How about some good news from the Burnett County Sentinel.

Half a million dollars.

That's the result of the county's first timber sale of the year last week.

Fourteen bidders bid on 11 tracts of land which included, once cut, about 16,000 cords.

"I was surprised they went that high," forestry administrator Jake Nichols said. "It was a good bid opening."

With the housing and construction markets being what they are, it's a good thing Burnett County is a pulp wood market.

"A lot of this stuff isn't going for logs, it's going for pulp wood, either paper products or bio-mass," he clarified.

The bids are for tracts which must be cut by April 2011. He said there are two sales left in the year, one in June, one in October Nichols also released a forest summary which showed $1.4 million in timber sale revenue collected for 2008 — which was a record year.

Another report he issued revealed county forest property yielded $17.39 per acre.

"That's the highest we've had since I've been here," Nichols stated.

Of the 106,000 acres in county forest, about 85,000 acres, roughly 75 percent, is proving to be productive forest land.

"It's very sustainable," committee chairman Ed Peterson said. "That's the good thing about our forest."

--------------------

The Ladysmith News reports the City of Ladysmith is hold a Public Hearing tonight ...

City of Ladysmith residents may soon be asked to pay more of the cost of street paving, chip-sealing and sidewalk repair and replacement.

The city is proposing:— Assessing abutting owners 100 percent for sidewalk repair/replacement.— Assessing abutting owners 50 percent for chip sealing.— Assessing abutting owners 25 percent of the cost for street paving and repaving.

A hearing on the series of proposed changes in the city’s municipal code is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at city hall. The public is welcome to attend and comment on the proposal.

The city currently assesses for 75 percent of sidewalk and for all of new utility mains and curb and gutter. It does not assess for the cost of rebuilding the actual driven street, the base and pavement.

The city currently does not levy special assessments for street construction and chip sealing.

City Administrator Al Christianson said the city had budgeted about $40,000 for a few small street reconstruction projects, but those funds were earmarked for one or two small projects.

At one time, the city levied special assessments for 100 percent of the cost of sidewalk construction, repair and replacement. Then it was dropped back to 75 percent for the past several years. The city is proposing to raise it back to 100% at this time to recover some of the $25,000 it spends in a typical year for this purpose.

Residents may pay off special assessments all at once right away or make installment payments over 5-15 years with interest slightly above what the city pays to borrow money — right now about 5.75 percent.

----------

Bayfield County Comprehensive Planning Committee will be holding two input meetings this week.

February 25, 20096:00 PM -8:00 PM North Visitors Center View the Meeting Agenda

February 26, 20096:00 PM- 8:00 PM Grandview Town Hall View the Meeting Agenda

February GAD Report

Register NOW for Realtor/Government Day on April 8 in Madison.

• Register through the RANWW office (Bruce King - Bruce@Ranww.Org) and Registration will be paid by the RANWW.

• Van transportation will be provided from the Board Office. (While seating lasts)

• Breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Wisconsin Dells is included! (For everyone ... even if you drive!)

• Spend a day discussing very important State issues that impact your ability to do business!


Barron County

The Barron County Public Advisory Group (Comprehensive Planning Committee) raced through a number of items this past month. The Housing Goals are ready to forward to the County Board. Transportation will not be far behind. Followed by Agriculture. Stakeholder Focus Group meetings on other Goals are being scheduled. As each Element is completed it will be forwarded on to the County Board. In this way they will be able to digest each Element as it is presented instead of having the entire plan dropped on them at one time.

Bayfield County

The Bayfield County Comprehensive Planning Committee is still in the information gathering stage. While the January 1, 2010 deadline looms the committee is making an effort not to let that force them into rushing the process. They once again will hold meetings for their Comprehensive Plan in two locations this month. The North Meeting will be at the Great Lakes Visitor Center on February 25 from 6-8 PM and the South Meeting at the Grandview Town Hall on February 26 also from 6-8. Bayfield County is definitely attempting to reach out to the citizens in this method.

Burnett County

The Burnett County Comprehensive Planning Committee is moving right along. A healthy debate on private property rights occurred at their last meeting during discussions on the Draft Policies and Recommendations. It was basically everyone against the Chairman at times. These types of discussions will continue to occur until the process is complete. It is that type of a committee.

Rusk County

The Rusk County Comprehensive Planning Committee has not me since December.

They are still waiting for the results of their survey.
The Zoning Committee continues to discuss zoning ordinances changes.

Sawyer County

The Comprehensive Planning Committee reviewed survey results at their last meeting. The next Committee meetings are set for March 3 & 31 and April 21 at the county courthouse beginning at 6:30pm.
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee will continue to discuss the county sign ordinance and it is rumored that they will also re-visit the idea of requiring septic inspections at time of sale. Both of these issues are being monitored very closely.

Washburn County

It was reported at the Washburn County Executive Committee that at the March County Board Meeting representative of the Wisconsin Counties Association and Wisconsin Town Association would be there to discuss Comprehensive Planning. Evidently this would be to discuss the legal obligations of the County and Towns to comply with Smart Growth legislation. A vote on the plan is scheduled for April.

If you have any questions about these or any other government/political issues
do not hesitate to contact me!

January GAD Report

Barron County

· Very unusual tales of "misconduct in office" involving two different Barron County Supervisors came to light over the past few weeks. This story from the Barron News-Shield tells the story.

• A long anticipated Animal Control Contract has been approved by the Barron County Supervisors with the Humane Society. The County is going to attempt to control the stray pet population in the county. We wish them the best of luck in this attempt.

• A proposed sand mine in the Town of Arland is becoming quite a STORY. The Town Board has given their approval for the sand mine but Town residents aren't giving up their opposition.

• An oft repeated complaint of Town Officials is that County Board Supervisors don't listen to their input on issues. An example of this is playing out in the Town of Prairie Lake. A proposed campground, which was twice opposed by the Town of Prairie Lake Planning Commission and Town Board with solid resident approval of their opposition, was approved by the Barron County Board of Adjustment. Residents of that Prairie Lake area have filed a lawsuit asking the court to overturn the decision.

• The Barron County Comprehensive Planning Committee has started to meet twice a month. A healthy discussion on Housing was accomplished last meeting with Transportation being the topic de jur on the January 21 Agenda.

• Rice Lake's awarding winning police dog dies suddenly.

The Rice Lake Police Department's canine officer, Morgan, died Sunday, Jan. 11 of natural causes. Morgan, a 7-year old male German shepherd, has been on the job with Sgt. Steve Roux since the summer of 2003.

Rice Lake Police chief John Sommerfeld told the City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 13 that Morgan suddenly became ill early Sunday morning, collapsed, and died shortly thereafter. He said a preliminary autopsy indicated the dog died of a heart condition.


Mark Your Calendar for Realtor/Government Day on April 8!!!


Bayfield County

· The Bayfield County Comprehensive Planning Committee is going on the road. In an attempt to reach out to the residents the next meetings will be held at the Visitors Center (January 28 Agenda) and Grand View (January 29 Agenda). Everyone Welcome...Please!!!

Mark Your Calendar for Realtor/Government Day on April 8!!!


Burnett County

• Record 2008 timber sales were reported in Burnett County.

With $1.44 million in 2008 timber sales revenue collected to date, a new record has been set for the Burnett County Forest.
"It was the best year we've ever had," forestry administrator Jake Nichols declared. "Even in these economic times."
"It's a good thing for us we are mainly a pulp wood forest," he continued. "Pulp wood is the last market to go bad because everyone needs paper."

• The Burnett County Comprehensive Planning Committee will be reviewing their December Open House Meetings at their next meeting on January 26 at 1:00 pm.

Mark Your Calendar for Realtor/Government Day on April 8!!!


Rusk County

• Rusk County has prepared their Comprehensive Plan Survey and it is in the process of distributing it to the residents.

• A Zoning Committee Public Hearing is being set for changes to the POWTS ordinance to bring it into compliance with State Statutes.

• A Zoning Committee Public Hearing is being set up for changes to the Shoreland Ordinance as it relates to Keyhole Subdivisions. The changes include:

1) Lots must be regularly-shaped - no triangle lots.
2) Keyhole subdivision will allow a maximum of 4 non-waterfront lots.(Instead of 1 now allowed)3) No structures are allowed on access lots. 4) All such subdivisions require a conditional use permit.

More information is available at the Zoning Department on both of these Public Hearing issues.

Mark Your Calendar for Realtor/Government Day on April 8!!!

Sawyer County

· The Sawyer County Zoning Committee reviewed RANWW recommended changes to their sign ordinance. Through discussion it was decided to possibly expand their discussion past Real Estate signs and look at their entire sign ordinance. No objections were voiced about the RANWW proposal. However, a couple month process has just expanded to six months minimum.

Mark Your Calendar for Realtor/Government Day on April 8!!!

Washburn County

Washburn County has postponed a vote on their Comprehensive Plan until their April meeting.

Mark Your Calendar for Realtor/Government Day on April 8!!!

These are the details on the proposed Rusk County Shoreland Ordinance change that will go to Public Hearing in February. (Keyhole Subdivisions)

1) Lots must be regularly-shaped – no triangle lots.
2) Keyhole subdivision will allow a maximum of 4 non-waterfront lots.(Instead of 1 now allowed)
3) No structures are allowed on access lots.
4) All such subdivisions require a conditional use permit.

The Rusk County Zoning Committee will be holding a Public Hearing on changes to the POWTS maintenance ordinance in February. At the same meeting they will also be considering changes to the Shoreland Ordinance which relaxes the rules for lake access for backlots.

Vacation is over. Local governments in the area are quickly swinging back into action after their six week Hunting/Holidays lull.

Barron County Comprehensive Plan Committee meets on Wednesday January 7 to discuss the Housing Element of the plan. (Agenda)

Bayfield County residents have until January 10 to take the online Comprehensive Plan survey. The survey can be found HERE.

Burnett County follows up on last months Public Hearing on the proposed sign ordinance on January 6. That agenda can be found HERE. No major changes are expected from the proposed ordinance.

Burnett County Comprehensive Planning Committee meets on January 12. No agenda is posted yet.

Rusk County has prepared their Comprehensive Plan survey which will soon be distributed to County residents.

Rusk County Zoning Committee continues to discuss ordinance changes. That meeting will be held on January 7 at the agenda can be found HERE.

Sawyer County will be discussing their sign ordinance at their January 16 meeting. The agenda is not yet posted. The Realtors® Association has been in contact with the Zoning Administrator and has proposed changes to the sign ordinance that pertains to Real Estate For Sale signs.

Sawyer County Comprehensive Plan Committee is on the calender for January 6 but no agenda is yet posted on the website.

Washburn County has postponed a vote on their Comprehensive Plan until the April meeting.

The three year saga of Wal-Mart possibly building in Spooner is over. A letter from Wal-Mart to the City of Spooner officially put an end to this project.

The City of Spooner has approved up to $1.64 million dollars for road and utility work in TID #4.
Tax Incremental District #4 is the area of the proposed Wal-Mart development.

No opinion will be given as to the merit of this action.

However, the "How" this happened is of concern.

An excellent view of "how" this action was taken is expressed in an opinion written by Spooner Advocate reporter Frank Zufall.

...if you are someone who cares about open government and including a clear agenda that lets you know what government officials will be discussing and voting on and you like straight talk from those same government officials, then Tuesday, Dec. 2, was a sad day indeed.

Item “b” in section 7, “Discussion/actions” for the Tuesday, Dec. 2, monthly Spooner City Council meeting reads, “Action on TID 4 projects.”

As a reporter who has covered the Spooner City Council since March 2003, I have seen similar written descriptions that pertain to one of the four TIDs within Spooner. It is not uncommon that such a description would address a business interested in locating within one of the TIDs, or work that could be done within a TID, such as surveying, or the status of a project.

Some agendas spell out the nature of the discussion more clearly, such as “the color to paint the TID 4 water tower.”

But on Dec. 2, the city council did not discuss a minor issue, like the color of a water tower, but an issue of great magnitude with repercussions on a pending Wal-Mart development and the future economic development of Spooner and even Washburn County.

It turns out that “Action on TID 4 projects” was a very big subject, a very important subject, a subject that involved several questions the public may have wanted to weigh in on, such as:

• Releasing Wal-Mart of an obligation it has said it would assume until recently.

• The pros and cons of using TIF dollars. Yes, there are both pros and cons for TIF investment.

• Economic development in Spooner.

• Those for and against the proposed Spooner Supercenter.

When it came to “Action on TID 4 projects” there were I and two others in the audience. None of us spoke up during public comments before the discussion because, quite frankly, we could not discern what the council was going to discuss. It was too vague.

A question citizens of Spooner should ask is, “Does ‘Action on TID 4 projects’ give any indication that at the end of the council meeting the city would release Wal-Mart of potentially $1.64 million of improvement costs Wal-Mart has said, as late as the summer of 2008, it would assume and/or make the same dollars available for other major development in the area?”

This is a serious problem.

Possibly a legal problem.

I highly recommend anyone interested in this issue to read the entire opinion here.

Free registration is required to read the entire opinion. But, worth the minute to register.