Monday News 4/22/19
22 April 2019 News
Ripon City Council Preview
The Ripon Common Council tonight will continue discussions about employee contributions to health insurance premiums. At the Council’s last meeting Alderperson Aaron Becker asked to see what the city would save in costs at different contribution rates by employees. The 45 people employed by the city now pay a total of $36,240 for both single and family premiums with singles paying 8 percent and family’s contributing 3 percent. If that was increased to a flat 4 percent contribution rate the city would save a little over $2,200, but at the other extreme would save $156,163 if they contributed up to 20 percent. The Council will also be updated on the Lloyd Mitchell Estate donation. The meeting is at 7 pm at the City Hall Council Chambers.
FDL County Dispatchers Experienced
Fond du Lac County Communications and Emergency Management Director Bobbi Hicken says the county is fortunate to have such an experienced staff manning its communications center. The men and women of the center have over 260 years of dispatch experience. “We have 22 full-time dispatchers, 3 supervisors and an administrative dispatcher that are committed to helping the citizens of Fond du Lac County and really just do a phenomenal job.” The county’s communications center serves 17 fire departments, 5 ambulance services, 10 first responder groups and 9 law enforcement agencies throughout the county. The City of Ripon does its own dispatching. Last week was Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week.
Student Government Proclamation
The Fond du Lac County Board recently honored the American Legion and Auxiliary of Fond du Lac County on the 30th anniversary of sponsoring Student Government Day in the county. During the board’s meeting last week members of the legion were presented with a copy of the proclamation. Gerald Lauby, American Legion 6th District Commander, thanked the board and county staff who have helped with the program over the years. “It’s really amazing to watch the youth learn what government is about and not only do they learn what government is about but they also learn resolutions and they are actually able to vote.” Students vote on questions and issues that are pertinent to today. The annual Student Government Day will be held Wednesday at the City-County Government Center in Fond du Lac.
Wisconsin Unemployment Rate Holds Steady
The state’s unemployment rate held steady at 2.9-percent in March. The state’s Department of Workforce Development says private-sector employment decreased by 4,500-hundred jobs from February while total non-farm employment declined by 1,800 jobs last month. The state added 9,200 hundred non-farm jobs and 12,400 private-sector jobs from March of 2018 to last month. The national unemployment rate in March was nearly one point higher than the state rate at 3.8-percent.
Area Schools Being Recognized With School Of Recognition Awards
A number of area schools are among the 114 Wisconsin Title I schools that will be honored with school of recognition awards. The awards recognize success in educating students from economically disadvantaged families. Among the award winners are Riverside Elementary and Sabish Middle School in Fond du Lac, Jefferson Elementary and Webster Stanley Middle School in Oshkosh, the Sages Charter School in the Waupun Area School District, Oakfield Elementary, and Redgranite Elementary School in the Wautoma Area School District. Redgranite Elementary is also being honored for 15 consecutive years of Recognition and Oakfield Elementary for 10 consecutive years. The Schools will receive their awards during a May 20th ceremony at the State Capitol.
Ripon Wine Walk A Success
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason Mansmith says the recent Wine Walk in downtown Ripon was a huge success. “Oh my gosh, 540 tickets sold, nine no-shows, nine that’s it. What did we have 20 locations, 47 different wines.” He says everybody had a lot of fun. The next Wine Walk will be November 1st with tickets going on sale around September 1st. Mansmith says if you want to attend watch for when tickets become available because they go fast.
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