Dear Friends,
Here is your regular update for Your County Board meeting, Tuesday September 22 at 9am at your Government Center, 421 Nebraska. But first, here is an important reminder:
- Rx DRUG DISPOSAL: Bring you out-dated prescription drugs to the Justice Center this Saturday from 9am – Noon. Protect yourself from Identity Theft while protecting our water supply from pollution. Bring your liquids, creams, pills and even over the counter meds. But, leave your needles, chemo therapy drugs, syringes, pet meds and aerosol inhalers at home. For more information call the Sheriff’s Department at 746-2428.
And here’s your County Board Meeting update:
- APPOINTED SUPERVISOR: Kathryn Schultz, former City of Sturgeon Bay Clerk, has been chosen by County Board Chairman Leo Zipperer to replace Will Jeanquart. The County Board must confirm the appointment.
- SCENIC BYWAYS: The County will consider a resolution requesting approval for the designation of Hwy 42 and 57 as a Wisconsin State Scenic Byway. If passed, the State may make sections of these highways “scenic” providing another reason for tourists to visit Door County.
- WELCOME TO DOOR COUNTY: The State is selling 1/3 acre of property for $1 to install and maintain a “Welcome” Sign in the Town of Union.
- PHRAGMITES CONTROL: Phragmites, the 6+ foot tall grass taking over our shores, is being targeted by a $3,000 grant from the Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament. The Soil and Water Department will use the funds to educate landowners on how to control Phragmites.
- 25 X 25: The State of Wisconsin has set a goal to generate 25% of our electricity and transportation fuels from renewable resources by 2025 – hence: 25 X 25. Our County Board is considering a resolution expressing our support of this, and, in so doing, we’ll make Door County eligible for grants to help us conserve energy used in our County facilities. If passed, we’ll be on our way to saving tax dollars and protecting the environment.
- FEES OF SHERIFF: The Law Enforcement committee has recommended updating the fees charged by the Sheriff. These fees have not been updated since 1999.
- CITIZEN SURVEY RESULTS: The results of Door County’s Citizen Survey will be presented at this meeting. The results of our County Board Strategic Planning sessions will also be discussed.
- FTTX UPDATE: The “Fiber to the Premise” saga has ended another chapter – but hasn’t ended. Norlight proposed creating fiber-optic rings throughout Door County and connecting businesses directly and using wireless technology to connect homes to this network. During this process several issues developed relating to the ownership of this network. The other important issue is the ARRA funding we were hoping for seems out of reach now that the State is looking at a large State-wide project. The good news is that if and when the State project is complete, Door County will be in a good position to benefit from projects building off the State network.
That’s all for now! Please contact me with your questions and concerns.
Thanks,
Ben Meyer
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Aug. 25 Meeting UPdate...
Dear Friends,
Here is your regular update for Your Door County Board Meeting this Tuesday August 25th at 9:00AM at our Government Center – 421 Nebraska in Sturgeon Bay.
- RETIRING SUPERVISOR: Thank You County Supervisor Will Jeanquart for many years of valuable service. His years of experience and his wisdom on the Board will be missed. A replacement to fill these big shoes is being sought. Please contact me if you’re interested in representing City Wards 13 – 14 on our County Board - click HERE for a map.
- SEAT-BELT GRANT: Buckle-up everyone! If approved, the Sheriff’s Dept. will have $18,000 worth of extra patrol time to pull-over anyone not wearing a seatbelt. “Click it or Ticket!"
- COUNTY PERSONNEL: A Joint Meeting of the Administrative and Finance Committees discussed proposed staffing changes for 2010. A janitor position for the Justice Center and Highway Shop was granted, but only ½ of full-time. However, a Social Worker position is not being filled from the Long Term Care Unit. This worker helps manage Our resources to provide services to our Community’s most vulnerable citizens. This cut will result in less attention for those needing life-long support (the Developmentally Disabled, the Wheel-Chair Bound, etc.) while more cases are taken on by fewer Social Workers. If there were fewer cases, then the cut is justified. If not, then what are we doing!?
- COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING: We’ll be discussing (again) a plan to restructure our County’s Committees. A well-thought-out plan to involve more of the Board in important decisions could be positive.
That’s all for now. You can find the full agenda HERE.
Check out http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/ for timely info on H1N1. You can follow this sight on Twitter and Facebook!
Please contact me with your thoughts and concerns.
Ben
Here is your regular update for Your Door County Board Meeting this Tuesday August 25th at 9:00AM at our Government Center – 421 Nebraska in Sturgeon Bay.
- RETIRING SUPERVISOR: Thank You County Supervisor Will Jeanquart for many years of valuable service. His years of experience and his wisdom on the Board will be missed. A replacement to fill these big shoes is being sought. Please contact me if you’re interested in representing City Wards 13 – 14 on our County Board - click HERE for a map.
- SEAT-BELT GRANT: Buckle-up everyone! If approved, the Sheriff’s Dept. will have $18,000 worth of extra patrol time to pull-over anyone not wearing a seatbelt. “Click it or Ticket!"
- COUNTY PERSONNEL: A Joint Meeting of the Administrative and Finance Committees discussed proposed staffing changes for 2010. A janitor position for the Justice Center and Highway Shop was granted, but only ½ of full-time. However, a Social Worker position is not being filled from the Long Term Care Unit. This worker helps manage Our resources to provide services to our Community’s most vulnerable citizens. This cut will result in less attention for those needing life-long support (the Developmentally Disabled, the Wheel-Chair Bound, etc.) while more cases are taken on by fewer Social Workers. If there were fewer cases, then the cut is justified. If not, then what are we doing!?
- COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING: We’ll be discussing (again) a plan to restructure our County’s Committees. A well-thought-out plan to involve more of the Board in important decisions could be positive.
That’s all for now. You can find the full agenda HERE.
Check out http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov/ for timely info on H1N1. You can follow this sight on Twitter and Facebook!
Please contact me with your thoughts and concerns.
Ben
Monday, July 27, 2009
July 28th Meeting Update...
Friends,
Here is your update for Your County Board Meeting on Tuesday July 28th at 9AM on the 1st Floor of our Government Center – 421 Nebraska, Sturgeon Bay.
- OBSERVER CORPS: The League of Women Voters is seeking dedicated members for their Observer Corps. The League provides a valuable and independent voice connecting Citizens with our County, City, Village and Town Governments.
- STATE TRESURER: Dawn Marie Sass, our State Treasurer will make an appearance at our meeting!
- CHAUDOIRS DOCK: Our Board is being asked to support a Grant Application to construct a 3-lane boat-launch at Chaudoir’s County Park. If successful, the funds would come from the Wisconsin Waterways Commission.
- CLEAN-SWEEP: Our County is the recipient of another Clean-Sweep Program Grant. Although less than expected, the $17,055 will support our efforts to dispose properly of hazardous Agricultural, Household and Prescription Drug waste. The balance ($20,000) needed to run this program will come from the County’s Contingency Funds. – If we don’t take care of our hazardous waste now, it will cost us all much more in the future. Details are forthcoming. For more info click HERE!
- ZONING FEES: Two months ago, our County Board rejected a new fee schedule for services provided by our Planning Department. This month, a revised schedule of fees is being presented. The Changes seem to respond to our Board’s concerns. If passed, these fees would recover a greater portion of the costs of providing these services.
- 35 MPH ON “G”: Our Highway Committee is recommending changing the speed limit on Highway “G” (from Bluff Pass Road to Point Circle Drive – Just South of the Village of Egg Harbor) from 45 MPH to 35.
- COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING: Our Board will be discussing whether to change our Committee / Board structure. Currently, about 5 of our 21 Supervisors sit on each of our 15 regularly meeting committees and boards. A new approach would condense the number of committees and increase the number of Supervisors on each Committee / Board. The old system has fewer Supervisors contributing more in-depth while the new system would allow for input from more members, though perhaps not as thorough (and much longer!) meetings. What do you think?
In other news:
- DOOR COUNTY TRIATHLON: July 18 – 19 four Door County Employees and myself competed in the 5th annual Door County Triathlon (DCT). Thank you to all the volunteers and staff that made this event possible. Each year, the DCT donates thousands of dollars to our Count Parks and our YMCA – plus brings over 1,700 participants, fans, and supporters into our County to stay over-night, eat, shop and (of course) compete!
As always, your feedback and questions are welcome! Please respond here or email me at bendmeyer@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Ben
Here is your update for Your County Board Meeting on Tuesday July 28th at 9AM on the 1st Floor of our Government Center – 421 Nebraska, Sturgeon Bay.
- OBSERVER CORPS: The League of Women Voters is seeking dedicated members for their Observer Corps. The League provides a valuable and independent voice connecting Citizens with our County, City, Village and Town Governments.
- STATE TRESURER: Dawn Marie Sass, our State Treasurer will make an appearance at our meeting!
- CHAUDOIRS DOCK: Our Board is being asked to support a Grant Application to construct a 3-lane boat-launch at Chaudoir’s County Park. If successful, the funds would come from the Wisconsin Waterways Commission.
- CLEAN-SWEEP: Our County is the recipient of another Clean-Sweep Program Grant. Although less than expected, the $17,055 will support our efforts to dispose properly of hazardous Agricultural, Household and Prescription Drug waste. The balance ($20,000) needed to run this program will come from the County’s Contingency Funds. – If we don’t take care of our hazardous waste now, it will cost us all much more in the future. Details are forthcoming. For more info click HERE!
- ZONING FEES: Two months ago, our County Board rejected a new fee schedule for services provided by our Planning Department. This month, a revised schedule of fees is being presented. The Changes seem to respond to our Board’s concerns. If passed, these fees would recover a greater portion of the costs of providing these services.
- 35 MPH ON “G”: Our Highway Committee is recommending changing the speed limit on Highway “G” (from Bluff Pass Road to Point Circle Drive – Just South of the Village of Egg Harbor) from 45 MPH to 35.
- COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING: Our Board will be discussing whether to change our Committee / Board structure. Currently, about 5 of our 21 Supervisors sit on each of our 15 regularly meeting committees and boards. A new approach would condense the number of committees and increase the number of Supervisors on each Committee / Board. The old system has fewer Supervisors contributing more in-depth while the new system would allow for input from more members, though perhaps not as thorough (and much longer!) meetings. What do you think?
In other news:
- DOOR COUNTY TRIATHLON: July 18 – 19 four Door County Employees and myself competed in the 5th annual Door County Triathlon (DCT). Thank you to all the volunteers and staff that made this event possible. Each year, the DCT donates thousands of dollars to our Count Parks and our YMCA – plus brings over 1,700 participants, fans, and supporters into our County to stay over-night, eat, shop and (of course) compete!
As always, your feedback and questions are welcome! Please respond here or email me at bendmeyer@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Ben
Sunday, June 21, 2009
June 23rd Door County Board of Supervisors Meeting at 9AM
Friends,
Welcome! I hope you find this format useful and more informative than our "email-only" based system. If you'd like to pose a question / concern anonymously, please email me at bendmeyer@yahoo.com.
Here are the highlights for this month's meeting:
- WATER QUALITY GRANTS: Last month, 13 county board supervisors “tabled” a resolution bringing nearly $800,000 into our County for the purpose of protecting our drinking and surface water quality. Thankfully, this resolution is back on our agenda this month. We need clean water to live. Let’s be thankful for the help we can receive.
- DISHWASHING DETERGENT: The County will be considering a resolution banning / limiting phosphorus in dishwashing detergent. Ever step into a lake or stream only to slip on a mat of green slime? Ever go fishing and catch nothing but weeds? Have you ever stopped at a favorite local beach only to smell rotting heaps of algae and weeds? Reducing our phosphorus on our local surface waters is not only environmentally sound – it’s economically beneficial to our tourist economy as well.
- SUNSET PARK: The County has received a $46,000 grant to improve water quality and beach health of our very own Sunset Beach! With help from the City, together we will improve the quality of our local beach.
- CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: Our County Board will review our 2010-2014 Capital Improvement Plan as part of our regular budget preparations. Some notable items in the plan are a New Senior Center Building, regular road repair, a Multi-purpose Building at John Miles County Park and technology upgrades to make our County Government more efficient and effective.
- NEXT UPDATE: If you’d like to continue receiving these updates via email, please reply to this message. Otherwise, from now on, this same information will be available at bendmeyer.blogspot.com. There, you can post your questions and read other’s questions and responses.
- 2008 ANNUAL REPORT: For those of you who wonder, “What does the County do?” – please read the 2008 Annual Report. Inside you’ll find 97 pages of condensed information on all of our County Departments and operations. Click HERE to read this report this report.
- NAVIGATING COUNTY GOVERNMENT: Please use and explore OUR COUNTY WEBSITE to follow your interests in our local County Government. After reading the 2008 report, you’ll have a better idea of what responsibilities are carried by each department and committee.
Ben Meyer – District VII
Welcome! I hope you find this format useful and more informative than our "email-only" based system. If you'd like to pose a question / concern anonymously, please email me at bendmeyer@yahoo.com.
Here are the highlights for this month's meeting:
- WATER QUALITY GRANTS: Last month, 13 county board supervisors “tabled” a resolution bringing nearly $800,000 into our County for the purpose of protecting our drinking and surface water quality. Thankfully, this resolution is back on our agenda this month. We need clean water to live. Let’s be thankful for the help we can receive.
- DISHWASHING DETERGENT: The County will be considering a resolution banning / limiting phosphorus in dishwashing detergent. Ever step into a lake or stream only to slip on a mat of green slime? Ever go fishing and catch nothing but weeds? Have you ever stopped at a favorite local beach only to smell rotting heaps of algae and weeds? Reducing our phosphorus on our local surface waters is not only environmentally sound – it’s economically beneficial to our tourist economy as well.
- SUNSET PARK: The County has received a $46,000 grant to improve water quality and beach health of our very own Sunset Beach! With help from the City, together we will improve the quality of our local beach.
- CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: Our County Board will review our 2010-2014 Capital Improvement Plan as part of our regular budget preparations. Some notable items in the plan are a New Senior Center Building, regular road repair, a Multi-purpose Building at John Miles County Park and technology upgrades to make our County Government more efficient and effective.
- NEXT UPDATE: If you’d like to continue receiving these updates via email, please reply to this message. Otherwise, from now on, this same information will be available at bendmeyer.blogspot.com. There, you can post your questions and read other’s questions and responses.
- 2008 ANNUAL REPORT: For those of you who wonder, “What does the County do?” – please read the 2008 Annual Report. Inside you’ll find 97 pages of condensed information on all of our County Departments and operations. Click HERE to read this report this report.
- NAVIGATING COUNTY GOVERNMENT: Please use and explore OUR COUNTY WEBSITE to follow your interests in our local County Government. After reading the 2008 report, you’ll have a better idea of what responsibilities are carried by each department and committee.
Ben Meyer – District VII
Sunday, May 24, 2009
May 26 County Board Meeting Update..
Dear Friends,
Here is your monthly update on your County Board Meeting, this Tuesday May 26th at 9am. These meetings are held in the County Board Room, 1st Floor of our Government Center, 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay. Also, please read below about how to continue receiving these updates.
- CENSUS COMMITTEE: If the County Board agrees, County Administrator Mike Serpe and County Clerk Jill Lau will appoint members to the Complete Count Committee and appropriate subcommittees. As you know, the Census is done every 10 years and this year is important because our district lines for local offices as well as State and Federal offices could change based on these counts.
- GRANTS: $814,270 of good news! First, the UW-Extension office will administer a grant of $8,655 for implementing risk management education for vineyard operators. The Information Systems Committee will oversee a grant of $4,608 for software maintenance and training for the Wisconsin Land Information Program. And, the Soil and Water Conservation Department will oversee 2 grants – one for $2,000 to support the Dunes Lake Watershed Study and another Targeted Runoff Management Program Grant for $799,007!
- CANA ISLAND: Our Board will consider a plan to purchase $1.3 million of property adjacent to Cana Island. The purchase is contingent on the County receiving grants and donations to cover most of the purchase cost. The closing date for this property shall be before Dec. 31, 2010.
- ZONING FEES: Some Zoning Application fees will be increased to off-set the cost of administering these changes. Structure fees start at $75 for a structure footprint of 120 sq. ft. or less to $600 for structure footprints over 5,000 sq. ft.
- BAY-LAKE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION: The County is considering quitting this board as it has proven to be worth less than the $34,770 per year. If passed, these funds could be put to better use elsewhere while the Bay-Lake Commission will still continue its important work.
- GOVT. CENTER ROOF: The Government Center roof is worn and needs replacement. Initially, this project was to be done over several years. We had budgeted $72,000 for this year’s portion. Now it is recommended to do all 7 sections at once with a total cost of $115,000 - $43,000 of which is not in this year’s budget. However, cost and energy savings (adding insulation) gained by completing the entire project now justifies the budget amendment.
- 2008 ANNUAL REPORT: For those of you who wonder, “What does the County do?” – please read the soon-to-be-released 2008 Annual Report. Inside you’ll find 96 pages of condensed information on all of our County Departments and operations. Check co.door.wi.gov/ soon for a link to this report.
- LEGISLATIVE DAYS: Our Door County Legislative Days were held this May 12 – 13th. This year 105 delegates from Door AND Kewaunee Counties ventured to our State Capitol to lobby our elected and appointed officials and their staffs on some of our key issues such as Protecting our Ground Water and Education. Of course, our State Government is experiencing serious budget difficulties, Door and Kewaunee Counties lobbied honestly for changes that can benefit us as well as the rest of our State.
- NEXT UPDATE: If you’d like to continue receiving these updates via email, please reply to this message. Otherwise, from now on, this same information will be available at bendmeyer.blogspot.com. There, you can post your questions and read other’s questions and responses.
Thanks! Look forward to you questions, ideas, and concerns.
Ben Meyer – District VII
Here is your monthly update on your County Board Meeting, this Tuesday May 26th at 9am. These meetings are held in the County Board Room, 1st Floor of our Government Center, 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay. Also, please read below about how to continue receiving these updates.
- CENSUS COMMITTEE: If the County Board agrees, County Administrator Mike Serpe and County Clerk Jill Lau will appoint members to the Complete Count Committee and appropriate subcommittees. As you know, the Census is done every 10 years and this year is important because our district lines for local offices as well as State and Federal offices could change based on these counts.
- GRANTS: $814,270 of good news! First, the UW-Extension office will administer a grant of $8,655 for implementing risk management education for vineyard operators. The Information Systems Committee will oversee a grant of $4,608 for software maintenance and training for the Wisconsin Land Information Program. And, the Soil and Water Conservation Department will oversee 2 grants – one for $2,000 to support the Dunes Lake Watershed Study and another Targeted Runoff Management Program Grant for $799,007!
- CANA ISLAND: Our Board will consider a plan to purchase $1.3 million of property adjacent to Cana Island. The purchase is contingent on the County receiving grants and donations to cover most of the purchase cost. The closing date for this property shall be before Dec. 31, 2010.
- ZONING FEES: Some Zoning Application fees will be increased to off-set the cost of administering these changes. Structure fees start at $75 for a structure footprint of 120 sq. ft. or less to $600 for structure footprints over 5,000 sq. ft.
- BAY-LAKE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION: The County is considering quitting this board as it has proven to be worth less than the $34,770 per year. If passed, these funds could be put to better use elsewhere while the Bay-Lake Commission will still continue its important work.
- GOVT. CENTER ROOF: The Government Center roof is worn and needs replacement. Initially, this project was to be done over several years. We had budgeted $72,000 for this year’s portion. Now it is recommended to do all 7 sections at once with a total cost of $115,000 - $43,000 of which is not in this year’s budget. However, cost and energy savings (adding insulation) gained by completing the entire project now justifies the budget amendment.
- 2008 ANNUAL REPORT: For those of you who wonder, “What does the County do?” – please read the soon-to-be-released 2008 Annual Report. Inside you’ll find 96 pages of condensed information on all of our County Departments and operations. Check co.door.wi.gov/ soon for a link to this report.
- LEGISLATIVE DAYS: Our Door County Legislative Days were held this May 12 – 13th. This year 105 delegates from Door AND Kewaunee Counties ventured to our State Capitol to lobby our elected and appointed officials and their staffs on some of our key issues such as Protecting our Ground Water and Education. Of course, our State Government is experiencing serious budget difficulties, Door and Kewaunee Counties lobbied honestly for changes that can benefit us as well as the rest of our State.
- NEXT UPDATE: If you’d like to continue receiving these updates via email, please reply to this message. Otherwise, from now on, this same information will be available at bendmeyer.blogspot.com. There, you can post your questions and read other’s questions and responses.
Thanks! Look forward to you questions, ideas, and concerns.
Ben Meyer – District VII
Sunday, April 19, 2009
What do you think?
Dear Friends,
Here is your regular update on our County Board meeting at 9am on April 21st at the Government Center. Also, here is a brief and my final update for our City Council meeting later that same day at 7pm. For those of you who wish to continue receiving City updates, I’m pleased to announce that your new Alderman, Dan Wiegand, wishes to continue this tradition. Please contact him at danwiegand@hotmail.com and ask to be included on his list.
COUNTY BOARD
- COMMITTEES AND BOARDS: The County Board Chair is adjusting the committee assignments he made 1 year ago. Based on the input from myself and other County Board Supervisors, I will be serving on the Information Systems, Social Services, and Long Term Support Planning committees as well as the Board of Health and Community Programs Board. Although I will miss serving on the Library Committee, I welcome my new assignment to the Community Programs Board.
- AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT AID: The Board will be considering a resolution asking the State to help fund necessary improvements to the Cherryland Airport. If approved, the State and County would share the expense of installing a perimeter fence, rehabilitating/expanding the existing terminal, reconstructing a taxiway and other improvements. It is economically important to maintain and improve Door County’s largest airport to provide air-transportation for existing and future businesses.
- AHNAPEE TRAIL MAINTENANCE: The County has received a $19,950 grant to maintain and restore the Ahnapee trail. The grant requires a 50% match – another $19,950 – from the County, which will be divided over the next 3 years’ budgets. The trail serves pedestrians, bicycles and snowmobiles and provides safe recreation and travel for citizens and visitors alike.
- MURPHY PARK PROPERTY PURCHASE: The Property Committee is recommending the purchase of a property adjacent to Murphy Park valued (estimated) at $230,000. The purchase is contingent upon 80% or more of the purchase price being covered by grants and donations and the County can decline this purchase if funding is not available.
- INCREASE IN FEES: The Board of Health (myself included) is recommending a $5 - $25 increase to fees relating to private on-site waste treatment systems. This will cover increase in fees the State charges the County and will maintain the County’s current revenue. We will also be establishing fees for On-site soil investigation ($10), Holding Tank Plan Review ($90) and Mound Soil Absorption System Plan Review ($175).
- SEATBELT LAW: If passed, this resolution will ask the State to enact legislation giving law enforcement the authority to pull-over motorists for not wearing seat-belts. $15.2 million in Federal aid would then come to our State. So, if you don’t already, wear your seat belts!
- GRANTS: A $10,000 grant was received to support the Dunes Lake Watershed Study. And, a $2,500 donation from the Boldt Company and a $5,000 donation from the Nature Conservancy will go to support the County’s Greenprinting project (http://map.co.door.wi.us/planning/Greenprint.htm). All these donations do not require any County matching funds.
CITY COUNCIL:
- ORGANZATIONAL MEETING: This will be the Council’s annual organizational meeting. The Mayor will appoint the boards and committees for the new Council. The Council will elect a president and approve of the committee appointments.
- PEDICAB FOR DOWNTOWN: A taxi license is being sought for a pedicab – or bicycle taxi – to serve downtown Sturgeon Bay. If approved, you’ll see a bicycle cab downtown this summer.
- MICHIGAN STREET: The Council will consider an agreement with the State to reconstruct Michigan Street from the Bridge to 4th Ave.
- FUTURE UPDATES: Again, if you’d like to continue receiving these updates, please contact danwiegand@hotmail.com and ask to be included on his list. – Thanks!
As always, please send me your questions and concerns!
Yours,
Ben Meyer
Here is your regular update on our County Board meeting at 9am on April 21st at the Government Center. Also, here is a brief and my final update for our City Council meeting later that same day at 7pm. For those of you who wish to continue receiving City updates, I’m pleased to announce that your new Alderman, Dan Wiegand, wishes to continue this tradition. Please contact him at danwiegand@hotmail.com and ask to be included on his list.
COUNTY BOARD
- COMMITTEES AND BOARDS: The County Board Chair is adjusting the committee assignments he made 1 year ago. Based on the input from myself and other County Board Supervisors, I will be serving on the Information Systems, Social Services, and Long Term Support Planning committees as well as the Board of Health and Community Programs Board. Although I will miss serving on the Library Committee, I welcome my new assignment to the Community Programs Board.
- AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT AID: The Board will be considering a resolution asking the State to help fund necessary improvements to the Cherryland Airport. If approved, the State and County would share the expense of installing a perimeter fence, rehabilitating/expanding the existing terminal, reconstructing a taxiway and other improvements. It is economically important to maintain and improve Door County’s largest airport to provide air-transportation for existing and future businesses.
- AHNAPEE TRAIL MAINTENANCE: The County has received a $19,950 grant to maintain and restore the Ahnapee trail. The grant requires a 50% match – another $19,950 – from the County, which will be divided over the next 3 years’ budgets. The trail serves pedestrians, bicycles and snowmobiles and provides safe recreation and travel for citizens and visitors alike.
- MURPHY PARK PROPERTY PURCHASE: The Property Committee is recommending the purchase of a property adjacent to Murphy Park valued (estimated) at $230,000. The purchase is contingent upon 80% or more of the purchase price being covered by grants and donations and the County can decline this purchase if funding is not available.
- INCREASE IN FEES: The Board of Health (myself included) is recommending a $5 - $25 increase to fees relating to private on-site waste treatment systems. This will cover increase in fees the State charges the County and will maintain the County’s current revenue. We will also be establishing fees for On-site soil investigation ($10), Holding Tank Plan Review ($90) and Mound Soil Absorption System Plan Review ($175).
- SEATBELT LAW: If passed, this resolution will ask the State to enact legislation giving law enforcement the authority to pull-over motorists for not wearing seat-belts. $15.2 million in Federal aid would then come to our State. So, if you don’t already, wear your seat belts!
- GRANTS: A $10,000 grant was received to support the Dunes Lake Watershed Study. And, a $2,500 donation from the Boldt Company and a $5,000 donation from the Nature Conservancy will go to support the County’s Greenprinting project (http://map.co.door.wi.us/planning/Greenprint.htm). All these donations do not require any County matching funds.
CITY COUNCIL:
- ORGANZATIONAL MEETING: This will be the Council’s annual organizational meeting. The Mayor will appoint the boards and committees for the new Council. The Council will elect a president and approve of the committee appointments.
- PEDICAB FOR DOWNTOWN: A taxi license is being sought for a pedicab – or bicycle taxi – to serve downtown Sturgeon Bay. If approved, you’ll see a bicycle cab downtown this summer.
- MICHIGAN STREET: The Council will consider an agreement with the State to reconstruct Michigan Street from the Bridge to 4th Ave.
- FUTURE UPDATES: Again, if you’d like to continue receiving these updates, please contact danwiegand@hotmail.com and ask to be included on his list. – Thanks!
As always, please send me your questions and concerns!
Yours,
Ben Meyer
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