NEWS AND NOTES

County sales tax could hinge on Merc's future
SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter
Whether it stays or whether it leaves, Mercury Marine will factor into discussions regarding the possibility of a county sales tax. The sales tax discussion comes up every year, said Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel, who will meet at 4:15 p.m. today with the County's Finance, Personnel and Economic Development Committee to discuss the issue and other budget items. The group will gather in Room H of the City County Government Center, 160 S. Macy St. Still, there's more to deal with this year. Besides state budget cuts and a property tax freeze, Fond du Lac County officials are dealing with the possibility of its largest employer leaving town or seeking incentives to stay. "Certainly, Mercury Marine, whatever happens there, is going to have an impact," said Herb Ottery, chair of the Finance Committee. If the company leaves, the county loses tax dollars. If it stays, the county will look at options to finance a still-secret assistance package. Ottery said he'd like to avoid a county sales tax at all costs.

Fond du Lac County Executive Suggests County Sales Tax
SOURCE: WBAY-TV
The Fond du Lac County Executive says his call for a new county sales tax has nothing to do with the uncertain future of Mercury Marine. Allen Buechel says the county is facing a budget shortfall now because of cuts in state revenue, but his plan is already drawing fire as another potential blow to the county. Even in the wake of news that Fond du Lac's biggest employer is seriously thinking about leaving the community, the county executive says it's time again to think about a half-percent sales tax.

"It's something that we consider every year, and each year it's getting a little bit tighter," Allen Buechel says. But people we spoke with at Ma & Pa's convenience store say the timing couldn't be worse. "There ain't that much left on the check the way it is, and now with all the unemployment, people can't afford it," Jennie Rahn reacted.

"I have people coming in here pinching pennies, throwing their change up on the counter to pay for gas or to pay for food. I feel it would be outrageous for us," store clerk Julie Smet said. Fond du Lac is one of eleven Wisconsin counties that doesn't have a county own sales tax. Buechel says a half-percent sales tax could generate up to seven million dollars for the county -- more than the county really needs, he says, and that would benefit property owners. Extra sales tax money Buechel says could mean a reduction in property taxes plus key services wouldn't have to be cut. The county executive says at the very least it should be discussed, which is what the county board did Tuesday.

"They don't like the additional tax but they're not going to like the services cut, either," Buechel said. "I think it would just be very, very hard for all of us," Smet said.

Ripon man survives after being pulled from Big Green Lake
SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter
GREEN LAKE — A 66-year-old Ripon man was resuscitated Tuesday after being pulled from the waters of Big Green Lake. Carleton Krueger was pulled out of the water by Ronald Otto, also of Ripon, according to a Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release. The incident was reported at 11:49 a.m. and occurred at Horners Landing on the lake’s south shore, in the town of Green Lake. Krueger was apparently trying to dock his boat and slipped off a pier and into the water, authorities said. He was found face down in the water by Ronald Otto and Keith Ludjack, Ripon, and not breathing. After Otto pulled Krueger from the water using a fishing net, CPR was initiated and a call to 911 was placed. Green Lake/Brooklyn First Responders arrived at the scene to assist along with Ripon ambulance and Sheriff’s Department personnel. After being treated at the scene, Krueger began breathing on his own. He was transported first to Ripon Medical Center and later transferred to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah. Krueger is expected to survive the ordeal, authorities said. Other individuals assisting at the scene were Christopher Bruce and Nancy Butkus Henderson, both of Markesan. Chief Deputy Mark Putzke said a Sheriff’s Office investigation showed that Otto and Ludjack had just removed their boat from the landing at Horner Road and observed a lone boater, later identified as Krueger, also about to pull out of the water. However, a short time later, Otto and Ludjack observed Krueger in the water and struggling in the vicinity of a steep dropoff.

Orange barrrels rolling out for Highway 41 project by Oshkosh
SOURCE: Oshkosh Northwestern
Motorists will be seeing a lot of orange construction barrels popping up for the Highway 41 project by Oshkosh. The barrels won’t be going away anytime soon. They’ll be around the next seven years for the $350 million reconstruction and widening of U.S. Highway 41 in Winnebago County from Neenah to south of Oshkosh. This week, orange barrels will greet motorists for the reconstruction of the Highway 45 and Fernau Avenue intersection, said Brett Wallace, U.S. Highway 41 Corridor Projects Group Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in Green Bay. “People will start to see a lot work at the Fernau intersection,” he said. “It has to be reconstructed to tie together all the local road changes that are part of the Highway 41 expansion.” Wallace said work at the Fernau intersection, which should be completed in 12 months, includes removal of pavement, grading and building temporary bypass lanes for traffic. Tearing down the viaduct at Highway 45 and Highway 41, Wallace said, will be put out for bids next June with work on it starting in the summer.