It seems the "Holiday Season" starts earlier and earlier each year doesn't it? As I have said many times before, in Wisconsin the "Holiday Season" starts the Friday before deer hunting. Nothing is accomplished in local government during the "Holiday Season". Everything is of importance is postponed until January. Now however, since "deer hunting" has so many seasons the "Holiday Season" now starts in October!
Case in point.
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee will have on their agenda in January a discussion on changes to the sign ordinance which deals with on and off premise Real Estate For Sale signs. Both the size of the on premise signs will be discussed along with the problem of illegal placement of off premise signs.
Nothing is being proposed yet. But, we can expect some language change to come down the line. Hopefully, it will be something the Realtors® can live with. The RANWW will certainly be discussing this issue prior to January to prepare for that meeting.
Politically Speaking....
What's Happening in Northwest Wisconsin
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Barron County Board of Supervisors have voted to abolish the County Forester position. It was not without controvery. The Chetek Alert reported ...
According to the resolution, the county would contract for timber services from an outside source, and all other duties of the department would be dispersed to other employees. The change is expected to save the county $50,000 per year.
"It's absolutely asinine that we don't want to have a county forester," said Supervisor Terry Henck. "An independent forester isn't going to care about the condition of the county's forests; they're only going to care about the bottom line."
Henck pointed out that the county has 75 employees in the Department of Health and Human Services, including four receptionists.
"And we can't afford to have one person look after the forests of the county?" Henck asked.
Property committee members Supervisor George Strom and Supervisor James Pannier said the decision was difficult, but with forester Jack Nedland retiring in November, they felt it was a "now or never" proposition to save the county money.
"If we can't make these decisions when someone retires, then how will we ever make decisions to cut positions when someone isn't retiring?" asked Pannier. "We have to start making some tough decisions."
The board voted 18-9 to approve the change, with Supervisors Larry Leff, John Hardin, Donna Cordes, Rick Wuorenma, Carol Moen, Keith Hardie, Jon Sleik, Donald Horstman and Henck opposing. Supervisors Ed Zych and Walt Organ were absent.
According to the resolution, the county would contract for timber services from an outside source, and all other duties of the department would be dispersed to other employees. The change is expected to save the county $50,000 per year.
"It's absolutely asinine that we don't want to have a county forester," said Supervisor Terry Henck. "An independent forester isn't going to care about the condition of the county's forests; they're only going to care about the bottom line."
Henck pointed out that the county has 75 employees in the Department of Health and Human Services, including four receptionists.
"And we can't afford to have one person look after the forests of the county?" Henck asked.
Property committee members Supervisor George Strom and Supervisor James Pannier said the decision was difficult, but with forester Jack Nedland retiring in November, they felt it was a "now or never" proposition to save the county money.
"If we can't make these decisions when someone retires, then how will we ever make decisions to cut positions when someone isn't retiring?" asked Pannier. "We have to start making some tough decisions."
The board voted 18-9 to approve the change, with Supervisors Larry Leff, John Hardin, Donna Cordes, Rick Wuorenma, Carol Moen, Keith Hardie, Jon Sleik, Donald Horstman and Henck opposing. Supervisors Ed Zych and Walt Organ were absent.
Monday, October 20, 2008
October RANWW Report
Barron County
BARRON COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BARRON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS
Barron County residents have three choices of dates and locations to participate in the Issues & Opportunities Identification Sessions to be held in November. Using results from the Public Opinion Survey conducted in August and historic data compiled in the Conditions and Trends Report, Andrew Dane from UW-Extension, will lead the participants in a discussion and exploration into the issues and opportunities facing Barron County into the next twenty years.
The three locations and dates of the Issues and Opportunities Identification Sessions are:
BARRON COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BARRON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS
Barron County residents have three choices of dates and locations to participate in the Issues & Opportunities Identification Sessions to be held in November. Using results from the Public Opinion Survey conducted in August and historic data compiled in the Conditions and Trends Report, Andrew Dane from UW-Extension, will lead the participants in a discussion and exploration into the issues and opportunities facing Barron County into the next twenty years.
The three locations and dates of the Issues and Opportunities Identification Sessions are:
Cumberland on Monday Nov. 10th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Great Hall of Augustana Lutheran Church.
Rice Lake on Tuesday Nov.18th 6:00-8:00 pm
UW-Barron County in the atrium of Meggers Hall.
Barron on Thursday Nov. 20th 1:30-3:30 pm
Barron County Courthouse, 330 E La Salle Ave - #110.
for more information.
Burnett County
Sign Ordinance Alert ... Sign Ordinance Alert ... Sign Ordinance Alert
Burnett County
Sign Ordinance Alert ... Sign Ordinance Alert ... Sign Ordinance Alert
The Burnett County Zoning Committee spent two hours discussing a proposed new sign ordinance. I was most interested in learning if there would be any attempts to restrict For Sale signs. There is no language to restrict Realtor® For Sale signs.However, I suggest ANY BUSINESS that uses signs (on or off premise) to obtain a copy of the proposed language from the Zoning Office. I repeat ANY BUSINESS that uses signs. The proposed new language will place new restrictions on practically all ON and OFF premise signs. This also includes the size of signs on the sides of buildings. I have no idea what they are proposing is reasonable or not. That is really up to ALL BUSINESSES in Burnett County to determine. This is still early in the process so now is the time for input on this issue with the Zoning Committee and Zoning Administrator.
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The Burnett County Zoning Committee had their final discussion on the proposed Subdivision Ordinance. From the initial proposal in May the proposed new ordinance is very much improved. The citizens of Burnett County owe a debt of gratitude to Doug Crane and Mark Krause for their tenacious work on this ordinance. If you see Doug or Mark thank them for their work. They managed to make significant changes that made the final product something that is much improved over what is in effect now. and also what was originally proposed. Final passage is expected by the County Board.
Rusk County
The Rusk County Zoning Committee is discussing "Changes to Fee Schedule, Private Sewage Ordinance, Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance and Shoreland Ordinance. According to the Zoning Administrator none of the changes discussed are of major substance. We will trust but verify that statement.
No Public Hearing date is scheduled for any of these changes.
Sawyer County
The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors has approved the new Wilderness Lakes Classification. It was not done without controversy and a close 9-6 decision. A complete recap of the meeting can be found HaywardWi.Com.
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Sawyer County Zoning Committee has been reviewing proposed changes to the Subdivision Ordinance. No major problems have been found in the proposed changes. On interesting issue is centering on language which would knowingly be in direct conflict with a recent Supreme Court ruling. This would be setting up show down with someone, somewhere down the line.
Washburn County
The Wal-mart saga in Spooner continues to divide the residents of Washburn County. Now being discussed is changes in the road to decrease costs, lowering the asking price of the land and possible TIF funding. If there is ANY public money put toward this project the residents will go ballistic. More info can be found at SpoonerAdvocate.Com.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sawyer County Zoning Committee has been reviewing proposed changes to the Subdivision Ordinance. No major problems have been found in the proposed changes. On interesting issue is centering on language which would knowingly be in direct conflict with a recent Supreme Court ruling. This would be setting up show down with someone, somewhere down the line.
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Barron County Comprehensive Planning continues to crawl.
The county's "conditions and trends report" was unveiled at a comprehensive planning meeting Oct. 1. West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission prepared the 266-page document and presented it last Wednesday.
The report gives community leaders detailed statistics about various aspects of the county, including housing, utility service, transportation and economic climates, in addition to covering issues on natural resources and land use.
County Administrator Duane Hebert said that this report will compliment a soon-to-be completed citizen survey, which is meant to gauge public sentiment on what services Barron County residents want. The UW-River Falls organized survey is expected to be finished within a few weeks.
Once the survey and the report are both available, then there will be three public "issues and opportunities" meetings where people can weigh-in on the findings, Hebert said. These meetings are tentatively scheduled to take place throughout November, and they will be posted with greater detail in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Sign Ordinance Alert ... Sign Ordinance Alert ... Sign Ordinance Alert
The Burnett County Zoning Committee spent two hours discussing a proposed new sign ordinance. I was most interested in learning if there would be any attempts to restrict For Sale signs. There is no language to restrict Realtor® For Sale signs.
However, I suggest ANY BUSINESS that uses signs (on or off premise) to obtain a copy of the proposed language from the Zoning Office. I repeat ANY BUSINESS that uses signs. The proposed new language will place new restrictions on practically all ON and OFF premise signs. This also includes the size of signs on the sides of buildings. I have no idea what they are proposing is reasonable or not. That is really up to ALL BUSINESSES in Burnett County to determine. This is still early in the process so now is the time for input on this issue with the Zoning Committee and Zoning Administrator.
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The Burnett County Zoning Committee had their final discussion on the proposed Subdivision Ordinance. From the initial proposal in May the proposed new ordinance is very much improved. The citizens of Burnett County owe a debt of gratitude to Doug Crane and Mark Krause for their tenacious work on this ordinance. If you see Doug or Mark thank them for their work. They managed to make significant changes that make the final product something that is much improved over what is in effect now and also what was originally proposed. Final passage is expected by the County Board.
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