Top Stories October 19th

DC Board Votes Not to Increase Insurance Contribution

10/19/11 - Roughly 90 employees and union representatives were on hand last night as a resolution to increase Dodge County’s premium contribution rate for health insurance was defeated by the Board of Supervisors. The issue stems from the passage of Wisconsin Act 10, which is forcing employees to pay about 12-percent toward their health insurance. However, because of rate increases by one of the insurance providers in Dodge County some employees would be paying as much as 19-percent if the county’s contribution was the 60-percent recommended by the Human Resources Committee. The resolution brought forward by six supervisors last night would have raised the contribution to 65-percent and had minimum premiums of $25 for a single plan and $50 for a family plan. However, that plan was found not to be in compliance with state regulations and was defeated. A resolution setting the contribution at 62.5-percent was also shot down. One of the supervisors who brought the initial resolution, Roger Mattson, told County Administrator Jim Mielke that the impact of the 19-percent contribution would be hardest on those making the least money. In response, Mielke said that while he would follow the directions they gave him, the 65-percent contribution would force the county to cut about $680,000 from the 2012 budget and might have to include layoffs. It’s possible that the contributions could be revisited during budget deliberations, which get underway this afternoon when the Finance Committee meets.

Conceal Carry Resolution Postponed

10/19/11 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors postponed taking action on a resolution that would limit people from bringing weapons into county owned buildings. That’s after several supervisors raised some concerns including, how the county would enforce the policies and possibly liability issues if they posted signs informing the public about the ban. Supervisor Jeff Berres suggested the county postpone a decision and look at the possibility of putting controls only where they’re needed, like the courthouse, jail, sheriff’s department. The resolution was postponed until the board’s December meeting. The law allowing concealed carry goes into effect November 1st.

Frederiksen Sentenced for Previous Crimes

10/19/11 - A teen charged with attacking a woman in her Horicon home was sentenced yesterday to 13-years in prison on unrelated charges. 18-year-old Cory Frederiksen had been on deferred prosecution, meaning had he stayed out of trouble his record would have been cleared of the charges. However, those cases were brought back for sentencing in the wake of his attack on his neighbor, Candia Rehse, earlier this year. The other cases included two counts of burglary and one count of theft. He also was sentenced for criminal damage to property and resisting/obstructing an officer. Frederiksen is facing six felony charges for the attack on Rehse, including attempted First Degree Intentional Homicide. He’s due in court next month for a hearing on that case.

Testimony in Murder for Hire Trial Begins

10/19/11 - Jurors in Waukesha County will hear their first full day of testimony in the murder-for-hire trial of Darren Wold and Jack Johnson. District Attorney Brad Schimel said in his opening argument that both defendants offered seven-thousand-dollars to Justin Welch to have him kill Wold’s former girlfriend. Authorities said Welch killed 39-year-old Kimberly Smith two years ago so Wold could have sole custody of their young son. The 28-year-old Welch has pleaded guilty to the slaying – and he agreed to testify against Wold and Johnson to have a chance at a supervised prison release when he’s 60. Defense lawyers Mark Rosen and Anthony Rosario called Welch a predator, and said he would lie on the witness stand to get a better sentencing deal. Rosen represents Johnson, and Rosario is the attorney for Wold. Both lawyers said their own clients had nothing to do with the murder-for-hire scheme – and each blamed the other’s client for what happened. The trial is expected to run for about a month.

Columbus Approves Extension for Eisenga

10/19/11 - The City Council approved a payment extension for the Columbus Commerce Center and developer Michael Eisenga last night. Upon recommendation of legal counsel and the Planning Commission the Council approved a Certified Planning Map and the payment-due extension with conditions. Columbus Attorney Randy Lueders read the nine conditions, which included the developers’ responsibility to pay legal fees associated with the recent amendment and an agreement to comply with planning map engineering requirements. The proposed Columbus Commerce Center development is on the northwestern edge of the City adjacent to Highway 151.

Quad Closing Plants in VA and OK

10/19/11 - One of the largest Dodge County employers is closing two plants in other states. Sussex-based Quad Graphics, which has a plant in Lomira, said late Monday that they will close printing plants in Richmond, Virginia and Stillwater, Oklahoma and consolidating the work from the plants at their other facilities. According to company officials, the Richmond facility will close in December and affect 125 people while the facility in Stillwater will be closing in May of 2012 and affect 240 people. It’s unclear how many, if any, of the jobs may be consolidated to Wisconsin plants. Officials say the closures continue the company’s ongoing plans to integrate operations following the acquisition of Worldcolor Press in July of last year.

Legislative Session Off to a Slow Start

10/19/11 - Wisconsin’s special legislative session on job creation got off to a slow start yesterday. The Assembly passed several bills, including one to ease restrictions on the sale of lawn fertilizers with phosphorus – and one to end the controversial Earn-a-Buck program for deer hunters. That drew more criticism from minority Democrats, who said the measures fell short of Governor Scott Walker’s demand for a “laser-like focus on jobs.” G-O-P leaders said the bills they approved – including the expansion of a tax credit for new job creation – will help the economy. And they noted that committees approved 10-of-11 bills with support from both parties. But the most controversial bills have not had hearings yet. Those include Walker’s newest legal reform measures, with limits on legal fees in consumer cases – and the bill to give immunity from civil suits to the makers of drugs and medical devices whose products have been approved by the F-D-A. Also, the two biggest economic measures promised for this fall are not part of the special jobs session. Those are the bills that would speed up the state’s process of approving new mines – and the bill to devote millions of tax dollars as venture capital to new high-tech firms. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says a mining package could be ready this fall, but the venture capital plan might not be set until early next year. Meanwhile, the Republican Walker received a standing ovation yesterday from hundreds of business leaders at a forum in Madison. He defended the current special session, saying the bills are “bread-and-butter issues” that will create a better environment for job creation.

Comments on Cuts to Medicaid to be Heard Today

10/19/11 - Wisconsinites will get their first chance today to comment on the proposed cuts in the state’s Medicaid health programs for the poor and the elderly. State health officials will hold town hall meetings today in Madison, and on Friday in Milwaukee. The Save Badger-Care Coalition says it will speak out against the cuts. That group represents advocates for children, the elderly, and public health organizations. State officials say Medicaid has built up huge deficits due to higher health costs and more clients, many of whom are victims of the Great Recession. Health services secretary Dennis Smith has proposed over 550-million-dollars in spending cuts in the forms of tighter eligibility for benefits and higher premiums. The state is also asking for a federal waiver – and without it, over 50-thousand recipients could lose their health coverage. After this week’s meetings, the state will ask federal health officials to approve the cuts.

Search Called Off for Chicago Man

10/19/11 - A water search has been temporarily suspended for a suburban Chicago man who apparently drowned after his canoe capsized in Lake Michigan off Door County’s Washington Island. The victim was identified yesterday as 45-year-old Mayur Patel of Highland Park Illinois. He and another man were in the canoe when it capsized Sunday afternoon in winds of over 30-miles-an-hour. The other man swam to shore, but Patel stayed with the canoe before going under. Rescue divers and a search plane combed the area yesterday, but saw no sign of the victim. Sheriff’s deputies say the water patrols will be cut out for the next couple of days, because strong winds are expected to return – but officers will keep searching the shoreline.