Wisconsin Way

Last night a meeting of Wisconsin Way was held in Eau Claire.

(From their website)

The Wisconsin Way is a unique partnership of statewide organizations with the goal of finding a new and better way to fund public services. Our members come from different backgrounds, but we all want the same thing—lower property taxes without lowering our quality of life.

The statewide effort is led by the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA); the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC); the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA); the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association; and Wood Communications Group (WCG). These partners have joined together in an unprecedented statewide effort dedicated to achieving significant and permanent reductions in the amount of property taxes Wisconsin property owners pay each year, while at the same time protecting the services that make Wisconsin a special place to live. This is a goal that needs to be reached, and can be reached.

Since the initial round of meetings held around the state last fall, the sponsoring organizations have been busy organizing the thoughts of citizens who attended their public forums. Round two is intended to narrow the scope of the project and attempt to determine which changes in tax policy the public may stomach.

Time was spent brainstorming ideas on tax policy and economic develop issues. A wide variety of ideas were tossed out. Every idea is still on the table.

The biggest problem was the lack of time for the participants to think about what was being proposed as possible solutions. (An example of this would be consideration of a "Human TIF". Don't ask me, I still don't understand how it would work!)

Idea after idea after idea were fired in rapid succession. There weren't any handouts to take home to study. Their website does not have a listing of ideas offered. This morning I can probably remember only 1/10 of what was discussed.

I truly hope the meeting met the expectations of the sponsors, because as a citizen participant I was very disappointed. A classic "information overload".

Round three in Eau Claire is scheduled for September 11 when the sponsors are expected to unveil their proposals for changing the tax structure and other public policy issues.

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee meeting that was to be held on Friday June 20 is now scheduled for Friday July 11. The meeting had to be cancelled at the last minute due to a lack of a quorum. This just shouldn't happen. Published Public Hearings were to be held. Citizens arranged their schedules to be there. Committee members didn't?

A petition signed by nearly 500 citizens has been filed with Barron County asking that County Administrator Duane Hebert be placed on administrative leave. The petition further asks for the position of County Administrator to be abolished. While the petition is only advisory in nature, Chairman Jess Miller has stated the issue will be "properly addressed".

According to a news release from Barron County...

Barron County has announced the pending development of a new land records website. Once established, the website will allow anyone to search land records and maps from the official Barron County website at www.co.barron.wi.us. The site is expected to be an asset to Barron County landowners and businesses.

Owners may request that their names be removed from this website. If you desire to have your name removed, send a written request to the Land Information Office, 330 E. La Salle Ave., room 2401, Barron, Wis., 54812. Include your name and the parcel number of your parcel(s). Parcel numbers can be found on your tax bills.

A Public Hearing Notice has been posted for the Sawyer County Wilderness Lakes Shoreland Ordinance.

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to all persons that a PUBLIC HEARING will be held on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 1:00 PM in the Sawyer County Courthouse, 10610 Main, Hayward, Wisconsin before the Sawyer County Zoning Committee.

According to the Washburn County Register...

The Shell Lake City Council may see youth representatives joining them after discussion at a meeting Monday, June 9, in city hall.

During new businesss, Mayor Donna Barnes-Haesemeyer brought up the idea that night. The Washburn County Board of Supervisors has had two high school youth representatives, plus a few alternates, take part in its Tuesday-night meetings for many years. The youth can comment at the meetings and vote, though theirs aren’t officially counted as part of a motion.

Naturally, not all are in agreement this is a good idea.

Alderperson Terry Leckel said he had concerns with this idea, namely that it could slow down the process even more, and wondered where the students would even sit, as the council table is full. Barnes-Haesemeyer then pointed out another table on the side of the chambers.

Alderperson David Rock said his daughter was a youth representative on the county board and enjoyed it, and he found it to be a good opportunity for young people. He said the youth even get paid a per diem, like the supervisors do.“I think it’s an excellent program for the youth to be involved in the decision making,” Rock said.

Alderperson Jeri Bitney said that the student council president gives a presentation at monthly Shell Lake School Board meetings.Alderperson

Jane Pederson said she agreed with Leckel, that having youth representatives on the council might slow the process down and take up more time during meetings. She feared it wouldn’t necessarily be valuable for the council, and said students have other opportunities, like student government, to participate.

Hmmm ... it might not be necessarily valuable to hear student's opinions?


With school funding a continuing problem the Ladysmith News reports...

School Boards from three districts in Rusk County met jointly and voted to retain a consulting firm to do a comprehensive consolidation feasibility study.

No nays were heard when 18 board members from Bruce, Ladysmith-Hawkins, and Weyerhaeuser school districts cast a voice vote approving a motion that authorizes proceeding with the analysis. Administrators from the three districts are to get together and pick a consulting firm to do the study.

The motion also calls for the three districts to apply to the state Department of Public Instruction for grant money to help fund the study. Cost of a comprehensive study would be in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 thousand dollars and a grant, if received would cover about 10 thousand dollars. Cost of the consultant would be shared equally by the districts.

On Thursday June 12 the Washburn County Strategic Planning Committee will be meeting.
Where this planning exercise will go ... nobody knows?

MEETING DATE:
06/12/2008
TIME: 3:30 PM
PLACE: Spooner Annex

The Agenda is as follows:

Call the meeting to order
Roll Call
Approval of Current Agenda
Approval of the May 22, 2008 meeting minutes
Citizen comments
Review list of statutory mandates and copies of prioritization information provided to committee
Discussion on Internal and External Analysis
Citizen comments
Set Next Meeting Date and Possible Agenda Items
Adjourn

The Rusk County Lake and Stream Classification Committee has met for the last time. On June 9 a Public Information meeting was held to present their findings to the citizens. After $50,000...and 18 months of numerous meetings it was determined that development on lakes may cause decreased water quality. Thus, this committee will be recommending that minimum width of future waterfront property lots be increased from 100' to 150'. All the information compiled by the committee can be found at the website WWW.FlambeauValley.Com/LS.

Neighborhood Watch programs aren't just for the big cities. They are for everyone. In Chetek a new neighborhood watch program is just getting off the ground. According to the Chetek Alert a program is being developed in Chetek's downtown area.

Representatives of the The City of Rice Lake, Barron County and the Town of Rice Lake did meet last week to discuss the Rice Lake Extra Territorial Subdivision Ordinance. Discussions will continue on possible changes.

The Burnett County Zoning Committee received an update on the status of discussions regarding changes to the Subdivision Ordinance. The County has backed off many proposed changes. This will be on the agenda again next month.

Sawyer County Record Editorial – 5/29/2008

Of many county committees, the Sawyer County Zoning Committee is perhaps the most controversial. I believe this is because the committee’s focus is on regulating land use, and most people tend not to take land ownership lightly.

No matter what corner of earth you occupy in Sawyer County, many will eventually have to come before the committee either to argue in favor of their own project, or oppose another. In short, zoning affects us all, and therefore it is important these meetings be public, open and adequately noticed.

As I watched one substantial development work its way through the system over the last few months, I often wondered whether sufficient public notice was, in fact, being given. A large development had set its eyes on a small lake, and on multiple occasions the developer either did not supply the correct materials or submitted them late to the committee. Yet each time, the committee proceeded to act on very important documents it had very little time to dissect.

During the Zoning Committee meeting held on May 16, Zoning Administrator Bill Christman stated that his office received the developer’s documents around 1 p.m. of the previous day. Suddenly, the very next morning under agenda item “New Business,” the committee was discussing the issue as the developer continued to push for his final plat approval. The only amended notice to reflect this additional agenda item was posted on the door at the meeting.

As a journalist and member of the public, I submit that the Zoning Committee should have tabled the item until proper public notice could have been given. And I am forced to question whether county zoning is serving the public interest by not properly noticing meetings.

According to Wisconsin statute 19.84(3) (Open Meetings Law), public notice must be given at least 24 hours in advance, unless “for good cause” such notice is “impossible or impractical.” If an item is added within 24 hours of the meeting, then notices must be posted no less than two hours in advance — certainly not just on the door of the meeting room. This statute is in place to provide the public with the most complete information, and in the case of zoning, agenda items are being added under the public’s radar, unless a member of the public comes to the meeting in person to read the posted agenda.

In fact, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen believes that if a specific item, such as a development, is placed under “a general subject matter designation” — in this case, “New Business” — the committee “should refrain from engaging in any information gathering or discussion or from taking any action that would deprive the public of information.”

I have compared notices posted at the meeting to those published in the newspaper or printed from the zoning department’s Web site. Many times, the newspaper notice in my hand is different than what is posted. Yet I look around the room and see many people clutching folded newspapers and relying on that as an official agenda.

I feel that if any county committee, or the county board, discusses an item of business, it should be properly noticed giving the public ample time to decide whether to attend a meeting.

If a developer can slip in the required paperwork just under the wire and still make the next day’s agenda, is this an attempt to subvert public discourse? And is the zoning department playing into the hands of developers or others — who know how to work the system — who also might wish to keep the public as unaware as possible?

Lack of information is just as good as misinformation.

Comprehensive Planning Update:

Burnett County: A Planning Consultant was expected to be chosen to lead the Committee through the planning process.

Rusk County: The Smart Growth Committee at their last meeting discussed the Agriculture, Natural and Cultural Resource Element of the the Plan.

Sawyer County: A survey will soon be sent to residents asking their opinions on the future of Sawyer County. All are encouraged to complete and return the survey.