July 27, 2016

Waupun Mayor Delivers Tearful Farewell

 

7/27/16 – The mayor of Waupun delivered a tearful farewell last night as the common council –reluctantly – accepted his resignation. Midway through his second term, Kyle Clark announced his departure from city government citing health reasons. He took a moment after last night’s committee of the whole meeting to say thank you. Clark wiped back tears as he said it was an honor and privilege to serve the community and then he thanked his wife for supporting him throughout his career. District Five Alderman Mike Johnson presided over a special meeting that followed to determine the process of replacing Clark. City Attorney Dan Vande Zande outlined several options for the remaining six alderpersons. Among them: exploring a city manager form of government, which is not being explored at this time. Other options not chosen included appointing a mayor from the existing council last night and soliciting candidates for the vacant aldermanic position or possibly voting on a new council president. Vande Zande says the council also had to decide if it wanted to hold a special election next April or wait for 2018 when the seat would be up for election again. The council voted unanimously to hold an election for mayor during next April’s election. Waupun residents interested in being considered for mayor have until the close of business next Tuesday, August 2 to submit a one-page letter of interest to the city treasurer. A mayor will then be selected at the council’s regular August meeting. However, because there is a primary election the same day as the regular meeting, next month’s common council meeting will be held on the third Tuesday of the month, August 16.

 

‘Historical Reflection On Dodge County’ Book Available

 

7/27/16 – The final three chapters of a book detailing the history of Dodge County are now available to the public. The county’s Land Resources and Parks Department has assembled the online and hard copy book “It Happened Here: A Historical Reflection on Dodge County.”  It combines the fields of historic preservation, land use planning, economic development, and tourism.  Dean Perlick with the Land Resources and Parks Department says the reflection is meant to increase public awareness and interest in Dodge County’s history.  He says people are more likely to preserve historical buildings and items when they are aware of their significance.  Perlick says the reflection runs from early Indian occupancy to present time.  The initial chapters were released in both May and June.  Perlick says the final three chapters cover food and beer, the Horicon Marsh, and a look ahead to future years in Dodge County. It has been over 100 years since there was a document that compiled all of the information to create a document that pertains just to Dodge County. Hard copies of the complete work are available at the Land Resources and Parks office at the Dodge County Administration Building in Juneau and, for a limited time, on the Dodge County website at www.co.dodge.wi.us.

 

Property Could Be Added To Horicon TIF District

 

7/27/16 – The City of Horicon has taken another step toward adding property to its newest Tax Incremental Finance District.  The council last night signed off on purchasing a 40 acre lot on Highway 33.  Property owner Cynthia Wrucke would receive $400,000 from the city’s general fund.  Mayor Steve Neitzel says last night’s council action annexed the land into the city, rezoned it from agricultural use land to industrial land, and amended a comprehensive plan that brings the property into the city’s industrial park.  Last year, the city purchased three neighboring 40 acre lots from Wrucke.  Neitzel says the one acted upon last night was not for sale until two months ago.  He says the city will look to run water and sewer to this land as they are currently doing with the other 120 acres.  TIF 5, as it is called, came about last year when John Deere approached the city about expanding its operation.  Eighty full-time jobs could be added.  Before the latest Wrucke property can officially be purchased, a joint review board of all the properties’ taxing entities would need to sign off on the proposal at an August 11 meeting.  A deal would likely be finalized later that month.

 

Horicon Council Approves Ballot Box Purchase

 

7/27/16 – Horicon’s City Council last night approved an agreement with Dodge County to share the cost of new election equipment.  The county is looking to replace the 50 ballot boxes in its various polling locations.  County Clerk Karen Gibson says the current optical scan machines used at the polling places are starting to fail after 16 years with replacement parts no longer available.  Gibson says each electronic ballot box costs $9,000.  She says the county’s Finance Committee agreed to pay $6,200 of each unit to ensure each location is using the same system.  Gibson says Dodge County would front the entire cost, and municipalities would have to pay them back next year.  She says the goal would be to purchase the new equipment in 2017 and have the machines ready for the 2018 elections.  Gibson expects the total cost to be around $500,000.  The county would pick up $360,000.

 

Early Voting For August Primary Underway

 

7/27/16 – Early voting has begun for the August ninth primaries for congressional, state, and county offices in Wisconsin. Voters can cast absentee ballots at local clerks’ offices on weekdays through next Friday. Republicans have voted twice this decade to put limits on early voting, including a ban on weekend hours. A federal judge will soon decide whether to allow an expansion of early voting, and to modify parts of the state’s voter I-D requirement. In one of the U-S House primaries, Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville faces a Republican challenge from Paul Nehlen — and the most talked about state primary has Democratic Senator Lena Taylor seeking reelection against Representative Mandela Barnes in Milwaukee.

 

Baldwin Announces Wisconsin Roll Call Votes At DNC

 

7/27/16 – U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin announced Wisconsin’s presidential nominating votes during Tuesday’s roll call at the Democratic National Convention. None of the ten superdelegates who got to choose their candidates changed their minds at the last minute — and the Badger State cast 49 votes for its primary winner Bernie Sanders and 47 for nominee Hillary Clinton. In announcing the vote to the Philadelphia gathering, Baldwin called Wisconsin “a state where workers still make things from ships, tools, and paper to cheese, brats, and beer.” She also called the state the home of the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, and the Green Bay Packers whom she called “America’s team.” Baldwin also gave a plug to Democratic candidate Russ Feingold, calling him a “future senator.”

 

Ryan: ‘House Republican Can Work With Trump’

 

7/27/16 – House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville says he disagrees with Donald Trump on some of his proposed trade policy, but he still believes House Republicans can work with Trump on it. At a WisPolitics Dot Com luncheon in Milwaukee Tuesday, Ryan said both he and the G-O-P White House nominee favor what the speaker calls “good trade agreements.” But Ryan is against Trump’s plan to hike tariffs for imports from countries like China. As Ryan put it, “Starting a trade war through tariffs is a bad idea,” saying it would limit Wisconsin companies from exporting products while giving American consumers what amounts to a tax increase. Ryan also took issue with Trump raising questions about defending NATO allies if they’re attacked — and the speaker called NATO an “indispensable ally” that’s as important now as it’s been in his lifetime for fighting terror.

 

Two-Year-Old Rescued From Hartford City-Owned Pool

 

7/27/16 – A two-year-old child is okay, after being saved from drowning at Hartford’s city-owned swimming pool. Officials say a lifeguard jumped in after the youngster was struggling on Monday, and nearby swimmers helped pull the toddler from the water without a pulse. A nurse performed C-P-R before the unidentified child was taken to a hospital to be checked out.

 

Waupun Police Looking For Gas Station Scammer

 

7/27/16 – Waupun Police are looking for a quick change artist who scammed a young clerk at the Ultimart on Sunday, July 17th. Detective Brian O’Donovan says the man entered the convenience store about 8 p.m. and pre-paid for $10 worth of gas. He came back in after pumping the gas and went through a series of transactions that confused the clerk. Ultimately he left with an extra $140 in his pockets. O’Donovan says they have posted pictures of the suspect on their Facebook page. He says if you recognize the man give them a call at (920) 324-7903.

 

Gathering Source Offering Backpacks Of School Supplies

 

7/27/16 – Families in need in the Dodgeland School District have until Saturday to sign-up for a backpack full of school supplies. The Gathering Source in Reeseville is accepting applications for the program. Registration forms can be picked-up and dropped off at the Gathering Source at 209 South Main Street; applications are also available at gathering source.org. The backpacks will be on the students desk the night of the open house at Dodgeland. The Gathering Source is also accepting monetary and school supply donations.