DONT' FORGET - MUSIC TONIGHT IN DOWNTOWN RIPON

TONIGHT: 7-10 PM - Downtown Ripon Village Green

Tuba Dan has been entertaining polka fans throughout the United States since 1961. The band will perform a variety of polkas and waltzes.The concert is sponsored by M&I Bank and Affinity Health System who are also hosting the annual Village Green Ice Cream Social. M&I and Affinity sponsor the evening as a way of thanking the community for its patronage. They are teaming up with Culvers to provide free custard sundaes to those in attendance.The Village Green Summer Concert Series encompasses a wide range of musical styles including country, blues, classic rock and other styles, and is free to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on.Historic downtown Ripon invites you to enjoy an evening of entertainment on the Village Green and discover what makes our community so special.

WHAT IS TIF FINANCING???

As we move forward with developing the downtown Ripon-Boca Grande project, you will hear a lot about Tax Increment Finance (TIF). It can be a complicated and confusing concept, so a large part of this project will involve educating the public on what are we doing, why we are doing it, and what impact it would have on the public.

TIF financing is an economic development tool available to local governments in Wisconsin. The primary purpose of TIF is to allow cities to assist real estate development projects that would not be possible without public financial support. Under the TIF law, the city provides upfront funding, either in the form of grants or loans, for a project and repay these debts in future years by capturing the increased property tax revenues stemming from the development project over a number of years.

In order to create a TIF district, the city must create a detailed project plan for the development of a specific geographic area called a tax incremental district (TID). That is what the Plan Commission will review next Wednesday, Once the project plan and the boundaries of the district are approved by the city council, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) will determine a year-one ‘base value’ for all property within the TID. As district increases in property values, the taxes on all property value growth above the base value – on what is known as the ‘value increment’ – are used to pay off the project’s debts.

What makes this complicated is the idea that the TIF money is different than the general property tax? There are some important facts to remember as we move forward:

* You will not see a line on your tax bills this winter to pay for the new TIF, just as your taxes have not been used to pay for the exisiting TIFs, unless you live or own property in the TIFs.
* When the TIF district is closed, the increased property values go back on the general tax rolls, which, in theory, will reduce the overall property tax burden. We are scheduled to close the original downtown TIF district, created back in the 1980s, in the next few years, which will put several million dollars of property values back on the tax rolls.
* We cannot spend any of the TIF money on projects outside the TIF, unless they are within one-half mile of the TIF's boundaries and have a direct impact on the TIF. For example, we could not divert part of the TIF money to fund the library or to pay city employees.
* All of our existing TIFs are financially sound, and have never missed a debt payment, and in some cases are generating income above and beyond what we projected when they were created.

As we move ahead in this process, I would encourage you to ask questions. I can be reached at home, via email - arkramer@charter.net - or right here on this blog. We are not trying to hide anything in this process, and want each and every person who is concerned to understand what we are doing. I look forward to hearing from you...

Ripon project prompts development review

SOURCE: The Daily Reporter
Two state lawmakers are cranking the motor on a $30 million Ripon development that stalled when the city failed to get approval for a tax-incremental financing district.

And if that project gets rolling again, it could clear the way for a softening of the state’s TIF law.

“It would be nice if there was a way to deal with waivers or the (state) Department of Revenue directly (rather) than having to ask legislators for help,” said Ripon Mayor Aaron Kramer. “I’m not an advocate of legislation specifically dealing with one community.”

But Ripon could benefit from that kind of legislation after state Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, and state Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, drafted a bill pushing the state to reconsider the creation of a new TIF district in the city.

TIF districts let municipalities borrow money to subsidize developments and pay for infrastructure that serves projects. Communities then need new taxes generated by projects to pay off the debt.

Ripon last year spent roughly nine months planning for its eighth TIF district, which was created in part to help Ripon-based Boca Grande Capital LLC develop a $30 million hotel and spa.

But Kramer said the tax base for the district changed after the city sent its proposal to the DOR, prompting an agency report that showed an assessed value in the district of more than 12 percent of the total equalized value of taxable property in the city.

“It was like 12.1 percent — barely over,” he said.

But that was enough for the DOR to reject the district. State law caps new TIF districts at 12 percent.

So city leaders turned to Ballweg and Olsen. Ballweg’s bill would require the DOR to judge the Ripon district based on tax assessment numbers before the change in the district’s tax base. The bill was introduced and referred last week to the Assembly Committee on Urban and Local Affairs.

It’s not the first time lawmakers have been called to action to help a TIF district. State Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine, said he proposed a bill to solve a similar problem in Union Grove. He said when he was a member of the Legislature’s Committee on Ways and Means, he reviewed similar bills for Beloit and Chippewa Falls.

“I am in favor of giving DOR a little more flexibility in judging these cases,” Vos said. “Creating a TIF takes time, and assessments can change in six months. If the original engineering report said the district was under 12 percent, that should be enough.”

But for now, it is not enough, and state Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, said she is tired of handling these bills case by case.

“I don’t think we should have to have bills like this, especially when there are other priorities we have to look at as a state,” she said. “It’s a small problem right now, but it keeps happening.”

The problem for the Legislature likely will be figuring out how to prevent the bills from bubbling up. Vos said he wants a solution but opposes raising the 12 percent cap because that could cost taxpayers more money.

Berceau, meanwhile, said letting the DOR hand out waivers to cities that go over 12 percent is a bad idea.

“You start handing out automatic waivers, and everyone’s going to go over the cap,” she said.

In Ripon, Kramer said the city no longer even needs the bill.

To secure the Boca Grande development, the city must have a TIF district by Sept. 30. Unsure of whether Ballweg’s bill would make it to Gov. Jim Doyle’s desk by then, Kramer said, the city redrew the district boundaries and removed a few properties to bring the area below 12 percent.

If the governor signs Ballweg’s bill, Kramer said, the city will withdraw the TIF district the law creates.
Nevertheless, the seeds are sewn for further discussion in the Capitol. Berceau said she will discuss revising TIF district rules at the next Urban and Local Affairs meeting.

“Individual bills get good debate at committee level, but they never take floor time in the Assembly,” she said. “I think it’s time for a broader discussion. Is this the way we want to deal with this?”

RIPON COLLEGE RELEASES YOUTUBE VIDEO

We invite all Ripon College alumni and friends to view our 2009-10 alumni video. Our video this year features faculty, staff, student and alumni perspectives on what the college's tagline "More. Together." means to them. If you would like to provide feedback on the video, please feel free to contact Larry Malchow ’77, Director of Development at malchowL@ripon.edu.

RIPON'S INGALLS FIELD WAS NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL AWARD

I found this interesting tidbit on the Synthetic Turf Council's website. Ripon's Ingalls Field was nominated for the award.

Real Field of Dreams Found at California High School
School’s synthetic turf field turned around an athletic program on the brink of closure

(Atlanta, Ga.) – In a true story of David vs. Goliath, the football team at Salesian High School in Richmond, California went from the brink of closure to defeating an “unbeatable” team with players twice its size. It was Salesian’s first game on their brand new synthetic turf field – a field that is now being hailed the Grand Prize Winner of the Search for the Real Field of Dreams. The national contest, conducted by the Synthetic Turf Council (STC), searched the country for the high school with the most compelling story behind its synthetic turf field.

Salesian High School unveiled its field for the varsity football Homecoming game in 2007. They were up against a school with three times as many students and an offensive line that looked like an NFL team. Nearly 1,000 fans packed the stands as Salesian High School defeated its opponent 40-37. The headline in the next day’s newspaper read, ‘David Slays Goliath.’ “We ‘play up’ on our synthetic turf field because the facility is a reflection of who we really are – a great school with great students destined for great things,” said Janet Wilks, the school’s Director of Development and Communications. “We attract better coaches and better competition. It’s been pivotal for our sports program.”

Located in a city with one of the country’s highest murder rates, the students at Salesian High focused their efforts on academics – the school boasts a graduation rate near 100 percent. And although 70 percent of students are involved in athletics, the conditions of their grass field were so poor that the soccer and football teams were on a three-year notice to be shut down. That all changed when the school raised funds to install a synthetic turf field. Salesian’s inspirational story is just one of 10 selected by an independent panel of judges as winners of the STC’s first annual Search for the Real Field of Dreams.

On the eve of Earth Day, it has become apparent that all the winning schools have made a positive impact on the environment. A typical synthetic turf sports field reduces annual water consumption by at least 500,000 gallons, eliminates the need for thousands of pounds of fertilizer and pesticides yearly, and uses 25,000 recycled tires that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Real Field of Dreams winners include First Runner-Up Junction City High School in Junction City, Kan. and eight National Finalists: Germantown High School, Philadelphia, Pa.; Uniontown Lake High School, Uniontown, Ohio; Oak Hills High School, Cincinnati, Ohio; Rutland High School, Rutland, Vt.; Virginia City High School, Virginia City, Nev.; Walton-Verona High School, Walton, Ky.; Wyoming City Schools, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Zanesville High School, Zanesville, Ohio.

Judges for the Search include Bob Vecchione from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Christine Sima of Parks and Rec Business and Christine Bolger of the National Association of Sports and Physical Education.

http://www.syntheticturfcouncil.org/index.cfm

BLACK WEDNESDAY IN MILWAUKEE.....

SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

1. Pitching coach Bill Castro was fired and replaced by Class AAA Nashville pitching coach Chris Bosio. Castro, in his first year as pitching coach after 17 years as bullpen coach, paid the price for a staff that ranks 15th in the NL with a 4.84 ERA and has taken several beatings in recent weeks. The starting rotation's 5.16 ERA is last in the NL.

2. Shortstop J.J. Hardy was optioned to Class AAA Nashville and will be replaced by top prospect Alcides Escobar, called up from that club. Hardy has struggled at the plate all year and is batting .229 with 11 homers and 45 RBI. Hardy is seven weeks shy of having five years in the majors, which allows players to turn down minor-league assignments.

3. INF/OF Bill Hall was designated for assignment and replaced on the roster by OF Jason Bourgeois, called up from Nashville. The Brewers have 10 days to trade Hall, release him or have him accept a minor league assignment, which he already did a couple of weeks ago. The club probably will be stuck with the $10 million or so remaining on the contract of Hall, who has been in a two-year slump at the plate and was batting .201 with six homers and 24 RBI.

BREWERS SHAKE THINGS UP

The Brewers have fired pitching coach Bill Castro and replaced him with Class AAA Nashville pitching coach Chris Bosio. In another drastic move, the Brewers have sent down shortstop J.J. Hardy and recalled Alcides Escobar from Nashville.

TOWN OF RIPON RESIDENT FILES CIVIL CASE AGAINST RIPON SCHOOL DISTRICT

SOURCE: WRPN-AM
A Town of Ripon resident has filed a civil case against the Ripon Area School District, in an ongoing dispute that dates back more than a year. According to the papers filed in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court last month, Diane Cole named School Superintendent Richard Zimman, Business Manager Rick Ketter, district legal counsel Steve Sorenson and the Board of Education in a Petition for Writ of Mandamus (man-day-mus). A Writ of Mandamus is a request that a judge order an entity to take a specific action. In this case, Cole says she is looking for certain documents that were not presented to her on different occasions throughout the past year, including performance evaluations for Melanie Oppor, the current Director of Curriculum Development, Assessment and Instruction, the job description for that position and invoices and various documents related to the installation of field turf at Ingalls Field. WRPN attempted to contact Cole, but she refused to issue a statement Tuesday evening. Zimman, meanwhile, says since this legal action has come to light, he cannot say much about the case and must refer all comment to the district’s legal counsel. According to the petition, the defendants have 45 days to issue an answer in regards to the request. No court action will happen until that time frame passes and answers are formally filed. Zimman also says they have been assured by legal counsel that they have been cooperating with State Law at all times with Miss Cole. In addition to her previously-mentioned demands, Cole is demanding that the district, including the School Board, be formally reprimanded by the court, she be reimbursed for the cost of filing the writ, including lost wages and mileage, and the district formally apologize to her

Three Northeast Wisconsin colleges have been named to Forbes magazine’s America’s Best Colleges list.

Three Northeast Wisconsin colleges have been named to Forbes magazine’s America’s Best Colleges list. Lawrence University in Appleton was ranked 41st, up 27 spots from its 2008 ranking. Ripon College ranked 100th on the overall list and 88th on Forbes’ America’s Best College Buys list. St. Norbert College in De Pere ranked 151st.

COUNCIL RECAP - August 11th

* Proposed tree ordinance/policy; guidelines for future street projects - The proposed tree ordinance/policy, and standards/guidelines for the Newbury and Ransom Street projects was formally presented by David Sakrison and Ruth and Paul Jeffries. Staff was directed to draft a memo outlining the fiscal impact of the proposed ordinance and present it to the council on August 24th, with a vote expected in September.
* Report on possible future expansion needs for Ripon Public Library - The City is now seeking proposals to redevelop the former Smuckers property, including the land where Agri-Blenders is located. The library board reviewed possible future space needs to ensure they reserve any more land needed. The library is asking for 100 feet of land to the west of their current facility. The proposal will be considered along with proposal for the development of the overall property.
* Ordinance – restrictions for burning materials in the City of Ripon - On July 27th, the Council held a public listening session on tightening burning requirements, and asked staff to draft an ordinance, based on one from the City of Fond du Lac. The City Attorney drafted an ordinance to be presented for review on Tuesday night. Another proposal has been drafted by Alderwoman Jane Schueler. The issue was tabled until August 24th to review both proposals.
* Engineering and construction cost to replace the Liberty Street bridge - The Liberty Street bridge is in need of significant repair or replacement. The Public Works Director suggests replacing the bridge at an estimated cost of $150,000. No monies have been budgeted, but the council voted to use some of the funds set aside for the 2010 re-construction of Newbury Street and do the work this year to replace the bridge.
* Request – use of Murray Park during nighttime hours - Justin Propp has requested permission to shoot a film in the park, but he was not present at the meeting, and the issue was tabled.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
August 19th - Plan Commission
August 24th - City Council

Rep. Petri on health care; town meetings this week

SOURCE: Foxpolitics.net
Rep. Petri on health care; town meetings this week

Concerning Health Care Reform Let me be clear about this: We absolutely, positively need health care reform. But, we need it done right. Health care accounts for 18 percent of our economy. If reform is botched, both our lives and our livelihoods will be put at risk.

The vast majority of Americans have some kind of health insurance that they are generally satisfied with, but what they really worry about is rising costs. Health care inflation has outpaced general inflation by approximately 2.5 percent per year. Reforms which bring consumers more information and control over the cost and quality of health care would facilitate a more efficient delivery system.

I believe that we need to institute reforms which reward high-quality care and successful outcomes. Currently, doctors are encouraged to order extra tests because insurance pays them "per procedure," and because they are at high risk of being sued if they miss something they might have caught if they had pulled out all the stops regardless of the cost or the small likelihood of discovering a problem. These incentives should be rebalanced.

Other changes in tax, subsidy and regulatory policies can slow health care inflation while expanding coverage to those who need it at a price they can afford.

One approach which should get more attention is Health Savings Accounts. With HSAs, people deposit money in special tax-free accounts which they can tap for day-to-day health care expenses. Unlike regular insurance coverage, HSAs make people aware of the cost of services. Those who use HSAs are required to carry low-premium high-deductible catastrophic insurance which kicks in to pay for major illnesses.

One thing we should not do, however, is to rush ahead with the legislative proposals being touted by President Obama and the congressional leadership.

President Obama rightly argues that we need to restrain rising health care costs, but the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has been unable to find truly significant provisions in the House leadership's plan to do this. Instead, the CBO has stated that the plan would result in over $1 trillion in new spending over 10 years which would "probably generate substantial increases in federal budget deficits."

The spending would partially be offset by cuts in Medicare and by $800 billion in new taxes, including hikes on small business - the engine of job creation in this country. According to economic modeling by the President's chief economic advisor, the business tax hikes alone could destroy up to 4.7 million jobs.

The President promises that if you like your current coverage, you will be able to keep it. But what he doesn't say is that the economics of his approach would encourage businesses to drop their coverage and instead move their employees over to the proposed government plan which the President insists on including. Analysts differ on how many people would lose their current coverage, but the correct figure is likely in the tens of millions.

Rather than simplifying health care administration, the House leadership's proposal would create 53 new boards, bureaucracies, commissions or programs.

The fact is, health care reform is complicated. There are many different values and approaches which must be carefully balanced. And, once again, health care accounts for 18 percent of our economy, profoundly affecting our lives and our livelihoods. This is why we should slow down and think before we act.

Town Meetings
My latest round of Town Meetings is already under way. This is an opportunity for you to voice your opinion on federal issues in a group setting. Here is a list of the remaining meetings:

MONDAY, AUGUST 10
9:30 - 10:30 a.m., GREEN LAKE, Caestecker Public Library, 518 Hill St., Conference Room
2:30 - 3:30 p.m., HORICON, City Hall, 404 East Lake St., Activity Room A

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
9:00 - 10:00 a.m., OAKFIELD, Community Center, 130 North Main St.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., WATERTOWN, Municipal Building, 106 Jones St., City Council Chambers

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
10:00 - 11:00 a.m., ADAMS, Municipal Building, 101 North Main Street, Council Chambers
1:00 - 2:00 p.m., WILD ROSE, Community Center, 500 Division St.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m., MONTELLO, Marquette County Courthouse, 77 West Park St., Public Safety Training Room

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From the desk of Ripon Mayor Aaron Kramer:

The Ripon Common Council tonight voted to forward and partner with the investment and development firm of Boca Grande, LLC, in a project that could ultimately result in the investment of roughly $30 million in downtown Ripon and the surrounding area. The city's investment in the project will be approximately $8.6 million, about half of which will be loans to the development firm, the remainder direct grants.

The city's investment will be funded by the creation of a new downtown Tax Increment District, which, in the simplest of terms, means the additional tax increment generated from the Boca Grande developments will be used to pay back the debt used to fund the initial grants and loans. The project includes a proposed inn and spa, a Republican museum, multiple restaurants and housing options, and investment in the downtown infrastructure.

"While there is some level of risk in this project, as there have been with every project we have been involved in, we, the city, have taken very deliberate and focused measures to reduce our risk," noted Mayor Aaron Kramer. "At this point, we have authorized staff to begin the process of securing the financing needed to move ahead, while, at the same time, giving the residents of Ripon the opportunity to view the proposals from Boca Grande, the financing tools we will be using and the short- and long-term goals and visions of this project. Rest assured, we have not reached this point without considerable debate, negotiations and analysis, just as we promised when Boca Grande first presented their ideas for downtown Ripon more than two years ago."

"We are moving forward, and looking forward to hearing from the public as they have the opportunity they to view the proposals and weigh in with their thoughts."

Aaron Kramer
Home : 920-745-2578
Cell : 920-291-5250

MEDIA ALERT

Ripon Mayor Aaron Kramer will release a statement this evening or early Wednesday morning regarding the city's recent negotiations and discussions with the investment and development firm of Boca Grande Capital, LLC.

SURE SIGNS SUMMER IS COMING TO AN END...

* The soccer players are practicing on the beautiful turf of Ingalls Field (it does look nice with the two shades of green, especially late in the day), and the football players will be joining them this week.
* Pre-season NFL football is on the TV, with players that will never make the NFL come September.
* The leaves on the tree across the street from me are beginning to turn red and orange.
* The days are getting shorter, which I always hate
* The words "magic number" and "playing for next year" are entering the baseball vocabulary

COUNCIL AGENDA - August 11th

CITY OF RIPON COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
Conference Room, City Hall - Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 5:30 p.m.

1. Call to order/roll call
2. 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 developer’s agreement for new commercial project
Adjourn to closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(g) “Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written evidence concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved”
RE: Performance concerns with certain 2008 public improvement projects

3. Adjourn (6:55 p.m.)

CITY OF RIPON COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers, City Hall - Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

I. Call to order/roll call
II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation – Rev. Mark West
III. Public communications and comment
IV. 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.)
V. Other business
1. Proposed tree ordinance/policy; guidelines for future street projects - Attached are copies of a proposed tree ordinance/policy, and standards/guidelines for the Newbury and Ransom Street projects. David Sakrison and Ruth/Paul Jeffries will be present to highlight their proposals, and answer questions from the Mayor, Council, and staff.
2. Report on possible future expansion needs for Ripon Public Library - The City is now seeking proposals to redevelop the former Smuckers property, including the land where Agri-Blenders is located. The library board reviewed possible future space needs to ensure they reserve any more land needed. Desiree Bongers, Library Director, will provide a report on their study’s findings and address our questions.
3. Ordinance – restrictions for burning materials in the City of Ripon - On July 27th, the Council held a public listening session on tightening burning requirements, and asked staff to draft an ordinance, based on one from the City of Fond du Lac. The City Attorney is now preparing an ordinance to be presented for review on Tuesday night.
4. Engineering and construction cost to replace the Liberty Street bridge - The Liberty Street bridge is in need of significant repair or replacement. In an attached memo, the Public Works Director suggests replacing the bridge at an estimated cost of $150,000. No monies have been budgeted, but we could use funds budgeted for Newbury.
5. Request – use of Murray Park during nighttime hours (Justin Propp)
VI. Mayor’s communications and appointments
VII. Agenda items for future Council meetings
VIII. Adjourn

JUST THINK ABOUT THIS QUOTE ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

DUMBEST COLUMN OF THE YEAR....SAVE PIGS, ABORT CHILDREN

It may only be August, but I have a hands-down, slam dunk clincher for the dumbest column of the year, and I found it in US News and World Report. Bonnie Erbe, one of the most inflammatory and moronic authors in the mainstream, a woman who actually wrote a column this past April titled "In a Recession, Abortions Are Not a Bad Choice", a woman whose only praise of Sarah Palin came when she found out the former governor had contemplated aborting her mentally challenged child, Trig, a woman who has shown a consistent pattern of railing against the Catholic Church, has now lowered her sights on a new scourge for the American people: BACON.

In an article she titled "Bacon: Weapon of Mass Destruction", Erbe, who also appears on PBS, another shining example of the wise use of tax dollars, in a circular manner, connects the production of bacon by the food industry and the use of bacon by the fast-food industry with the rising cost of healthcare, and cruelty toward animals. In fact, she even claims that "humans won't listen. But I have a saying: Animals bite back. You eat them, they kill you. The more we learn about nutrition and factory farming, the truer this becomes."

Ironically, this woman can write with a straight face that we should not be killing pigs, who "are widely believed to have the intelligence of 3-year-old human children", but we should be aborting (KILLING) children in an economic downturn. It is vile crap, and this is exactly what this is - CRAP, and it is exactly why I no longer read US News or Newsweek, because I am tired of having my throat stretched as these people, who always know what is best for me, shove their agendas of death and liberalism down.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (Former Smuckers site on Silver Creek)

HOUSING & MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT - SILVER CREEK PROPERTY

The City of Ripon is seeking proposals to redevelop the Silver Creek property (formerly owned by Smuckers) at the northeast corner of Jefferson & Hamburg Streets on the north end of downtown Ripon. Proposals may include residential, commercial, or a mix of both types. Creative ideas are encouraged, but they should complement the historic nature of the area. For more information, please contact City Administrator Steve Barg at 748-4914 or sbarg@cityofripon.com, or Craig Tebon at 748-7466 or craig@riponmainst.com. The proposals must be submitted in a prescribed format, and they must be received at Ripon City Hall (100 Jackson Street) by Friday, September 4th at 4:00 p.m.

Registration Dates for 2009-10 School Year Announced

It’s time for students who will be attending the Ripon Area School District for the 2009-10 school year to register at their intended school. Students who are new to the school district must register first at the Administrative Services Center at 1120 Metomen Street prior to reporting to their school. Fees are paid, photos taken, schedules are distributed, and other administrative matters are handled during registration. The summer registration days scheduled are:

RHS—July 21 & 22 @ 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
RMS—July 23 @ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 3:00 – 7:00 PM
BPES—August 12 @ 8:30 – 11:30 AM and 2:00 – 6:00 PM
MPES—August 13 @ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 4:00 – 7:00 PM