BEST OF WISHES TO TOMMY HOBBS

As mayor, I am very sad to see Tommy leaving RMC. As a person who has dealt with Tommy on a personal and professional level, I know Peru, Illinois has gained a very respected and dedicated leader.

Here is the official press release from the Ripon Medical Center:

RIPON MEDICAL CENTER CEO RESIGNS
Tommy Hobbs accepts position in Peru, Illinois

Ripon, WI – The Ripon Medical Center Board of Directors regrets to announce that Tommy Hobbs, CEO of Ripon Medical Center has announced his resignation to accept a leadership position with the Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, Illinois. Hobbs’ resignation is effective March 21, 2008.

Hobb’s arrived in Ripon March 3, 2003 as RMC’s CEO under a management contract with Brim Healthcare. Brim Healthcare provides consulting and management services to 38 full-service, acute-care hospitals in 15 states. Brim is a privately held company and is based in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Joan Karsten, president of RMC’s Board of Directors believes Hobbs will be missed by the hospital. “Tommy’s leadership at RMC has resulted in significant growth at RMC on many levels. His involvement has truly elevated the overall quality of healthcare provided by RMC to the people and families we serve. His focus on increased customer service, positive partnerships with local and area physicians and providers, and his emphasis on RMC’s involvement and visibility in area communities will be sorely missed. All of us at RMC are happy for him and his family regarding this opportunity, but are saddened that he is leaving.

RMC will continue to work with Brim Healthcare to transition a new CEO at the hospital. “Brim will be assisting us with the recruitment of a new CEO for RMC”, states Karsten. “We have talked with them about bringing in an interim CEO to assist the hospital and the staff with many initiatives and activities started under Tommy’s tenure here. We will then work to recruit and hire a new CEO; however, we do not have details as to a timeline for this to occur. During this transition, everyone at RMC remains dedicated to our very important mission; “Connected to your community, we provide quality healthcare with a personalized approach”.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS....

Reckless homicide charges are being referred to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney after an apparent accidental shooting in Ripon claimed the life of an 18 year old Omro man. The victim has been identified as Jason Perry of Omro. The suspect, 19 year old, Evan Tolsma, of Brandon is being held at the Fond du lac County Health Care Center...and will later be transferred to the Fond du Lac County Jail. Ripon police were called to a home early Wednesday morning. Ripon Police Chief, Dave Lukoski, says the Wisconsin State Crime Lab assisted Ripon police in processing the scene. Ripon police are continuing their investigation.

HOW DID RIPON VOTE - 2/19/2008

CITY OF RIPON ELECTION RESULTS - SPRING PRIMARY & PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE FEBRUARY 19, 2008DEMOCRATIC
DEMOCRAT
BARACK OBAMA - 790
HILLARY CLINTON - 451
DENNIS KUCINICH - 6
JOHN EDWARDS - 5
JOE BIDEN - 2
MIKE GRAVEL - 0
CHRIS DODD - 0
BILL RICHARDSON - 1
UNINSTRUCTED DELEGATION - 1
REPUBLICAN
JOHN MCCAIN - 346
MIKE HUCKABEE - 240
RON PAUL - 30
MITT ROMNEY - 8
FRED THOMPSON - 3
DUNCAN HUNTER - 1
TOM TANCREDO - 0
RUDY GIULIANI - 1
UNINSTRUCTED DELEGATION - 1

VOTER TURNOUT - 1,890
NO. OF VOTERS REGISTERED IN CITY - 4,677
% OF THOSE REGISTERED WHO VOTED - 40

RIPON'S WATER SYSTEM - AN UPDATE

Here is a summary of recent news and releases on the Ripon water system:

WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASES PROPOSED
In February, the Common Council agreed to submit an application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission for a water and sewer rate increase. Water rates would increase around 11 percent, while sewer rates will increase just under 5 percent. These will be the first increases in three years. These increases are due, mainly, to future investments in the infrastructure of the systems. The proposed rate increases are summarized in the attached documents, which can be found here.
BROWN WATER
The City Water Department began flushing hydrants on October 1, 2007 and it has resulted in many of our customers experiencing “brown water”. The brown is from iron and manganese in the water. The purpose of the flushing is to clear our lines of the build up of these materials. Even when we are flushing in another part of the city the deposits could get stirred up in your area. The brown water is not harmful to health although it is not recommend that it be used. The customer should run a faucet until it clears. This may take some time. The city is doing what it can to reduce the build up of these minerals in the system. The flushing is one of the steps.
CITY OF RIPON TOOK WELL #9 OUT OF SERVICE
During recent years, testing of well #9 (located on Ripon’s west side) has shown rising levels of Trichloroethylene (TCE), which can potentially cause health concerns. When test results last month revealed that TCE levels were no longer considered acceptable, the City removed this well from service to its municipal system. The City is now working with state and federal agencies on plans to treat the water for TCE’s, and, while we were hopeful to have this well back in production before the end of the year, it appears a new well will not be dug until later this year or early 2009.

SOME THOUGHTS WHILE SURVIVING THE WINTER OF 2007–2008

Life is full of ironies. For example, in the year following the awarding of a Nobel Peace Prize to former Vice President Al Gore for his work on global warming awareness, we have seen the most snow in Ripon in nearly a decade, or, by the time you read this, in recorded history. Since the first icy blast of winter slapped us around in early December, we have been inundated with a regularly scheduled white invasion. With each storm, the salt available to the city has shrunk, while the amount of money being spent on snow removal has increased at an alarming rate. And with each passing week, this Mayor has become more and more nervous about what this means in the long term.

Residents can help. First, there is an ordinance regarding snow removal — “No person shall deposit snow from any driveway, sidewalk, or from areas situated inside the lot lines of a parcel on the roadway of any public street” — which is fairly clear. A second ordinance deals with sidewalk maintenance, and it states that the owner or occupant of any lot or parcel has to remove all snow and ice which may have fallen or accumulated upon the sidewalk in front of such lot or parcel each day. If the ice has become too thick to remove, the owner or the occupant shall keep their sidewalk sprinkled with material that will prevent the sidewalk from being dangerous to pedestrians. A financial penalty faces those who have not complied with this ordinance, and, in the interest of full disclosure, I have paid that fine. This is why I appreciate the wonderful generosity of my neighbors who have a snow plow. Their kindness will likely be rewarded with a delicious grilled token of appreciation this summer...after the snow melts.

Second, I am asking for your patience and understanding. As most of you know by now, the salt situation has become a bit dicey for many communities. Ripon is not alone in rationing its use of salt on the streets. We all need to slow down a bit more until spring arrives, and exercise considerably more defensive driving. Also, we have a limited amount of staff and equipment when it comes to plowing snow. Our Public Works employees have years of experience in snow removal, and, while it may seem to be a politically advantageous thing to do at times, I am not going to second-guess them. We just need to take a deep breath, and remember that prioritization built on years of experience will be undertaken in removing the snow from the streets.

One final observation I have for this long, cold winter: You knew, deep down, someone, somewhere would utilize the above normal snow for political purposes. In the past few weeks, a state lawmaker has introduced a bill to create a “Snowy Day” fund for Wisconsin communities to tap when their snow removal costs threaten to crimp their budgets. The bill, SB-478, would set aside $500,000 from the state’s Transportation Fund to pay for grants to local governments who need help. It would allow for grants of up to $50,000 for communities battling “severe weather,” which is defined as “weather conditions, for a winter maintenance season, in which the amount of snow and ice precipitation and the number of snow or ice events in a DOT (Department of Transportation) region are greater than the region’s average amount of snow and ice precipitation and average number of snow or ice events over the immediately preceding five-year period.” Can you see some mayor or city administrator praying for snow in those final days of March to surpass the average and tap that $50,000? The bill defines a winter season as December 1st to March 31st.

This is a case of a bad idea on top of a bad winter. The Transportation Fund? This is the same fund that has been tapped in previous state budgets to fund other initiatives, and has been a consistent borrower of money to meet its annual budget needs. I also cringe at the thought of a “Snowy Day” fund, when our own state budget has one of the smallest “Rainy Day” funds in the nation, and there has been almost no political will in Madison to set aside funds when an economic downturn reduces state revenue (which may have already begun). Ripon is blessed with a reserve fund of more than $1 million, upon which, if the worst-case budget scenarios come to pass, we can fall back.

With your help, patience, and understanding, we will make it through the winter. We have survived in the past, and we will do so again in 2007–2008. Thanks for your time, and I look forward to sweating with you at Riponfest. I really do.

PACKER FOUNDATION GIVES GRANT TO INGALLS FIELD

Packers Foundation Awards $156,303 In Grants To 64 Organizations
The Green Bay Packers Foundation has awarded $156,303 to 64 civic and charitable groups throughout the state of Wisconsin in its annual distribution of funds, Casey Cuene, chairman of the Foundation committee, announced Tuesday. The groups were guests at a luncheon today at the Lambeau Field Atrium. The luncheon is an event that brought all the recipients together and recognized the outstanding efforts and services performed by each of the organizations. With these disbursements, the Foundation has distributed $1,774,679 for charitable purposes since it was established in 1986 by Judge Robert J. Parins, then president of the Packers Corporation, "as a vehicle to assure continued contributions to charity." The financial breakdown of the Foundation's contributions discloses that 30 grants - aggregating $88,628 - were awarded to Brown County organizations, among them the Beacon House, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Volunteer Center of Brown County Additional grants, totaling $67,675, were made to 34 other groups around the state, among them the Madison Children's Museum, South Shore Education Foundation in Bayfield County and the Women's Resource Center in Racine County. Cuene made the grant announcements during a press conference at the Lambeau Field Atrium prior to the luncheon. Additionally, under the Packers Scholarship Program, established in 2002, $15,000 is being awarded - $7,500 to Scholarships, Inc., for distribution to students in four-year colleges - and $7,500 to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) for distribution to students in two-year associate degree or apprenticeship trades programs. The scholarship funds come from the Green Bay Packers and National Football League Properties which, at the Packers' request, returns to the Foundation royalty fees paid for using the Packers logo on Wisconsin automobile license plates. In the past year, the Packers Foundation also has distributed an additional $72,000 on behalf of National Football League Charities - $25,000 in "Community Quarterback" awards to civic leaders for contributions to the community, $5,000 in "Junior Community Quarterback" awards, $12,000 in the NFL's "Coach of the Week" program which honors successful Wisconsin high school coaches on a weekly basis throughout the season, $5,000 in the NFL "Join the Team" initiative and $5,000 in the league's "Hometown Huddle" program. This year's new program to combat childhood obesity in middle schools, "What Moves U," also received $25,000 for its efforts. "The Packers Foundation is very pleased to award these grants today," Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said. "These outstanding organizations being recognized today perform excellent work in our communities and are great examples for all of us." The Green Bay Packers Foundation Committee includes, in addition to Mr. Cuene, Ave Bie, John Dickens, Andrew Farah, Ed Martin, Bryce Paup, Diane Roundy, Mark Skogen, Mike Wier, and Hon. Donald Zuidmulder. Margaret Meyers is the secretary of the foundation. The grants and other programs highlighted today are two components of the Packers' efforts in the community. Also, the Packers' community outreach department assisted more than 8,000 organizations and individuals in 2007 with donated autographed items for fund-raising efforts that raised approximately $2.5 million. Additionally, non-profit groups raised nearly $850,000 by operating Lambeau Field concession stands during the 2007 season. These efforts, combined with direct cash donations by the Green Bay Packers to various charity endeavors, resulted in a comprehensive Packers charity impact of more than $5 million in the past year. Among the groups receiving a donation was the Ingalls Field Fund-Raising Group, which received $3,000 toward the installation of FieldTurf. Pictured above is Bob Lukoski addressing the Packer Foundation at Tuesday's event.

WATER BILLS CONTAIN ERROR

Utility Bill Due Date Change
ATTENTION UTILITY ACCOUNTHOLDERS:

If you receive a quarterly utility invoice in the mail payable in February, the correct due date for payment is Monday, February 25, 2008. Any further questions, please contact Karen at 748-4926. Thank you, and we apologize for the error.