Politically Speaking....
What's Happening in Northwest Wisconsin
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
We all notice the slow down in economic activity in our own ways. For the second month in a row the Rice Lake Planning Commission has cancelled their meeting due to a lack of agenda items.
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Rusk County and the City of Ladysmith received good news when it was announced that the former Mt. Senario campus will be reincarnated this fall into an "Educational Learning Center" anchored at first by Silver Lake College which is based in Manitowac. Other colleges are also considering offering classes at the facility.
Monday, March 16, 2009
March Report
Barron County
A shocking meeting was held on March 2. The Barron County Property Committee talked about Tourism. This was the first time in years anyone on the Barron County Board of Supervisors dared to speak the word. Never mind tourism is over a $100 million business annually. It was asked if Barron County did want to get into tourism promotion what committee would be in charge. They didn't know. Will this topic be placed on another agenda for further discussion? Will heads start to peak out of sand? Stay tuned.
A large crowd attended the Rice Lake City Council meeting on March 10. At issue was opposition to special assessments for installation of sidewalks. Since an advisory referendum passed in 2000 by a 60-40 margin, the City has required sidewalks to be installed on new or reconstructed streets. Over the decades as streets are reconstructed the city would have a complete system of sidewalks. The City Council voted to continue that policy and install the sidewalks.
The Barron County Comprehensive Planning Committee has finished with their Housing and Transportation elements. Next up is Utilities/Facilities along with Cultural Resources followed by Economic Development.
Bayfield County
The Comprehensive Planning Survey answers have been released.
· Ninety percent of respondents agreed that Bayfield County should further ensure that its lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands are protected.
·Sixty-nine percent wanted a minimum lot size for single family residential lots to control population growth and preserve the natural amenities.
·Fifty percent would like to see more affordable housing and elderly/assisted living housing.
·Eighty-two percent would encourage public libraries and cellular service in Bayfield County.
·Eighty-seven percent encouraged all types of businesses in Bayfield County. Forty-nine percent encouraged renewable energy business.
·Eighty percent wanted the county to develop design guidelines in commercial, industrial and residential buildings.
These answers and others, will guide the Comprehensive Planning Committee over the next few months.
A shocking meeting was held on March 2. The Barron County Property Committee talked about Tourism. This was the first time in years anyone on the Barron County Board of Supervisors dared to speak the word. Never mind tourism is over a $100 million business annually. It was asked if Barron County did want to get into tourism promotion what committee would be in charge. They didn't know. Will this topic be placed on another agenda for further discussion? Will heads start to peak out of sand? Stay tuned.
A large crowd attended the Rice Lake City Council meeting on March 10. At issue was opposition to special assessments for installation of sidewalks. Since an advisory referendum passed in 2000 by a 60-40 margin, the City has required sidewalks to be installed on new or reconstructed streets. Over the decades as streets are reconstructed the city would have a complete system of sidewalks. The City Council voted to continue that policy and install the sidewalks.
The Barron County Comprehensive Planning Committee has finished with their Housing and Transportation elements. Next up is Utilities/Facilities along with Cultural Resources followed by Economic Development.
Bayfield County
The Comprehensive Planning Survey answers have been released.
· Ninety percent of respondents agreed that Bayfield County should further ensure that its lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands are protected.
·Sixty-nine percent wanted a minimum lot size for single family residential lots to control population growth and preserve the natural amenities.
·Fifty percent would like to see more affordable housing and elderly/assisted living housing.
·Eighty-two percent would encourage public libraries and cellular service in Bayfield County.
·Eighty-seven percent encouraged all types of businesses in Bayfield County. Forty-nine percent encouraged renewable energy business.
·Eighty percent wanted the county to develop design guidelines in commercial, industrial and residential buildings.
These answers and others, will guide the Comprehensive Planning Committee over the next few months.
Burnett County
Burnett County Comprehensive Planning Committee is planning public meetings in April to update citizens on the progress of the plan. This committee is moving right along and is on schedule to have some type of plan completed by the end of the year.
Realtor/Government Day
Sign-up today for Realtor/Government Day April 8 in Madison!
Email Bruce King at Bruce@RANWW.Org to register/reserve your spot for a great all expenses paid day in Madison!
Rusk County
The City of Ladysmith dropped a proposal to asses certain street/sidewalk costs to abutting property owners. The proposal was 75-100 percent of costs for sidewalk repair/replacement - 50 percent of costs for chip sealing - 25 percent of costs for street paving and repaving.
Sawyer County
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee discussed the idea of mandating septic inspections at time of sale of property. There would be no exceptions. This was a preliminary discussion. A committee is working on developing a Position Paper on this issue to be approved by the RANWW Board of Directors. The next discussion of this issue is expected at the April meeting.
Washburn County
Washburn County Economic Development Corporation talked about websites. About how outdated their website promoting Washburn County really is. About how much it would cost to bring it up to date. About what if they don't. How bad is it? A perusal of the WCEDC's Web site revealed that the last newsletter on the site is from the summer of 2007.
The Washburn County Board of Supervisors will be meeting as a Committee of the Whole to hear presentations about Comprehensive Planning. The next vote on this is expected at the April meeting.
Monday, March 2, 2009
I reported last week that the City of Ladysmith would be holding a Public Hearing regarding assessments to property owners to pay for costs of street maintenance. The Ladysmith News reported on the meeting.
About a dozen Ladysmith residents — including several corner lot owners with streets on two sides of their properties — objected Monday to a city plan to start assessing for some street and sidewalk work.
The common council has proposed amending an ordinance to assess abutting property owners:— 75-100 percent of costs for sidewalk repair/replacement.— 50 percent of costs for chip sealing.— 25 percent of costs for street paving and repaving.
Several who spoke during a public hearing on the proposal complained about mounting charges for city services and their ability to absorb another expense.
“This is not Eau Claire. We don’t have the median incomes they have in Eau Claire. We don’t have the median property values they have down in Eau Claire,” resident John Pohlman said. “If they do both sides, this could be a third to half of what my house is assessed at. I am not enthusiastic about signing my deed over to the city.”
The proposal likely will come back to the council for a vote in a couple of months perhaps May or even later, according to (City Administrator) Christianson.
About a dozen Ladysmith residents — including several corner lot owners with streets on two sides of their properties — objected Monday to a city plan to start assessing for some street and sidewalk work.
The common council has proposed amending an ordinance to assess abutting property owners:— 75-100 percent of costs for sidewalk repair/replacement.— 50 percent of costs for chip sealing.— 25 percent of costs for street paving and repaving.
Several who spoke during a public hearing on the proposal complained about mounting charges for city services and their ability to absorb another expense.
“This is not Eau Claire. We don’t have the median incomes they have in Eau Claire. We don’t have the median property values they have down in Eau Claire,” resident John Pohlman said. “If they do both sides, this could be a third to half of what my house is assessed at. I am not enthusiastic about signing my deed over to the city.”
The proposal likely will come back to the council for a vote in a couple of months perhaps May or even later, according to (City Administrator) Christianson.
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The Wisconsin DOT (Department of Transportation) is seeking public comment on a new transportation plan it issued last month, called Connections 2030. The long-range plan, which is explained at the DOT website, contains plans for transit via highways, local roads, air, water, bicycle and pedestrian. It also includes linking up several major cities in the state by passenger high-speed light rail transit.
How does northern Wisconsin rate on this long range plan?
... northern Wisconsin is not on the DOT’s map.
We are not even on the map!
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