October 31, 2008

Native American Drug and Gang Initiative Project recognized


Many of you know that in addition to being a Supervisor and owning a construction company, I am also a Deputy for Menominee County Sheriff''s Department. Menominee County is the only place in the state where the entire county is designated as an Indian Reservation. This past year, I've worked with the Sheriff's Department on the Native American Drug and Gang Initiative (NADGI) Project.

NADGI is a partnership between eight tribes and the State Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) The Project allows local departments to work as a team with state and federal law enforcement agencies to combat drug, gun, and gang crimes on Wisconsin’s Native American Reservations.

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of accepting a certificate of recogition at a presentation in Meonominee County from Congressman Steve Kagen. The NADGI project was funded this past year by a $400,000 federal grant that was supported by Congressman Kagen. This important grant provides officer training and other resources, and has been instrumental in successfully removing drugs from reservation communities.

The Shawano Leader featured the NADGI project in an article yesterday.

October 30, 2008

Behind the 2009 Budget

This series of posts over the next few days will examine spending in the 2009 Grand Chute budget

I've had a few emails regarding the $15,000 in professional fees "for professional assistance to assist the new town administrator in negotiations with the town's bargaining units."

This line item jumped out as a red flag when I first reviewed the budget, and I questioned the reasoning at the budget workshops.

What this article doesn’t explain is that all three unions (police, fire, and public works) are up for contract negotiations next year. With the state of the economy, it is reasonable to assume the town will want to limit concessions at the collective bargaining table. If the union and town refuse to come to an agreement, both parties must go to arbitration. The town is responsible for legal costs associated with arbitration, including retaining a judge.

This $15K is set aside in a contingency fund, and is only to cover such costs in the event of arbitration.

Realizing "professional assistance" did not mean hiring a consultant to show the new administrator "the ropes", but rather paying legal costs associated with arbitration, I agreed to the contingency fund.

2009 Budget kept under spending cap

The Town Board voted last night to pass Grand Chute's 2009 budget and limit the increase to 9.8%. This is under the 10.5% limit residents passed in last April's referendum. More budget details to follow.

October 29, 2008

Avoid lines on Election Day by voting early

Grand Chute residents can vote by absentee ballot at the Town Hall. In order to obtain an absentee ballot, you must be a registered voter in the Town of Grand Chute. You must make an application for a ballot. An application form (PDF file) is available here. The requesting individual must sign the application/letter. If husband and wife are requesting, both must sign the application/letter. If you come into the Town Hall your balloting can be completed that same day.

If you are not a registered voter in Grand Chute, you can register to vote at the Town Hall. You can bring:
  1. A Wisconsin driver’s license if you have one, OR (if you do not) the last four digits of your Social Security number --AND--
  2. Proof of residence SUCH AS a Wisconsin driver’s license, a state issued ID card, a residential lease, a utility bill, cell phone bill, bank statement (online print outs ok), paycheck, government check, property tax bill from 2007 or 2008, or other government document showing your name and current address.
  3. No proof of residence? You can still register and vote if you bring an eligible voter from your municipality who shows proof of residence and affirms you live at your address.
The Grand Chute Town Hall is open 8-4:30, Monday thru Friday.

October 27, 2008

Upcoming meetings this week

Postings have been a little sparse the last couple of weeks. It's budget time of year. I take this part of my job very seriously, and and a lot of my free time is spent reviewing the proposed budgets. Our first budget planning workshop was last Wednesday. Because of the current state of the economy, each line item is being reviewed, and the budget meeting has been extended to this Wednesday at 6:00 pm, at the town hall.

A Police Merger Advisory Panel meeting is also scheduled for tomorrow evening, 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Board Room. The agenda follows:


Town of Grand Chute
1900 Grand Chute Blvd.
Appleton – Grand Chute Police Merger
Citizen Study Committee Meeting
October 28, 2008
6:30 PM – Board Room

Agenda

A. CALL TO ORDER

B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA/ORDER OF THE DAY

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Approval of the September 23, 2008 meeting minutes

D. NEW BUSINESS
1. Police Merger Proposal Presentation by Appleton Police Chief David Walsh
2. Police Management Plan and Service Level Comparison Presentation by Interim Chief Greg Peterson
3. Presentation on Police Costs and Asset Distribution by Consultant Ed Henschel

E. Discuss Differences and Similarities Between the Appleton and Grand Chute Police Departments

F. Other matters, questions, discussions.

G. ADJOURNMENT

October 21, 2008

Jim March named new Town Administrator

October 21, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT: Stephen T. Nenonen
Interim Town Administrator
(920) 832-4773



New Town Administrator Hired:

The Town of Grand Chute announced the appointment of Mr. James V. March as the new Town of Grand Chute Administrator. Mr. March is currently City Administrator in the City of North Oaks, MN. Mr. March will begin employment on December 8, 2008 with an annual salary of $94,472.

There were more than 30 applicants for the position of Town Administrator. The position of Administrator opened last July when Mr. Mark Rohloff accepted the position as City Manager in the City of Oshkosh.

Mr. March is married and has two children. He will be visiting the Town before starting work to look for housing and to prepare for the move to Grand Chute.

For More information, contact Steve Nenonen, Interim Administrator (920) 832-4773.


* * * END * * *

October 20, 2008

Scenes from Romp in the Swamp 2008

Members of the Grand Chute Kiwanis pal around with Smokey Bear.

Families gather at one of the Romp in the Swamp stations.

The sun peeked out for the 15th Annual Romp in the Swamp held Saturday at Bubolz Nature Preserve. Many families attended the event. Local groups gave educational presentations, ranging from honey bees, herbal growth, and environmental awareness. The Grand Chute Fire Department was on hand, along with Smokey Bear. Free food and games were offered at stations along the walk. There were cookies, hot cider, breads, smores, carmel apples and more. The Grand Chute Kiwanis sponsored a "walking taco" station.

How to make a walking taco:
(with a digital camera on the wrong setting)
Crunch a bag of Fritos or Doritos, then cut the long end off.

Scoop some warm taco meat inside.

Add your favorite fixings.

Eat with spoon and enjoy.

October 17, 2008

Hwy A and JJ opens today

Hwys JJ and Hwy A are scheduled to open up this afternoon. The intersection has a new roundabout in place of stop and go lights. The road reconstruction also includes sewer and water lines.

October 16, 2008

Romp in the Swamp

The 15th Annual Romp in the Swamp is this Saturday, October 18th, at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve, 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm. There will be an afternoon of treats, activities, foot stomping music by Green Apple Folk Music Society, Grand Chute Fire Dept. truck & firefighters also demonstrations by Wildland Firefighters from FVTC. A day filled with good old outdoor family fun.

Hwy A looks like it's just about finished. If it's not completed by this weekend, the road will still be open to the Preserve.

October 13, 2008

Scenes from the Fire Station Open House and Dedication

Fire Explorers raising the flag that Congressmen Kagen
presented to the fire station.
The flag has previously flown over the US Capitol building.
The crowd looks on as the flag is raised to the National Anthem.Grand Chute Fire Chief Timothy Bantes addressed the crowd during the dedication.
Members of the fire department and the Town Board lined up for the "hose ceremony."
Instead of the traditional ribbon cutting, a fire hose is used instead.
(No fire hoses were harmed during this ceremony)

A plaque was also unvield that will be hung at the fire station.The fire station was open to the public for tours all day. This shot is from the mezzanie looking down into the bay area where the trucks come through.
Freddie also made an appearance. He is the new educational resource that is used in schools and presentations to make children aware of fire safety.

Children also had a lot of fun turning on friendly-sized hoses.

The new fire station will be staffed 24-7. This is a shot of one of the sleeping quarters rooms.

The firefighter cooks will have a great time preparing food in this kitchen.This is the dining area off the kitchen. The chair in the bottom left corner is part of the TV room.
The excercise room. Firefighters are required to devote a segment each day to exercise.

A message about eco-municipalities from Leslie Taylor

What is an Eco-municipality?

You may begin hearing this term soon as our Town Board and Planning Commission look into the future and meet some of the challenges that are on the horizon for all municipalities. Many local governments across Wisconsin have already adopted the eco-municipality guide laid out in The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices by Sarah James and Torbjorn Lahti. This book explains why sustainable practices are necessary from an economic standpoint and gives many examples of residents, businesses and municipal managers improving their communities and their environment at the same time.

The Natural Step for Communities explains what an eco-municipality does to continually improve conditions for living in the community. Eco-municipalities, by definition, are committed to the four basic principles of The Natural Step, which was actually first described by a medical doctor. These are the basic things that must be continually done by any community to assure that future generations will be able to meet their own needs:

  • Reduce our wasteful dependence on fossil fuels and other substances extracted from underground.
  • Reduce our wasteful dependence on toxic and unnatural substances that accumulate in our environment
  • Reduce our encroachment on nature and natural habitats
  • Meet basic human needs fairly and efficiently.

The authors of The Natural Step for Communities lay out a process that every community can use to begin moving toward a healthier future. Here’s a good relevant example:

In order to remain viable, communities have to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and other substances extracted from underground. With gas and oil prices projected to stay very high, actions that reduce our wasteful use of fossil fuels will also cut our future costs very quickly. One of the easiest things we can do to begin making our operations more sustainable is an assessment of all our energy use to find out where the most cost-efficient reductions can be made. The Natural Step process is used over and over to keep us moving toward our vision of a sustainable community.

The best way to learn more about eco-municipalities and sustainable practices is to be in a local study circle of The Natural Step for Communities. The book is available from most libraries and bookstores. On November 12th, 7:00 p.m. at the Appleton Public Library, there will be an orientation session for anyone interested in taking part in a study circle. For more information please contact Leslie Taylor at 920-739-7307 or ltaylor@sustainfv.org. We may be able to have our own Grand Chute study circles meet at the Town Hall or at Bubolz Nature Preserve!

September 16th Town Board meeting minutes

Minutes from the September 16th Town Board meeting are available for download.

October 6, 2008

Mayflower drive road closure

Mayflower Drive, north of Wisconsin Ave. at the intersection, will be closed until approximately October 24th, for a DOT street reconstruction project.

The ripple effect

You might have read in last week's Post Crescent about 13 year old Kevin Hash convincing the Appleton City Council to expand trick or treat hours til 8pm. Well, Kevin's efforts are spilling into Grand Chute as well. The Town Board will vote at Tuesday's meeting whether Grand Chute's hours will begin at 4pm and end at 8pm as well, to coincide with Appleton. Way to go Kevin!

October 3, 2008