Hometown Broadcasting News Monday 3/29/21
29 March 2021 News
Balancing The State Budget
State Senator Joan Ballweg says the Joint Finance Committee will work off documents from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau as they put together the state’s next two-year budget. The state lawmaker from Markesan sits on the JFC. She says they recently got a document from the bureau that shows them the budget as proposed by the Governor is in deficit. “Because of the changes that the Governor signed into law regarding the PPP (Payroll Protection Program) loans and all of that his budget will be in deficit, which is the case.” Ballweg says policy items will be removed from the budget and not everything proposed by the Governor will remain in the budget because by law they have to approve a budget that will be balanced.
Oshkosh Amber Alert Cancelled Shortly After Being Issued
Oshkosh Police cancelled an Amber Alert for a 32-month-old boy within 10 minutes of when it was issued early Sunday morning. According to the alert issued just after 3:30 yesterday morning Zuko Pavlich was taken from a hospital by his mother’s boyfriend James Ulrich where Ulrich’s child was being treated for severe injuries. The alert didn’t state whether Pavlich was the child being treated. The alert was cancelled after Ulrich and Pavlich were found safe by family members. Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information can give anonymous tips by calling the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at 920-231-8477.
OSHA Proposes Fines For Seneca Foods Ripon Facility
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed over $177,000 in penalties for Seneca Foods’ canning facility in Ripon for safety violations including a forklift accident that left a 60-year-old seasonal worker injured. According to a press release she was seriously injured when she was struck by a forklift while walking towards a pallet to label products. OSHA also found another employee was hurt when it performed an inspection last November. The employee suffered a fractured finger when it was caught in some machinery. The company will be given 15 business days to comply with OSHA’s findings, request a conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest them. Seneca Foods Ripon facility cans vegetables for Libby’s and several other brands.
County Board Size
Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel feels the County Board will remain at about 25 county supervisors after reapportionment of the districts. He notes the census is concluding late this time and the county’s Land Information Department is already putting together maps. He says that way they can work quickly to get out numbers to cities, villages, townships and the state which also have to reapportion their districts. Buechel says they could reduce the size of the board, but they don’t want to jeopardize the committee structure which is also important. “County boards function on committee structure and so you don’t want to cut down too far it’s not like a council all resolutions committee for the counties. So these committees have a very significant importance and they usually meet frequently, more than once a month.” Buechel says the size of the board is dictated by districts that are nearly equal in size and population. Currently each supervisor represents about 5,400 people.
COVID Restrictions Crippled Planning For Larger Events
Ripon Main Street Executive Director Craig Tebon says 2020 was a tough year for the events they usually market and put on. He says most of that was because of the restrictions and guidelines put into place to protect people from COVID-19. “So it turned everything into a short term thing, which is very difficult from a marketing and promotional perspective and certainly the restrictions that were in place for large gatherings made most of the events that Ripon Main Street does impossible.” He feels we understand the coronavirus better now and with more people getting vaccinated they feel better about planning the events they usually put on. Tebon says you will see the return of things like the summer concert series, Wine Walks and Scoop the Loop this year.
Representative Dallman Mobile Office Hours This Week
Residents of the 41st State Assembly District will have nine opportunities to meet with State Representative Alex Dallman during his mobile office hours this week. Tuesday he will be at the Berlin City Hall at 11:30 am, the Town of Brooklyn Hall in Green Lake at 1:30 pm, and the Markesan City Hall at 3 pm. Wednesday he’s at the back of the Princeton Fire Station in the City Council Chambers at 11:30 am, the Westfield Village Hall at 1:30 pm, and the Marquette County Services Center Building in Montello at 3 pm. Thursday finds him at the Kilbourn Public Library in Wisconsin Dells at 11:30 am, the Frank Fischer Senior Center in Wisconsin Dells at 1:30 pm, and the Adams Township Hall in Friendship at 3 pm. Each session will be a half hour long.
FDL Applying For Safe Drinking Water Loan
The City of Fond du Lac has applied for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to address deficiencies in its public drinking water system. The projects primarily include the replacement of lead line services throughout the City of Fond du Lac. According to the state’s Department of Natural Resources it has been determined that the project will not result in significant adverse environmental effects, and no further environmental review or analysis is needed before proceeding with funding the project. Based on comments received by April 9th the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the funding process.
Dodge County Sheriff App
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says their department has released a smartphone application. The app will serve as a new way for the Sheriff’s office to connect with Dodge County residents and visitors, providing information quickly and efficiently to anyone with a smartphone. The app was developed by TheSheriffApp.com, a division of OCV, LLC. It offers quick access to items of public interest and is easy to use. In just a few clicks users can; submit a tip, view a warrant, access COVID-19 updates and resources, view the most want criminals in county, submit and incident report and more. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office app is available for download free in the App Store and Google Play by searching “Dodge Sheriff WI.”
Oshkosh Parks Upgrading Online Capabilities
The Oshkosh Parks Department will be upgrading their online capabilities on April 5th, 6th, and 7th. Services will not be available online or in-person at the Oshkosh Parks Department office during that period. Customers are asked to be patient as these system upgrades are made. During the upgrade customers may still purchase annual and multi-year boat launch passes at the kiosks located at each boat launch, City Hall, Fox River Bait and Tackle, and Hergert Sport Center. Customers will not be able to make shelter reservations or purchase season passes for Pollock Community Water Park during the upgrade. Customers are encouraged to do so prior to the upgrade.
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