ANGRY RESIDENTS AND BULLETS

If you think things are going to hell in a hand basket in Ripon, it is getting a lot worse elsewhere. We still have it pretty good here:

From the bullet that smashed through a Lawrence City Hall window to stinking fishes flung at the Gloucester mayor’s home, city and state leaders are feeling the heat on the street from taxpayers and public sector workers fuming over impending layoffs and service cuts.Authorities believe a bullet that slammed into the Lawrence city planner’s desk last weekend may be related the recent layoffs of 11 city employees and the firing of two others.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1154481

OBSERVATION ABOUT TONIGHT'S PAPER

Tim Lyke hits the nail on the head...and the letters to the editor, well, I just shake my head.

First of all, a person's personnel record, including any disciplinary action, is not going to be released to the public. I cannot do that with our city staff, nor would I wish to. If the author truly wanted to lead the superintendent out of town, she could have run for School Board and led the charge internally, altering the manners of the very board she is continuously belittling.

As for the turf issues, how many times do the facts have to be presented, or does the author honestly believe if enough manure is thrown against the wall, some will stick?
* First, and I would pray for the last time, the referendum question in 2006 was to borrow money for the installation of turf, not an up-and-down question on turf. No manner how many ways you dissect it, debate it, and, yes, even, mislead people about it, you cannot come to any other conclusion based on the language and the facts. Here is the referendum in its ORIGINAL, UNALTERED WORDING:

Question#2: Be it resolved by the School Board of the School District of Ripon, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, and Green Lake Counties, Wisconsin, that there shall be issued pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $750,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of installing artificial turf on Ingalls Field in partnership with Ripon College.

Nowhere in this question does it ask do you want turf or not. It asks do you want the district to issue bonds for the purpose of installing artificial turf. The only way the argument that the people were tricked works is if you believe the people are STUPID and do not know what they read or voted on.

* Second, to make claims about the fundraising and throw numbers out there indicating the taxpayers are on the hook for nearly $500,000 is beyond ludicrous. As I have pointed out many times, the college is contributing over $200,000. The fundraising efforts, at a minimum, sold 32 signs at the field, at $10,000 each, some in 5-year increments. There were also other donations beyond the signs, including a raffle and anonymous donations. A considerable part of the labor was also donated, reducing the costs.
* Third, to make the claim that the money spent on the turf, which has been GROSSLY overexaggerated by the author, could have been spent on the boilers and other items in the referendum is a stretch that borders on laughable, mainly because the numbers involved in the initial assumptions are so flawed as to make the rest of the argument baseless.
* Fourth, the turf is in. What does the author want...for it to be torn out? There can be no other explanation for these incendiary letters, which use fuzzy math and fuzzier adjectives to cover up the basic fact...the author dislikes turf, dislikes those who supported, dislikes those who contributed it, but simply cannot move on, as Tim Lyke so eloquently pointed out.

Now, if history repeats itself, my posting will be responded to with personal attacks about everything from the college parking situation to my wife being the First Lady. In all honesty, I would love to see no responses to this posting, because the turf issue........is over.

FUNDRAISING FOR THE TURF
* Private Donations - $360,000
-The initial money to pay for the turf will come from an 8-year loan with the FieldTurf financing company
* College Contribution - $250,000 ($31,250 per year from 2008 to 2015)
-The college payments began in March 2008
-The Ripon College payment listed is for principal only. Interest will also be paid. The college has committed to the increase from the original $25,000/year proposed budget based on a 10-year loan
Ripon Area School District - $170,692
-The school district commences payments in March 2009 after the current Ingalls Field loan ends ($15,476 annually)
2008-2009 - $7,638 from maintenance, $15,476 from loan fund - $23,114
2009-2010 - $7,867 from maintenance, $15,476 from loan fund - $23,343
2010-2011 - $11,937 from maintenance, $15,476 from loan fund - $27,413
-The estimated maintenance expenses in 2010-11 include $5,750 to replace the crown on the field.
2011-2012 - $8,346 from maintenance, $15,476 from loan fund - $23,822
2012-2013 - $8,597 from maintenance, $15,476 from loan fund - $24,073
2013-2014 - $8,855 from maintenance, $15,476 from loan fund - $24,331
2014-2015 - $9,120 from maintenance, $15,476 from loan fund - $24,596
TOTAL AMOUNT - $780,692

When the numbers are all broken down, the most the taxpayers are paying "extra" for the field is $108,332, which is amount of the original Ingalls Fund annual payment over seven years. The maintenance money would have been spent anyways on painting, mowing, fertilizing, and recrowning the field. The taxpayers received a field worth more than a HALF MILLION dollars for slighly more than $100,000. These numbers come directly from IngallsField.org, the website set up by the fundraising organizers.

Furthermore, one of the arguments for installing the Turf would be increased usage. In its first year, the field hosted a WIAA playoff game to a full house, and a semi-pro football championship game. Both brought in revenue to the city and to the school district.

EARLY PEEK AT MARCH 10TH COUNCIL MEETING

* Public hearing on the possible vacation of Blossom Street between Watson and Ransom Streets adjacent to the American House and the Mapes Hotel
* Listening session on the lengthening of the mayor's term from 2 to 4 years
* Public hearing on the proposed Smart Growth - comprehensive plan for Ripon. Copies of the plan, which set goals and objectives for the next 20 years, are on display at City Hall.

EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS NOT ILLEGAL?

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Governor Jim Doyle's proposed budget puts no money toward complying with a federal anti-terrorism law, even though the state has been collecting $10 per driver's license to do so for over a year. Let that sink in, we have been paying $10 more per license since last year, which has raised $12.5 million for the state, but the program we were told would be funded with this increased tax is not being funded.

The Governor even has the chutzpah to say that he is not abandoning the federal Real ID law. "We're not shutting down our efforts by any means," Doyle told reporters in a conference call. "We are definitely slowing them down."

WHY the lack of support for the Real ID program? Which special interest has Doyle sold out to now? Where is the leadership and the vision in our legislature to question Doyle on this?

STIMULATING OUR FUTURE????

The Tax Policy Center, which is a non-partisan group, has run the numbers of the Obama budget. Grab your wallet and shelve your dreams:

In 2009, the federal deficit will be larger as a share of the economy than at any time since World War II. The current deficit is due in part to economic weakness and the stimulus, and in part to policy choices made in the past. What is more troubling is that, under what we view as optimistic assumptions, the deficit is projected to average at least $1 trillion per year for the 10 years after 2009, even if the economy returns to full employment and the stimulus package is allowed to expire in two years. The longer-run picture is even bleaker. We estimate a fiscal gap – the immediate and permanent increase in taxes or reduction in spending that would keep the long-term debt/GDP ratio at its current level –about 7-9 percent of GDP, or between $1 trillion and $1.3 trillion per year in current dollars.

To close that gap, says the Center, the government would have to cut all government spending by 23 percent or hike taxes by 52 percent. And then pigs will fly across the skies of Washington. For the full report, click here.

Four-year council terms rare in Wisconsin cities

In the interest of being fair to the debate on lengthening the mayor's term from two to four years, I found this article in the Kenosha News, posted February 23:

While Kenosha’s aldermen consider moving from two-year to four-year terms, they’re pretty much alone compared to other cities in the state. Milwaukee is the only major city in the state with four-year terms for aldermen. Most others are two, while Eau Claire and Waukesha terms are three years. The Kenosha proposal, sponsored by aldermen Ray Misner, Anthony Nudo and David Bogdala, will be considered by the City Council March 2. The sponsors say the change would save money, improve continuity in governance, give aldermen more time to focus on legislation and avoid situations where the council and mayor’s office could change in the same year.

— Last spring, Eau Claire moved from two-year to three-year terms thanks to a referendum. A similar measure was defeated in 2000. According to Eau Claire City Clerk Donna Austed, the terms will be staggered: Five city council members and the council president will be elected this year, with the remaining five spots elected next year. The term extension was proposed by two council members that were not seeking re-election, Austed said.
— Milwaukee has had four-year terms for its 15 aldermen since 1924, according to Barry Zalben, manager of Milwaukee’s legislative reference bureau. All 15 face re-election every four years, with the current terms expiring in 2012. Zalben said typically three or four seats remain unopposed each election cycle. Milwaukee’s mayoral election is held at the same time and also features a four-year term.
— Green Bay, only slightly bigger than Kenosha, has two-year terms and seems happy with them.
“No one is talking about extending term lengths at all,” Green Bay City Clerk Chad Weininger said. “It seems like everyone is comfortable with two-year terms. One year is not realistic, and there’s no talk for four-year terms. It’s not a huge topic out here."
— The Madison City Council’s two-year terms are up from one-year terms the city had until the 1970s. The mayoral term was extended from two years to four in 1991. Lisa Veldran, administrative assistant to the Madison council, said the reasoning for that change was similar to what Kenosha’s aldermanic sponsors have been saying. “Mayors would be on board for the first year and then would be looking at re-election again right away,” Veldran said. “It would give them a longer time for legislation and to start working on their agendas. It didn’t pay to have them start and then have to run for re-election again in a year.”
— Racine is one of several Wisconsin cities with staggered two-year terms for aldermen.
Elections for odd-numbered districts are held in odd-numbered years, and even-numbered districts in even-numbered years. Donna Deuster, assistant clerk and assistant treasury manager, said there is no talk in changing that system at this time.
— Appleton, Beloit and Oshkosh have staggered two-year terms; Waukesha has staggered three-year terms. “We don’t lose our whole council in one shot that way,” Cindi Hesse, city clerk for Appleton, said.

Misner said four-year terms would be more effective than staggered two-year terms in Kenosha. “We are a large city, and we can’t look at ourselves as a small town anymore,” Misner said. “I think we need to find something that works for our council, and I want there to be some kind of breather. You need some standard put in place so there is continuity and experienced people running local government at all times.” Misner said he had no plans to propose a referendum on this issue.

“There haven’t been people banging down my door opposed to this,” Misner said. “If people are happy with their alderman, they’re not going to be too upset about this.” City residents do have 60 days to file a petition to oppose the city’s resolution if it passes, Misner said. And Misner said if the city passes this proposal, there may be some more uniformity in similar-sized cities. “If we go to four-year terms, I think you’ll find a lot of other cities considering it,” Misner said. “I hope it’s a trend.”

RIPON COLLEGE PRESIDENT DISCUSSES ECONOMY'S IMPACT ON SCHOOL

* David Joyce states staying the course is important in current, failing economy
* Strategic initiatives: College's strategic plan is to continue to evolve despite economy

"Never let a good crisis go to waste," were among President David Joyce's opening words in his Golden Hour update last week on the college's strategic initiatives. Joyce spoke with a deep sense of confidence, ensuring those in attendance that Ripon College will continue to thrive if it adheres to the plan set forth by the Board of Trustees and administrative council.The college's healthy levels of enrollment are solid indicators of its financial stability because student tuition accounts for 75 percent of the annual budget. However, the failing economy has taken its toll on the endowment, which typically accounts for 10 percent of the budget.

For the rest of the story - Click here

COMMENTS BACK ON

Based on a large number of requests to allow comments back on the blog, I will reactivate the feature. Of course, I cannot moderate the comments (I could choose to do so, but I do not). I would just hope that some civility is exercised, so that we do not have to consider permanently turning the comments off.

MY TOP TEN SONGS OF ALL-TIME

Time to lighten up the reading, and wash the bad posts out of your hair:

THE MAYOR'S ALL-TIME TOP TEN SONG LIST
1 - "Big Time" - Peter Gabriel - Actually anything from Peter Gabriel would make my top ten, especially this song and "Games Without Frontiers". I also love "Come Talk to Me"
2 - "Silent Running" - Mike and the Mechanics - This song came from a very underrated band in the 1980's. They are best known for "The Living Years", but this song was actually in a movie, but I can't remember it.
3 - "Running Up That Hill" - Kate Bush - For some reason, I always think of spring when I hear this song. was the most successful of Bush's 1980s releases, eventually peaking at the number three position in England, her second-highest single release there. The single also had a great impact in the US, providing Bush with her first hit to chart since 1978. It reached the top 30, and featured prominently within the Dance Charts. It has been covered several times, and I like most of those versions as well - Placebo, Within Temptation, and Nolwenn Leroy (a very beautiful French you probably have never heard of)
4 - "Say It Right" - Nelly Furtado - A catchy song from a lovely lady. Furtado has cited the influence of the Eurythmics and their song "Here Comes the Rain Again" on this song. The video is also very appealing.
5 - "Division Bell" - Pink Floyd - I have always been a big fan of Floyd (especially after seeing them in concert many years ago at Camp Randall Stadium). This song, with its haunting lyrics and the sound of the bells, is a good one to just relax to.
6 - "While The Earth Sleeps" - Peter Gabriel and Deep Forest - There is no real video for this song, so the clip takes you to a fan's rendition. The song appeared on the soundtrack for the film "Strange Days" and is played over the film's end credits; it was also released as a CD single. IF you can ever find this for me for a download, I would appreciate it. The song incorporates credited samples from "Shashvi, Kakabi", performed by Tsinandali Choir, and from an old Macedonian song called "Dali Znaes Mila Majko" ("Do you know, dear mother?").
7 - "The Highwayman" - The Highwaymen - Yes, I do listen to country. The song is about a soul with incarnations in four different places in time and history, a highwayman (of course), a sailor, a dam builder on the Hoover Dam, and finally as an astronaut. And who are the Highwaymen - Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.
8 - "This Used to be my Playground" - Madonna - The theme song from "A League of Their Own" is one of those songs that just tugs at the heart strings.
9 - "Feel Alive" - The Benassi Brothers - One of those songs that makes me think of a season - SUMMER.
10 - "A New Game" - Tom Hedden - All I think of when I hear this song is FOOTBALL. Guaranteed to pump up the crowd. Another sports song I love is "Sandstorm" from Darude.

HOUSTON...WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Houston taxpayers could start footing the bill to help first-time homebuyers pay off debts and improve their credit scores, under a proposal before City Council this week. The “Credit Score Enhancement Program” will give up to $3,000 in grants to individuals who are trying to qualify for mortgages through the city’s homebuyers assistance program. City officials say some applicants fall short of eligibility by only 10 or 20 points on their credit scores, and paying off some debt balances can quickly improve their numbers.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6277344.html

How stupid are we going to get before we get out of this economic downturn? Using tax dollars to pay people's credit card bills? I would take the person who hatched this idea and never let them hold public office or advise on public policy ever again.

Let people EARN their higher credit scores - do not give them the tools to get that score without making any personal sacrifices or readjustments in their spending and savings habits.

COUNCIL REVIEW - February 23

* The Council unanimously approved joining the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). This is an intergovernmental cooperation agreement, which provides rapid deployment of emergency assistance to those in immediate need of more resources.
* Plan Commission - The Council approved a request from John Duchatschek, owner of Cliff's Tire and Battery, to rezone part of a lot in the Rolling Hills Subdivision from R-1 Residential to B-2 Highway Business to allow for the expansion of the business. The Plan Commission unanimously approve the change at its last meeting
* Stormwater management issues - Luther Hills - At the last Council meeting, Gary Will requested that the council explore options for improving the drainage in the Luther Hills area. City Engineer Travis Drake has compiled a preliminary report. The Council did not take any formal action to move forward on this issue at this time.
* Blackburg Street Parking Lot - The Council received an update on the land issues which have been preventing us from moving forward with the project. It is our hope we will see a plan for the lot in April or May, with construction set to begin in late summer
* Reconsider motion approved February 10th - The Council approved a motion authorizing payment of the City’s share of a fire district shortfall in the amount of $25,002.39, using monies from the “Welcome to Ripon” sign project. The City wouldn’t make payment until the towns submitted payments, and the city would designate up to $15,000 in the 2009 contingency budget for possible overruns in 2009.” Councilmember Brockman, who voted for this motion, had asked that it be brought back before the Council for reconsideration, due to concerns about whether the amount was sufficient, given the fire camera donations fund issue. He did not, though, make a formal motion to reconsider the motion, and no other council member did, so the issue was not discussed.
* Agenda item for future meetings (March 10) - I asked the Council to reconsider an earlier motion to spend up to $9,000 on a study into the feasibility of moving the railroad to outside the city. Preliminary discussions with the railroad indicate the costs to do so could be in the neighborhood of $5 million, which makes the project economically unrealistic. Therefore, let's not spend the money to study it and put the money back into the reserve fund. Alderwoman Schueler asked the City Attorney to explore the mechanics of putting the question of doubling the mayor's term from two to four years on the ballot. It would not be on the April ballot, as that deadline has passed. The Council will hold a LISTENING SESSION to receive feedback from the public on expanding the length of the term. This is not a public hearing, and I will not chair the listening session, so as to avoid the appearance of impropriety in this issue. A request to place the question on the ballot has not been formally made at this time.

DISC GOLF COMING TO GREEN LAKE?

There is a project underway to put a disc golf course in Riggs County Park east of Ripon. Green Lake may have one as well:

There is a group trying to install a disc golf and handicap accessible park at Zobel Park. For those of you unfamiliar with disc golf it is a game played with Frisbees instead of a golf ball. There are tournaments all over the country and we have several local players. For those of you who might be interested in donating I've put a Pay Pal button on the right. For those of you who would rather send a check this is the address:Oshkosh Community FoundationGreen Lake Zobel Park Recreational Fund404 N. Main Street #205Oshkosh, WI 54901Make checks payable to Green Lake Zobel Park Rec FundAll donations are tax deductible.Thanks for your support!For those who would like more information you can email nathanomirr@hotmail.com

Thanks to http://www.dartford.blogspot.com/ for posting the information.

CORRECTION: I said Riggs County Park, but I believe the disc golf will be in Murray. I will check it out.

LAST WEEK'S MEDICAL CENTER MEETING

Last week, I, along with 50 or so others, took part in a Town Hall meeting regarding the Ripon Medical Center and its plans to build a new hospital in the Business Park along Highway 44. I was impressed with the turnout and the feedback RMC received from the crowd. I am sure the newspaper will have extensive coverage, but here were my observations:

1 - The groundbreaking for the new hospital will likely take place in 2010, not this spring as originally planned. The rough economy has made the fundraising environment a little bit difficult to say the least
2 - Most of the people at the meeting said they were looking for more collaboration between RMC and the other providers (Affinity, Aurora, etc) in the community. With Agnesian HealthCare looking to build a clinic in Ripon, that collaboration may become even more of an issue.
3 - Another issue that was discussed extensively was the long-term financial health of the facility. New CEO Jim Tavary assured the crowd, and had the facts to back his argument, that RMC is profitable and is heavily-used, despite some rumors to the contrary
4 - Other issues that were discussed included making the new hospital "green" and improving security, and making area residents more knowledgable of what services are offered at RMC.

Overall, I thought it was a very good night for the free flow of ideas. I hope RMC does these town hall meetings on a more regular basis in the future, as the new facility is in the process of being planned and built.

COMMENTS TO BE CLOSED DOWN

Effective immediately, the comments page on this website will be closed down. The level of personal attacks and accusations have reached a level where I am not comfortable with allowing people to continue to post anonymously. It is a shame a few people, assuming it is only a few, have ruined this page. I am tired about arguing about turf and the parking around the college, when those issues have been decided long ago. I like a spirited debate, but it always comes back to the same issues and the same accusations. When I have people on this blog accusing me or other officials of "screwing the people" and being corrupt, I believe we have reached the point where the blog is no longer effective, and simply becomes a soapbox for individuals who can certainly find their own blog site and blog on their own to publish their conspiratorial theories and visions for the future.

A disturbing trend has taken place on this blog. Once a person is challenged, or does not like the answers they read, there has to be something corrupt, evil or hidden with the person doing the answering. We are seeing this with the school district, Congress, the legislature, etc. I don't want to play that game. No one comes out ahead, and nothing productive comes from it.

I have never made a decision with the intent of "screwing the people:. To even insinuate something like this is completely baseless and without proof and merit. I have made my decisions, and, in many cases, I do not even vote, but don't let some facts get in the way of a good argument, with the best interests of the city in mind. I represent EVERYONE, but I can not represent EVERYONE'S interests and objectives. Some decisions will be unpopular, and may be detrimental to some people, but that does not make them unethical or corrupt.

If you wish to comment or ask questions, you certainly can email me : arkramer@charter.net. I will post the questions on the blog, and answer them to the best of my ability. You can also post comments if you choose to have a signed account. Once again, I am sorry that a few bad apples have ruined it, and, maybe, down the road, I will allow comments to be posted again, but, for now and the foreseeable future, that will not be offered as an option. Thanks much.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN CITY GOVERNMENT

Periodically, I put this information out on the web or in the paper. If you are interested in serving on any of these committees, please feel free to contact me, as, in many cases, I make the appointments for the committees, with approval from the Council. There are other special and limited-term committees which we put together from time-to-time. One is the Community Appearance Team, which has been making some great recommendations on improving the look of the community. We are also considering a committee to come up with recommendations on a revamped, graphically-improved city website, and a committee to explore options for improving the Silver Creek corridor. Stay tuned. Several of our committees will have openings in 2009. If you are interested, please email me or call me at 920-291-5250. Now, on to the existing committees:

NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC MEMBERSHIP
Board of Review: The board of review has the powers and duties as established by state statues. Membership consists of the mayor, city administrator, a council member from each district, and the assessor, who is not entitled to a vote. The board meets annually in city hall on the date(s) set by state statue.
Ripon Area Fire District Governing Board: The fire district board governs all operations of the Ripon Area Fire District. The fire district serves the City of Ripon and Towns of Ripon and Nepeuskun. It is supported by assessments to each of the members. The board is represented by four members from the city council, two from Town of Ripon and one from Town of Nepeuskun. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 in the fire station conference room. September and November.

OPEN TO PUBLIC MEMBERSHIP
Board of Zoning Appeals: The board of zoning appeals considers and approves zoning variance requests. The board is made up of five members plus two alternates. Memebers serve three-year terms. Meetings are held as needed on the third Wednesday of the month at 5:00 PM in city hall.
Business Improvement District: The primary mission of the business improvement district (BID) is to assist in efforts to: a) Achieve a livable, attractive, economically viable, and dynamic downtown, b) Improve and maintain the quality of life in the downtown, c) Encourage economic vitality in the Ripon area. BID activities are supported by a special assessment on properties in the district. The majority of the members must own property within the business improvement district. Members serve a three-year term. Meetings are held at a time and location determined by the board.
Cable TV Committee: The cable TV committee serves in an advisory capacity to the mayor and council with regard to development and enforcement of specific rules and regulations relating to the use of the city's public cable TV channels and to make recommendations concerning cable TV program offierings. Membership consists of one each from the Ripon school district, Ripon College, Ripon library, city government and two at large. Members serve a five-year term. The committee meets in city hall as needed.
Historic Preservation Commission: The historic preservation commission considers matters relating to the protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of improvements or sites of special character, archeological, architectural, or historic interest or value. Members serve a three-year term and are city residents, including one plan commission member. Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at 5:00 PM in the city hall conference room.
Hospital Board of Directors: The purpose of the hospital board is to support, benefit, promote and otherwise assist the health care activities of the Ripon Medical Center (RMC). The RMC buildings are owned by the city and leased to an independent corporation. Five of the nine directors are appointed by the mayor, one of whom must be an elected official of the city and the hospital board appoints four directors. Members serve a three-year term. The board meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 5:15 PM at the Ripon Medical Center. This is a non-public meeting.
Housing and Community Development Authority: The housing and community development authority (CDA) acts as agent of the city in planning and carrying out community development programs and activities. Membership is seven residents, two of which are members of the city council. Members serve a four-year term. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month in the city hall conference room at 6:00 PM.
Library Board: The library board has exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected, donated or appropriated for the library fund and the supervision, care and custody of the library and reading rooms. Its seven members are residents of the City of Ripon or surrounding towns. No more than two are town residents and one must be a school district administrator or representative. Members serve a three-year term. Meetings are held the last Tuesday of the month at the library at 6:30 PM.
Loan Review Board :The loan review board makes standards and policy recommendations and reviews, selects and recommends loan applications to the city council. Membership is the mayor, city clerk, city council representative, president of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, president of the Ripon Community Development Corporation, city resident and an executive officer from each of the state and/or federally chartered commercial lending institutions in the City of Ripon. Terms are continuous except bi-annually for the council representative and a three-year term for the city resident. Meetings are held as needed in the city hall conference room.
Park and Recreation Committee: The park and recreation committee advises and assists the city recreation director, city administrator, city council and the board of public works in planning and developing the Ripon park system to include parks, open spaces, forestry, waterwasy and other related areas. The committee consists of five members, including one representative from the city council. Members serve a four-year term. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month except December and January at 5:00 PM in the city hall conference room.
Plan Commission: The plan commission has the powers and duties prescribed in Section 62.23, Wisconsin Statutes and such other powers and duties vested in them by law or the city council. The commission considers matters regarding the physical development of the city, such as site development, conditional use, planned unit development, re-zoning, etc. It's seven members are made up of four citizens, the city engineer, an council member and the mayor. Members serve a three-year term. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the city hall conference room.
Police Commission: The police commission has all the powers and duties delegated to it in Section 62.13, Wisconsin Statutes excepting the optional powers in Section 62.13 (6) and any additional powers designated by the city council. Members serve a five-year term. Meetings are held ervery other month on the third Wednesday at 7:00 PM in city hall - January, March, May, July, Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission assists a private operator to establish, operate and maintain a public transportation service,or in failing this, to move to implement a regular limited transit service for senior citizens in conjunction with the senior citizen center and the area council on aging. Membership consists of four citizens and one council member. Members serve a four-year term. Meetings are held when necessary.

CITY OF RIPON CALENDAR - MARCH 2009

2 - Historic Preservation Committee 5:00 PM
3 - Fire District Board 7:00 PM / Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
4 - Housing & Community Development Authority 6:00 PM /Recyclable pickup east of Watson & Eureka
7 - Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
9 - Cable TV Committee 4:00 / Curbside brush pickup
10 - Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM / City Council 7:00 PM
11 - Recyclable pickup west of Watson & Eureka
14 - Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
16 - Assessor office hours 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
17 - Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
18 - Recyclable pickup east of Watson & Eureka / Plan Commission 7:00 PM
21 - Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
23 - City Council 7:00 PM
24 - Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
25 - Recyclable pickup west of Watson & Eureka /Park & Recreation Committee 5:00 PM
28 - Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
31 - Winter parking restrictions end / Dog & cat licenses due /Compost center open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM /Library Board 6:30 PM

Ripon referendum

From the Fond du Lac Reporter:

Ripon School Business Manager Rick Ketter said the district is asking for necessities listed on three separate referendum questions. This year, the district's budget deficit is $545,000, a spike from previous years when it hovered around $330,000. The first resolution calls for $500,000 to replace a high school boiler that dates back to 1962, and repair roofs on various school buildings.
"There's not any place in our budget to do these things. The boiler dates back to 1962 and is on borrowed time," Ketter said.

The second question asks taxpayers to allow the district to exceed revenue limits by $500,000 annually for six years. The money is necessary, Ketter said, to replace textbooks, update curriculum and technology, perform maintenance and repair vehicles. The third referendum question asks for an additional $2.15 million over three years to pay for classroom staff and related instructional expenses. The latter question seeks to maintain class size, he said. If all three referendum questions were approved, the tax impact would mean about $93 on a $100,000 home.

"We've been fortunate staying ahead of the curve, finding places to maintain most of our programs and staffing. But we are at the point we just can't do it anymore," he maintained. "If something doesn't change we will have to cut deeper."

http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090223/FON0101/902230322/1985

ADDED TO COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA - February 23rd

Reconsider motion approved February 10th – Ripon Area Fire District
On February 10th, Council approved a motion authorizing payment of the City’s share of a fire district shortfall in the amount of $25,002.39, using monies from the “Welcome to Ripon” sign project. The City wouldn’t make payment until the towns submitted payments, and the city would designate up to $15,000 in the 2009 contingency budget for possible overruns in 2009.” Councilmember Brockman, who voted for this motion, has asked that it be brought back before the Council for reconsideration, due to concerns about whether the amount was sufficient, given the fire camera donations fund issue.

NOTE: This is the money that was going to be used on benches for the downtown and other projects, but has been re-directed at my suggestion.

STATE SCHOOL REFERENDUMS - THE SCOREBOARD

Based on the returns so far, the odds for Ripon passing its referendums do not look good. Some of these links work, some do not:

January 20, 2009 election
Central/Westosha Referendum - Issue debt not to exceed $7,890,000 for parking lot improvements and improving athletic facilities and other infrastructure. - Passed
February 17, 2009 election
Appleton Area Referendum - $10,900,000 by 2011 to improve class size ratios and purchase curriculum materials. - Defeated
Appleton Area Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $5,000,000 to improve school building safety and technology system security. - Defeated
Clinton Maintenance Referendum - Issue debt not to exceed $9,630,000 for maintenance and security upgrades. - Defeated
Highland School District Referendum - Exceed revenue limits by $405,000 by 2011 and every year thereafter. - Defeated
Salem School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $3,480,000 to prevent an increase in class sizes. - Defeated
Siren School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $1,250,000 in order to sustain current levels of operation. - Defeated
Waupun Area Materials Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $450,000 for acquiring educational resources. - Defeated
Waupun Area Maintenance Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $450,000 for capital improvements and maintenance expenses - Defeated
Waupun Area Operations Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $4,000,000 for ongoing operational expenses. - Defeated

April 7, 2009 election
Benton School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $965,000 over three years to sustain current levels of operation
Bowler School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $750,000 over three years for non-recurring operational expenses
Herman School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $375,000 for ongoing operational expenses
Horicon School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $300,000 for one year for non-recurring operational expenses
Keil Area School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $650,000 for seven years for non-recurring expenses
Loyal School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $1,500,000 for non-recurring operational expenses
Manawa School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $3,000,000 by 2014
Maple Dale-Indian Hill Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $800,000 per year until 2019
Maple Dale-Indian Hill Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $4,000,000 for for school repairs
Medford Area Exceed Revenue Limits - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $235,000 per year for recurring operational expenses
Medford Area School District Referendum - Issue debt in the amount of $13,190,000 for additions to the high school
Merrill Area School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $2,125,000 by 2012
Middleton-Cross Plains Exceed Revenue Limits - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $1,425,000 per year
Middleton-Cross Plains Referendum - Issue debt in the amount of $33,980,000 to rebuild and equip Kromrey Middle School
Middleton-Cross Plains Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $34,750,000 for additions to district schools
Mineral Point School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $1,000,000 over three years to maintain current levels of operation
North Lakeland School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $943,000 per year for recurring expenses
Northland Pines School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $8,700,000 by 2012
Oshkosh Construction Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $2,500,000 by 2014 to pay for small scale construction projects
Oshkosh Maintenance Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $6,500,000 by 2014 to pay for deferred district maintenance
Oshkosh Elementary School Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $15,000,000 for the construction of a new elementary school
Peshtigo Advisory Referendum - Seeks the opinion of Peshtigo School District members on issuing debt to make district improvements
Phelps Fitness Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $45,000 over three years to improve the school fitness area
Phelps School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $2,460,000 over three years for operational expenses
Reedsburg Kindergarten Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $1,200,000 over three years to fund a new kindergarten
Reedsburg Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $2,400,000 over four years to maintain current levels of operation
Reedsville Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $350,000 per year for ongoing operational expenses
Reedsville Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $9,965,000 to fund improvements to the high school
Ripon Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $3,000,000 by 2015
Ripon Exceed Revenue Limits - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $2,150,000 by 2012
Ripon Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $500,000 for roof repairs and to replace the high school boiler
Riverdale School District Referendum - Exceed state-set revenue limits by $610,000 per year for operational expenses
West Bend Badger Middle School Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $27,400,000 for renovating the Badger Middle School
West Bend Elementary School Bond - Issue debt in the amount of $41,450,000 to construct a new elementary school

CORNERSTONE MEETING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 5

This will be noticed as a possible public meeting, since a quorum of the Common Council may be in attendance as they have been invited, although NO city-related action will take place at the meeting:

The Cornerstone Project Inc. would like to invite the local Municipal leaders to participate in a Regional Collaborative Discussion on Thursday, March 5th 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Town Hall, Green Lake, WI

* Discuss The Cornerstone Project, Inc. status
* Discuss ideas and input for the delivery of comprehensive integrated health and wellness care for all of the surrounding communities
* Discuss how to collaborate with each other and develop forward thinking initiatives to make our communities stronger

We have invited Mayor Jim Tipple from the City of Wausau to discuss how he has participated in community collaboration and to discuss the benefits he has witnessed.

About The Cornerstone Project
The Cornerstone Project is a 501©3 non-profit organization that was formed to provide resources in health, wellness and fitness to enhance the quality of life in Berlin, Green Lake, Markesan, Princeton, Ripon and surrounding communities. The Cornerstone Project is a collaborative effort with community residents, families and organizations including hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, schools, colleges, corporations and recreation departments.

COUNCIL PREVIEW - February 23

CLOSED SESSION

The Council will discuss an amendment to TIF District #4 (Industrial-Business Park) with a prospective developer, and will discuss the creation of a new TIF District for another possible development project

OPEN SESSION

* The Council will discuss the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Ripon Fire Chief Mike Fredrick is requesting the city join an intergovernmental cooperation agreement, which provides rapid deployment of emergency assistance to those in immediate need of more resources. Fond du Lac County's Emergency Management Director Erin Gerrad and the Chief will be in attendance to discuss MABAS

* Plan Commission - The Council will be asked to approve a request from John Duchatschek, owner of Cliff's Tire and Battery, to rezone part of a lot in the Rolling Hills Subdivision from R-1 Residential to B-2 Highway Business to allow for the expansion of the business. The Plan Commission unanimously approve the change at its last meeting

* Stormwater management issues - Luther Hills - At the last Council meeting, Gary Will requested that the council explore options for improving the drainage in the Luther Hills area. City Engineer Travis Drake has compiled a preliminary report. First of all, the subdivision was approved in April 1959, and construction began shortly thereafter. A 1971 survey showed that a storm sewer system was butil the entire length of Hope Avenue. Similar systems on on Mount Zion and Joy Avenues drain to the east away from Hope. According to the report, "runoff from Hope Avenue combines with the runoff from Ardmore Avenue and Sandmar to make its way east under the railroad across the fields to Silver Creek. Aerial topography suggest that the flow from these sources will overtop the railroad before reaching ground floor saturation. The issue of groundwater conditions remain. The City has not addressed issues of groundwater in the past." The Council will review and discuss the report on Monday

* Blackburg Street Parking Lot - The Council will receive an update on the land issues which have been preventing us from moving forward with the project.

Ripon College again makes president’s honor roll for community service

Congratulation to Ripon College. We are blessed to have the College in a city our size:

The Corporation for National and Community Service honored Ripon College today with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America’s communities.

“Ripon College counts civic engagement and service among its most cherished values,” said David Joyce, president of Ripon College. “This honor is a validation of how our students, faculty and staff put those values to work every day for the betterment of the community.”
http://www.ripon.edu/news/2008-09/020909_service.html

DON'T FORGET TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL MEETING

Community leaders and citizens are invited to a Town Hall meeting to discuss the future of Ripon Medical Center (RMC) and its role within the community from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Royal Ridges of Ripon.

I will be there, and I hope to see many of you as well. For more information on the developments involving RMC and the RMC Foundation, click here

OMRO TO LEAVE EASTERN VALLEY CONFERENCE?

http://www.ripontigerfootball.com/index.html

MILWAUKEE BUCKS MASCOT FOLLIES

I am sure this was not scripted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_VdySnHsJY

RIPON (CALIFORNIA) WORKS TOWARD FIELD TURF

Ripon, Wisconsin has had field turf for a year. Ripon, California continues to work toward raising the money to install turf on their football field. Their group - the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation - has been working since 2007. Their mission statement reads:

We are a group of caring citizens like you.Our mission is to help athletes, students and Ripon's community to realize their full potential through athletics and physical activity.The initial way we plan to fulfill our mission is to replace, as soon as possible, Ripon High School's track and football field with an all-weather track and synthetic athletic field which would accommodate both soccer and football.

We will support replacement and expansion of existing non-ADA compliant bleachers to accommodate a growing population. New ADA compliant bathrooms and sidewalks will also be part of the plans.Unchanged for many years, R.H.S.'s track and field is in need of replacement. It is our goal to bring Ripon Athletic programs into the 21st century. This facility will encourage students along with the community to build healthy lifestyles and prepare them for lifelong physical fitness.We can only do this with your help.

If you look at pictures of their existing field, it looks a lot like Ingalls Field prior to the recent renovations. The Ripon Community Athletic Foundation has to raise a bit more than we did in Ripon - $2 million for the track and to replace the football field with synthetic turf. Here is wishing them best of luck in their fundraising efforts in 2009. Their next big event is in May - Rina's Run, Saturday, May 9. The 2nd Annual Rina's Run is a 10K Run or 5K walk or run through Ripon neighborhoods, which will money for the Stouffer Field Revitalization bringing a synthetic turf field and allweather track to Ripon High School.

PLAN COMMISSION RECAP - February 18

Action items
Public hearing – request to rezone land south of 1049 West Fond du Lac Street - The Commission unanimously approved the rezoning of a parcel of land behind Cliff's Tire and Battery from R-1 residential to Highway Business. Cliff's has a deal with Doctor Robert House to buy the piece of land, which is in the Rolling Hills subdivision, in order to expand or replace their current facility and increase parking and storage.
Discussion items
Review and discuss master plan streets found on the current official City map - The city wrote its current master street plans in 1990. Since things have changed since then, the Commission wants to review the existing streets to see if they still make sense, and look at other possible streets that may need to be planned. Some areas where more work is needed is north of the city where a new school will be built near Murray Park Elementary, and along Highway 23 East, where the city has annexed more than 140 acres of land along Douglas Street. The Commission agreed to break the map up into quadrants. The first area we will focus on is the Northwest (Highway 23 West, Berlin Road, Canterbury Subdivision, Murray Park area)
Discuss possible creation of special sign district for East Fond du Lac Street - The Commission decided to review the entire sign ordinance and will be looking to appoint a sub-committee to review and modernize the existing ordinances
Project updates
TIF District #6 neighborhood plan - This would cover Highway 23 West. The report should be ready for the public to view in the spring
Covenants for new business park - A subcommittee continues to work on building covenants for the new park, and should have a final report ready in March or April

EDITORIAL ON THE MAYOR'S TERM LENGTH

By as early as next month, Ripon’s Common Council may pass a charter ordinance to amend the city’s bylaws, extending the mayoral term from two years to four. If passed, the change would take effect with the April 2010 election.The public will have an opportunity to weigh-in on the issue during a March 10 listening session at 7 p.m. in City Hall.Aldermen seem to favor the idea, which Ald. Dan Luskey first introduced at the Jan. 13 council meeting. None have spoken out against doubling the mayor’s tenure.Most popular argument for moving to the four-year term is that it gives the mayor time to learn the job and to then preside over the city without having to assume “campaign mode” so soon. The longer the term, the thinking goes, the less political the office, permitting the mayor to be more of a statesman, less a politician.After making a few comments in favor of the four-year term at the council meeting last month, Mayor Aaron Kramer wisely said nothing when the council revisited the matter last week and, in fact, had council President Ald. Barb Miller preside during the discussion while he remained silent.One need look no farther than Kramer, and whoever will one day succeed him, for best reasons why a two-year term is not only desirable but preferable to a four-year term.Ripon’s current mayor is a winner.Kramer is knowledgeable, creative, accessible, innovative, entrepreneurial, articulate, sensible, conservative, funny and proud.If he continues to govern as he has in the past, his mayoral seat should be secure. As the city’s CEO, Kramer surely has many issues that may keep him up at night, but re-election likely is not among them.So whether his term is two years or four should matter very little. As long as voters continue to agree with Kramer’s leadership, governing style and policy declarations, continued incumbency seems to be his for the foreseeable future. Every two years, he is accountable to the city. And with his seat as well as four aldermanic seats up for election, that means every two years more than half the Common Council turns over. Not a bad thing.Because when the day comes that Kramer steps down, voluntarily or otherwise, his successor may not be as talented. Or as selfless. Or as effective.His successor could have the best of intentions but govern Ripon poorly, resulting in a divided council, overindebtedness and a demoralized staff.The new mayor might be as honest as the day is long, but just have no idea how to govern. Absent evidence of malfeasance, taxpayers would then be stuck with that individual at City Hall for four years. That’s a long time to endure a non-leader in so sensitive a position.But what about the ultimate chief executive, the president? He or she serves a four-year term. True, but presidential candidates are vetted far more thoroughly than are people who run for Ripon mayor. They attend a League of Women Voters forum, are interviewed on the radio station and fill out a newspaper questionnaire. Then voters decide whether to elect them to lead a council that controls a $5.2 million annual budget. A recitation of promises and a resume of experiences offers insight into candidates’ policy goals and more broad, philosophical inclinations, but they provide limited evidence as to candidates’ ability to govern. Kramer’s been terrific. But he could just as well have been a flop. Ripon voters won their gamble in 2004 and 2006. (Kramer was first elected mayor in 2003 by council members to fill the remaining term of former Mayor John Reinsch, who had moved out of town.) But if electors are not so lucky with their next choice, they’ll only have to wait two years for the opportunity to revisit their decision. This is once instance when four years are not twice as good as two. — Tim Lyke

ELECTION RESULTS

STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS
FERNANDEZ - 59
PRICE - 16
MOBLEY - 16
HOLTZ - 11
EVERS - 101
VOTER TURNOUT - 206
TTL NO. OF VOTERS REGISTERED IN CITY - 5,194
% OF THOSE REGISTERED WHO VOTED - 4

GOVERNOR UNVEILS BUDGET

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Gov. Jim Doyle proposed a budget Tuesday that closes more than 40 regional service centers, bets that more criminals can be safely released from prisons and raises income taxes on capital gains and couples with taxable incomes of $300,000 or more. To close a budget gap that has grown to $5.7 billion by mid-2011, the Democratic governor said he used $2.1 billion in federal stimulus cash to protect education and health care programs. He slashed new spending requests and said there would be no pay raises for state workers in the next two years. For what may be the first time in state history, general-fund spending will drop for the fiscal year that begins July 1, by about 5%. Total state spending - including tuition, fees and federal aid - will rise, however.
Doyle said he had no choice but to ask the Legislature to approve $1.4 billion in tax increases - the largest reworking of the tax codes in decades. The tax increases include: $540 million paid from oil company profits; $318 million by creating a new 7.75% tax rate for the richest 1% of taxpayers; $290 million in higher taxes on cigarette smokers; $215 million in higher corporate income taxes; and more than $85 million paid on capital gains.

"My budget stands up for the people who earn regular paychecks and the people who, through no fault of their own, have lost theirs," Doyle said. But Assembly Republican Leader Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon said the plan was larded with tax increases at a time when Doyle's fellow Democrats control the Legislature. "There's nobody here to protect the taxpayer," Fitzgerald said.

Budget Highlights
* Create a new income tax bracket, with a tax rate of 7.75%, for 1% of taxpayers with the highest incomes, costing them $318 million over two years.
* Raise Wisconsin's tax on capital gains, costing taxpayers more than $85 million.
* Tax oil companies, raising $540 million over two years.
* Raise the $1.77 per pack state tax on cigarettes to $2.52, costing smokers $290 million more over two years.
* Authorize police stops of vehicles for suspected seat belt violations, qualifying Wisconsin for more than $15 million in federal funds.
* Grant hospital-visitation rights and provide other benefits to same-sex couples who are state workers.
* Eliminate pay raises for state workers for two years.
* Put levy limits of 3%, or new growth in communities, to control property tax bills.
* Abolish the qualified economic offer law that has limited teachers' raises since 1994.
* Require that vehicles have only one license plate, saving an unspecified amount.

WAUPUN REJECTS REFERENDUMS

I think this does not bode well for Ripon's upcoming referendum:

WAUPUN – For the third time in three years, voters rejected a multi-million dollar referendum in the Waupun Area School District.All three questions of the three-pronged, three-year $4.9 million referendum failed to gain voter support.“I wish we could blame this on the economy, but the outcome of tonight’s vote is the same as it was back in April 2008,” said School Board President Cathy Loomans. “I guess what people are trying to tell us is to continue to look for cuts and make some major changes in how we do business.”

THE WEEK AHEAD

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP MEETING
* D.K. "Deke" Palecek will present a program on "Women in Leadership Roles" at the Women In Management meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Ripon College. Discussion points will include the role of attitude, the power of focus, and the comparative strengths of women and men. Palecek is the founder of Saving Grace Salvage Co. in Berlin. During her career, she has also been an investment banker at Goldman Sachs & Bear Stearns, and CFO/COO of Numera Corp. Reservations must be made by Monday, Feb. 16, by e-mailing Lori Rich at lrich@cityofripon.com or by calling Jane Schueler at 748-1131. The meeting will be held in the Heritage Room at Pickard Commons, on the southwest corner of Congress and Elm streets. Dinner will be a pasta buffet. Women in Management is a networking group and educational opportunity for area businesswomen. Those interested in joining the group may attend as a guest prior to joining the organization.

TOWN HALL MEETING FOR RIPON MEDICAL CENTER
* Community leaders and citizens are invited to a Town Hall meeting to discuss the future of Ripon Medical Center (RMC) and its role within the community from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Royal Ridges of Ripon. Shortly after he came to RMC, Chief Executive Officer Jim Tavary began holding meetings with employees, board members and physicians on the direction Ripon Medical Center will be taking in the future. With the community forum, Tavary hopes to find out what the community wants to see in a future health-care delivery system. "I want to get the community's perspective," said Tavary in a RMC press release. "As we move forward in our efforts to build a new hospital facility, I want to know what the community leaders and citizens see as our strengths, our weaknesses and our challenges." Seating will be limited. To RSVP for the meeting, contact Danelle Phillips, RMC Community Outreach coordinator at (920) 748-0405 or by e-mail at danelleph@rmcnet.org.

RIPON COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE
Women's Basketball - Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. @ Carroll University - For the first time in three years, the Ripon College women's basketball team is headed to the Midwest Conference Tournament. They clinched a berth thanks to a 64-57 win at Beloit College, which also marks head coach Julie Johnson's 250th career victory, all of which have come at Ripon College
Men's Basketball - Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. @ Carroll University
Track & Field - Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m. @ UW-Oshkosh
Men's Tennis - Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. vs. Lakeland College @ Oshkosh YMCA Tennis Center
Women's Basketball - Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. Lawrence University
Men's Basketball - Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. Lawrence University
Men's Tennis - Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. vs. Marian University @ Oshkosh YMCA Tennis Center

NICE EMAIL FROM CALIFORNIA...

Mayor Kramer:
This is Stephanie Hobbs, the spearheader of the Ripon CALIF synthetic turf project. I am impressed by the list of fields already in place in your city! During my research I have inadvertently ended up at your city's sites many times. Our small town of 14,500 has a Mayberry feel, but obviously not the resources larger towns have to pull from. Everything I have read about Ripon WI has been impressive,and I congratulate you on your quality town! I hope, during these tough economic times, that our town maintains their level of excellence to keep the namesake of Ripon preserved.

RIPON CABLE FRANCHISE FEE REVENUE INCREASES

Considering our 2008 budget for the Channel 19/97 operations was $73,000, the revenue last year was better than expected.

FRANCHISE FEE PAYMENTS --- (1/1/03 to present)
Period covered Franchise fee paid
1st quarter of 2003 (Jan-Mar) $ 16,758
2nd quarter of 2003 (Apr-Jun) 17,164
3rd quarter of 2003 (Jul-Sept) 17,171
4th quarter of 2003 (Oct-Dec) 16,280
2003 total $ 67,373

1st quarter of 2004 (Jan-Mar) 16,420
2nd quarter of 2004 (Apr-Jun) 17,242
3rd quarter of 2004 (July-Sept) 16,733
4th quarter of 2004 (Oct-Dec) 16,981
2004 total $ 67,376

1st quarter of 2005 (Jan-Mar) 16,782
2nd quarter of 2005 (Apr-Jun) 17,424
3rd quarter of 2005 (Jul-Sept) 17,819
4th quarter of 2005 (Oct-Dec) 17,997
2005 total $ 70,022

1st quarter of 2006 (Jan-Mar) 18,065
2nd quarter of 2006 (Apr-Jun) 18,101
3rd quarter of 2006 (Jul-Sept) 18,108
4th quarter of 2006 (Oct-Dec) 18,202
2006 total $ 72,476

1st quarter of 2007 (Jan-Mar) 18,527
2nd quarter of 2007 (Apr-Jun) 18,467
3rd quarter of 2007 (Jul-Sept) 18,350
4th quarter of 2007 (Oct-Dec) 18,487
2007 total $ 73,831

1st quarter of 2008 (Jan-Mar) 18,655
2nd quarter of 2008 (Apr-Jun) 19,232
3rd quarter of 2008 (Jul-Sept) 21,290
4th quarter of 2008 (Oct-Dec) 21,017
2008 total $ 80,194

Group seeks driver certificates for illegal immigrants

Another great idea from those who continue to shove the ILLEGAL immigrant agenda down our throats. Of course, with our current Governor and Legislature, this has a realistic chance of passing. Of course, I would argue that, when the people show up for their certificates, INS should be right there waiting for them. Remember, calling them UNDOCUMENTED residents is like calling a drug dealer an UNLICENSED PHARMACIST. My comments in italics/bold:

A coalition of groups has stepped up its effort to convince Gov. Jim Doyle to allow illegal immigrants to obtain certificates that would allow them to drive and get car insurance. About 20 members of the Wisconsin Coalition for Safe Roads went to Madison Friday to deliver 2,735 signed postcards asking the governor to make the change in his new budget. "We call on Gov. Doyle to not fund the REAL ID Act, which is a federal unfunded mandate that would cost the state an estimated $22 million, and instead allow certificates to be issued to ensure public safety on our roads," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, director of Voces de la Frontera, a member of the coalition. "We're not talking about criminals here, but working people who need to drive to New Berlin and Mequon to clean buildings, or take a family member to the hospital and to do so safely and with insurance," said Tony Baez, president and CEO of the Council for the Spanish Speaking, another coalition member. - Oh, please, there are many people who drive to their jobs and are LEGAL residents, but do not carry insurance. Are we to really expect that ILLEGAL residents, who do not respect the laws of the land and are here ILLEGALLY, will go out and get insurance? I do love how the supporters are now using the "safety" angle. When all else fails, play the fear card.
Because illegal immigrants can't get Wisconsin driver's licenses, scam artists try to sell so-called international drivers' licenses to low income families, Neumann-Ortiz said. - So high income ILLEGAL immigrants do not buy these international licenses?
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005. It requires all states to check a person's immigration status before issuing a driver's license or state ID. Only drivers who are citizens or have legal status can qualify. In response, Wisconsin passed a law in 2006 that required proof of citizenship or legal status, including a Social Security number, to get a driver's license. The REAL ID does allow states to issue a driver's license certificate to residents without Social Security numbers. - And what is wrong with the REAL ID concept? What is wrong with checking a person's status to make sure they are not here ILLEGALLY?
The certificate could not be used as federal identification for boarding an airplane or entering a federal building. Since 2005, more than 40 states have considered legislation that either opposed REAL ID or urged Congress to amend or repeal it, said Ortiz. Some states, like Utah and Tennessee have enacted driver's certificates, said Neumann-Ortiz.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/39575982.html

GOVERNOR DOYLE - DO NOT READ HIS LIPS

From the Wisconsin State Journal:
Smokers, who are about to see a big increase in federal cigarette taxes, might also end up paying another quarter or more per pack in state taxes under Gov. Jim Doyle's budget to be released Tuesday. The success of last year's $1-per-pack state tax increase at stopping smoking and pressure to close the state's $5.7 billion budget shortfall make another increase likely, supporters and critics of the idea agreed. "I'm a believer in the fact that the more disincentives we have, the more we reduce smoking, and we also save a lot of money on health-care costs," said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, co-chairman of the Legislature's powerful budget committee. "I'd certainly not be surprised if we continue down that path."
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/438629

From the Doyle2002 website:
Attorney General Jim Doyle, saying the race for governor “has been conducted in the shadow of a $2.8-billion budget deficit,” offered a set of principles and ideas Friday that he would use to balance the budget and eliminate the deficit. He challenged Gov. Scott McCallum to do the same. “I will present a balanced budget – one that is balanced the old-fashioned way, with real numbers, not with tricks or gimmicks,” Doyle said. “No inflated revenue estimates – and no tax increase.” “I have said time and again that we are not in this fiscal mess because taxes are too low, or because the taxpayers have not done their fair share. I mean it,” Doyle said. “I will not raise taxes.”
http://webarchive.loc.gov/collections/lcwa0006/20021105122852/http://www.doyle2002.com/news/10.4.02.html

And then there is this little nugget from Charlie Sykes:
The Doyle Administration is resisting a federal mandate on it's sexual offender registry.
Wisconsin is fighting to stall a federal deadline to change its sex offender registry that likely will require adding thousands to the list, including those convicted of minor offenses.
At the same time, though, the Doyle administration is dedicating time and resources for a "domestic partner" registry. The budget Gov. Jim Doyle will introduce Tuesday may include the creation of a new statewide domestic partner registry that would provide legal recognition of same-sex couples while upholding the state's ban on gay marriage.
Two sources familiar with the plan, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were asked not to disclose details before the budget address, said that as of late this week the statewide domestic partner registry was part of Doyle's budget proposal.
Guess it's all a matter of what Doyle thinks is important.... and what he thinks is optional. Or maybe it's about the governor paying off another well-heeled special interest.

PLAN COMMISSION AGENDA - February 18

PLAN COMMISSION MEETING - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009
CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL - 7:00 p.m.

* Call to order/roll call
* Approve meeting minutes – January 21st
* Action items
Ø Public hearing – request to rezone land south of 1049 West Fond du Lac Street
* Discussion items
Ø Review and discuss master plan streets found on the current official City map
Ø Discuss possible creation of special sign district for East Fond du Lac Street
* Project updates
Ø TIF District #6 neighborhood plan
Ø Covenants for new business park
* Agenda items for next meeting
* Adjourn

POSSIBLE RIPON SCHOOL DISTRICT CUTS UNVEILED

TO: Ripon Board of Education
FROM: Dr. Richard Zimman, Superintendent
DATE: January 12, 2009
RE: District Budget Team Recommendations

The District Budget Team met in December and January to review the feedback gathered from staff and residents during the Budget Prioritization Sessions and to analyze the potential impact of a variety of budget cuts on the quality of Ripon’s instructional program. It was determined that 15 years of constant cutting due to the state’s revenue limits law has finally taken our school district to the point of not having much more to cut without seriously jeopardizing the quality of our schools. Due to state and federal collective bargaining laws that guide contracts with the Ripon Education Association, the Budget Team did not include any potential savings that might be realized in negotiations with the teachers union. Since the Budget Team members found it difficult to recommend cuts that would result in next year’s students receiving a lower quality education than this year’s students received, the Team decided to present two options to the Board.

Option #1 meets the goal of cutting $545,000 of annual operating costs from the budget to meet our 2009-10 projections for the state’s revenue limits law. This would require teacher layoffs at all schools which would mean program cuts and increases in class sizes. Because of the permanency of such layoffs under the revenue limits law, it is anticipated that we will be faced with a 2010-11 layoff that is the equivalent of an additional 9 teachers and a 2011-12 layoff that is the equivalent of an additional 13 teachers. This would represent about a 20% cut in our teaching staff in three years resulting in significant increases in class sizes and decreases in courses and programs.

Option #2 contains cuts that eliminate programs and services that have helped define the District as a quality school system, but stops short of cutting classroom teachers and aides. This option takes the District to less than half of the $545,000 goal which will require the Board to dig into an already depleted fund balance for annual operating expenses. Not only does this cause more instructional dollars to be shifted to paying increased interest charges for cash-flow borrowing, but it begins a cycle that will end in the District’s bankruptcy and dissolution before most of today’s students have graduated unless a new infusion of funds from a successful referendum is received.

Neither option is good for kids or our community, but Ripon is now faced with the stark reality that most other districts faced years ago as a result of the state’s revenue limits law. What to do in the face of this reality is more of a policy decision than a fiscal one, and the Budget Team was not charged with making recommendations on far-reaching policy decisions that this budget will require. Therefore, two options are presented with no recommendations. Whatever the Board decides, the Administrative Team will develop plans to put the Board’s decisions into action in a way that is as least disruptive as possible.

Budget Cuts Required By State Revenue Limits Law for 2009-10 = $ 545,000

2009-10 Budget Reductions Option #1 - Option #2
* Cut half of annual building repairs/maintenance projects - $ 105,000 - $105,000
* Lengthen classroom repainting cycle to 12 years - 11,500 - 11,500
* Reduce lawn fertilizer/pesticide applications - 3,000 - 3,000
* Eliminate Highway 41 billboard sponsorship with Ripon College - 4,320 - 4,320
* Decrease school building budgets by 10% - 57,000 - 57,000
* Eliminate non-supervisory aides working during late-start times - 15,652 - 15,652
* Reduce staff summer workshops for skill development - 4,000 - 4,000
* Eliminate/reduce some teacher extended summer contracts - 10,000 - 10,000
* Eliminate 1 non-supervisory elementary aide position - 21,865 - 0
* Eliminate 1 BPES teacher position - 78,234 - 0
* Eliminate 1 MPES teacher position - 78,234 - 0
* Eliminate 1 RMS teacher position - 78,234 - 0
* Eliminate 1 RHS teacher position - 78,234 - 0
* TOTAL BUDGET CUTS - $ 545,273 - $ 210,472