan and the many items that were delayed by one year as funding was diverted to the downtown redevelopment plan, including the reconstruction of Warren Street and Green Valley Road as well as the Jefferson School detention basin that is part of the Storm Water Utility project. At the top of the list was the police department / municipal building expansion project. Assemblyman Jeff Fitzgerald told the city its way too early to determine how much money, if any, the city would be eligible for and how it could be used.
Child Exchange Standoff
2/3/09 - A Fall River woman was taken to the Columbus Hospital Monday morning with possible chemical burns suffered during a child custody exchange gone wrong. Fall River Police Chief Brent Van Gysel responded to the 200 block Niehoff Lane just after 11am. The victim told Van Gysel that she went to her ex-boyfriend’s duplex to pick-up her 1-year-old and 3-year-old children. Nicholas Zingg allegedly answered the door with a big knife and after words were exchanged he closed the door and locked it with the kids still inside the residence. Authorities says Zingg ran upstairs, opened a window and dumped what he said was acid on the woman’s head saying ‘now your hair will fall out and your skin will burn.’ Van Gysel called for assistance and a Columbia County Sheriffs detective was able to talk Zingg into releasing the children, who were not harmed. A short time later, the detective was able to convince Zing to surrender. Zing was taken into custody without incident and is being held on arrest warrants from other jurisdictions. His ex-girlfriend was taken to the hospital for burning of the scalp and skin and was released a short time later. No word yet on what kind of liquid was involved.
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