GoRipon Project

SOURCE: Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce

Dear Chamber Members--

You may have heard from the buzz around that the Ripon Chamber is embarking on a web portal project. The GoRipon.com portal will be engineered to have optimal search engine recognition.

We feel very strongly that this will benefit Ripon businesses and give us a much higher profile on the Internet. We are asking for your help to make this possible. There is no cost to you to participate in this project.

Please take a look at the attached letter. It will explain in more detail how the process will work. Then go to the GoRipon website and fill in the information that will draw customers to your business. The more information we can get from our Chamber businesses, the more visitors we will get to the site.

If you have any questions, please contact me. We are very excited about this project and look forward to working with our members to make GoRipon.com a huge success for our community.

Paula

Ripon Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 305, Ripon WI 54971
920-748-6764

Dear Ripon Chamber Members,

Throughout the last few months, the Ripon Chamber has been actively working on a project titled GoRipon.com. GoRipon.com is soon to be the universal portal through which the Ripon area can be explored and discovered. Your participation and input as a Ripon chamber member is key to this project’s success. The success of GoRipon.com will positively impact businesses and increase awareness of what we have to offer.

There is no cost to you for your participation in the GoRipon project. The goal of GoRipon.com is to generate interest in our community. The way you can help is to go to www.GoRipon.com and fill out a form about your business. The form is very simple; just enter your business name, describe your business in a short paragraph and then create as many two- to four-word key phrases as you can that describe aspects of your business, entity or organization.

What are key phrases? For example, a dentist office may want descriptive phrases such as “low-cost root canal”, “pain-free dentistry”, or “nice dentist”. You will want to think of descriptive phrases for your business that will be utilized by GoRipon.com to develop the website’s relevance in the world of search engines. Relevance is important because the popularity of your business on the Internet can be increased greatly with searchable phrases. When a website has more relevance it will appear on the top of search lists when phrases such as “scenic bike ride” or “women’s clothing boutique” are entered into a search engine such as Google, Yahoo, or MSN.

Your business will generate more popularity by having a relevant search. Visitors to the GoRipon site will be able to search for and view your business location, email, or website. It is our hope and intent that your business will continue to thrive with the awareness that this web site will create.

GoRipon.com will enhance the way our area is viewed across the nation, and it will create interest in the unique communities that we already know and love. We thank you in advance for your help with this project.

If you have comments or questions, feel free to contact us through www.GoRipon.com or at the Chamber office. We are more than happy to assist in any way we can.

Sincerely,
Paula Price, Executive Director Ripon Chamber of Commerce (920) 748-6764
exec@ripon-wi.com

Fond du Lac County Takes Wireless Internet to the Max

SOURCE: WBAY-TV - By Chris Hrapsky
You may have heard of Wi-Fi, or wireless Internet, but how about WiMax? Fond du Lac County is using it to become the first to create county-wide wireless Internet access.

James Brown is tired of slow Internet access. "I was on a dial-up and it was very poor, the wiring out here."

Brown said he's never had access to high-speed, or broadband, Internet because no company offers cable in his part of the county. But that's about to change.

Certain cities like Green Bay offer wireless Internet in some areas, but soon, from the middle of a farm field to a city sidewalk, you'll be able to get wireless Internet access anywhere in Fond du Lac County. It's the first county in the state to do it.

It's called WiMax, and from a tower it can provide through-the-air Internet for up to 30 miles.

"This is state-of-the-art technology that exists, it's just a matter of will: Are we going to do it, and are we going to do it now?" Dotnet president Frank Cumberbatch said.

The county partnered with Dotnet, a local wireless company. The county offered use of its six radio towers, and in exchange it will use Dotnet's infrastructure for communication among departments and for the Internet.

The exchange is worth about $43,000 a year, but it also saves the county the expense of buying new equipment that Dotnet is already providing.

"The cost of the infrastructure is a lot of money. It's a lot of money," county administration director Ellen Sorenson said. "It could be up to, if we wanted to do a whole build-up for the entire county, a million dollars."

County officials are happy to trade, and rural residents like James are finally ready to surf with speed.

NOTE: The new company, Granite Broadband, will be headquartered in downtown Ripon.

CITY COUNCIL RECAP - JUNE 29th

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MEETING
* Bid – Blackburn Street parking lot project - RLAM, based in Ripon, was the winning bidder at $220,000, $30,000 below the budgeted amount. Work should begin in August or September
* Breakdown of anticipated streetscape expenses under TIF District #1 - On June 9th, the City Council voted to authorize $40,000 in expenses under TID #1 for the first phase of streetscape work, subject to reviewing and approving a rough list of projects. The Council approved the list of expenditures last night.
* Street names for new development at Hwy 23 and Douglas Street - On May 27th, Council rejected proposed names for streets in this development. On June 17th, the Plan Commission voted for Eastgate Drive for the road entering from Hwy 23, and Parkside Street for the street heading east from Douglas Street. The Council approved the name changes.
* Staff report – concrete quality issue and Newbury Street project update - Due to the possibility of litigation involving this issue, the Council, at my request, moved this item into closed session, where it will be discussed in July.

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA - JUNE 29th - 7 PM

I. Call to order/roll call

II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation

III. Public communications and comment

IV. Resolution – recognizing and commending John Stein for his 30 years of service

(At this time, there will be a short time of refreshments and visiting with Mr. Stein)

V. Presentation – workplan for FCEDC’s Community Specialist (Melissa Hunt)

VI. Consent calendar (Unless the Mayor, Council or staff asks that one or more of the items listed below be pulled, this list may be approved with a single vote.)
1. Resolution – relinquishing sponsorship responsibilities for tennis court project partially funded by a Land & Water Conservation Fund grant, and transferring these responsibilities to the Ripon School District
(Staff note: In 1977, the City obtained a Land & Water Conservation grant to help with costs of the RHS tennis court project. Now DNR has realized that the City doesn’t own this site, and that the school district should be listed as project sponsor. The attached resolution would help clear this up, and staff recommends approval.)
2. Resolution – writing off an uncollectible sewer and water account
(Staff note: Staff periodically asks the Council to write off delinquent sewer and water bills from our accounting records, after all reasonable collection efforts are exhausted. The attached resolution was drafted to write off one account, due to bankruptcy.)
3. Revisions to FTA’s Drug and Alcohol Policy – Ripon Taxi
(Staff note: The Federal Transit Administration has recently revised its Drug and Alcohol Policy. Pat McGinty, owner of Brown Cab Service, Inc., the City’s taxi operator, advised that the City needs to adopt the requested changes in order to stay current with FTA requirements.)
4. "Class B" Fermented Malt Beverage and Intoxicating Liquor application for Lazic & Lazic LLC, (trade name) Ripon's Welcome Inn, 240 E Fond du Lac Street, Ripon, WI 54971, Milovan Lazic, Agent, 240 E Fond du Lac Street, Ripon, WI 54971.

VII. Other business
1. Bid – Blackburn Street parking lot project
(Staff note: A bid opening for the Blackburn Street parking lot project will be held on Friday, June 26th. Staff will bring the bid tab sheet and a recommendation to the meeting for your review and consideration.)

2. Breakdown of anticipated streetscape expenses under TIF District #1
(Staff note: On June 9th, the City Council voted to authorize $40,000 in expenses under TID #1 for the first phase of streetscape work, subject to reviewing and approving a rough list of projects, which is attached. The remainder of streetscape is expected to be financed under TID #8.)

3. Plan Commission minutes (June 17th) and one action item noted below
a. Street names for new development at Hwy 23 and Douglas Street
(Staff note: On May 27th, Council rejected proposed names for streets in this development. On June 17th, the Plan Commission voted for Eastgate Drive for the road entering from Hwy 23, and Parkside Street for the street heading east from Douglas Street.)

4. Staff report – concrete quality issue and Newbury Street project update
(Staff note: On June 9th, Council requested an update on the concrete quality concerns. On Monday, staff will provide a report on this issue, along with an update on addressing Newbury Street complaints.)

VIII. Mayor’s communications and appointments

IX. Agenda items for future Council meetings

X. 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: Proposed changes to current agreement with Ripon Medical Center
RE: Request for change to existing developer’s agreement (Rolling Hills)
RE: Option to purchase more land for commercial/industrial development
RE: Request for TIF funds (various districts): high-speed wireless Internet
RE: Request to enter into negotiations for possible purchase of property

GROOVE HOGS TO PERFORM AT RIPON’S CONCERT SERIES

The Ripon Commonwealth Press welcomes The Groove Hogs to the Village Green Concert Series on Friday, June 26. In a market inundated with cookie cutter, wanna-be, bands, The Groove Hogs have retained artistic integrity and melded the sum of their individual influences into something that is truly fresh and exciting.

The band was formed in 1994 as a 4-piece blues band, but adding a horn section in 1996 gave the Hogs a bigger sound that blends traditional soul styling with pop/rock, traditional R& B, and some honest to goodness blues. Their last two CDs, Wrong Side Of The Street and Blue Rhythms And White Lies, were both critically acclaimed and received airplay on stations across the US. With a 9 member lineup, and a melting pot of musical diversity, the Groove Hogs are making it with their own brand of soul drippin' rock & roll.

The concert series, which is organized by Ripon Main Street, Inc., takes place on Friday evenings in historic downtown Ripon, and continues through the end of August. A variety of beverages are available and participants are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on. Please, no carry-ins because beverage sales help cover entertainment expenses. Free music isn’t really free.

Next weeks concert features Chicago-style blues by Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin Altar Boys.

A special Thank You goes out Ripon Commonwealth Press & Express for sponsoring the summer concert series. Let them know you appreciate the financial commitment they have made to our community. Additional sponsors include the Diedrich Agency, Fat Bruce’s, Horicon Bank, M&I Bank, A&W Restaurant, Affinity Health System, Condon Oil, Miller Brewing, Piernot Dentistry, Ripon Commonwealth Press/Express, Chris Rauch D.D.S., Ripon College, Ripon Drug, Ripon Medical Center, Ripon Pickle Co., J.M. Smucker’s, Bluemkes, Alling Enterprises, Ripon Window & Door, WRPN AM 1600, Yeomans - Endinger Chiropractic Center, Jane & Harland Hilke, Sue & Ron Silber, Ann Jurkowski, Derk & Paula Lesniak, Julie & Lyle Mathias, and Holly & Ivy.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment in historic downtown Ripon and discover the charm of small town hospitality. Call the Ripon Main Street office at 920-748-7466 or visit www.downtownripon.com for more information.

Senate Democrats Pass their Own Version of State Budget

SOURCE: League of Wisconsin Municipalities

The Senate passed its own version of the state budget last Wednesday on a 17-16 vote. The Senate version differs significantly in some areas from the Assembly's. The Senate, like the Assembly before it, used as its base the Joint Committee on Finance's version of the state budget. The Senate made several dozen changes to the Joint Committee on Finance's version, including the following:

Expenditure Restraint Program Budget Test - Establishes a CPI floor of 3% under the Expenditure Restraint Program's spending limits.
Maintenance of Effort for Police and Fire Protection Services - Clarifies that the new maintenance of effort requirement for police and fire protection services inserted into the budget by the JFC does not apply to capital expenditures or one time expenses.
Municipal and County Recycling Grant Program Funding Level - Increases funding for the municipal and county recycling grant program by $2.5 million annually. This would provide a total of $31.6 million in 2009-10 and $32.6 in 2010-11. (The program is currently funded at $31 million, but $3.1 million was transferred to the general fund as part of the current budget deficit efforts.)
Property Tax Exemption for Retirement Homes for the Aged - Reduces the threshold for distinguishing between taxable and exempt dwelling units within retirement homes for the aged from 160% to 100% of the average equalized value of residential parcels within the county; deletes provision requiring assessors to exclude common areas when assessing value of individual units; and restores requirement that retirement homes must be owned by benevolent associations to qualify for the exemption.
Definition of Agricultural Land for Property Tax Purposes - Modifies the definition of agricultural land for purposes of property taxation to exclude any land that is platted or zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use.
Police and Fire Protection Fee – Sunset - Sunsets the police and fire telephone surcharge on June 30, 2011. Creates a 911 equipment upgrade telephone surcharge effective July 1, 2011.
One-Year Extension of TIF Districts for Affordable Housing Purposes - Allows municipalities to extend the life of a TIF district for one year after paying off its project costs. 75% of any tax increments received during the extension must be used to benefit affordable housing in the municipality. The remainder must be used to improve the municipality's housing stock.
Modifications to Prevailing Wage Provisions - Clarifies that the prevailing wage requirements do not apply to "minor service and maintenance work," which is defined to include minor crack filling, chip or slurry sealing or other minor pavement patching, not including overlays. Makes several other technical modifications, including defining "direct financial assistance" for publicly funded private construction projects as moneys in the form of a grant or other arrangement that a municipality directly provides to assist in the erection, construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, or improvement of a private facility.
Broader Definition of Public Contract Subject to Competitive Bidding - Expands definition of municipal "public contract" for purposes of determining when public works contracts are subject to competitive bidding requirements. The new definition includes contracts for demolition, grading, alteration, painting, or decorating, as well as construction, repair, and remodeling, which are included under current law.
Chequamegon Bay Regional Transit Authority - Enables Ashland and Bayfield counties to create a regional transit authority with taxing powers.
Allowing Additional Municipal Liquor Licenses in Capital Improvement Areas. Creates statutory provisions allowing the issuance of additional "Class B" liquor licenses to qualified applicants located in capital improvement areas designated by the Legislature. Designates TIF District No. 3 in Oconomowoc as the first capital improvement area in the state.

UPDATE FROM RIPON, CA AND THEIR FIELD TURF EFFORTS

Although these tough times have slowed our fundraising down, our community is still actively pursuing this track and turf. It means much more to them than a surface. It means more kids off the streets after school, more kids in athletics which keeps their grades up (one "F" will cut them from the team), handicapped access for the first time, revenue maker for the District, less obesity, and a source of much-needed pride for our kids. In an atmosphere of constant depressing news, we are a positive, hopeful light at the end of the tunnel. I'm glad we all have a diverse list of issues we are passionate about. Otherwise, this country would be even more off-balanced than it already is. Thanks for the support and feedback. Have a terrific day! :-) - Stephanie Hobbs, Ripon, CA

For more on the FieldTurf fundraising efforts in Ripon, California, click here.

RIPON HAY DAYS

Please join us June 19-21 - Hays Days will be one of Wisconsin's largest living history encampments including: Buck Skinners, Voyageurs, Cowboys, Pioneers, Civil War Folks, Horsemen, Native Americans, Vintage Baseball teams, Carriage and Wagon drivers, Historic Merchants and Vendors. There will also be delicious food courtesy of Ripon Lions Club available at the Ranch on Saturday and Sunday. The cost is $1 per person or $5 for a carload. Dads get in free all weekend for Father's Day!

Friday in Ripon:
Downtown Ripon Village Green Concert featuring Country band, Andy's Automatics, 7 to 10 pm,
Hold-Up at The Carley House, Time TBD
The Money Guy: Learn about historic money at M&I Bank, 1 to 4 p.m.
Living History Demonstration at Ace Hardware, Time TBD

Saturday at the Ranch:10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with barn dance following
Wagon Rides: 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m.
Living History Demonstrations: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Food Vendors: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Medicine Show Tent: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Historic Wedding: 4:00 p.m.
Dr. Gatling's Gatling Gun Demonstration: 12:30 & 3:00 p.m.
Honoring of Soldiers Past & Present Baseball Game (1860's rules): 1:00 p.m.
Barn Dance featuring the Ceresco Prairie Band: 5:30 p.m. ($3/person admission)
Drum Circle: Dusk

Sunday at the Ranch:10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Living History Demonstrations: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Medicine Show Tent: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wagon Rides: 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Gatling's Gatling Gun Demonstration: 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

For more information call the Chamber office, 920-748-6764, or Linda at Cedar Ridge Ranch, 920-748-8405.

ANDY’S AUTOMATICS RETURNS TO VILLAGE GREEN

Ripon Pickle Co. welcomes Andy's Automatics to the Village Green Concert series on Friday June 19. Some call their music traditional country, while others refer to it as hillbilly or Americana. Whatever label you choose, one thing is for certain, Andy’s Automatics showcases a pure, unadulterated original blend of real country music.

Formed in 2002, the band got off to a rousing introduction, opening for the renowned Junior Brown and Stray Cats’ bass guru Lee Rocker. A debut, self-titled 5-song EP was released in 2003 followed by their full-length CD “Things Have Changed” which was released last summer to rave reviews.

Front man Andy Lubahn (guitarist/vocalist/songwriter) delivers catchy, interesting lyrics with flair. Experienced bassist/vocalist Jeff Verner brings the great ‘2-4 beat’ that has personified both traditional country and early rock and roll music. Playing pedal steel and guitar is Mike Soffa, a seasoned musician with a discerning ear. The backbone of the rhythm section is drummer Tom Hansen, an experienced multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. The talent and chemistry shared between these four musicians is evident both acoustically and visibly.

The Village Green Concerts take place on Friday evenings from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in downtown Ripon through the end of August and are organized by Ripon Main Street, Inc. A variety of beverages are available and participants are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on. Please, no carry-ins because beverage sales help cover entertainment expenses. Free music isn’t really free.

Next week’s performer is the Groove Hogs.

A special Thank You goes out Ripon Pickle Co. for sponsoring the summer concert series. Let them know you appreciate the financial commitment they have made to our community. Additional sponsors include the Diedrich Agency, Fat Bruce’s, Horicon Bank, M&I Bank, A&W Restaurant, Affinity Health System, Condon Oil, Miller Brewing, Piernot Dentistry, Ripon Commonwealth Press/Express, Chris Rauch D.D.S., Ripon College, Ripon Drug, Ripon Medical Center, Ripon Pickle Co., J.M. Smucker’s, Bluemkes, Ripon Window & Door, WRPN AM 1600, Yeomans - Endinger Chiropractic Center, Jane & Harland Hilke, Sue & Ron Silber, Ann Jurkowski, Derk & Paula Lesniak, and Holly & Ivy.

Enjoy an evening of entertainment in historic downtown Ripon and discover the charm of small town hospitality. Call the Ripon Main Street office at 920-748-7466 or visit www.downtownripon.com for more information.

MY THOUGHTS ON GARBAGE PICKUP

There has been a considerable amount of discussion this past week over the suggestion I made last week to look into the possible weighing of garbage and charging residents per pound. This debate began when one of our aldermen brought up the issue of people putting items which should not be in the garbage, such as yard waste and recyclables. Let me be very clear on a couple of points:

* I am not advocating or endorsing any plan at this point to charge people per pound of garbage they generate. I have simply asked that we explore the possibilities. The technology appears to be there, so I do not see any harm in investigating all possible options when we purchase a new garbage truck in the next two years.

* The issue has been brought up of residents putting their garbage in their neighbor's garbage cans. I am sure this could, and would, happen. I would also argue that someone could get their water from their neighbor's faucet to water their gardens or yards when their neighbor is gone or at work. IF we ever went to a per-pound charge system, we would certainly have to look at a penalty system to discourage such behavior

* There has been some concern over a possible accounting nightmare if we went to a per-pound system. I am not convinced this is a major issue, since we already charge people for water and sewage usage, and the system seems to be working with very few flaws.

* I have heard that the town of Ripon is concerned that city residents may dump their garbage in the township. I have a hard time buying into this argument, and I would be equally concerned with a town resident bringing their trash into the city, but I don't lose sleep over it.

* Our current system of charging for garbage is unfair, I believe. We charge a resident based on the value of their property. With a large increase in the state tipping fee coming, if the current proposed state budget passes, the system will continue to be skewed against those in higher-value homes, regardless of the amount of garbage generated.

The bottom line is that I have asked that we INVESTIGATE the possibility of charging per garbage generated. Let's look at the facts before dismissing the issue. Also, share your ideas and thoughts on the issue, including possible ways to encourage more recycling, which will keep our overall costs down.

Schools will lose state aid in proposed budget

SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter

Proposed cuts in state aid will cause school districts to tighten their belts even further.

The financial blow comes late in the game, when area school boards have already formulated a plan of budget cuts to meet revenue limits.

An analysis released last week by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau spelled out the possible effects of a 3.1 percent cut in school aid next year. The cuts are part of the state budget that was approved by the state Assembly on Saturday and which will now go to the state Senate this week.

The report includes cuts of:


Fond du Lac: 2.7 percent


Campbellsport: 4.1 percent


Lomira: 2.2 percent


North Fond du Lac: 2 percent


Ripon: 1.8 percent


Waupun: 2.4 percent

Fond du Lac School District Business Manager Susan Schnorr said the $584,900 loss in aid would come on top of about $1 million in budget reductions.

"The administration's recommendation is to use approximately $300,000 of the federal stimulus money (we are getting). The regulations allow a percentage of the money to be used to pay existing expenses. The remaining roughly $300,000 would come out of fund balance," she said.

This would allow the district to maintain existing programs, she pointed out.

The Oakfield School District would see a loss of around $70,000, said Superintendent Joe Heinzelman.

"Since we are closing Belle Reynolds Elementary School, we have a savings of $300,000, so we will ride it out. My understanding is we will lose that much or more in revenue limit authority which could be a problem but again, we will wait and see what happens," he said.

North Fond du Lac schools will lose about $215,000 in state aid; Rosendale-Brandon Schools almost $320,000.

Along with $500,000 in budget cuts, Campbellsport's Superintendent Dan Olson said the board planned ahead for potential state aid reductions.

"We are hoping that the additional aid we will receive from the new 4K (4-year-old kindergarten) program will offset the loss of aid. Since the Board does not want to increase the tax burden on local property tax payers, they will likely adopt a budget that freezes total expenditures at the current year level," Olson said.

In Ripon, the state aid cut translates to $400,000 on top of $545,000 in cuts.

"With another $400,000 to cut, the board will be looking at more operating costs, programs, and staff positions to cut at its June 15 meeting in order to comply with the June 30 layoff deadline for teachers. This is a sad day for parents and grandparents who want the best for their children and grandchildren, as well as all Wisconsin residents who need strong schools for economic development and a good quality of life," said Superintendent Richard Zimman.

THANKS TO BADGER BOYS...

for inviting me to speak this noon to a group on the duties and responsibilities of a city alderman. I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on local government, the moral and ethical challenges in today's political world, and the difficulties elected officials face when it comes to making tough decisions and representing their constituents.

ASSEMBLY PASSES BUDGET

SOURCE: Wisconsin League of Municipalities

After spending four days in closed session caucus meetings, the Assembly Democrats passed their version of the state budget on a 50-48 vote early Saturday morning. The Assembly Democrats made dozens of changes to the state budget passed by the Joint Committee on Finance, including the following:

* Expenditure Restraint Program -- Police and Fire Expenditures. Excludes police and fire expenditures from the expenditure restraint program's budget test if those expenditures are funded from a municipality's general fund balance.
Southeastern Regional Transit Authority. Renames the KRM Transit Authority created by the JFC version of the budget the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, and makes a number of changes to the taxing powers of the Authority.

* Milwaukee Transit Authority. Deletes JFC provision allowing the creation of a Milwaukee County Transit Authority and instead allows the creation of a Milwuakee Transit Authority. Specifies that if the Milwaukee County Board contracts with the Milwaukee Transit Authority for the provision of transit services in the County, the board would be allowed to impose 0.65% sales and use taxes. If the taxes are imposed, the Milwuakee County board would be required to provide revenues equivalent to 0.5% sales and use taxes to the Milwaukee Transit Authority and provide revenues equivalent to 0.15% sales and use taxes to its underlying municipalities.

* Chippewa Valley RTA. Allows Eau Claire County to create a regional transit authority with the power to levy a sales tax.

* Fox Valley RTA. Allows Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties to create a regional transit authority with the power to levy a sales tax.
* Dane County RTA - Highway Projects. Allows some of sales tax revenue raised by the Dane County RTA to be used for highway purposes within the RTA's jurisdictional area.

* Property Tax Exemption for Student Housing Facilities. Creates a property tax exemption for all real and personal property of a student housing facility if: (a) the facility is owned by a nonprofit organization; (b) at least 90% of the facility's residents are students enrolled at a public or private institution of higher education and the facility houses no more than 300 such students; and (c) the facility offers support services and outreach programs to its residents, the public or private institution of higher education at which the student residents are enrolled, and the public.

* Columbus Park. Deletes provision inserted into the budget by the Joint Finance Committee allowing tax exempt low income housing facilities owned by benevolent organizations to use their rental income for any purpose and creating a new exemption for nonprofit retirement homes for the aged.

* Hunting on Stewardship Lands. Restores the requirement that hunting and trapping be allowed on municipal lands acquired with Stewardship Program grants. The League had supported the Joint Finance Committee's deletion of this requirement.

* Beer and Wine at Nonprofit Organization Fundraisers. Deletes provision added by the JFC allowing any non-profit organization to provide free beer or wine at fundraisers without the need for a license from the municipality.

* Fireworks. Deletes an amendment passed by JFC that would have made it easier to purchase fireworks by allowing a municipal chief executive to designate an individual, who does not work for the municipality, to issue a fireworks user permit.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has prepared a memo describing each of the changes made by the Assembly Democrats to the state budget bill as recommended by the Joint Finance Committee. The memo can be viewed on the LFB website.

Report Shows Estimated 2010 Shared Revenue Payments After 3.5% Cut
On June 9, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a report showing each municipality's estimated 2010 shared revenue payment under the Joint Finance Committee's version of the state budget, which cuts funding for the shared revenue program by 3.5 percent. The Assembly Democrats retained the same shared revenue cut as part of the budget they passed on Saturday.

NOTE: Under the proposed budget, the city of Ripon will receive $35,743 less (2.3 percent) in state aid in 2010. The town of Ripon will see their state aid cut $7,273 (14.7 percent).

Senate to Take Up Budget This Week
The Senate Democrats are meeting today to vote on amendments to the Assembly's version of the budget. The full Senate will take up the budget later this week.

A conference committee made up of leadership from both houses will be created to reconcile any differences between the Assembly and Senate versions of the bill.

Recently Introduced Legislation
SB 230, Exempt Expenditures Made in Response to a Disaster From Levy Limits and ERP. This bill was prepared by the Joint Legislative Council’s Special Committee on Emergency Management and Continuity of Government. It creates an exception to local levy limits and the expenditure restraint program for municipal spending relating to the unreimbursed expenses related to an emergency declared by the governor. The League supports this bill.

AB 312, Allowing Municipalities to Combine Police and Fire Departments into Public Safety Departments. This bill authorizes municipalities to provide police and fire protection services by creating a combined protective services department which is neither a police department nor a fire department and in which the same person may be required to perform police protection and fire protection duties, or by requiring persons in a police department or fire department, alone or in combination with persons designated as police officers or fire fighters, to perform police protection and fire protection duties. By Rep. Ziegelbauer (D-Manitowoc). The League supports this legislation.

PLAN COMMISSION AGENDA - JUNE 17TH

PLAN COMMISSION MEETING - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009 - CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL - 7:00 p.m.

AGENDA
Call to order/roll call
Approve meeting minutes – May 20th
Action items
 Public hearing – boundary map, project plan, and resolution for TIF District #9
 Certified Survey Map – NW corner of Meade/Old Berlin (Constance Bitters)
 Site plan – Ripon Assisted Living (Hwy 44, across from new business park)
 Revised site plan on signage, landscaping, accesses (Agnesian Healthcare)
 Street names for new development south/east of Highway 23/Douglas Street
Discussion items
 Review and discuss recommendations from preliminary TIF District #6 plan
 Discuss continuing to allow residential uses in B-1 and B-2 business districts
Project updates & staff reports
Agenda items for next meeting
Adjourn

Police Department Applies for Grant

Public Notice - City of Ripon Police Department

The Ripon Police Department is eligible to receive $10,364.00 from the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The department has filed for the grant and the public has 30 days to review and comment on the grant proposal. The department has requested the JAG funds to purchase two (2) mobile data computers for its squad cars.

Notice is provided that the grant proposal and other required documents are on file at Ripon City Hall and may be reviewed. Comments on the proposal may be made and delivered to:

Police Chief
Ripon Police Department
100 E Jackson St.
Ripon, WI. 54971
Email: dlukoski@cityofripon.com

The proposal will be available for review/comment through July 3, 2009 @ 4:00 p.m.

ANOTHER STRUCTURAL DEFICIT

SOURCE: WisPolitics
The state budget adopted by the Joint Committee on Finance will leave the state with the largest structural deficit since Governor Doyle took office, state Senators Scott Fitzgerald, Michael Ellis and Rob Cowles warned today. According to a report issued by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the committee’s budget leaves a structural deficit of $2.25 billion – almost $700 million higher than the budget originally proposed by the governor.

“We’re digging ourselves deeper and deeper into debt,” they said. “We’re moving exactly in the wrong direction.

“What’s even more shocking is that we have this huge structural deficit after raising taxes and fees by more than $4 billion over the next two years and after a massive infusion of federal stimulus dollars,” said the senators.

This is a recipe for fiscal disaster. As more and more details of this proposed budget come forward, it is painfully clear that this may be one of the worst spending plans ever proposed in Wisconsin history.

Dems will need to buy budget votes in Assembly

Another home run hit out of the park from Foxpolitics.net. One word - unbelievable:

SOURCE: Foxpolitics.net
Still more evidence is surfacing of trouble in budget-land. Wednesday I pointed out possible areas of disagreement among Dems in control.
•Deep cuts in school aids
•Oil profits tax will become outright increase in the gas tax
•Drivers Card for illegal immigrants
•Prevailing Wage expansion
Kevin Binversie calls the prospect of Dems disagreeing on budget details an “amendment buy-off festival.” Jerry Bader counts “only about 35 [in the Assembly] committed votes at this point” – and different Dems having different objections to the budget. So, somebody’s going to need to “buy-off” another 15 bodies somewhere.

Buying off Republican votes?
A Bob Ziegelbauer (ok, ok, so Rep. Ziegelbauer is a very fiscally conservative Democrat) memo asks for amendment co-sponsors to:
•Delete Domestic Partner retirement and group insurance benefits
•Delete increases in auto insurance minimum coverage amounts
•Delete changes in joint and several liability • Delete new higher income tax bracket
•Delete increase in capital gains tax
Again, Rep. Ziegelbauer is not your typical Democrat. Getting these amendments passed would definitely “buy-off” a few Republican votes.

Getting to those Dem votes
The AP and WisPolitics reported yesterday afternoon on concerns of Assembly Democrats on hearing a budget review in caucus:
•New 75-cent phone fee
•Mandated collection of racial profiling data
•New mandate that schools provide transportation to pregnant students
•More ominous joint and several liability rules
•Cuts in school aids
•Furloughs of state employees
•Debt restructuring
•Provision on asbestos liability
•RTAs – why not allowed statewide?
•Autism mandate
The mystery budget comes full circle – even for Democrats. Stuff in the budget even they can’t defend. Rep. Marlin Schneider: “There are so many bad things in this budget.” And more yesterday from Schneider: “Where did it come from, what corporations are impacted and which lobbyist brought this in?”

These are just the earmarks from Thursday's session!

This op-ed piece hits the pitch right out of the park:

SOURCE: Foxpolitics.net
Representative Rick Zipperer (R – Pewaukee) listed the earmarks approved, not in the entire budget so far, but just those approved during the marathon budget session ending at 5:30 a.m. Friday morning. Many of these were considered for the first time just hours before the Finance Committee voted to pass the budget. Zipperer notes that while some of these projects may be worthwhile, they all use your tax money in a way decided by the whims of a handful of politicians in Madison rather than through regular appropriation formulas or a competitive grant process.

Update: In an AP story printed Sunday, prospective earmark recipients defend the state's largesse. Speaking of the $500,000 earmark to renovate the Grand Opera House in Oshkosh, Joseph Ferlo says "I understand why earmarks like this would come under scrutiny. But under that scrutiny, saving a structure of this significance is a reasonable use of discretionary funds."

Discretionary funds? What?

It goes on, with all sorts of defenses. Reading it might get your ire up, especially when you see the cuts coming for municipalities and schools - and the $2B increase in taxes and fees. Grrrr.

Dane County Yahara River $6,600,000
Aids Network & Resource Center of Wisconsin $1,100,000
Manitowoc Road in Village of Bellevue $1,250,000
Bradley Center $5,000,000
Madison Children’s Museum $250,000
Huron Road in Village of Bellevue $100,000
La Crosse Eco Park $500,000
Planning New State Historical Society Museum $4,000,000
Oshkosh Opera House $500,000
Aldo Leopold Climate Change Classroom $500,000
Village of Bagley Flood Study $19,000
Bike Path Facility Grants $5,000,000
County Trunk Highway X, Chippewa County $430,000
City of Racine Road Enhancements $900,000
Reid Road in Town of La Prairie $250,000
Pedestrian Path in Rock County $20,000
Love Incorporated Food Bank $10,000
Union Grove Food Bank $5,000
Rio Area Food Pantry $5,000
Lodi Food Pantry $5,000
Eau Claire County Public Shooting Range $50,000
Root River Education Center $25,000
Beloit Children’s Playground $50,000
Beckman Mill Park in Rock County $10,000
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire $125,000
Stone Barn Historical Site in Town of Chase $100,000
Restoration of Beloit’s Turtle Island Park $35,000
City of Stanley, Chippewa County $37,500
Begin Planning Highway 12 Expansion in Whitewater
Begin Planning Highway 13 Expansion in Marshfield
Begin Planning New Bridge over the Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids
Begin Redeveloping Highway 16 at Dickeyville

Wow. Add that up. Nearly $27,000,000. Not approved through normal appropriation channels. Tacked on in the dark of night. And this state is $6.6B in the hole?

About the Governor's oil tax...

SOURCE: Madison.com
Assembly Democrats might alter their 2009-11 budget proposal to let oil companies pass on a $260 million tax to consumers, key leaders said Tuesday, but other Democrats question whether the tax should remain in the spending plan to be voted on as early as June 10. The oil tax proposed by Gov. Jim Doyle and approved by the Legislature’s budget committee last week is designed to raise money to pay for roads — amid a projected $6.6 billion budget shortfall — while barring oil companies from shifting the tax onto consumers in the form of higher gas prices. But Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, a budget committee co-chairman, said Tuesday he’s not sure that provision is constitutional.

Another great idea from the Jim Doyle tax-spend-borrow-and-skim administration. Did anyone in Madison notice the price of gas has climbed 80 cents or more in the past two months?

A LOOK BACK AT THE FLOODING OF 2008

The view of Dodge County in the days after the flooding

The National Weather Service has put together a nice site recapping the flooding of June 2008. Needless to say, it was a trying time for all of us, but the city pulled together, and we suffered no long-term effects. Let's hope it never happens again:


http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=jun08_flooding


On June 12th, more heavy rainfall caused flash flooding issues, but this time in some areas that had not previously reported severe flash flooding. Fond du Lac County was hit particularly hard. Most city roads in Fond du Lac were reported to be underwater. The Fond du Lac River was over bridges in some places. In Ripon, over half the roads were closed due to flash flooding. 3 to 4 feet of standing water was observed over portions of the southern half of the city. In Columbia County, Interstate 90/94 was closed between mile markers 92 and 106, and numerous roads were washed out across the county. In Dodge County, some residences in Beaver Dam had about 2 feet of water surrounding the homes.

MERCURY MARINE POISED TO LEAVE FOND DU LAC?

Source: WFDL-AM News
Fond du Lac city and county officials are not giving any specifics about closed door meetings this week regarding what was described in the meeting notice as an economic development opportunity...but WFDL news has learned its about the future of Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac. Sources tell WFDL news that the closed session discussion centers on what the city, county and state can do to help Mercury stay in Fond du Lac. One source says Mercury may consolidate operations with its plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma and the question is whether the company relocates to Oklahoma...or moves its Stillwater operations to Fond du Lac. Merc spokesman, Steve Fleming, said he can't comment specifically on that report...but did say no decisions have been made. "We can't really say much because thats still to be determined by the people who run this company...that certainly would be confidential at this point," Fleming said. "I think the company realizes the importance of this company to the community (Fond du Lac) as well as the importance of our facilities in Stillwater, Oklahoma to that community." Fleming said the company was not consulted about the closed door meetings or told what was on the agenda. "The best thing I can say is we weren't involved in that meeting and we weren't even advised of the agenda of that meeting, and as far as I know we haven't been advised of the results of that meeting," Fleming said. "...we're not even positive it (meeting) was about us, but it certainly could have been." Fond du Lac city councilmember, Mark Jurgella, was asked about the situation on AM 1170's Between the Lines program. "Well we're not going to divulge any of our knowledge of whatever this is yet," Jurgella said. "but just remember whatever happened in the closed session will ultimately be brought to an open session at some point, so you'll know everything when the time comes." The city council and county board met in closed session this week...but no further meetings involving the board or council are scheduled at this time.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN RIPON????

From Roadhouse Pizza
Join us for Customer Appreciation Night - "80's Night with 80's Pricing"
Wednesday, June 10, 4 p.m to close - $4 Large Pizzas, $2 Appetizers, $.50 Beers, $.25 Sodas - 80's costume contest, pizza eating contest, live band - "Free Pizza for a Year" raffle to benefit the RMC Foundation - In the restaurant at 102 Watson and on the Square - Call 748-3322 for more information

From Ripon Main Street
Village Green Friday Night Concerts begin this week! - Friday, June 5, 7-10 p.m. - Community concert by the Ripon High School and Ripon Middle School Jazz Bands

From Campus Cinema
The U.S.S. Enterprise is coming to Ripon! - The new "Star Trek" movie will be showing Friday, June 5th, through Thursday, June 11th

From Ripon College
Ripon Summer Players Present "The Curious Savage", a warm-hearted family comedy - June 4, 5 & 6 at 7:30 p.m. ~ June 7 at 2 p.m. - Benstead Theatre in the Rodman Center for the Arts
Adults, $7; Students & Seniors $6 - For more information call 748-8791

From Green Lake Festival of Music
The 2009 GLFM season begins June 12th With the "Stars of Tomorrow" preview concert. For a schedule of performances please Go to www.greenlakefestival.org or Call us at 800-662-7097 or 920-748-9398

From Aurora Health Care, Ripon
Kevin Jessen, MD, board certified family medicine physician, has joined the Ripon Aurora Health Care Center at 1242 W. Fond du Lac Street. Dr Jessen has over 26 years of experience practicing family medicine. He welcomes patients of all ages and can be contacted at 920-745-4700.

From Thrasher Opera House
Upcoming Events in June:
Root-rock songwriter Carrie Rodriguez - Saturday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.
Missoula Children's Theatre Little Mermaid Summer Workshop - June 22-27
Performance of Little Mermaid - June 27, 3 & 7 p.m.
Go to www.thrasheroperahouse.com for a complete season schedule

Benefit run in Ripon (California) for FieldTurf

SOURCE: Modesto Bee
About $11,000 was raised May 9 at the second annual Rina’s Run to benefit the Stouffer Field Revitalization Project at Ripon High. The event is held in memory of Rina Brocchini. The Ripon Community Athletic Foundation organized the 10K and 5K run, which had 232 participants. Rina’s Run also held a mile-run for kids. The goal is to raise $1.2 million to replace Ripon High’s track and football field with an all-weather track and synthetic field.

You have to be impressed with the number of sponsors who are working to make field turf a reality in Ripon, California. I know they have been following our progress in Ripon, and it is interesting to see the progress they are making out west:
http://www.rcafsite.com/home.htm

WCA Crit Champs Returning to Ripon June 13

A good boost for the local economy and a feather in our cap:

SOURCE: Ripon College Red Hawk Cycling
The best bicycle racers in Wisconsin and beyond will return to Ripon Saturday, June 13 for the Wisconsin Cycling Association’s 2009 State Criterium Championships. Riders will compete in 10 categories for the Wisconsin State Championship jerseys, cash and prizes.

Medals will be awarded to the top three riders and a Wisconsin Championship jersey to the overall state winner in each category. Racing action begins at 10:30 a.m. with the junior’s races and continues all day with the final pro race beginning at 6:30 p.m. The junior’s and women’s category 4 races will run counterclockwise on a half-mile course with a start and finish on Watson Street in the heart of Ripon’s historic downtown business district. The later races will expand to a 1-mile route that winds down Ransom, Seward, Woodside and Thorne streets before the final 150-meter sprint to the finish.

The Ripon Medical Center and the Ripon College Office of Community Engagement will also hold the Free Wheelin’ Children’s Bicycle Safety Rodeo from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the 100 block of Watson Street. All games and activities are free, including the Kids’ Fun Race and Parade that will be held on Watson Street at 11:45 a.m.

The event is hosted by the Ripon College Red Hawks Cycling Team and the Lakes Area Physical Therapy Cycling Club. Cash and prizes are being supplied by race sponsors Accurate Controls, Brewer Heating and Cooling; Rippin’ Good Cookies, Precision Plus Inc. of Elkhorn; Fond du Lac/Oshkosh Cyclery; Bicycle Doctor Nordic Ski Shop of Dousman; Open MRI of Sheboygan; and KC’s Driving Schools of Southeastern Wisconsin.

We’re looking forward to having some of the state’s most exciting bicycle racing in Ripon again this year. Despite the flooding problems of last year, we experienced excellent community support and a good turnout for our first year as host. We hope the weather will cooperate, and that we’ll see increases in both the numbers of participants and spectators this year.

With discounted rates at Ripon hotels, racers and fans are encouraged to come early and stay late.

Volunteers are needed to assist. All volunteers may be eligible for a free race entry. To volunteer, please contact me at 920-748-8322 or dammr@ripon.edu.

PORK IN WISCONSIN???? You bet...

SOURCE: NBC-26

The State of Wisconsin is facing more than a 6 billion dollar budget deficit but that is not stopping some legislators from doling out money for what opponents call "pet projects" "The fact that these were slipped in at 2 or 3 in the morning after 12 hours of debate behind closed door is suspect," said Rep. Phil Montgomery (R-Green Bay).

In the current budget proposal which has been approved by the Joint Finance Committee, $46,000 was earmarked for Wrightstown for new recycling bins. $100,000 is planned for a beautification project in Bellevue, according to Republican staffers. $500,000 is earmarked for the Oshkosh Opera House. And then there is the earmark that is drawing a lot of scrutiny from Republicans: a grant for $100,000 for the restoration of a stone barn in the Town of Chase in Oconto County. Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) helped secure the funding for the project. "I'm not being apologetic for something was good for community," said Sen. Hansen, "They can attack a small community that is really struggling in Oconto County, and that stone barn has real potential to make a difference in the Town of Chase."

Members of the Restoration Committee for the Historic Barn were pleasantly surprised by money. "I don't look at it as just a barn," said organizer Chris Jaworski, "We are trying to preserve the agricultural history of the state." They believe the barn will bring both tourists, and new jobs to the community. Others, like. Rep. Montgomery do not believe funds for projects like this belong the budget bill.

The budget bill passed through the Joint Finance Committee, but still must go through the legislature and be signed by the Governor before it becomes law.

RAIDING THE TRANSPORTATION FUND

State Representative Roger Roth has committed an act of legislative sanity, uncovering another raid on our state transportation budget. Sure glad we pay more for vehicle registration and another gas tax increase is being considered:

This information was included in and based on Legislative Fiscal Bureau paper #753 and #754.

This is a case in which the Joint Committee on Finance started to move in the right direction then proceeded to take actions that made the Governor’s plans seem reasonable. The first actions that were taken were to prevent the Governor from using transportation segregated funds to support expenditures in the department of Public Instruction and in the Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, the committee voted to prevent a transfer of over $77 Million dollars to the general fund. Net gain to the transportation fund…$100 Million good.

Had they stopped at that point, this would have been quite the improvement to the budget. Of course they had to take steps to make things even worse. First they took almost $140 Million from the unappropriated balance in the transportation fund. Then they reduced funding for the state highway rehabilitation program by $69.8 Million and gave that away to the general fund. Net loss to the transportation fund….$200 Million bad! Twice as bad as the Governor’s plan!

That would have been bad enough however the JFC decided to replace with cash that was taken from the transportation fund (The Gas Tax) and used bonding to pay for the highway projects. It gets better, they had to include $4.8 Million just to start to pay the interest on these bonds. With this additional bonding, the debt service as a percentage of the gross transportation budget will reach 12.1% in 2010-11. What this means to the average tax payer is that less than $.88 out of every dollar you are forced to pay will actually be available to pay for transportation related work. The balance is what is needed to pay of the ’states’ credit card bill.

NEWS AND NOTES - Anger over the proposed budget grows

"Recall Doyle" movement picking up steam! - By Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer
Jun. 2, 2009

Wisconsinites are finally getting smart - and angry!- perhaps following in the footsteps of Californians who recently said "enough is enough." No more tax increases! No more fee increases! No more careless, excessive spending! First came the nation-wide Tea Parties - which helped galvanize conservatives and others fed up with higher taxes and wasted dollars. More Tea Parties are to come, which should continue to unite and strengthen the GOP and conservative base.

Now we have another movement underfoot. One which currently isn't getting much attention from the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, but has been featured on conservative talk radio in the area as well as Madison. I am referring to the "Recall Doyle" campaign. Governor Doyle needs to go. And the Recall Doyle organization is spearheading the effort to kick him out of office.
http://www.livinglakecountry.com/blogs/communityblogs/46743422.html

Zigmunt a No Show, Then Quiet at Lakeshore Budget Discussions
Well, after the discovery of a personal pork project for his district, I'm not shocked at all freshman Democrat Ted Zigmunt (D-Francis Creek) isn't facing the music from his constituents.

But please Teddy, don't give us this "I'm uncertain how I'm going to vote on the Budget" crap. You've been bought and paid for by Mark Pocan (D-Madison); be a big boy and admit it.

Unless for some reason you don't want to say Pocan knows how to ride you...
http://www.lakeshorelaments.com/?p=2172

Gutless governance - Budget woes summarized in one sentence
By Mark Belling

The state budget passed by the Democrats in a legislative committee and to be voted on in the state Assembly next week is the worst public policy document in the history of the state of Wisconsin. Despite that, I can tell you what’s wrong with it in just one sentence.
The Democratic budget will drive high-income earners out of the state by raising the income tax and the state’s tax on capital gains while forcing further layoffs at major manufacturers like Harley-Davidson by increasing the taxes on their out-of-state earnings and will drive up the cost of senior living by doubling the state’s tax on nursing home residency and gouge motorists by costing them 6 cents for every gallon of gas with a new oil franchise fee along with exploding the cost of telephone service by creating a new $9-a-year tax on every single cellular or landline phone which will be especially tough on university students because University of Wisconsin tuition is being raised 5 percent while financial aid is being slashed for all students except illegal immigrants because they will be given in-state tuition at the same time the state becomes a lawsuit haven with the toxic provision that individuals who are only 20 percent at fault can be forced to be responsible for 100 percent of the damages in any civil award which will benefit trial lawyers who also get a windfall with the new requirement that motorists increase their auto liability insurance which will raise premiums at the same time property owners are going to be hammered by massive local tax increases as their communities deal with major cuts in state aid but have to pay for the doubling of the state garbage tax on landfill dumping which will only partially be offset by earmarks like $43,000 for recycling bins in Wrightstown which seems like a small amount when compared to the creation of a Regional Transit Authority in southeastern Wisconsin which is being funded by an increase of a full 1 percent in the Milwaukee County sales tax with half the money going to the parks system although the biggest increase of all will be in school property taxes because the budget gets rid of the so-called QEO or Qualified Economic Offer which put limits on annual increases in teacher pay which will now be passed on to taxpayers because revenue limits on local school districts will be increased with a series of new exemptions at the same time the brand new hospital tax that was enacted a mere four months ago is raised another 20 percent before its ink was even dry just as social policy is radicalized by allowing all gay and unmarried heterosexual couples to tap lavish state health insurance benefits by registering their domestic partnerships even though those couples will have to pay dramatically higher electric and gas bills along with the rest of us because of the big increase in the state low-income energy assistance program which seems like a crime but the actual criminals will be getting a giant break because the budget will release thousands of felons from prison before their sentences are up while development is going to be slowed on many new construction projects because of the new requirement that all workers be paid union scale on any project that receives public subsidies even as a terrible new provision is created that will result in the unionization of every single home health care worker in the state which will make it much harder for seniors in need of services to remain in their own homes and will drive out of business many of the smaller home health care agencies but even younger people are hit hard with a big tax on all digital downloads even as the cost of both birth and death certificates is doubled and the tax exemption for health insurance is eliminated.

Other than that, the budget is just fine.
http://www.gmtoday.com/milwaukeetoday/editorials/belling/2009/belling_06032009.asp

CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL IN BARLOW PARK

If you get a chance, please take a drive past the east entrance to Barlow Park. Thanks to the work of Erin Maguire, a children's memorial, to honor those who have left us too soon, was installed last year, depicting two young children on a teeter-totter. After attending the dedication ceremony, I began to consider the idea of "sprucing" up the site with a paved walkway and benches. Thanks to the hard work of some dedicated volunteers, that idea is now reality.

Outdoor Impact donated the labor, led by Bear Hansen and several others. The stone walkway and the two small stone benches were installed this past weekend. The money for the project came from our 2007 budget surplus, but was put on hold while we determined whether or not we needed the money to cover any deficits from last year's flooding.

I would personally like to thank all of those who made the project happen. This is a prime example of how teamwork functions. If you have a chance, please pass your thanks on to the volunteers as well.