4/26/23 Hometown Broadcasting News Wednesday
26 April 2023 News
STATE ASSEMBLY PASSES PLUMER JOB GHOSTING BILL
The State Assembly Tuesday passed legislation authored by State Representative Jon Plumer that will combat job interview “Ghosting.” The Assembly passed a package of bills to address the statewide work force shortage. Plumer says his bill creates a process for employers to report instances in which an individual “ghosts” their interview or job offer, or a former employee is not available to return to work. The state lawmaker from Lodi says the Department of Workforce Development would be required to investigate each claim to determine whether or not it has merit. If a report is found to be credible, an individual would be ineligible for unemployment benefits for the given week. The bill would not penalize the first such verified claim. Plumer says we cannot afford to have folks sitting on the sidelines while the rest of us foot the bill.
RIPON COMMON COUNCIL NOTES
The Ripon Common Council this week approved a special exemption for Flash Trucking to the Business Park Restrictive Covenants. The exemption would be for modifications to masonry requirements. The property is behind the Alliance Laundry Systems facility. The company is buying land in the park with plans to put in a 10,000 square foot building and rail spur for trans-loading. City Administrator Adam Sonntag says the building alone and rail spur will cost $2.5 million, but the overall project could exceed $5 million. The Council also approved a donations policy to incorporate into financial policies for the city and approved amending a city ordinance regulating right-of-way utility poles and wire supporting apparatus. Many utility, internet, and phone companies are now switching to fiber optic wires which require more underground work. The Council also received an update on county government from Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman.
RIPON SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY FILLED
The Ripon Area School District Board of Education filled a vacancy on the board at Monday night’s meeting. The board interviewed the three people who applied for the seat: Stephanie Williams, Thomas Bakken, and Denise Martinez. After that they had an election to fill the seat that Nate Zimdars recently resigned from. Denise Martinez was elected to fill the seat until April of 2024. So next April there will be a total of four seats for the school board on the ballot, the three regular seats for 3-year terms and one which will run through April of 2025. At the time of election, the three candidates with the highest number of votes would receive the three regular seats and the candidate with the fourth most will get the one-year seat.
LITTLE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE REVIEW
Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes says the chamber is hoping to have a say when the National Park Service reviews the status of the Little White Schoolhouse as a National Historical landmark following its recent move. Kimes says they were surprised as everyone else when they learned at the end of March that the move would prompt a review. She says they are hoping to be able to have a role when the status is reviewed. She says when they learned about the review they reached out to people who could advocate for them like the state’s National politicians to ask them if they could intervene on the chamber’s behalf. Kimes says the Little White Schoolhouse is still a National Historic landmark at this point and they are hoping it remains that way.
BERLIN BULKY WASTE COLLECTION CHANGE
City of Berlin residents will have to haul their own bulky waste items out to the Waste Management Landfill on Willard Road next month. Waste Management requested the change to the Spring Bulky Waste pickup which is usually done curbside in the city. Waste Management officials told the city it was due to safety concerns, staffing concerns, and inability to provide the vehicles needed. City Alderman Luke Dretske says the city found out about the change a few weeks ago although Waste Management insists they made the change after last year. Dretske says that may be a breach of contract, but they will be renegotiating with the company this summer anyway. He says for the mean time residents will have to haul their bulky waste out to the landfill on Saturday, May 6th or Saturday, May 13th from 8 am to 2 pm. You will have to have a proof of residency. Assistance will be offered to residents who need help transporting items to the Landfill. Residents will still be required to get their bulk items to their curb and will need to fill out an application form which is available online or at the Berlin City Hall.
Waste Management Spring Bulk Pickup Assistance – Berlin, Wisconsin 54923 (cityofberlin.net)
WINNEBAGO COUNTY AD HOC STRUCTURE REVIEW TASK FORCE
An Ad Hoc Structure Review Task Force for the Winnebago County Board is looking at the number of standing committees to see if some can’t be merged or cut. Jacob Floam chairs the Task Force. He says on the heels of a wages and benefits study that found they need to increase wages for county employees; they have to find ways to cuts expenses so they can do that. He says Fond du Lac County manages to get by with five standing committees while Winnebago County has 12. He says if they can get rid of some of that bloat they might be able to afford some of those higher wages. Floam says tomorrow night at 6 pm at the County Administration Building in Oshkosh the Task Force will hold their second meeting. Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman, a former County Board chairman, will talk to the task force about the Fond du Lac County Board’s committee structure.
NO MERGER OF MPTC AND UWM WASHINGTON COUNTY
Moraine Park Technical College President Bonnie Baerwald says a resolution from a Washington County Task Force suggesting a merger of Moraine Park and UW-Milwaukee of Washington County to create a pilot community college was only advisory in nature. She says Moraine Park is a regional resource in a 10-county area and they have the existing facilities, faculty and staff and resources to meet the needs of any student and serve their communities at an affordable cost. She notes that although Moraine Park has also been faced with slight declines in enrollment during the past few years, the College is financially stable and expects to grow enrollments in 2023-24 through strategic initiatives in partnership with key stockholders and the most recently approved referendum projects. She emphasizes Moraine Park Technical College will not be merging with the UW-Milwaukee-Washington County.
GREEN LAKE COUNTY ARBOR DAY OBSERVANCE
The Green Lake County Land Conservation Committee will be hosting their Arbor Day Celebration Friday at 8 am beginning with a buffet-style breakfast catered by Crossroads Market. It will be at American Legion Post 306 in Green Lake. The guest speaker is Tony Johnson. Tony is a Forestry Outreach Specialist in the Division of Extension’s Natural Resources Education Program. During his talk Tony will explain what agroforestry is and outline the conservation, economic and social benefits of including trees in the farm landscape. Seating is limited to the first 100 paid registrations. The cost of breakfast is $15 per person. Today is the last day to register. You can pay in person via check, cash, credit or debit at the Green Lake County Government Center in Green Lake. You can also pay via credit or debit card by phone at (920) 294-4051. An additional surcharge will apply. Each participant in the Arbor Day Observance will receive a tree seedling and a door prize.
Arbor Day Observance Planned – Green Lake County, WI (greenlakecountywi.gov)
FREE FOCUS ON ENERGY EVENT IN OSHKOSH
The city of Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board has partnered with FOCUS ON ENERGY to host an event for residents to learn about available benefits from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program and the Inflation Reduction Act. The free event will be held on Wednesday, May 3rd at 5:30 pm at the Oshkosh Public Library. Attendees may bring their children. The family friendly event will have activity books and crayons for kids. The free event will allow residents to learn which energy projects to start with to save the most money, how to take advantage of Focus on Energy rebates and resources, and feature general information on available tax credits for home energy projects.
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