The Dismantling of Celestial6/4/09 - The roof and most of the top floor of the Celestial Building in downtown Beaver Dam has been removed as demolition crews continue to dismantle the structure by hand. Officials say deliberate action is needed because Celestial shares common walls with two structures that are not being demolished. That includes the Fountain Inn Tavern. Its owner Jay Hoeft did not participate in the municipal buy-out and he may face demolition orders from the DNR because his century-old building was constructed over the Beaver Dam River which violates modern state statutes. Demolition work is wrapping up on the 100 block of Front Street where one building remains. The focus will then be on the 200 block, where five buildings will be razed.
DNR Seeks Comments on BD Sewer Project
6/4/09 - The state DNR is accepting public comments on improvements to the Beaver Dam Wastewater Treatment Facility. The plant has exceeded its intended 20-year design life and sewage flows currently surpass the plant’s design capacity. The proposed project will include capacity upgrade of the influent wastewater pumping station, aeration treatment system, and waste sludge digestion system along with minor improvements to existing equipment. The treated effluent will continue to be discharged to the Beaver Dam River through the existing outfall structure at the site. In addition, a new pretreatment system will be installed at the treatment facility to treat the industrial wastewater from the Kraft Foods before sending to the upgraded treatment facility. The waste gas produced from the pretreatment system will be used to generate electricity for operation of the upgraded treatment facility. The estimated construction cost for the proposed project is $18.6 million with an annual operation and maintenance cost of $1.9 million. Residential utility customers will see a average increase of $1.70 from the current $12.30 per month. The city is applying for a low interest loan through the Clean Water Fund. DNR officials say this type of action normally does not have significant environmental effects, but they are asking for public comments before proceeding with approval or denial of the proposal.
DNR Seeks Comments on BD Sewer Project
6/4/09 - The state DNR is accepting public comments on improvements to the Beaver Dam Wastewater Treatment Facility. The plant has exceeded its intended 20-year design life and sewage flows currently surpass the plant’s design capacity. The proposed project will include capacity upgrade of the influent wastewater pumping station, aeration treatment system, and waste sludge digestion system along with minor improvements to existing equipment. The treated effluent will continue to be discharged to the Beaver Dam River through the existing outfall structure at the site. In addition, a new pretreatment system will be installed at the treatment facility to treat the industrial wastewater from the Kraft Foods before sending to the upgraded treatment facility. The waste gas produced from the pretreatment system will be used to generate electricity for operation of the upgraded treatment facility. The estimated construction cost for the proposed project is $18.6 million with an annual operation and maintenance cost of $1.9 million. Residential utility customers will see a average increase of $1.70 from the current $12.30 per month. The city is applying for a low interest loan through the Clean Water Fund. DNR officials say this type of action normally does not have significant environmental effects, but they are asking for public comments before proceeding with approval or denial of the proposal.
Interested parties are asked to provide written or oral comments to Steve Smith, Bureau of Watershed Management, Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, email at Stephen.smith@wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-7580 by June 18, 2009.
Public Comments Sought on Horicon Sewer Pumping Station
6/4/09 - The DNR is seeking public comments on sewage pumping station improvements in Horicon. The city is proposing to reconstruct the sanitary sewer located in Maple Street, between Vine and Clark Streets. In addition, an existing pumping station at the intersection of Rose and Rice Streets will be relocated and replaced. New sewer lines will also be constructed in Rose and Gray Streets. The new pumping station will discharge through a sewer line extending south along Finch Street, and ending at an existing sewer just north of Jassen Street. The projects will replace an aging sewer line and redirect sewage flow from an area that is currently a ‘bottleneck,’ eliminating the potential for sanitary sewer overflows during wet weather. The pumping station discharge will cross a wetland area, but officials say no adverse impacts to the wetland are anticipated. The projects have an estimated cost of $756,000. If Clean Water Fund loans are approved, residential user rates would increase by approximately 8 percent. DNR officials say this type of action normally does not involve significant adverse environmental effects, but they are soliciting public comments on the proposal.
For more information, contact Tom Gilbert, wastewater facility planning coordinator, at (608) 267-7628. People have until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2009, to submit written or oral public comments on the project. Send comments to Mr. Gilbert at 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI 53702 or tom.gilbert@wisconsin.gov. Based on the comments received, the DNR may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with approval or denial of the proposal. The analysis would summarize the DNR’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
Columbus Considers Smart Meters
6/4/09 - The City of Columbus is looking to save money on energy costs by being better able to measure how much electricity is being used. Steve Sobiek, Director of Economic Development and Energy Sustainability recently announced the City’s plan to go before the Public Service Commission to request that Columbus be the first City in the state to have a “smart meter / smart grid” pilot program. Sobiek said “smart meter” technology is available to measure and analyze electricity usage every 50 minutes during the day. The meters can provide a more accurate way to find out how much energy is being used in day-to-day home living and worksite activities. Electrical engineers are actually developing “meters” that can automatically turn appliances such as air conditioners on and off at designated times.
Public Comments Sought on Horicon Sewer Pumping Station
6/4/09 - The DNR is seeking public comments on sewage pumping station improvements in Horicon. The city is proposing to reconstruct the sanitary sewer located in Maple Street, between Vine and Clark Streets. In addition, an existing pumping station at the intersection of Rose and Rice Streets will be relocated and replaced. New sewer lines will also be constructed in Rose and Gray Streets. The new pumping station will discharge through a sewer line extending south along Finch Street, and ending at an existing sewer just north of Jassen Street. The projects will replace an aging sewer line and redirect sewage flow from an area that is currently a ‘bottleneck,’ eliminating the potential for sanitary sewer overflows during wet weather. The pumping station discharge will cross a wetland area, but officials say no adverse impacts to the wetland are anticipated. The projects have an estimated cost of $756,000. If Clean Water Fund loans are approved, residential user rates would increase by approximately 8 percent. DNR officials say this type of action normally does not involve significant adverse environmental effects, but they are soliciting public comments on the proposal.
For more information, contact Tom Gilbert, wastewater facility planning coordinator, at (608) 267-7628. People have until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2009, to submit written or oral public comments on the project. Send comments to Mr. Gilbert at 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI 53702 or tom.gilbert@wisconsin.gov. Based on the comments received, the DNR may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with approval or denial of the proposal. The analysis would summarize the DNR’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
Columbus Considers Smart Meters
6/4/09 - The City of Columbus is looking to save money on energy costs by being better able to measure how much electricity is being used. Steve Sobiek, Director of Economic Development and Energy Sustainability recently announced the City’s plan to go before the Public Service Commission to request that Columbus be the first City in the state to have a “smart meter / smart grid” pilot program. Sobiek said “smart meter” technology is available to measure and analyze electricity usage every 50 minutes during the day. The meters can provide a more accurate way to find out how much energy is being used in day-to-day home living and worksite activities. Electrical engineers are actually developing “meters” that can automatically turn appliances such as air conditioners on and off at designated times.
Dodge Farm Tech Nearing
6/4/09 - There is only about a month and half left before Dodge County hosts Wisconsin’s Farm Technology Days. Around 70 media members got a first hand look yesterday at what will be offered at the event scheduled to run July 21st through 23rd. Executive Committee Chairman Dave Frohling says everything is falling into place as nearly ever vendor booth has been snapped up. Not everything has gone smoothly as a lack of cell towers and internet availability at the rural farm has required some extra work to overcome. Chuck Crave, one of four brothers that owns and operates the facility, says it’s pretty simple to determine what would make the event a success in his mind, attendance. More than 70,000 people are expected at the three day event. For more information you can visit dodgefarmtech.com.
CARE Finishes Petition Circulation
6/4/09 - A Fox Lake-area citizens group has finished circulating its petition to detach from the Waupun School District and join the Randolph district instead. The Chairperson for CARE, Kim Derleth, says they started going door to door in the town and city of Fox Lake two weeks ago and finished the project earlier this week. Derleth says for the most part the response was positive. The petition came in response to the Waupun School District closing three elementary schools, including Fox Lake. The group needed signatures from a majority of those eligible to vote in the city and town. Derleth says they will go over to the signatures today and check them against addresses. If the group is allowed to detach, it would not be until the 2010-2011 schools year. The school boards for Waupun and Randolph both need to approve the detachment. Derleth says if a resident in the city or town did not get to sign the petition they can still do so at Sam’s Gas Station in Fox Lake until next Monday.
FDL Woman Charged for Stealing Drugs from Patient
6/4/09 - A 23-year-old Fond du Lac woman who allegedly stole drugs from an Alzheimer's patient has been charged in Dodge County Court. April Lindvall allegedly took 28 methadone pills from a patient while she was working at the Prairie Ridge Assisted Living Center in Waupun this past February. Lindvall first told investigators she suspected two employees who were let go from the facility on the day of the theft. However she later admitted she took the pills herself. According to the criminal complaint police found a number of narcotic tablets in Lindvall's vehicle. She's free on a signature bond and has a preliminary hearing on June 18th. (KFIZ)
Wisconsin JD Fighting Budget Cuts
6/4/09 - The State Justice Department is going all-out to try-and-reverse what it calls a politically-partisan move to cut its budget. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen held a news conference yesterday, to say his agency is being told to absorb a five-percent cut that other departments are not getting. And according to the Wisconsin State Journal, the Justice Department has given its employees talking points to use in lobbying legislators. Jonathan Becker of the Government Accountability Board says it’s okay for state employees to lobby lawmakers on state time. He said the Justice Department asked if it’s legal – and he can never remember an agency doing that before. Van Hollen says the latest version of the budget would lay off 80 people, and reduce enforcement of environmental and consumer laws. But Democratic finance co-chair Mark Pocan says there needs to be a shared sacrifice in cutting the state’s deficit – and everybody seems to understand it except the attorney general. Pocan said the justice budget has risen 17-percent in the last two-and-a-half years. Justice spokesman Bill Cosh said the employee lobbying is purely voluntary, and a number of workers are doing it. Carrie Lynch of Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker’s office said they were given a script and told to read it.
Public Could Get a Break with New State Budget Measure
6/4/09 - Wisconsin public schools could save over a million-dollars a year under a transportation measure that was just put into the new state budget. The Joint Finance Committee agreed to end the requirement that schools pay parents for each of the children they drive to the same private school, if they send more than one. In other words, they’d get reimbursed for one child, and that’s it. Public schools are required to bus private school youngsters – but if the busing of a private student is over one-and-a-half times the average distance for the public students, a district can pay parents to drive the kids themselves. The amount of the payment varies, but it’s about 400-to-500-dollars a year per child in Madison. The total payments statewide are about three-and-a-half million dollars a year. School officials say it would help their strapped budgets if they could pay parents by the trip instead of by the child. But John Huebscher of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference says districts get state transportation aid for each child, and they should be passing it on. He calls the new measure an added fee for parents who already struggle to pay public school taxes plus private school tuition. Assembly Republican Robin Vos of Caledonia says he’ll try to amend the measure once the budget reaches his house next week.
6/4/09 - There is only about a month and half left before Dodge County hosts Wisconsin’s Farm Technology Days. Around 70 media members got a first hand look yesterday at what will be offered at the event scheduled to run July 21st through 23rd. Executive Committee Chairman Dave Frohling says everything is falling into place as nearly ever vendor booth has been snapped up. Not everything has gone smoothly as a lack of cell towers and internet availability at the rural farm has required some extra work to overcome. Chuck Crave, one of four brothers that owns and operates the facility, says it’s pretty simple to determine what would make the event a success in his mind, attendance. More than 70,000 people are expected at the three day event. For more information you can visit dodgefarmtech.com.CARE Finishes Petition Circulation
6/4/09 - A Fox Lake-area citizens group has finished circulating its petition to detach from the Waupun School District and join the Randolph district instead. The Chairperson for CARE, Kim Derleth, says they started going door to door in the town and city of Fox Lake two weeks ago and finished the project earlier this week. Derleth says for the most part the response was positive. The petition came in response to the Waupun School District closing three elementary schools, including Fox Lake. The group needed signatures from a majority of those eligible to vote in the city and town. Derleth says they will go over to the signatures today and check them against addresses. If the group is allowed to detach, it would not be until the 2010-2011 schools year. The school boards for Waupun and Randolph both need to approve the detachment. Derleth says if a resident in the city or town did not get to sign the petition they can still do so at Sam’s Gas Station in Fox Lake until next Monday.
FDL Woman Charged for Stealing Drugs from Patient
6/4/09 - A 23-year-old Fond du Lac woman who allegedly stole drugs from an Alzheimer's patient has been charged in Dodge County Court. April Lindvall allegedly took 28 methadone pills from a patient while she was working at the Prairie Ridge Assisted Living Center in Waupun this past February. Lindvall first told investigators she suspected two employees who were let go from the facility on the day of the theft. However she later admitted she took the pills herself. According to the criminal complaint police found a number of narcotic tablets in Lindvall's vehicle. She's free on a signature bond and has a preliminary hearing on June 18th. (KFIZ)
Wisconsin JD Fighting Budget Cuts
6/4/09 - The State Justice Department is going all-out to try-and-reverse what it calls a politically-partisan move to cut its budget. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen held a news conference yesterday, to say his agency is being told to absorb a five-percent cut that other departments are not getting. And according to the Wisconsin State Journal, the Justice Department has given its employees talking points to use in lobbying legislators. Jonathan Becker of the Government Accountability Board says it’s okay for state employees to lobby lawmakers on state time. He said the Justice Department asked if it’s legal – and he can never remember an agency doing that before. Van Hollen says the latest version of the budget would lay off 80 people, and reduce enforcement of environmental and consumer laws. But Democratic finance co-chair Mark Pocan says there needs to be a shared sacrifice in cutting the state’s deficit – and everybody seems to understand it except the attorney general. Pocan said the justice budget has risen 17-percent in the last two-and-a-half years. Justice spokesman Bill Cosh said the employee lobbying is purely voluntary, and a number of workers are doing it. Carrie Lynch of Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker’s office said they were given a script and told to read it.
Public Could Get a Break with New State Budget Measure
6/4/09 - Wisconsin public schools could save over a million-dollars a year under a transportation measure that was just put into the new state budget. The Joint Finance Committee agreed to end the requirement that schools pay parents for each of the children they drive to the same private school, if they send more than one. In other words, they’d get reimbursed for one child, and that’s it. Public schools are required to bus private school youngsters – but if the busing of a private student is over one-and-a-half times the average distance for the public students, a district can pay parents to drive the kids themselves. The amount of the payment varies, but it’s about 400-to-500-dollars a year per child in Madison. The total payments statewide are about three-and-a-half million dollars a year. School officials say it would help their strapped budgets if they could pay parents by the trip instead of by the child. But John Huebscher of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference says districts get state transportation aid for each child, and they should be passing it on. He calls the new measure an added fee for parents who already struggle to pay public school taxes plus private school tuition. Assembly Republican Robin Vos of Caledonia says he’ll try to amend the measure once the budget reaches his house next week.
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