CITY OF RIPONCOMMON COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers, City Hall
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
7:00 p.m.
I. Call to order/roll call
II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation
III. Public communications and comment
1. Update – status of plans to allow limited deer hunting by Team Ripon
IV. Consent calendar
1. Ordinance – annexing land north and east of Hwy 44 & Douglas Street
2. Plan Commission minutes – November 20th
a. Certified Survey Map – City of Ripon (new industrial park site)
3. Resolution – appointment of various election officials for 2-year terms
4. Resolution – writing off certain uncollectible accounts for services
5. Resolution – authorizing limited bow hunting by Team Ripon
V. Other business
1. Resolution – approving special assessments for Stanton Street project
(Staff note: Last month, the Council held a public hearing on special assessments for the Stanton Street project. At that time, the new owner of Stanton Street Estates voiced concern on the amount assessed to this apartment complex. He argued that only front footage should be used, and that residential units should not be a factor. Staff reviewed various options and recommends that TID #5 cover 2/3 of general construction costs assigned to the 2 properties in this district - Stanton Street Estates and Alliance Laundry Systems. This cuts Stanton Street Estates general construction assessment from $48,635 to $16,212, and total assessment from $57,611 to $25,188, with a similar percentage for Alliance. The owner of the apartments finds this proposal to be acceptable.)
2. Application for “Class B” liquor license - Classic Adventures, LLC
(Staff note: In early November, the City solicited applications for the available “Class B” liquor license surrendered by Longshots. Attached is an application from Classic Adventures, LLC, which is the only one received. The Police Chief and City Attorney reviewed the materials submitted, and they have no concerns with this applicant.)
3. Agreements for various municipal services
a) Health insurance – Network Health
(Staff note: The City received the attached renewal notice from
its current health insurance provider – Network Health – and it
includes a 9% premium increase. This is below the average in
the area, and staff recommends approval.)
b) City assessor – Action Appraisers & Consultants, Inc.
(Staff note: The City solicited proposals for assessing services
for the 5-year period from 2008-2012. As noted on the attached memo from Assistant to the City Administrator Lori Rich, staff recommends Action Appraisals, at the cost of $149,500 over the 5-year period (includes a revaluation in 2012).
c) Property insurance – recommendation to be made at the meeting
(Staff note: The City solicited proposals for property/liability
insurance for the 3-year period from 2008-2010. Staff is now
reviewing 6 bids submitted, and will offer a recommendation at Tuesday night’s meeting.)
4. 2008 agreement with independent contractor for recreation services
(Staff note: On November 26th, Councilmember Schueler asked that the City seek bids for the independent contractor for recreation services. As noted on the November 20th Park & Recreation Committee minutes, the Committee recommends signing a new 1-year contract with the current provider. The 2007 contract and list of expectations for the independent contractor are attached for your review.)
5. Ordinance – charging and collecting fees for fire calls
(Staff note: The Ripon Area Fire District wants its municipalities to adopt ordinances similar to the attached one, establishing charges for responding to fire calls, and setting a procedure where the municipality is responsible for certifying any unpaid bills to the property tax roll. On Tuesday, we will discuss the attached ordinance, and if it is found to be acceptable, staff will put it on our January agenda as an action item.)
6. Review and discuss proposed Downtown Ripon Strategic Plan
(Staff note: On November 26th, Vandewalle presented the Downtown Ripon Strategic Plan. The intent is for Council and other organizations to adopt the plan in the next couple of months, then the implementation phase can begin. On Tuesday, we will discuss the plan, particularly the recommendations that would require City participation.)
7. Request from Deer Advisory Team – use of contingency funds
(Staff note: On November 28th, the Deer Advisory Team met to discuss the results of recent Council meetings. At that time, the team approved a motion asking Council to reserve the $5000 placed in contingency for a sharpshooter, in case it is needed for this purpose later in 2008.)
8. Resolution – salary increases for Mayor and City Council members
(Staff note: It has been several years since the last pay increase given to the mayor and council, and a survey of comparable cities indicates that we might have fallen behind a bit in compensating our elected officials. Discarding the highest and lowest salaries, the average of these cities is $6900 for mayor and $3570 for council members. Based on this data, staff drafted the attached resolution increasing pay to $7000 for mayor and $3600 for council, effective with officials elected in April 2008.)
VI. Reports from standing committees and staff
1. Community Development Authority minutes – October 10th
2. Historic Preservation minutes – November 5th
3. Ripon Area Fire District minutes – November 14th
4. Park & Recreation Committee minutes – November 20th
5. Loan Review Board minutes – November 26th
6. Common Council minutes – November 26th (special and regular meetings)
7. Ripon Public Library minutes – November 27th
8. Board of Zoning Appeals – November 28th
9. Building Inspector’s report – November
10. EMS report – November
11. Public Works report – November
12. Fire District report – November
13. Police Department report – November
14. Senior Center report – November
15. City Administration reports
a. Treasurer’s report – November
b. Budget report – November
c. Check Register – November
VII. Mayor communications and appointments
VIII. Agenda items for future Council meetings
IX. Adjourn to closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(e) “Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session”
RE: Possible acquisition of land
RE: Contract for services – comprehensive plan
RE: Lease and agreement for use of City property
Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) “Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility”
RE: 2008 pay increases for non-union employees
RE: City Administrator’s review and new contract
Monday, December 10, 2007
12-10 COUNCIL AGENDA RELEASED
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED
MAYOR ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID
(Ripon, WI – December 10, 2007) – Ripon Mayor Aaron Kramer will seek another term in office, announcing his intention to seek re-election in the April 2008 election. Kramer was first selected as Mayor by the Common Council in a special election in June 2003. He was unopposed in his first re-election bid in April 2004, and his re-election bid in April 2006.
“As I have in the past, I weigh my decision to seek re-election on two questions – can I provide the leadership the citizens have earned and deserve, and do the good days outweigh the bad days as mayor,” said Kramer. “As has been the case in previous years, I believe the answer to both is a resounding yes.”
Kramer noted that the previous two years have been very productive for the City of Ripon. “When I sought re-election in 2006, I aimed for three goals: an expansion of the city’s industrial park, a commitment to the city’s infrastructure, and more positive moves toward beautifying the community overall,” said Kramer. “We have met the first two of the goals and are working harder than ever toward the third.”
Ripon has finalized the largest expansion of the current Industrial-Business Park since its creation in the 1970s. The city helped with the launching of the two largest subdivisions in a generation, offering nearly 100 lots for new and current residents to choose from. The city has also been able to increase its investment in new streets, while increasing the amount it spends on resurfacing current streets to extend their useful lives. In 2008, the city will launch a major redevelopment of the downtown, aimed at improving the look of, the character of and the ease of shopping in and locating a business in downtown Ripon.
“We have been able to launch and nurture many positive, pro-active programs and initiatives in the past two years, while keeping the increases to the average tax bill below the rate of inflation,” noted Kramer. “In fact, this year, the city’s mill rate remained the same as it had been in 2006. This is a testament to the outstanding staff at City Hall, and the department heads we have in the city.”
“During my more than four years as mayor, I have seen the amount of pride and confidence grow by leaps and bounds in this city,” said Kramer. “I believe our best days as a community are ahead.”
= 30 =
FOR MORE INFORMATIONHome : 920-745-2578 Cell Phone: 920-291-5250 E-mail: arkramer@charter.net
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Father Wally addressed the problems of his new vast congregation, by becoming a leader in establishing schooling and medical care, building a catechetical center, established road and home construction crews, initiated water projects, and created a fishing industry for the Kuna Indian tribe; and,
WHEREAS, in 1996, Ripon Rotary raised $15,000 and obtained a $15,000 matching grant from Rotary International to help finance the largest water system in rural Panama, providing clear, potable water to about 7,000 people living in more than a dozen communities who up to this point could rely only on polluted lowland stream water; and,
WHEREAS, a group of people of all ages and gender from the Ripon area have traveled to the jungles of Panama to do mission work with Father Wally beginning in 1994, on seven different trips varying in length of approximately ten days;, and,
WHEREAS, the City of Ripon has in the past several years adopted and linked themselves with the sister cities of Opelousas, Louisiana and Ripon, England;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Aaron Kramer, mayor of the city of Ripon, Wisconsin, do hereby formally declare, on this 26th day of November in the year 2007, that the city of Ripon and its inhabitants are officially linking, as a sister city, with the city of Wacuco, Panama and its residents, as well as those who call the surrounding area home, and encourage further interaction and cooperation between the two regions in a continuous effort to foster further understanding of our cultures and traditions.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Ripon Produces Strategic Plan for Downtown Development
COUNCIL RECAP - November 26, 2007
BUDGET APPROVED FOR 2008
Prior to the regular meeting, the council passed the 2008 budget. No one spoke for or agains the budget. While the overall levy will go up, due to a growth in assessable property, the mill rate will remain the same. This is the fourth time in five budgets that the mill rate or levy has remained the same, which I credit our hard-working, diligent staff for.
DOWNTOWN PLAN UNVEILED
The proposed downtown strategic plan has been unveiled. The plan (it is a large PDF file, so beware) can be found here. It is located on the Ripon Main Street website - http://www.riponmainst.com/. The next step for the plan is approval by the Council on December 11th and the Plan Commission on December 19th. About 50 people were present for the unveiling and discussion. Needless to say, there will be more debate in the future on the 100 or so specific recommendations, but this is a positive step for the downtown and the city, as a whole. Change can be frightening, and it can bring out the worst in people, as they can be afraid of the changed future. Yet, change can also bring out the best in people as minds work together and ideas are brought into the light, and that is my hope for this plan and the downtown.
WACUCO BECOMES SISTER CITY
The city of Ripon has officially linked with Wacuco, Panama, where Ripon native Father Wally Kasuboski does his incredible missionary work. Father Wally spoke before the Council last night, and highlighted some of the wonderful water and road projects his group is working on. On seven different occasions, groups from Ripon have gone down to Panama to help with various projects, including the construction of a high school. Ripon is now sister cities with Opelousas, Louisiana, Ripon, England and Wacuco.
STANTON STREET ASSESSMENTS DELAYED
The final proposed assessments for the Stanton Street reconstruction have been delayed until December 11th. The new owners of the Stanton Street apartments are opposed to the current formula, which has them picking up a large portion of the assessable costs. The council has asked the staff to look at shifting more of the costs to the Tax Increment District which includes the apartments and Alliance's warehouse. Work is still expected to begin in the spring of 2008.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
* State Representative Joan Ballweg discussed the state of affairs in Madison and her vote for the 2008-10 state budget
* A number of increases in ambulance fees were approved to keep pace with inflationary pressures
* Work continues on the proposed deer hunt in Ripon. A number of locations have been identified where bow hunting could take place
* A bid was approved for the remodeling of the lower half of City Hall into a senior center. The budget included $25,000, while the low bid was less than $14,000. This allows for some cushion when it comes to furnishings and unexpected cost overruns. The project cannot begin until the fire department is moved out of City Hall
Monday, November 26, 2007
STATE DEBT CLIMBS 87 PERCENT IN TEN YEARS
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=689757
According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the state had $8.28 billion in general-obligation, transportation and environmental debt in mid-2006; the same debts totaled $4.41 billion in 1996. The 87% increase was three times the U.S. inflation rate over that period. Figures show that debt rose the most - by $1.8 billion- under Thompson between 1996 and 2001, when he resigned to become a cabinet secretary for President Bush. Debt increased by more than $1.5 billion in Doyle's first three years. Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, said the growing debt is another risky budget decision governors and legislators have made to benefit themselves politically. Also rising is annual debt-service payments on those bonds: Principal and interest payments on general-obligation bonds will exceed $700 million for the first time this year; and payments on transportation bonds will cost an additional $174 million.
That $874 million is cash that can't be used for other important programs. By comparison, that amount is close to what it cost to run the state's prison system last year.
Officials say there are several reasons for the soaring debt:
• Hemmed in by past no-tax-increase promises, legislators and governors have instead OK'd record borrowing to have the best of both election-year worlds - continued spending for popular programs while pushing paying for those programs off into the future.
• The need to maintain spending on highway repair and construction projects such as the new Marquette Interchange in downtown Milwaukee. Investments in transportation projects translate into economic development, said state Budget Director Dave Schmiedicke. But bonding for transportation has soared over the past two years. When Doyle finished rewriting the Legislature's budget with vetoes two years ago, it authorized $716 million in new transportation bonds. Transportation bonding dropped to $540 million in the budget passed last month, but only because several fees paid by drivers and truckers were raised.
• New construction on University of Wisconsin System campuses - projects paid for with student fees and general tax dollars. The most expensive UW System project authorized in the new state budget is the $87.7 million replacement of Union South on the UW-Madison campus.
• Environmental protection and cleanup programs. The Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program, which buys pristine recreational land to keep it from being developed, started in the 1990s and will require an additional $86 million a year in debt starting in 2011.
Supporters of the stewardship program say its costs have grown because the value of those recreational lands has increased, in part because of development pressures.
Berry said state government's worsening debt load is irresponsible and risky. That amount of new debt "is unequivocally a step away from - not toward - reducing state deficits," Berry said.
And rising annual payments to pay off that debt handcuff what the state can spend in the future, he said.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
HAPPY THANKSGIVING - WORDS TO REMEMBER
ONE MORE TRY AT THE TURF FUNDING ISSUE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FUNDING PLAN
* The length of the lease will be eight years between the Ingalls Field Group and the school district.
* The school district's commitment is $23,200 for seven years, with the Ingalls Field Group paying the school districts portion the last year. Taxes have NOT been raised.
* The College commitment is 250,000 plus interest for an eight year period
* The Ingalls Field group is going to pick up the balance, which will be around $360,000. The balance is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit from Johnson Bank. We will not be borrowing the entire amount. I would estimatethat we will borrow around $250,000-280,000.
* The city really has no financial obligation in this project
* When you start adding totals you are mixing budgeted amounts and commitments plus interest, so the totals are meaningless.
* Field Turf Financial is the source of funding for the project. The interest rate is not set yet, but will be approximately 4.8% for the District /College portion and 5.2 % for the Ingalls group.
* We have around $200,000 raised privately.
* Anyone who is saying the fundraisers did not sell all the raffle tickets for the GTO or are falling way behind on the fundraising are WRONG. I won't call them liars, but rather misguided.
* There are rumors that the project will exceed $1 million. I can swear on a stack of bibles that I am not aware of ANY cost overruns, and those people spreading the million dollar story are showing their true malicious side on this issue.
* I have supported the project because I believe it is a positive, long-term investment in our community. I support it as a private citizen. I have NEVER used my position as Mayor to push this project.
If you need more information, please contact Cris Johnson or Rick Ketter. I will be happy to provide emails or phone numbers to anyone who asks.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
RIPON LOOKING AT A THIRD SISTER CITY
Two years ago, the City of Ripon linked with Opelousas, Louisiana as a sister city. Last year, we did the same with Ripon, England. On Monday, I will ask the Council to link us with Wacuco, Panama, where Ripon native Father Wally Kasuboski has done such wonderful work. We are also considering a fourth sister city in Continental Europe. It is my hope that little things like this can make this a better city and world to live, work and play in. Stay tuned. I will post the official sister city proclamation when it is finished. Father Wally is scheduled to address the Council this Monday night the 26th around 7 PM.
Monday, November 19, 2007
WISCONSIN'S BOND RATINGS CUT
This is not good for the state. I am proud of the bond rating for the city of Ripon, and I can only wish that the state begins to clear up its financial house and get their finances in order, soon:
MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has cut its rating outlook on Wisconsin's debt to stable from positive, reflecting Wisconsin's continued efforts to build budgetary reserves consistent with a higher rating. The ratings agency affirmed its 'AA-' underlying rating (SPUR) on Wisconsin's GO debt while it assigned its 'AA-' rating to Wisconsin's 154.89 mln usd GO bonds series 2007C. S&P also affirmed its 'A+' SPUR on the state's appropriation-backed debt, its 'A-1+ rating on the state's CP notes, and its 'A-' SPUR on debt issued for Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority by the state. Wisconsin's high levels of nondiscretionary spending for schools, coupled with maintenance of the current revenue structure, continues to impede the potential for consistent and meaningful surpluses on a year-to-year basis, S&P said (italics mine). However, if the state's revenue forecasts prove conservative and the state demonstrates an ongoing commitment to building reserves, credit quality could improve over time, it added. The 'AA-' rating on Wisconsin's GO bonds reflects the state's improvement toward restoring fiscal balance to the general fund and maintenance of good liquidity, resilient economy, moderate debt burden and fully funded pension and other post employment benefit liabilities, the ratings agency said.
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/11/15/afx4341856.html
Ripon United Way fund-raising dinner returns Nov. 19
Hope to see all of you there....
Ripon Area United Way's annual fund-raising dinner returns Monday, Nov. 19, with an Italian twist.
This year, the dinner moves to Ripon College's Great Hall, where an Italian buffet will greet diners. Dinner will be served 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Advanced tickets, $10 per adult, can be purchased at Pick'n Save, Ripon Drug, the Ripon Chamber office and M&I Bank. Tickets will be sold at the door for $12 per adult and $5 for children 10 and under and carryouts are available.
The menu will include a mixed green salad with four choices of dressing, beef and pork lasagna medley and a cheesy vegetarian lasagna, homemade bread and a variety of cookies and bars for dessert. One non-alcoholic beverage is included with the price, although a cash bar will also be offered, according to an agency press release.
A silent auction featuring a washer donated by Alliance Laundry Systems, plus many other items, will be held during the dinner. Winning bidders will be announced at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the fund-raising dinner and silent auction help to fund Ripon Area United Way's efforts. Ninety-six percent of every dollar received will be used to support individuals in the Ripon community through 17 recipient agencies.
Great Hall, which is handicapped accessible, is located on the corner of Seward and Elm streets. Parking is available in the lot across the street at the corner of Seward and Woodside as well as on the west corner of Seward and Elm next to Great Hall, also next to Carnegie, and behind Smith Hall entering from Elm or Ransom.
Ripon College will offer shuttle services to and from all these parking lots throughout the evening. Parking is also available on Seward, Woodside and Elm streets.
PLAN COMMISSION TO MEET ONE DAY EARLY
The Plan Commission will meet Tuesday November 20th, one day early, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Here is the agenda for the meeting (my comments are in italics) :
* Call to order/roll call
* Approve meeting minutes – October 17th
* Action items
Certified Survey Map – Wachholz Funeral Home - The funeral home is looking to parcel off about seven acres to the east of their current property
Certified Survey Map – Jeffrey Bethke - Looking to add a section of land to the back of his property off Newbury Street
Certified Survey Map – Peter Gratton - Looking to subdivide two parcels along Highway E
Certified Survey Map – City of Ripon (industrial park) - Breaks the current expansion of the Industrial Park into sellable lots
Site plan – Seneca Foods - Looking to build a 10,000-square foot facility on their land
* TIF District #4 amendment - The city will be considering a plan to expand the current TIF (which consists of the current Industrial Park to add the land we purchased last year)
Review proposed project plan
Review proposed boundaries
Establish public hearing date
* Project updates
Status of comprehensive planning with Town of Ripon - The city and the town continue to make slow but steady progress on a Smart Growth plan for future development and plannning
Status of TIF District #6 neighborhood planning process - The city is looking to expand the TIF District (Highway 23 West) to include several parcels to the north and east for redevelopment and possible infrastructure projects
* Future meeting topics
* Adjourn
ANSWERS TO A POSTING - PART FOUR
Q7: Why was no landscaping plan required of the college, when it appears that one was required of Aurora Clinic?
I cannot speak for the entire Plan Commission, but, in my opinion, the landscaping plan for Aurora was necessary due its location on a main highway in one of our business districts. Aurora was very good to work with on the plan. As for the college's plans, they had said they would try to keep as many trees and bushes as feasible. One resident asked for large trees and berms to block their view of the dorm. That is simply not reasonable. Why would the college put up a $3 million building and then try to block the view? I would ask you to drive past the dorm and tell me what is disturbing to the eye landscaping-wise.
Q8: Surely the minutes of the Council meeting of October 9, 2007, have been approved by now. When will they be posted? Were the minutes of the October 22, 2007, meeting approved at the November 12, 2007, meeting? With regard to the downtown redevelopment proposal, I hold little hope for your statement “I am pushing for copies to be placed on-line at either the City of Ripon website or the Ripon Main Street site” when even the minutes aren’t posted in a timely manner.
The Council did not meet on November 12th due to the lack of a quorum. And I am sorry you do not think we will be posting copies of the Downtown plan on the Internet quick enough. I can only encourage the various groups involved to do so.
Q: If I correctly understand the financing plans for each group, it goes as follows:$250,000 Ripon College: Source of funds and interest rate irrelevant.$360,000 Ingalls Field Committee: Loan financed by FieldTurf; Interest rate unknown, guaranteed by Johnson Bank;Paid by donations.$162,491 RASD:Loan financed by FieldTurf;Interest rate unknown;Paid by 7 year continuation of the increased tax levy approved by 2004 referendum for track renovations.$772,491 Total, not including interestIs this correct? If not, will you state, clearly and succinctly, for each entity that is paying for the installation of FieldTurf, 1) from whom they are getting their portion of the $772,491 and at what interest rate, and 2) how they expect to fund the money to make these payments? I would also like to know the total amount of the installation cost that is being financed by FieldTurf’s financing company, and, if the loans are being made separately to each repaying entity, if the interest rate will be the same for each loan.
I do not have the interest rates on each specific loans. I would suggest you contact Cris Johnson, who has spearheaded the private fundraising, and Richard Zimman, the superintendent, for the specifics of each loan. For the record, I am not leading the turf fundraising, but I have contributed time and energy to the fundraising efforts. I am not privy to each and every detail. I have given you contact information, and I believe they can provide the clear and succint information you are looking for.
Friday, November 16, 2007
PHOTOS OF THE TURF INSTALLATION
ANSWERING TO A POSTING - PART THREE
Q1: “($15,476 principal plus $7,737 interest = $23,313 {sic} annually beginning in 2009)” Is that interest amount correct? I think there’s more wrong with that statement than the addition.Going back to my original Q1 posted on 11-1-07, “If that 2004 referendum approval expires in 2008, and the income derived therefrom also expires, what is the source for the funding for this continuing payment?”, how can the school board take money they no longer have coming in and use it for anything?It is commendable that much of the work is being done by volunteers; will that savings be shared equally between the college, school district, and private fundraisers?
With the risk of being chastised for regurgitating the data from the district, I will quote the district's newsletter to answer this question: "
As part of the effort to raise money without raising taxes, the group asked the Ripon Board of Education to consider allocating some money in the existing budget for artificial turf. Although there is no money currently available for allocation, the district does have a loan for the Ingalls Field track renovation that will be paid off in 2008. The citizens group asked the Board to earmark those funds for seven years, starting in 2009, to help with a loan to pay for installing turf. The group also received a commitment from Ripon College to pay one-third of the cost of installation. Contingent on the group raising the necessary funds with their own fundraising, the Board agreed to contribute to the turf project—beginning in 2009—the $23,213 annually that is currently allocated for the track loan. No new taxes will be raised. If the necessary funds are not raised by March 2009, then the agreement will be null and void."
The cost savings will be shared by all, as the amount needed to be raised will be reduced.
Q2: “Some money would have to be expended to replace or reseed” Isn’t that the expense covered under “Maintenance” on the IngallsField.org chart? It appears to be a separately budgeted expense that will be used for either grass or turf since there are maintenance costs for each. I didn’t think it was funded by the track renovation loan that is in question. As a separate question, can you tell me how much of Ingalls Field will be covered with FieldTurf? I assume only the playing field area, leaving the perimeter in some other surface, so will be maintenance costs overall be increased?
The turf will cover the playing area, along with the immediate area around the field where the teams stand. There is considerably less maintenance costs projected for the FieldTurf than there is for natural grass.
Q4: “other than saying the private fundraising is paying back the loan.” This was a shocker! Going back to my original Q4, this question was in reference to the amount being financed by FieldTurf’s financing company, which I thought was a loan to RASD. How does private fundraising enter into this? Is there private fundraising beyond the $360,000 guaranteed by Johnson Bank?
Without being privy to the exact details, it is my understanding that the FieldTurf company will loan the initial money to the fundraising group, then the group will pay FieldTurf back as they raise money. The letter of credit from Johnson Bank solidifies the loan and lowers the interest rate.
Q7: I can’t suggest any revisions to a plan I’ve never seen; however, I don’t think landscaping around a parking lot would detract in any way from the view of the campus. Parking lots are not generally the areas you want to stand out.I’ve read the Plan Commission minutes that are posted, and find that on 8-15-07 Aurora Clinic landscape plans were approved, with the following comment: “It was noted that the main purpose of this plan was to provide screening and buffering of the parking lot.” Did Ripon College submit landscape plans that would accomplish the same?
The minutes from the August 2006 Plan Commission meeting, where the dorm was approved reads as follows:
Site plan – Ripon College
Barg advised that Ripon College is seeking site plan approval for a 3-story residence hall (9,700 square feet) at the northwest corner of Thorne Street and Woodside Avenue. The new building would offer apartment-style living, with 14 four-person dwelling units. The residents will be asked to use current parking northeast of the building; however, the plan includes creation of 40 new parking stalls west of the building, which would be available for student parking. It was noted that Ripon College should combine the lots into a single parcel, and they indicated a willingness to do so.
Schueler moved and Rogers seconded a motion to approve the proposed site plan. Motion carried 6-0.
No landscaping plan was required by the Plan Commission, and I don't really know what more you would want from the college.
When will the minutes from the October 9, 2007 Council meeting be posted? Thank you for your continued patience.
Staff will try and upload the minutes of the most recent meetings as they are approved. For example, the October 9th minutes would be approved at the next meeting, or the meeting after that. They have to be approved to be posted legally.
Monday, November 12, 2007
OPEN HOUSE AND PRESENTATION
OPEN HOUSE AND PRESENTATION DOWNTOWN RIPON STRATEGIC PLAN
On Monday, November 26th, the public is invited to attend an open house in the City Hall Council Chambers from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Vandewalle & Associates staff will be present, along with representatives from the City, Ripon Main Street, and other organizations, to review the Downtown Ripon Strategic Plan, and to address questions and concerns. There will be a presentation (30 minutes) starting at 5:00 p.m. Please contact Steve at 748-4914 or sbarg@cityofripon.com if you have any questions about this event.
Steve Barg - City Administrator
QUESTION FROM READER
Will there be additional open meetings scheduled for discussion of this plan? How will they be publicized? Will there be handouts detailing the plan for the residents to take home with them and think about how these changes will affect their lives and property, and the overall effect on Ripon?
ANSWER: At this point, no additional meetings are planned other than the open house mentioned above. The final report will be available at the meeting on the 26th, and I am pushing for copies to be placed on-line at either the City of Ripon website or the Ripon Main Street site. One thing to remember is that these are "recommendations". Actual implementation will allow for more discussion before action takes place.
Friday, November 9, 2007
COUNCIL PREVIEW
NOVEMBER 12th
It appears to be a quiet meeting coming up on Tuesday night. The main items will be the accepting of bids for the reconstruction of the lower level of City Hall for a new Senior Center. The numbers look good right now, roughly half of what we budgeted. The work would begin once the fire department is moved to their new station. We will also consider a series of increases in fees and charges for the ambulance service to match the increases we have seen in the cost we pay for the products. All in all, a quiet meeting.
NOVEMBER 26th
The Council meeting on the 26th is starting to take shape. The main item of the day will likely be the unveiling of the downtown planning report. As it looks right now, we will have a open house in the Council Chambers from 430 to 630 PM for the public to view the proposals and the report. The consultants will make a presentation at 5 PM. The council will hold its budget hearing at 630PM, which is why the open house will end at that time. During the regular session, which begins at 7 PM, the council will officially receive the downtown report. A vote on adopting the recommendations will likely take place in December. Having seen the initial final rough draft, I am excited by the proposals, which cover a wide variety of areas and issues, from the Mill Pond to Thorne Street to the area north of City Hall. The consultants have already said the sky is the limit for the downtown and surrounding areas, and now the challenge will be implementation after adoption.
A public hearing on the proposed 2008 City of Ripon budget is scheduled for Monday, November 26, 2007 at 6:30. The budget summary documents are included in the documents below. The complete budget is available for your review at the city administration office 100 Jackson St. between 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM. Come to the public hearing on this very important issue that affects how your city will operate for 2008!
Click here for a link to the budget.
CLASS B LIQUOR LICENSE AVAILABLE
The City of Ripon is now accepting applications for an available “Class B” liquor license. Requests will be evaluated based upon a variety of criteria, including creation of new tax base and jobs. Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30th, and the City reserves the right to reject any and all applications. For more information or to apply, please contact Steve at 748-4914 or sbarg@cityofripon.com, or stop at City Hall during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday).
COMMENTS/QUESTIONS FROM READERS
Aren’t you jumping the gun just a bit here? Are you sure the vote will be to adopt the recommendations? You’re already working on implementation! What if there are objections or ideas and suggestions from the citizens, that can’t even be brought forward until after the open house when everyone gets to see the plans? Much of the turmoil that is going on now might have been avoided by giving the citizens a chance to speak before you made up your mind.
ANSWER: That is what we are NOT voting on the plan the night is introduced. The public has had several opportunities to provide input, and they will have a chance to voice their opinions at the open house, and in the time after the open house and until the Council meets again in December. I think the public involvement has been good, and many of their thoughts and ideas have been included. Of course, not everyone will agree with every proposal, but I think the overall plan is very promising.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
ANSWERING TO A POSTING - PART TWO
Question 1
I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand this. If the 2004 referendum approved an increased tax rate for a defined period to cover a loan for track renovation, doesn’t the revenue disappear when the tax rate goes down at the time of the termination of the original loan? How can that approval for an increased rate be extended to cover an additional 7 years of payments? This situation is not similar to paying off a car loan, because, simply put, your personal income remains the same, and, in this case, the lower tax rate decreases the income.
The school board approved taking the money that was being used to fund the loan repayment and continuing it as their contribution to the field turf project ($15,476 principal plus $7,737 interest = $23,313 annually beginning in 2009)
Contributions/Investments are as follows, as I understand:
$360,000 - Private Fundraising
$250,000 - Ripon College
$162,491 - School District (The amount currently designated for the track loan)
$ 62,360 - School District's expenditures on natural grass maintenance
$834,851 - TOTAL
TO be honest, I don't know why their is a column that says "Loan" on the financing chart. The contributions above reach the $750,000 goal with room to spare. Also, we need to remember that a number of local groups and businesses, like R&R Wash, are donating time, equipment and manpower to remove the current field, which will save thousands of dollars. Also, a large group of volunteers are lending a hand, which means the final pricetag could be considerably less than the amount we would pay if FieldTurf did all the work themselves. This would reduce the contributions of the college, school district, and private fundraisers.
Question 2
How can this be your error if it was said by Superintendent Zimman? Again I ask, “If the increased levy approved for the track renovation loan expires, shouldn’t the tax levy go down? If not, why not?” Regarding your better statement that the school levy would not increase, why won’t it decrease?
His statement was that taxes would not go up as a result of the turf. I would agree that the levy would conceivably go down if the turf was not being installed, but the amount is unknown as some money would have to be expended to replace or reseed the middle of the field where the grass continually dies off.
Question 3
What loan is being talked about here? Is this the loan being financed by FieldTurf’s financing company? It appears from your response that the school district will be paying a total of $38,689 annually for FieldTurf, not including the maintenance costs. Over 7 years, this adds up to $270,823, considerably higher than the 22% of the total cost of FieldTurf listed in the RASD Summer 2007 newsletter.
I think I answered this to the best of my knowledge above.
Question 4
If a low interest rate has not been locked in with the FieldTurf financing company, what will the interest rate be? And specifically what loan are we talking about here, for how much money, and who, if not the RASD, is repaying it?
That question I cannot answer, other than saying the private fundraising is paying back the loan.
Question 5
You seem to be saying that in both instances, you interpreted the wishes of the voters to be that they didn’t want to pay for it, but they wanted it done. Was the wording of the referenda similar, allowing you to make that interpretation?
What I was saying was that a voter can be for a project, but not in favor of the funding or the size of the borrowing.
Question 6
Congratulations on writing a successful grant application, that’s not an easy task. But again I ask: what was the amount of the grant, and which organization granted it? Am I correct in assuming this is part of the $360,000 to be collected by private donations?
The grant I wrote was from the Kwik Trip company for $5,000, I believe. I have also applied to CenturyTel and the Green Bay Packers, who both have community grant programs. If you know of any more, please let me know.
Question 7
Generally, city codes set minimum requirements, and I’m sure the college met those. I would think, however, that in the spirit of community relations, the college would consider revising their landscape plan, and I don’t understand how installing blinds on the windows would impact personal protection.
I really do not want to go around and around on this, but the lighting on the campus has met all the requirements we have in place. I simply find it ironic that some of the people who are complaining about the lighting have a street light in front of their home and they never have complained to my knowledge about light pollution. I cannot help but think that their issue is not the college put in LIGHTING, but the COLLEGE putting in lighting. Axes can be ground in different ways. One question I have - What revisions would you suggest Ripon College would make to their landscaping plan? They are NOT going to put up large trees and berms to block the view of their campus, nor would that be expected of them.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2008
Well, November is here, believe it or not. It is about that time to start thinking ahead to 2008. This is just a list of some of the things we are going to see in Ripon, and I welcome your thoughts and comments:
* Implementation of the downtown plan - Assuming the final draft is adopted, we can look for some changes to begin downtown. One step, which has already been announced, is a downtown beautification program, which I announced several months ago. While $100,000 is being requested for the project, the exact details of the program will be determined when the study is completed.
* Infrastucture in the new business park - Ground will be broken next spring for the road, water and sewer for the addition to the Industrial/Business Park adjacent to Highway 44. One interesting issue is what to name the new streets. I am working on a plan whereby the public can suggest names for the new streets
* Moving the Senior Center - Sometime early next year, the Senior Center will be moved to the lower level of City Hall. The city has already sold the current downtown location, and is waiting for the relocation of the fire department to move ahead with the Senior relocation
* Streetwork - Besides the new streets in the Industrial Park, the city will build a new road from Highway 23 to the Stoney Ridge subdivision. The road will run between McDonalds and the dollar store. Sections of Newbury and Stanton Streets will be reconstructed, while the city has also budgeted $150,000 to resurface a large portion of Union Street
* Subdivisions - I look forward to the construction of the homes in our new subdivisions. One is already under construction in the Sandmar subdivision, while streetwork is moving forward in the others
What are your thoughts on goals and projects for the near future? Share them with me, and let's see where we go.
ANSWERS TO A POSTING
A reader of the blog posted these questions recently. I will do my best to answer them, but as the author points out, some of the answers are better answered by the school district, but I will my best. My comments are in italics.
QUESTION: The RASD newsletter lists the annual track loan payments that were approved in a 2004 referendum at $23,213, and states that loan will be paid off in March, 2008. Since continuing this annual payment amount would total $162,491 (the chart total is $162,591), this would seem to be the amount listed in the “District” column on the chart. If that 2004 referendum approval expires in 2008, and the income derived there from also expires, what is the source for the funding for this continuing payment?
ANSWER: Directly from the district's newsletter: Although there is no money currently available for allocation, the district does have a loan for the Ingalls Field track renovation that will be paid off in 2008. The citizens group asked the Board to earmark those funds for seven years, starting in 2009, to help with a loan to pay for installing turf. The group also received a commitment from Ripon College to pay one-third of the cost of installation. Contingent on the group raising the necessary funds with their own fundraising, the Board agreed to contribute to the turf project—beginning in 2009—the $23,213 annually that is currently allocated for the track loan. No new taxes will be raised. If the necessary funds are not raised by March 2009, then the agreement will be null and void. Deciding how the annual budget will be spent is a regular responsibility of the Board of Education. The decision to allocate funds from the existing school district budget abided by the voters’ decision and may result in a $750,000 upgrade of Ingalls Field for an expenditure of $162,491 which is 22% of the total cost of the project. After careful consideration of all the facts available, the Board decided that this would be a good deal for the district, the student-athletes, the college, the community, and the taxpayers.
QUESTION: “Superintendent Richard Zimman said the turf project would have no impact on the school levy.” If the increased levy for the track renovation loan expires, shouldn’t the tax levy go down? If not, why not?
ANSWER: I guess a better statement would be the project would not INCREASE the school levy. My error.
QUESTION: What is the annual payment of $15,476 listed under the “Loan” column, and what is the source of its funding? This amount is described in the notes on the chart as follows: “The school district commences payments in March 2009 after the current Ingalls Field loan ends ($15,476 annually)”. Is this another loan being taken out by the school district? Is this an ongoing loan already in place, and a change in where and how it is spent?
ANSWER: No new loan is being taken out. The money for the school district's contribution is the amount currently diverts to the paying off of the loan.
QUESTION: I am unclear on exactly what monies are being financed by, again from the chart notes, “the FieldTurf financing company”. Can you enlighten me? Your comments have raised other questions in my mind.
ANSWERS: From the beginning, FieldTurf has offered to finance a portion of the project through a loan from them. They offered a low-interest loan at the beginning of the year, but the deadline passed before the interest rate could be locked in.
QUESTION: “More than a decade ago, the voters said no to borrowing money for Murray Park Elementary. They did not say no to the school, as a second vote showed.” Without knowing the wording of either of these referenda, or the wording of the two referenda regarding installing artificial turf, it’s difficult to assess your comparison. Is this a question of the wording, or of the interpretation of the wishes of the voters?
ANSWER: My interpretation.
QUESTION: “First, let me say that I am a member of the committee raising funds for the turf, and have applied for and been awarded grant money for the project.” I would like to know more about this grant. To whom was it awarded? What is the amount of the grant? What is the funding source? What specifically does it cover, and what is its purpose?Another question also comes to mind.
ANSWER: I have personally written grants to two organizations, one of which has provided a donation to the project. A number of companies and groups, including the Green Bay Packers, make donations and grants for these projects. The money was awarded to the Ingalls Field Committee, which turned it over to the Oshkosh Area Foundation, which is handling the donations and grants at this point until funds need to be expended.
QUESTION: Have you, or anyone representing the City, approached Ripon College to see if there are possible solutions to the lighting problems? Perhaps something as simple as putting blinds on the stairwells to contain the light would alleviate part of the problem, and certainly would not endanger the students. Is landscaping planned that would help contain the light?
ANSWER: The college's lighting plans meet the necessary codes. City officials have not seen any reason to require the college to do more or less at this time. It is my understanding that the landscaping around the new dorm is done. I would argue that we would not want the stairwells to be covered from a personal protection standpoint. I know some people are vehemently opposed to what the college is doing, but they have broken NO laws or city ordinances, despite what some individuals have claimed. I look forward to more questions.
One final note on the turf - The winner of the raffle for the GTO will be announced at halftime of the college game this Saturday, and the ground will be broken for the new surface on Monday.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
HERE COMES THE COLD
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
RANDOM THOUGHT
In my 4 1/2 years as mayor, I have been observed some behaviors which I find humorous at times, tragic at others. Issues can impassion and enflame people, they can also find their judgement impaired or their perspectives narrowed. The recent issues of closing the streets through the Ripon College campus, the deer population problems, and the installation of FieldTurf on Ingalls Field have brought out some of the worst and some of the best in people.
I find it humorous when people ask for my position or my reasoning, then say I am not listening to them based on my position. I listen to EACH and EVERY person who share their constructive criticism and opinion. Note that I said constructive. There are people in Ripon, and, I assume, in every city, who are not constructive, they are destructive. Their aim is to deconstruct the other side in order to champion their cause. Have I been guilty of this trait? Yes, we all have. But I have made a conscious effort in the past few years to keep that emotion contained. A considerable amount of criticism was directed my way over the closing of the streets through the college campus. I believe the closing is a positive move for the college and the city. Anyone who has insinuated there was more to my support is deluded in their thought process.
I also find it tragic when someone loses an argument or an issue, but cannot let it go. Some of the opponents of FieldTurf in Ripon meet that definition. Turf is going on, so something, somewhere, has to be going on that is illegal, immoral, unethical, and unconstitional. There is a conflict of interest involving the mayor, Johnson Bank is being hood-winked, or the voters have been ignored. If you really believe that, then we do not need to talk further on the issue.
I could list all the crazy rumors I have heard in the past several months. They cover the full range from intriguing to absolutely moronic. If I received every kickback or made every threat which has been credited to me, I would driving to the Federal prison in Oxford in my newly-purchased BMW. Of course, I often wonder if the reason behind the rumors is that when one cannot succeed in a republican form of debate, with open channels of communication, they must resort to innuendos and lies. And that is what they are - lies. Vicious, venomous lies, and I always hoped that this type of debate would remain in Washington, and, in some cases, Madison.
I have been asked if I have a moral obligation to the voters of Ripon. My answer has been no. Let me explain. My morals are different than your morals, which are different than your neighbor's morals. I do have an ethical obligation to the residents of Ripon to do what I believe is best for the majority of the community, while respecting, but not being overtly restrained, by the rights of the minority. I found this recently while reading, and found it be a good statement parallel to my beliefs:
Ethics and morals are respectively akin to theory and practice. Ethics denotes the theory of right action and the greater good, while morals indicate their practice. Moral has a dual meaning. The first indicates a person's comprehension of morality and his capacity to put it into practice. In this meaning, the antonym is "amoral", indicating an inability to distinguish between right and wrong. The second denotes the active practice of those values. In this sense, the contrary word is "immoral", referring to actions that violate ethical principles. Personal ethics signifies a moral code applicable to individuals, while social ethics means moral theory applied to groups. Social ethics can be synonymous with social and political philosophy, inasmuch as it is the foundation of a good society or state. Ethics is not limited to specific acts and defined moral codes, but encompasses the whole of moral ideals and behaviors, a person's philosophy of life
Those are my thoughts. I look forward to your ideas and thoughts.
ARTIFICIAL TURF - MY TAKE
Much has been written and said for the past several months about the installation of FieldTurf on Ingalls Field in Ripon. First, let me say that I am a member of the committee raising funds for the turf, and have applied for and been awarded grant money for the project. I want to take a moment and provide my take on this issue. Remember, these are MY opinions, and mine only, and I will list the opinions which I disagree with:
* FieldTurf is dangerous - Yes, I have read the literature from both sides. And all I can really say is that, if you believe anyone on the committee or any of the other supporters would promote a product which is harmful, you are not being realistic. I do not believe the evidence is there to make the claim the turf is harmful.
* The voters said NO to FieldTurf - This has been hashed and rehashed ad nauseum. The voters said NO to borrowing money to install the Turf. The question on the ballot never asked whether the voters wanted turf or not. More than a decade ago, the voters said no to borrowing money for Murray Park Elementary. They did not say no to the school, as a second vote showed. In the case of FieldTurf, the voters said they did not want to borrow money for the project, so the supporters took a different approach to reaching their goals
* This will raise my taxes - As recently as this Monday, Superintendent Richard Zimman said the turf project would have no impact on the school levy. He made the comments at a local forum of city and county leaders, sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
* The letter of credit from Johnson Bank has to be illegal - Think about this closely. Would a financial institution, regulated by the federal and state governments, become involved in an agreement which would violate the law? Sensible people would see it would not
* We should study the issue more - Why? The turf has been installed in a number of professional and college stadiums, including one where a Super Bowl was played. I am leery, at times, of people who say projects should be halted for more study. Do they want more studies, or are they hoping the delay will lead to the project disappearing?
I believe the FieldTurf is a positive for the city of Ripon, and the region. You can disagree with me, and I have heard from you. We will agree to disagree, and that is the bottom line. If you have more questions on the turf - email me
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
CITY COUNCIL RECAP
The Common Council last night met, with the majority of the discussion centering around deer control within the city limits. The Council took several steps
* Repealed the city's ban on hunting, which we found out we could not do since it violated state law
* Passed a ban on the intentional feeding of deer. The first offense will cost $500 plus court costs, and subsequent fines would be $1000 per violation plus court costs
* Approved going forward with a hunt by local bowhunters (a group called Team Ripon), with locations approved by the City. The hunters will meet with the Deer Advisory Committee to come up with a list of possible locations.
The Council rejected a proposal to spend $5,000 to hire sharpshooters to kill 30-50 deer to control the population. I, personally, was not in favor of spending tax dollars to control the deer. I would like to see us try the local hunting approach first, and see if this will help curb the herd. I appreciate the work the Deer Advisory Committee did over the past eight years, and I know they will come up with the locations we need to locate the hunters.
In other action, the Council approved contracts with a number of companies to do soil tests, environmental tests, and amend the Industrial Park TIF as we move ahead with the development of 58 acres we purchased last year to add to the park. Groundbreaking on the infrastructure will take place in the spring. Additionally, I am working on a proposal to name the streets, by running a competition involving the residents of the city. Stay tuned for the details.
PLAN COMMISSION - There will be an opening on the City Plan Commission, as one of the members is stepping down due to scheduling conflicts. If you have any interest in serving, please email me and I will place your name in consideration.
CITY BUDGET - The city budget for 2008 is now on-line. The public hearing on the proposed budget will be November 26th at 7 PM in City Hall.
CITY MEETINGS IN NOVEMBER (All meetings at City Hall unless otherwise noted)
5 - Historic Preservation Committee (5PM)
7 - Housing and Community Development Authority (6 PM)
12 - Cable TV Committee (4 PM)
13 - City Council (7 PM)
14 - Fire District Board (7 PM)
20 - Park and Rec Committee (5 PM), Plan Commission (7 PM)
26 - City Council (7 PM)
27 - Library Board (630 PM)
Thursday, October 18, 2007
In an earlier post, I took a look at the city's proposed and historic tax levies and mill rates. A portion of our budget is, of course, our debts. The city has been active in the past few years of paying down more debt in a given year than we take on. In 2007, the city had to borrow a considerable amount of money, due to the new fire station, a road project, and the city's two residential Tax Increment Finance districts. I am going to do my best to break down what the city has borrowed, how much we owe, and why we borrowed the money:
2007 Equalized Valuation ($395,100,300) * 5 % = $19,755,015
Current Debt: $10,016,000
Unused Debt Limit as of 1-1-2007 $ 9,739,015
General Obligation Debt issued in 2007: $1,985,000
Unused Debt Limit as of 10-18-2007: $7,754,015
GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT
* 2000 General Obligation Bonds ($2.675 million, interest rate of 4.8%) - This money was borrowed for capital projects - City Hall expansion (Police department) $1,010,000, refinancing some existing debt $890,000 and street work $775,000 We pay about $330,000 on principal and interest each year. The final payment is due September 1, 2015
* 2003 Taxable Notes ($830,000, interest rate of 2.25 to 5.35%) - This money was borrowed to pay back the general fund for advances it made to the Downtown TIF district. The money was used in part to pay back a large obligation to the State Retirement Fund, which almost all cities and school districts face. I could go on for hours on this situation, but I am proud that we are one of the few cities that does not owe the Fund. We pay about $100,000 a year in principal and interest. The final payment is due November 1, 2012
* 2004 General Obligation Bonds ($1.715 million, interest rate of 2.0 to 4.1%) - This money was borrowed to finance road projects from 2004 through 2006. We pay $175,000-200,000 per year in interest and principal. The final payment is due November 1, 2018.
* 2007 State Trust Fund Loan ($696,000, interest rate 5.25%) - This is the money we borrowed for the purchase of 58 acres to add to the Industrial/Business Park. We pay around $89,000 a year in interest and principal. The final payment is due March 15, 2017.
* 2007 General Obligation Bonds ($1.975 million, interest rate 4.15%) - This money was borrowed to pay for the new fire station ($1.23 million) and the reconstruction of Newbury Street ($750,000). Part of the borrowing ($2.860 million) will be used to construct streets and other infrastructure in the Sandmar and Rolling Hills subdivisions, but that debt is counted against the TIF districts and not the general obligation debt. We pay roughly $245,000 a year in interest and principal, though that number will increase to more than $300,000 a year in 2010. The final payment is due February 1, 2027
SEWER FUND
The city borrowed $6.4 million in 2002 to add onto to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The money to pay back the debt comes from sewer payments. The interest rate (2.75 percent) is low, because we borrowed the money from the State of Wisconsin Clean Water Fund and not on the open loan market. Our annual payments are around $390,000. We still owe $4.529 milion in principal with the last payment due June 12, 2022
WATER FUND
The city borrowed $6.085 million in March 2005 to purchase the water utility from Alliant Energy. The annual interest rate varies from 2.85 to 5.2 percent. We pay around $420,000 a year in principal and interest, with the final payment dues March 1, 2029. The city still owes $5.585 million in principal.
TIF DEBT
The city's Tax Increment Districts have a number of borrowings:
TIF #1 (Downtown) - This TIF has $787,000 due in principal and interest between now and 2012. Annual payments are roughly $156,000, and the TIF generates $152,000 in increment. The TIF will likely borrow $100,000 for the Blackburn Street parking lot upgrade, $100,000 for a downtown beautification project, and $25,000 for a downtown planning study (which is underway). Money to fund these projects can be transferred in from other TIFs, as I have proposed
TIF #2 (Closed) - This TIF is closed, and has collected enough additional revenue to pay the remaining debts, which total $211,000
TIF #4 (Industrial Park) - The TIF will likely take on $750,000 in debt in 2008 to pay for the infrstructure in the new Business Park. The TIF generates $89,000 in tax increment, so the borrowing will be supported completely by the TIF itself. The TIF does owe the general fund $75,000 it borrowed for an improvement around Ripon Pickle. We borrow from the general reserve fund, at times, and charge ourself a lower interest rate than we can get on the open market. It is a perfectly legal process, which can save us money in the long haul on smaller borrowings
TIF #5 (Alliance Warehouse) - The TIF will be used to fund the Stanton Street upgrade in 2008, and generates $131,000 in increment a year, making it very, very successful. Money from this TIF can be used in other TIFs, as I have proposed to the Council
TIF #6 (Highway 23 West) - The TIF borrowed over $450,000 from the general fund to finance the Comfort Suites improvements and the Stoney Ridge subdivision. The TIF also borrowed $1.005 million this past year to pay for infrastructure in the Rollings Hills subdivision and for the construction of a new road adjacent to McDonalds to connect the subdivision to Highway 23 West. The TIF has greatly exceeded our initial expectations, generating $177,000 a year in taxes on almost $8 million in new development.
TIF #7 (Sandmar Subdivision) - Our newest TIF borrowed $1.865 million this year to pay for streets and sewer in the new subdivision. The debt will be paid back as new homes and businesses are constructed on the development.
PLAN COMMISSION RECAP
The Ripon City Plan Commission met last night. In the spirit of this blog so far, here is my take on the issues we discussed last night:
* Approved the exterior design of a new strip mall on the West end of the city. The $400,000 building will be built in front of the current United Auto Parts store, but not replacing it. The Commission was pleased with the developer's move to add more brick to the facade facing the highway
* Approved a Conditional Use Permit for Oak Ridge Plastics to operate at the former Unique Auto Body location. The vote was 3-2, with myself and Jane Schueler in opposition. My "no" vote was not an indictment of Oak Ridge Plastics or their operations, though I am concerned about their proposed storage of potentially harmful chemicals. The Use Permit does NOT allow for the storage of the chemicals, but I still believe this company should be located in the new business park. I understand they are in a bind, as their previous facility burned down in June, and we have no building for them in the new business park. I am hopeful the city and the RCDC can work with Oak Ridge Plastics to help them grow and become a key part of the new business park as they grow
* Approved going ahead with amending Tax Increment District's #4 (Industrial Park) and #6 (West Side). TIF #4 needs to be amended to add the 58 acres we purchased last year to expand the park. TIF #6 will likely add the former Dairy Queen and Citgo sites, as well as some land to the north of Silver Creek where possible development could take place in the future. The additions could also allow us to look at upgrading Aspen Street, including a possible bridge across Silver Creek to connect with Old Berlin Road (that is how I know the street LOL)
* Agreed to focus on landscaping issues in the winter, when the Commission usually sees less building plans and permits due to the season. We are looking at possible ways to improve landscaping at new developments. I would personally like to see more of an investment in the "greening" of the city, as well as more use of brick and stone veneers on facades, especially on the main corridors of the city
* Asked staff to compile a list of current and possible ordinances from other cities relating to home energy devices (wind mills, solar panels, wood/corn burners, etc.). As more and more people consider the use of these products as natural gas and oil prices climb, it makes sense to be pro-active in this area versus making law as individual cases come forward.
That is what happened, and my take. Any suggestions or comments - please sign in and let us know, or email me.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
BUDGET UPDATE
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2008 budget on the evening of November 26th. As we get closer to the hearing, I am going to try and disect some of the numbers, so it may be a bit easier to understand. This will be the fifth budget I have overseen as Mayor, and each one presents its own challenges. First, let's start with some important numbers:
* Including Tax Increment Finance District Levies
* The mill rate is the amount of taxes collected per $1,000 of equalized valuation. For example, a $8.02 mill rate would mean $802 in city taxes on a $100,000 home.
* The total mill rate is made up of the school district (51.4% of the 2007 levy), the city (32.6%), the county (22.2%), and miscellaneous (state, Moraine Park) minus the state lottery credit
* In 2005, the lottery credit was lower than average years, resulting in the increase.
2003 $332,927,800 +3.89%
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
STATE BUDGET FAILS TO PASS
The budget proposed by Democratic Governor Jim Doyle passed the Senate but died in the Assembly late Monday, casting the Capitol impasse over taxes into a 108th day. In case you are wondering, our local legislators, Senator Luther Olsen and Representative Joan Ballweg, both voted against the proposal. While you will hear many gloom and doom forecasts in the upcoming days, (Here is the Governor's) and while I would like to see a budget passed in Madison, I did have some serious problems with the budget proposed by the Governor. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, here are the areas where Republicans and Democrats are differing (my comments in italics):
* A $418 million tax on hospitals, which would bring back an estimated $575 million in additional federal Medicaid money. Democrats say it would help hospitals that treat large numbers of Medicaid patients; Republicans say it would drive up health care costs. - Let's raise taxes here in Wisconsin to receive more tax revenue from Washington. Government accounting at its best. Reminds me of the push to pass the Booster Seat Law in Wisconsin, raising the costs of raising a family, so we could get federal money to help low-income residents buy the seats in the first place. Either way, someone has to pay for the $993 million in additional revenue (state and federal), and it is not going to be the hospitals or insurance companies.
* A $1.25-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax, expected to generate about $450 million in revenue by mid-2009. Republicans have proposed a 75-cent increase. The current tax is 77 cents. - First of all, a disclaimer. I smoke - not as much as I used to, but I do. The tax on cigarettes hasseveral goals, one of them being the reduction of smoking. So how do we replace the revenue down the road if the cigarette tax reduces consumption? I can foresee taxes on fatty foods, unhealthy foods, and other unhealthy choices. Also, this tax is supposed to be used to fund health insurance in Wisconsin. How can I trust the Governor and the state to do this when I read the following proposal...
* A $175 million transfer from a state fund that pays damages to malpractice victims. - Why does the state continually go after this fund? If it has enough money, stop collecting the "taxes" that fund it.
* In-state college tuition rates for undocumented immigrants who graduate from Wisconsin high schools. - Sorry, but to me, undocumented is a politically-correct word for ILLEGAL. Why in the world would any reasonable government leader want to extend the educational benefits we give to legal residents to ILLEGAL residents. First of all, they should not be even receiving a diploma from a high school if they are here ILLEGALLY
And do not get me started on the Oil Company Assessment, which would have raised gas prices 5 to 6 cents per gallon in Wisconsin, according to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. I lost a lot of faith in the Governor when he said the tax would not be passed on to the consumer, and the constitutionality of the law was in serious doubt.
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Ripon Area United Way’s goal this year is $83,000.
The following area non-profit agencies that benefit from your generous donations:
ADVOCAP Literacy Services: A community based educational program which offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to families with little or no English skills. Provides free tutoring in basic reading and math skills for adults.
American Red Cross: Always ready to give local, state, national, and international assistance in time of disaster. Assists American servicemen and their families. Sponsors the bloodmobile, provides first aid, CPR and lifeguard training.
ASTOP: Provides cost-free trauma therapy, advocacy and prevention education to survivors of sexual violence.
BAY LAKES COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA: Physical and leadership training and educational opportunity for boys. Funds support camps and hiring of professional leaders who assist their local leaders.
BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY: Coordinates volunteer men and women to work with young boys and girls ages 5 - 14 years on one-on-one basis.
BRAVE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER: Provides students and adults with before school, after-school and evening programs in a safe and supportive environment. This program includes tutoring, group homework help, parenting workshops, and a variety of learning enrichment programs.
DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL: A school for 3 and 4 year olds that emphasizes building self-esteem and interest in learning with a hands-on philosophy. A fun, loving, creative environment that encourages children to explore and prepares them for success in future educational experiences.
DIVERSE OPTIONS: Provides work-related services to developmentally disabled adults in the Ripon area. Subcontracts services to local businesses and industries. Programs are case specific and need specific for each client.
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER: Provides pregnancy and parenting support services. This agency provides programs that teach nurturing parenting and are committed to the prevention of child abuse and child neglect. Provides a 24 hour hotline and free pregnancy testing.
GRACE PRE SCHOOL: Offers early education by certified teachers to 3 and 4 year olds in an environment that is personal and learning-friendly. Classes are held both in the morning and in the afternoon.
LUTHERAN COUNSELING & FAMILY SERVICS OF WISCONSIN: Provides faith-based mental health counseling, family life education, and adoption services. United Way funds will be education, and adoption services. United Way Funds will be used in the Special Times of Need Program, which addresses the need of underinsured and noninsured individuals and families in the Ripon area by offering a sliding fee scale for outpatient metal health counseling with a state licensed therapist.
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES - PROJECT YOUTH: Services include prevention, crisis intervention, education, youth and family advocacy as well as direct individual, family and group counseling.
MARSHLAND COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN: Helps supplement the education of children with disabilities by providing field trips, special activities, and community experiences. The council also assists teachers in keeping current with special education issues.
RIPON CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER: A community owned center providing a caring, stimulation and safe experience for children while their parents are working. The staff is trained to provide developmentally appropriate programs for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and school-aged children.
SALVATION ARMY: Provides local welfare service, temporary housing, disaster relief, and social service assistance for needy families.
SOLUTIONS CENTER: (Formerly FAVR): Solutions Center is a Community-based organization committed to addressing the cause and resolution of domestic violence. Provides 24 hour crisis line, shelter, legal and housing advocacy and support groups.
WOODLAND COUNCIL GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA: Promotes better understanding and support of Girl Scout activities and ideals. Stresses a relevant and contemporary educational experience for today's young woman.
