Beaver Dam Proposed 2011 Budget
10/20/10 - The Chair of the Beaver Dam Administrative Committee is satisfied with the initial budget numbers for next year. City officials picked up their budget packets this week. The document as presented will pass along an $8.2 million dollar levy to taxpayers, which is an increase of 7.5% over the current budget. Alderman Don Neuert says the committee set that target in drafting the budget. He says he is ecstatic that goal was reached and commends Finance Director John Somers, Mayor Tom Kennedy and the department heads for working hard to reach that number.
The Operations & Maintenance budget is proposed to increase one-point-five percent (1.5%) to $11.8 million dollars. Capital Outlay requests are down four-and-a-half percent (4.59%) to just over $400,000. Debt service is up 22% to nearly one and-a-half million dollars ($1.5 million) for next year. The tax rate, meanwhile, is proposed to increase by 15% to $7.96 per $1000 of assessed value, compared to this years $6.90. The price of an average home in Beaver Dam fell by $8500 to just below $112,000. Based on that number, a taxpayer could expect a $59 increase on the city portion of their tax bill to $889.
Neuert says the document is nearly ready to go to the council floor and he doesn’t know how much more could be cut. The Administrative Committee has scheduled budget deliberations on three consecutive Wednesday’s starting next week. It’s expected to be forwarded to the full council for consideration in mid-November.
County Tax Rate Up About 3.6%
10/20/10 - Tax payers in Dodge County could see a 19-cent increase for the county portion of their tax bill. That was what county board members heard last night as they got their first look at the full 2011 budget. The total proposed levy is about 32.1-million, a half-percent increase over this year. That results in a mill rate of $5.40 and means the owner of a property worth $150,000 would pay $810 for the county portion of their tax bill. The finance committee will hold a meeting next week where department heads and others can ask for changes to the budget. Final budget approval is set for November 9th.
Cost of Columbus Pool Operations Discussed
10/20/10 - Costs and benefits of operating a public outdoor pool were the primary focus at last night’s Columbus Council “budget workshop.” The Columbus Area Aquatic Center Board (C-A-A-C) manages the facility for the City. CPA Phil Roberts told the Council the cost to the City for operation of the Aquatic Center is on a downward trend. Roberts said the Pool’s budget deficit was $91 thousand in 2009 and it has decreased to $35 thousand in the projected 2011 budget.
Next Governor to Deal with Health Care Reform Exchanges
10/20/10 - Wisconsin’s next governor will have to deal with the biggest part of the national health care reform law. States will be required to set up exchanges, where people can buy four types of insurance plans offered by private companies. Democrat Tom Barrett supports the idea, while Republican Scott Walker opposes it. States must have exchanges in place by 2013, or else Washington will do it for them. And low-to-middle income people must buy one of those plans if they want the government to help pay for it. Barrett says he’d like Wisconsin to create its own exchange. He vows to work with insurers, consumers, and others to come up with plans that continue the many choices Wisconsinites now have. Walker says he’d have the attorney general join other states to try and strike down the federal health law.
Polling Shows Johnson/Feingold in Statistical “Dead Heat”
10/20/10 - There’s new evidence that Wisconsin’s U-S Senate race is tightening up. A poll from Saint Norbert College and Wisconsin Public Radio shows that incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold and challenger Ron Johnson are in a statistical dead heat. Johnson has a 49-to-47-percent edge, but it’s within the poll’s five-percent margin of error – which makes the race a toss-up. Several recent polls had the Republican Johnson in the lead. But Feingold says his recent internal polls have him even with the Oshkosh businessman among likely voters. The Saint Norbert poll questioned 400 likely voters between last Tuesday and Friday.
Interstate Expansion Makes Some Progress
10/20/10 - A long-proposed expansion of the Interstate south of Madison took a big step forward yesterday. The state Transportation Projects Commission recommended adding a third lane in each direction on I-39-90 from the capital to the Illinois line. It was one of four projects endorsed by the commission – the first such approvals in eight years. The next governor and Legislature will now be asked to approve the new project. The total price-tag is just over one-and-a-third billion dollars, with the Madison-area Interstate expansion costing 715-million. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan of Janesville has said the project is badly needed to boost the economy and to relieve heavy traffic from Illinois, where the “I” has had six lanes for years. Senate Republican Glenn Grothman of West Bend voted against the project, saying the state should make an expansion of Interstate-43 a priority near Milwaukee.
Milk Production Up
10/20/10 - Wisconsin made more milk last month – but not as much as the national increase. New figures show that Wisconsin produced almost two-point-one billion pounds of milk in September, a half-percent more than the same month a year ago. That’s less than the national increase of three-point-three-percent. It’s also less than the three-point-six percent jump in the 23 major dairy states. Wisconsin had six-thousand more cows than the previous September, and the out-put per cow held steady at 16-hundred-55 pounds. The Badger State remains second in the country in milk production behind California – which had a seven-point-three percent increase in its output from a year ago. The Golden State made almost three-point-three billion pounds of milk with a herd that was 22-thousand cows less than previous year. But its production per cow rose by about 50 pounds. Idaho, the country’s third-largest milk producer, had an eight-percent increase in September.
Local Prosecutors Honored
10/20/10 - The prosecutorial teams for a child pornography possession case in Fond du Lac County and child sexual assault case in Dodge County were recently recognized. The Wisconsin Association of Computer Crime Investigators presented two “Prosecution Team” awards to some of the key individuals involved in the prosecution of former Fond du Lac City Human Resource Director Ben Mercer on child porn possession charges and Lomira resident Ryan Davidson for child sexual assault and incest charges. Most of those recognized were with the state; however in the Davidson case former Dodge County District Attorney Bill Bedker and Lomira Police Sergeant Chris Mireski were also commended. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)
County Tax Rate Up About 3.6%
10/20/10 - Tax payers in Dodge County could see a 19-cent increase for the county portion of their tax bill. That was what county board members heard last night as they got their first look at the full 2011 budget. The total proposed levy is about 32.1-million, a half-percent increase over this year. That results in a mill rate of $5.40 and means the owner of a property worth $150,000 would pay $810 for the county portion of their tax bill. The finance committee will hold a meeting next week where department heads and others can ask for changes to the budget. Final budget approval is set for November 9th.
Cost of Columbus Pool Operations Discussed
10/20/10 - Costs and benefits of operating a public outdoor pool were the primary focus at last night’s Columbus Council “budget workshop.” The Columbus Area Aquatic Center Board (C-A-A-C) manages the facility for the City. CPA Phil Roberts told the Council the cost to the City for operation of the Aquatic Center is on a downward trend. Roberts said the Pool’s budget deficit was $91 thousand in 2009 and it has decreased to $35 thousand in the projected 2011 budget.
Next Governor to Deal with Health Care Reform Exchanges
10/20/10 - Wisconsin’s next governor will have to deal with the biggest part of the national health care reform law. States will be required to set up exchanges, where people can buy four types of insurance plans offered by private companies. Democrat Tom Barrett supports the idea, while Republican Scott Walker opposes it. States must have exchanges in place by 2013, or else Washington will do it for them. And low-to-middle income people must buy one of those plans if they want the government to help pay for it. Barrett says he’d like Wisconsin to create its own exchange. He vows to work with insurers, consumers, and others to come up with plans that continue the many choices Wisconsinites now have. Walker says he’d have the attorney general join other states to try and strike down the federal health law.
Polling Shows Johnson/Feingold in Statistical “Dead Heat”
10/20/10 - There’s new evidence that Wisconsin’s U-S Senate race is tightening up. A poll from Saint Norbert College and Wisconsin Public Radio shows that incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold and challenger Ron Johnson are in a statistical dead heat. Johnson has a 49-to-47-percent edge, but it’s within the poll’s five-percent margin of error – which makes the race a toss-up. Several recent polls had the Republican Johnson in the lead. But Feingold says his recent internal polls have him even with the Oshkosh businessman among likely voters. The Saint Norbert poll questioned 400 likely voters between last Tuesday and Friday.
Interstate Expansion Makes Some Progress
10/20/10 - A long-proposed expansion of the Interstate south of Madison took a big step forward yesterday. The state Transportation Projects Commission recommended adding a third lane in each direction on I-39-90 from the capital to the Illinois line. It was one of four projects endorsed by the commission – the first such approvals in eight years. The next governor and Legislature will now be asked to approve the new project. The total price-tag is just over one-and-a-third billion dollars, with the Madison-area Interstate expansion costing 715-million. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan of Janesville has said the project is badly needed to boost the economy and to relieve heavy traffic from Illinois, where the “I” has had six lanes for years. Senate Republican Glenn Grothman of West Bend voted against the project, saying the state should make an expansion of Interstate-43 a priority near Milwaukee.
Milk Production Up
10/20/10 - Wisconsin made more milk last month – but not as much as the national increase. New figures show that Wisconsin produced almost two-point-one billion pounds of milk in September, a half-percent more than the same month a year ago. That’s less than the national increase of three-point-three-percent. It’s also less than the three-point-six percent jump in the 23 major dairy states. Wisconsin had six-thousand more cows than the previous September, and the out-put per cow held steady at 16-hundred-55 pounds. The Badger State remains second in the country in milk production behind California – which had a seven-point-three percent increase in its output from a year ago. The Golden State made almost three-point-three billion pounds of milk with a herd that was 22-thousand cows less than previous year. But its production per cow rose by about 50 pounds. Idaho, the country’s third-largest milk producer, had an eight-percent increase in September.
Local Prosecutors Honored
10/20/10 - The prosecutorial teams for a child pornography possession case in Fond du Lac County and child sexual assault case in Dodge County were recently recognized. The Wisconsin Association of Computer Crime Investigators presented two “Prosecution Team” awards to some of the key individuals involved in the prosecution of former Fond du Lac City Human Resource Director Ben Mercer on child porn possession charges and Lomira resident Ryan Davidson for child sexual assault and incest charges. Most of those recognized were with the state; however in the Davidson case former Dodge County District Attorney Bill Bedker and Lomira Police Sergeant Chris Mireski were also commended. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)
City Considers Dam Retrofit With Hydraulic Gates
10/19/10 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee Monday night discussed the possibility of installing new gates on the dam. Director of Facilities David Stoiser say the current dam controls water elevation with six wooden boards that are manually slid in and out of the gate. He says the water pressure makes it very dangerous for city workers, especially if it’s done during severe weather. The plan is to replace the gate, not the entire dam, with a hydraulically-operated system that could be automated with a laptop computer. Stoiser says the project estimates were originally around $600,000 but he says the city was recently approached by a contractor working on the treatment plant expansion who says a hydraulic gate could be retrofitted into the existing dam structure for around $200,000. Money to pay for the project would come from the city’s Storm Water Utility fund. The issue will be brought back before the Operations Committee in coming weeks and Stoiser says, if approved, the work could actually be performed over the winter.
Joint Meeting Reviews MPTC Survey Results
10/20/10 - A recent Moraine Park Technical College 2010 Survey of 180 Columbus area businesses yielded a number of promising responses. One indication from the survey was that none of the responding businesses expected to decrease employment in the coming year. The Council and Community Development Authority held a Joint meeting last night to discuss the survey. The City plans to follow up with MPTC working on ways to improve the Columbus business climate by providing management and employee training programs.
Poynette Woman Sentenced In Bank Robbery
10/20/10 - A Columbia County woman will spend 41 months in a federal prison for her role in a bank robbery. 34-year-old Jennifer DeBoef of Poynette drove the getaway car. The money was stolen by 28-year-old Gregory Allen of Memphis, Tennessee. He jumped over a counter at an Anchor Bank branch in February, and took money from two teller drawers. When he left, the money was stained red when a pack of dye exploded. DeBoef later spent some of that money at the Portage Wal-Mart – and that led officers to her home in Poynette where she, Allen, and Allen’s brother Raymond were taken into custody. Gregory Allen was previously sentenced to 11 years in prison for committing the robbery. Raymond Allen got 15 months in prison for concealing and disposing of the stolen money.
Barrett, Walker Agree On What Not To Do
10/20/10 - Both major candidates for Wisconsin governor have promised not to do what Jim Doyle did – use designated highway money for things like schools instead. Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Tom Barrett made separate appearances today to road-builders who are in the state’s Transportation Development Association. Both supported a constitutional amendment to ban raids on the state gas tax fund. The road-builders convinced 53 counties to have advisory referendums on the amendment in November, to put heat on lawmakers to pass such a ban. Barrett also said he would prevent lawmakers from being able to put local roads in the state budget, to create more funding for projects of regional-and-state importance. Walker repeated his plan to put tolls on the newly-built express lanes of major highways – and he supported previous G-O-P efforts to use part of the sales tax from vehicles for new-and-improved roads. Barrett said he opposed all tolls, and he favors shoring up existing roads over the building of new highways. Both candidates spoke in advance of a meeting of the state’s Transportation Projects Commission, which approves new state highway projects. The panel has not met since Governor Doyle took office in 2003, since Doyle said the state didn’t have the money to come up with new projects. The panel will consider four projects, including the much-discussed expansion of Interstate 39-90 from Madison to the Illinois line.
Wisconsin Mourns Loss Of Tom Bosley
10/20/10 - Tom Bosley has died. His agent confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the 83-year-old star of “Happy Days” passed away at his Palm Springs home. Reports said he was fighting a staph infection. Bosley played the mild-mannered father of the Cunningham family on the A-B-C comedy that was based in Milwaukee when rock-and-roll was in its infancy. It ran for 11 seasons from 1974 through ‘84. Bosley played a variety of roles, and was a familiar voice in T-V commercials. But his biggest role was that of Howard Cunningham, who owned a hardware store and calmly gave out advice to his teens from the comfort of his easy chair. “Happy Days” actor Henry Winkler, who’s honored in a life-size statue in downtown Milwaukee, is quoted as saying that Bosley was their mentor, a true artist, a great husband, and a fabulous father and grand-father. Winkler, who played Fonzie on the show, said Bosley would be quote, “sorely missed but never forgotten.”
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