Jefferson County Referendum Fails
9/16/09 - Residents in Jefferson County yesterday voted down a referendum that would have raised their property taxes over the next four years to fund the Countryside Home assisted living facility. The county is facing a three-point-five-million-dollar deficit and officials say expenses are exceeding revenues. If the referendum had been approved, property taxes would have increased by sixteen-point-five-percent (16.5%) over the next four years and all the extra tax funding would have been used to fund the facility. Because they are not mandated to run the facility, county officials say the no vote will force the county to put the six-year-old building up for sale. Once sold, the home would be run through the private sector and county residents would no longer be paying for its operation. Nearly 4800 residents said “no” to the ballot question while roughly 3500 voters were in support. Fifteen point five percent (15.5%) of the nearly 53,000 registered voters in Jefferson County cast a ballot in yesterday’s special election.
Udey Dam To Be Repaired
9/16/09 - The Columbus Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday night on two approvals that will move the City toward “repairing” the Udey Dam. After nearly five years of deliberation, residents have been urging the Council to take action on fixing or removing the downtown Crawfish River Dam. The Council approved submission of an application for a Wisconsin DNR grant that could pay for up to $200 thousand dollars of qualified repair costs. The dissenting vote was cast by Council President Ed Parpart, who favored the Dam “removal” option because of lower cost estimates. The Council also ratified a Dam repair agreement with General Engineering for Architectural and Engineering services. The $41, 400 is for site design, bidding coordination and construction administration. That planning money is NOT going to be a part of the Dam repair covered by the grant.
Waupun / Randolph SD’s Split Referendum Costs
9/16/09 - The Waupun and Randolph School Districts will split the cost of a referendum that – if approved – would allow Fox Lake to detach from Waupun and join Randolph. Waupun Superintendent Randy Refsland says because the referendum is the only item on the ballot, law mandates the districts split the bill, which he says will run about $12,000. The two district’s will also be using the same firm to put together a financial impact study, which will show impact of Waupun losing Fox Lake and Randolph adding them. District officials expect the study to be completed before the end of the month, at which point Refsland says they’ll schedule at least four public hearings for residents to become familiar with the numbers.
Wind Mill Bill Passes Senate
9/16/09 - State senator Scott Fitzgerald was in the majority of senators who voted Tuesday afternoon to order statewide standards for locating new high-tech wind energy turbines. The vote was 23-to-9 to let utility-regulators on the Public Service Commission fill in the details. Right now, the state regulates only those farms which produce at least 100-megawatts of power. The new bill would regulate all wind turbines. Those favoring the bill said statewide standards are needed because local communities have gotten too restrictive. And it’s hurting Wisconsin’s windmill industry and the state’s effort to produce 10-percent of its power from renewable sources by 2015. But the bill’s opponents say it’s the local leaders who know how wind-farm proposals could hurt their neighbors – and the state has no business putting its nose in. The measure now goes to the Assembly for a final vote Wednesday.
Assembly Beefing Up OWI Laws
9/16/09 - Majority Democrats in the Wisconsin Assembly announced plans Tuesday to proceed with a package of drunk driving reforms. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said his house plans to vote tomorrow on making four-time O-W-I a felony – and making the first offense a crime if a person younger than 16 is in the vehicle when its stopped. The bill would also make all repeat offenders breathe into ignition interlocks before they can start their vehicles AND make first-time offenders use interlocks if their blood alcohol levels were point-15 or higher. The drunk driving crackdown is one of several measures Democrats vow to pass, saying they’ll all help Wisconsin families.
Oshkosh Man Sentenced in Toilet Plunger Beating
9/16/09 - An Oshkosh man has been sentenced to three years in prison for attacking a 70-year-old man with a toilet plunger in a grocery store’s restroom. Winnebago County Circuit Judge Scott Woldt said he was convinced that 48-year-old Andre Hurst followed the man into the bathroom to rob him – but Hurst still denied that. He copped a plea bargain in which he was convicted of aggravated battery of an elderly person, shoplifting, and resisting an officer. Charges of false imprisonment and armed robbery by force were dropped in the deal. The incident happened April 20th at a Pick-‘N’-Save store in Oshkosh. Authorities said Hurst wrestled with the man and failed to get his wallet – but he did take two steaks and a couple packages of cheese from the store. Hurst claimed he stepped on the man’s foot in the restroom – and when the man called him a name, that’s when the spat began.
Madison Milwaukee Opposite Ends of Family Friendly Spectrum
9/16/09 - Madison is one of the best U-S cities for raising a family, and Milwaukee is among the worst. That’s according to a new survey by Children’s Health Magazine. It ranked Madison only behind Burlington Vermont as the best city for families. Milwaukee was rated 87th among 100 cities, with Detroit being the worst. The survey is based on 30 factors important to parents – like education, crime, health, housing, and the local economy.
9/16/09 - Residents in Jefferson County yesterday voted down a referendum that would have raised their property taxes over the next four years to fund the Countryside Home assisted living facility. The county is facing a three-point-five-million-dollar deficit and officials say expenses are exceeding revenues. If the referendum had been approved, property taxes would have increased by sixteen-point-five-percent (16.5%) over the next four years and all the extra tax funding would have been used to fund the facility. Because they are not mandated to run the facility, county officials say the no vote will force the county to put the six-year-old building up for sale. Once sold, the home would be run through the private sector and county residents would no longer be paying for its operation. Nearly 4800 residents said “no” to the ballot question while roughly 3500 voters were in support. Fifteen point five percent (15.5%) of the nearly 53,000 registered voters in Jefferson County cast a ballot in yesterday’s special election.
Udey Dam To Be Repaired
9/16/09 - The Columbus Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday night on two approvals that will move the City toward “repairing” the Udey Dam. After nearly five years of deliberation, residents have been urging the Council to take action on fixing or removing the downtown Crawfish River Dam. The Council approved submission of an application for a Wisconsin DNR grant that could pay for up to $200 thousand dollars of qualified repair costs. The dissenting vote was cast by Council President Ed Parpart, who favored the Dam “removal” option because of lower cost estimates. The Council also ratified a Dam repair agreement with General Engineering for Architectural and Engineering services. The $41, 400 is for site design, bidding coordination and construction administration. That planning money is NOT going to be a part of the Dam repair covered by the grant.
Waupun / Randolph SD’s Split Referendum Costs
9/16/09 - The Waupun and Randolph School Districts will split the cost of a referendum that – if approved – would allow Fox Lake to detach from Waupun and join Randolph. Waupun Superintendent Randy Refsland says because the referendum is the only item on the ballot, law mandates the districts split the bill, which he says will run about $12,000. The two district’s will also be using the same firm to put together a financial impact study, which will show impact of Waupun losing Fox Lake and Randolph adding them. District officials expect the study to be completed before the end of the month, at which point Refsland says they’ll schedule at least four public hearings for residents to become familiar with the numbers.
Wind Mill Bill Passes Senate
9/16/09 - State senator Scott Fitzgerald was in the majority of senators who voted Tuesday afternoon to order statewide standards for locating new high-tech wind energy turbines. The vote was 23-to-9 to let utility-regulators on the Public Service Commission fill in the details. Right now, the state regulates only those farms which produce at least 100-megawatts of power. The new bill would regulate all wind turbines. Those favoring the bill said statewide standards are needed because local communities have gotten too restrictive. And it’s hurting Wisconsin’s windmill industry and the state’s effort to produce 10-percent of its power from renewable sources by 2015. But the bill’s opponents say it’s the local leaders who know how wind-farm proposals could hurt their neighbors – and the state has no business putting its nose in. The measure now goes to the Assembly for a final vote Wednesday.
Assembly Beefing Up OWI Laws
9/16/09 - Majority Democrats in the Wisconsin Assembly announced plans Tuesday to proceed with a package of drunk driving reforms. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said his house plans to vote tomorrow on making four-time O-W-I a felony – and making the first offense a crime if a person younger than 16 is in the vehicle when its stopped. The bill would also make all repeat offenders breathe into ignition interlocks before they can start their vehicles AND make first-time offenders use interlocks if their blood alcohol levels were point-15 or higher. The drunk driving crackdown is one of several measures Democrats vow to pass, saying they’ll all help Wisconsin families.
Oshkosh Man Sentenced in Toilet Plunger Beating
9/16/09 - An Oshkosh man has been sentenced to three years in prison for attacking a 70-year-old man with a toilet plunger in a grocery store’s restroom. Winnebago County Circuit Judge Scott Woldt said he was convinced that 48-year-old Andre Hurst followed the man into the bathroom to rob him – but Hurst still denied that. He copped a plea bargain in which he was convicted of aggravated battery of an elderly person, shoplifting, and resisting an officer. Charges of false imprisonment and armed robbery by force were dropped in the deal. The incident happened April 20th at a Pick-‘N’-Save store in Oshkosh. Authorities said Hurst wrestled with the man and failed to get his wallet – but he did take two steaks and a couple packages of cheese from the store. Hurst claimed he stepped on the man’s foot in the restroom – and when the man called him a name, that’s when the spat began.
Madison Milwaukee Opposite Ends of Family Friendly Spectrum
9/16/09 - Madison is one of the best U-S cities for raising a family, and Milwaukee is among the worst. That’s according to a new survey by Children’s Health Magazine. It ranked Madison only behind Burlington Vermont as the best city for families. Milwaukee was rated 87th among 100 cities, with Detroit being the worst. The survey is based on 30 factors important to parents – like education, crime, health, housing, and the local economy.
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