Top Stories, October 5th

Committee Sets Budget Parameters

10/5/10 - The Beaver Dam Administrative Committee last night set basic parameters for the 2011 budget. Finance Director John Somers told the committee that early figures indicate that the city needs to levy for $8.4 million dollars, which is a ten percent increase over this year’s budget or roughly $800,000 more. Somers asked direction from the committee going forward about the percentage increase they would like to see as he prepares the budget. Alderman John Litscher echoed the sediments of many of his colleagues when he suggested that 7% to 8% would be a good starting point. Alderwoman Dona Maly said the target should be closer to 6%. In addition to employee wages and benefits – which account for roughly 65% of city costs – the main forces driving the upcoming budget are the new $5.1 million dollar police station and a widespread decrease in property values. As it stands now, Somers says the lower property values could turn a ten percent levy increase into a 13% hike in the mill rate. Somers anticipates that the Administrative Committee will have the budget finalized by the end of the month with adoption considered on the floor during the city’s second council meeting in November.

Ceremony Planned To Honor Kachelski

10/5/10 - A ceremony to honor deceased Beaver Dam mayor Robert Kachelski will be held in June. Mayor Tom Kennedy announced the plans prior to the passage of a resolution last night recognizing Kachelski for his years of service to the community. Kennedy says there will be a plaque in his honor hung in City Hall as well as a tree planting ceremony to coincide with what would have been Kachelski’s 84th birthday. Kachelski died last week. He served two, six-year stints in office from 1974 to 1980 and then again from 1988 to 1994. The resolution reads that Kahelski “was a faithful community leader for over 25 years…who will be missed but not forgotten.”

Council Tables Cellar License Suspension

10/5/10 - The Beaver Dam Common Council last night tabled action on the possible liquor license suspension of a local tavern. The Cellar faces a 30-day suspension after police say they responded to four fights there in five months. The resolution is only the second one to be considered since the city’s demerit point system was adopted last year to identify and address problem establishments. The Administrative Committee last month voted 5 to 1 for a month-long suspension. Chair Don Neuert says the delay will allow the council to adequately review written objections from the defendants that were submitted yesterday afternoon. The full Common Council will now consider the suspension at their October 18 meeting.

BDPD Investigates Assault & Robbery

The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating an assault and robbery that occurred Friday night. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert says officers were called just before 9pm to a report of a male subject who needed to go to the hospital. The victim told responding officers that he was beat up on the 1000 block of South Lincoln Avenue and had his wallet taken. The suspects are described as Hispanic males; one was approximately five-foot seven, 170 pounds wearing a dark hoodie. The other suspect was around five-foot four, 115 pounds with a red t-shirt. Both subjects were wearing white shoes and spoke in Spanish. Anyone with information should contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Bike Auction Planned

10/5/10 - The Beaver Dam Police Department will be holding a bike auction later this month. Lt. John Kreuziger says the city ordinance allows the department to sell-off excess bicycles and other confiscated property held for more than 30 days. It has been a while since a local bicycle auction was held; for the past several years the department disposed of excess property using online auction services. Kreuziger says this auction will also be an opportunity for people to get back bicycles lost or stolen in the past year. There will be a short public viewing of the property for sale prior to the actual auction, which once again will be held at noon on Saturday, October 23 in the new Department of Public Works and Wastewater storage building near the corner of Myrtle and Beltline on the far south edge of the city.