February 3rd Town Board meeting minutes

Minutes from the February 3, 2009 Town Board meeting are available for download.

Guide sheet in the works for Grand Chute residents affected by FEMA mapping

There was discussion about the new FEMA Floodplain mapping at last night's Grand Chute Town Board meeting. 890 properties in Grand Chute are affected. As previously stated, Grand Chute has little to no authority as the town falls under Outagamie County regulations. However, knowing this can be a confusing process to go through for someone that has little experience dealing with this matter, I made a motion for staff to create a form or guide sheet for affected residents. The guide sheet would include an explanation of what has to be done in order to appeal FEMA's mapping. It would also have a detailed step-by-step process on how to go about making an appeal, and include contact names and numbers at the County. The motion passed 4-0.*

A representative from Omni and Assoociates also attended the meeting and expressed his concerns that there are many errors to the new floodplain mapping. He suggested that the Town of Grand Chute could look into having a broad scale study done. This would be done by examining sections of densely affected areas, instead of each individual parcel. If there were disputes based on the broad study, the town could initiate a one time appeal. Omni's representative estimated initial costs to the town could be about $15,000. This could be brought up on a future Town Board agenda.

Note: This has been corrected from previous posting. There were only four supervisors in attendance, all were in agreement and this should be confirmed when the meeting minutes are approved at the March 3rd meeting.

New FEMA flood mapping in Outagamie County overview

I just got done with the government official session at the FEMA Outagamie Flood Mapping Informational Meeting. It looks like there could be real headaches for Grand Chute residents. Over 800 properties are affected by the remapping of floodplains in Outagamie County by FEMA. Properties are defined as parcels of land that may or may not have residential or commercial buildings on them.

As a builder, I have experienced constructing houses in floodplains. Depending on the community, there can be additional construction costs or restrictions. These could include vapor barriers, no window wells, or windows, more gravel, and professionally approved waterproofing. Restrictions can end up adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the home. Homeowners (both existing and new) could be required to carry flood insurance.

Grand Chute town officials learned at the meeting that as a township, there is nothing we can do to work with residents and with FEMA. Townships fall under county authority in this instance. The county will decide weather or not to approve the new flood mapping. They will also decide if new construction is required to follow additional guidelines in flood plane areas. Grand Chute residents must contact their county officials.

Property owners affected by the remapping have been notified. Maps will not be posted until the County adopts the study. However, there is a map on display at the Grand Chute Town Hall. Residents have he right to go through an appeals process, but it will have to be done through the county, NOT Grand Chute.

Here is a link to your Outagamie county officials.

Appeals will be accepted starting in two weeks and will have a 90-day window. Residents must submit evidence that their elevations are substantial enough to change FEMA mapping. This would be done though a engineering study, or if their property is deemed wetlands, there would be a wetland delineation. The county will walk residents through the appeals process.

I just went through conducting a flood study done on property I own in the Town of Center. It ended up costing around $5,000. This did not include a wetland delineation, which will be an additional $5,000.** (note: not all flood planes are deemed wetlands) This is not a fun process. Although I cannot as an elected town official do more than talk with county officials, I am more than willing to talk to you about the process, having just gone through it myself. Call or email if you received a notice and have questions.

**This is a 12 acre parcel. Smaller parcels would not be as much.

Town of Grand Chute Summer Park Program Sponsorship Info

The Town of Grand Chute Summer Park Program is an 8 week recreation program for children ages 5 – 12. The program is held at four Grand Chute Parks. Last year the program benefited well over 100 children. Each year we look for area businesses to sponsor the program. Sponsorship dollars are used for craft and game supplies and to help fund field trips throughout the summer. In exchange for a $300 sponsorship fee, your business will be recognized in the following ways

• A professional sign will be displayed each week (for eight weeks) at all four parks indicating that your business is a sponsor of the program.

• Your business will be recognized on our summer event calendar. These calendars are distributed to all families who register for the program.

• Your business will also be recognized in the registration flier sent out to Highlands, Houdini, Badger, and Huntley Elementary Schools, reaching well over 1000 families.

If your business is interested in sponsoring the Town of Grand Chute Summer Park Program please contact Amy Sabee at 475-3845.

Town Board meeting moved to Thursday, February 19th

The regular Grand Chute Town Board meeting is moved to Thursday, due to Tuesday's Spring Primary elections. The agenda can be downloaded here.

Spring Primary Elections tomorrow

Spring Primary Elections are tomorrow. Grand Chute positions include a three-way primary for Grand Chute Chairperson. The Appleton Schools Referendum is also on the ballot, as Grand Chute residents pay taxes to the Appleton Area School District. Click here for Grand Chute voting information, including where to vote locations.

Outagamie County Flood Risk Information Open House scheduled

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be hosting a Flood Risk Information Open House on

Tuesday, February 17th. at the
Best Western Midway, 3033 W. College Ave, Grand Chute.
The Open house will be held in the Paretti Room from 2:30 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

The Open House will provide county residents with an opportunity to review a recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

The FIS and the FIRMS provide base flood information, delineates areas subject to significant flood hazards within the county, and offers information public officials may use when permitting development in the floodplain.

The Open House will be staffed with representatives from various local, state and federal agencies, who will provide the most current information about flood risk, flood insurance, floodplain development regulations, and the process for floodplain mapping within Hancock County . The newly prepared preliminary floodplain maps will be on display. Once the maps become effective, these maps will be used by floodplain permit officials, builders and developers, lenders, realtors, insurance agents, and the general public to determine food risk, develop mitigation measures, and encourage wise and responsible risk management decision-making.

Property owners, realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are urged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their community

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Reminder Police Merger Listening Session is tonight

Just a reminder that the last police merger listening session sponsored by Appleton is this evening at 6:30pm at the Grand Chute town hall. The session is expected to last about 30-45 minutes.

January 14th Police Advisory Committee meeting minutes

Minutes from the January 14th Police Advisory Committee meeting are available for download. There is not a future meeting scheduled at this time. The committee has agreed to give Appleton finance department a couple of months to come up with different scenarios for cost sharing breakdowns.

January 20th Town Board minutes

Minutes from January 20th, 2009 Town Board meeting are available for download

Help for the Homeless kicks off 2009 campaign

Below is an excerpt from an email I received regarding the "Help for the Homeless" Campaign. Please contact Heidi Prahl at the phone number listed below if your organization can sponsor a donation box.

17^th Annual “Help for the Homeless” Starts March 7!

Area Businesses, Schools, Churches Being Sought to Participate.

Appleton, WI - WEMI 91.9 FM Appleton/Oshkosh, WEMY 91.5 FM Green Bay: At least 33 area crisis agencies and shelters will receive donations of toiletries and cleaning products through WEMI & WEMY Christian Family Radio’s 17^th annual Help for the Homeless campaign March 7-31.

Help for the Homeless works directly with the homeless coalitions in Brown County, the Fox Valley, Winnebago County, Fond du Lac, and Manitowoc to stock the shelves of area homeless and crisis programs so they can dedicate their limited financial resources to providing qualified personnel, safe housing, nutritious food, education, and counseling to those they serve.

Businesses, schools, churches, and area organizations are now being sought to participate in the drive. Donations will stay in the area where they are donated. NEW cleaning and personal care items such as laundry soap, hair and dental care products, bathroom tissue, diapers, etc. are needed. Last year 250 area collection sites received more than $73,000 worth donations. To request a collection box call Heidi Prahl at Christian Family Radio 800-236-9364.

"We were overwhelmed at the generosity of the community. The really cool thing is that the volume of this donation helps us with administrative costs. It saves us many hours of asking and coordinating other organizations, schools, etc. to do a drive for us. That way the hours can be spent on larger projects. Most importantly, it allows us to spend more money on direct financial assistance for those in need with basics such as housing, utilities and transportation." -2008, Julie Coenen, Leaven

Donations will be collected at Festival Foods, Christian Family Radio studios, and participating businesses/schools/churches and organizations March 7-31. Sponsored by Christian Family Radio with Festival Foods, Affinity Health System, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and WFRV Channel 5.

Thanks to Georgia Pacific Corrugated Division for their donation of collection boxes.

For more information, including printable fliers and a list of needs visit ChristianFamilyRadio.net

Recipient Agencies & Programs FOX CITIES:

B.A.B.E.S., Candlelight Vision Corp., CAP Services, Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin COTS Transitional Shelters for Men and Women, Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley, Fox Cities Community Health Clinic, Harbor House, Housing Partnership of the Fox Cities, LEAVEN, Mother & Unborn Baby Care, Salvation Army

Area Fire Departments to battle it out in Chili Cook-Off

I attended this morning's 2009 Economic Outlook breakfast sponsored by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. There will be more on that later today. But, before I get into economic "gloom and doom" I thought I would post a lighthearted event that's coming up next Sunday. It's a Chili Cook-off Event with area Fire Departments. It' s being sponsored by the Grand Chute Fire Department Association Event Committee. The general public is invited to taste and judge the chili. Details follow:

Chili Cook-Off Event With Area Fire Departments
Sunday, February 15th, 2009
12-4 pm
Wave Ballroom
2350 Casaloma Drive,
Grand Chute

There will be activities for the kids including games and
face painting, along with a bake sale.

Admission is $5 for Adults.
Children 12 and under are free

"Garage Group" sponsors Grand Chute Chair forum

There's a group of local citizens who gather every month to discuss political issues affecting our area. They usually meet in a member's garage, and thus have taken to naming themselves "The Garage Group". They are becoming quite a local political force in that they interview local candidates running for office and back up their endorsed candidate with literature drops, sign placements and door to door campaigning. They make no apologies for being on the conservative side, (see number 3 below) but they do not limit themselves to endorsing strictly by party. Having been invited and having attended some of their meetings, I can attest their main focus is having open discussions and keeping tabs on spending and local issues.

The neat aspect of this group is the process a candidate goes through for an endorsement. The format is usually the same. Each candidate is interviewed separately (other candidates are not allowed in the room) and asked four questions.

1. Why are you seeking this position and what beneficial skill set(s) can you bring to the office?


2. If elected, what specific issues do you intend to focus on and what goals have you set?


3. The Group is a fiscally conservative, constitutionally-based organization. We advocate lower taxes, no unnecessary fees and a moral and financially sound government held accountable to its constituents. How do your views mesh with or differ from this position?


4. How are you different from the other candidates applying for this position?

Afterward, the audience is allowed to ask questions, and finally the candidate can give their stump speech on why this group should support them. The forum is open to the public.

If you're still reading, a Grand Chute Chairperson Forum will be held this Thursday, February 5th at the Old Bavarian 3025 W. College Ave. at 7 pm. (They need a little more space than a garage will allow!)

Candidates Michael Marsden and Jim Duncan are scheduled to attend. Lee Adamski will attend via phone due to a previously scheduled trip.

January 6th Town Board minutes

Minutes for the January 6, 2009 Town Board meeting are available for download.

Police merger listening sessions

There will be two listening sessions next week sponsored by the Appleton Police Department. These listening sessions will discuss the proposed consolidation of the Appleton and Grand Chute Police Departments. They wil be

Monday, February 9 at 6:30 pm
Appleton Public Library, Lower Level

and

Thursday, February 12 at 6:30
Grand Chute Town Hall Board Room

Agenda for February 3 Town Board meeting

If you haven't seen the agenda for tonight's Town Board meeting on the Grand Chute town web site, you can download here.

Office hours canceled

Tomorrow's office hours are canceled due to a work scheduling conflict. As always, I am available by phone or email.