12th Senate District candidate forums

With the November election just under six weeks away, now is a great time to hear from the candidates about issues that are important to you. Over the next few weeks Jim Holperin and Tom Tiffany, the candidates for the 12th Senate District, will be holding several forums throughout the district. The dates, times & locations of the forums are as follows:

WI Public Radio State Senate debate
Thursday, Sept. 25, 5-6pm
Campanile Center
141 Milwaukee St.
Minocqua

AARP candidate forum
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 10-11:30am
Holiday Acres Resort
4060 South Shore Dr.
Rhinelander

Northwoods Alliance for School Funding Reform political forum
Thursday, Oct. 9, 7pm
Lakeland Union High School
9573 State Highway 70
Minocqua

Tomahawk Chamber/WJJQ WI State Senate forum
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6-7pm
Tomahawk Community Bank
Community Room, Second floor
15 East Wisconsin Avenue
Tomahawk

Northwoods media political debate
Hosted by: WRJO, WXPR, NewsoftheNorth, Rhinelander Daily News, Star Journal, New Radio Group
Thursday, Oct. 16, 6-8pm
Nicolet Area Technical College
Learning Resource Center
5364 College Drive
Rhinelander

Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups candidate forum
Monday, Oct. 27, 10:30am-12pm
Antigo Senior Center
411 Superior St.
Antigo

As always, if there are any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Vilas County floodplain zoning update

At today's meeting of the Vilas County Planning & Zoning Committee, another step forward was taken. After a lengthy discussion, a motion was made by Jack Harrison & seconded by Maynard Bedish to move forward with the process of adopting a FEMA compliant ordinance for Vilas County. The motion was passed unanimously. The supervisors were advised by staff that the entire process is rather lengthy, and could expect at least a year or longer until a final ordinance would be in place. This is due, in part, to drafting an entirely new ordinance, ensuring legal compliance with existing ordinances, and public hearings. Several supervisors felt that the best way to gain support for this ordinance is through proper education of the public.

Voter registration information

Voter Registration information

Often times, it is easier to register to vote prior to an election day. By doing this, you save yourself time and also save election workers time & help to cut down on long lines at the polls.

The following information and links have been provided as a service to members. Feel free to use them for yourself and also pass the information along to your clients. There is a lot of paperwork that is passed on to new homeowners at the time if sale. This information helps to make the new homeowner feel welcome in the community and also gets them involved and ensures that their voice is heard at the polls.

There are three easy ways to register to vote in Wisconsin. You can:

1). Register in person at your city, town or village clerk’s office until 5 p.m. on the day before the election.

2). Register by mail. You can download and print an Application for Voter Registration Form (Form EB-131) or you can contact (write or call) your city, town or village clerk’s office and ask them to send you an Application for Voter Registration Form (Form EB-131) in the mail. Follow each instruction carefully and mail it back before the deadline. (It must be postmarked or received in the clerk’s office 20 days before the election).

3). Register at the polls on Election Day.

Voter registration form –
http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=13109&locid=47
Voter & Poll information –
http://elections.state.wi.us/category.asp?linkcatid=1773&linkid=270&locid=47
To lookup who the respective Town/Municipal clerk is, follow this link
http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=10506&locid=47

Floodplain Zoning in Vilas County?

At the July 3rd meeting of the Vilas County Planning & Zoning Committee, supervisors discussed the possible implementation of floodplain zoning. Currently, Vilas County is one of 4 counties in Wisconsin that does not have a FEMA compliant ordinance. As a result of this, Vilas County is in a "penalty phase", which means no resident of the county may purchase flood insurance, along with the stipulation that should a flood event take place, no disaster assistance will be provided to identified flood hazard areas.

After much discussion between the committee, general public & Vilas County Emergency Management personnel, a motion was approved to have P&Z Director Dawn Schmidt proceed with her plan to further look into the development of an ordinance - this plan includes meeting with WDNR staff to gather information on the ordinance and also meeting with local lender to discuss the effects of no ordinance (potential denial of funding).

RPAC - why is it important?

Why RPAC? This new video from WRA helps to explain why you should give to RPAC today!

http://www.wra.org/video/rpac_video_summer08/rpac_video_summer.html

AIS Ordinance now in place in Oneida County

An ordinance is now in place in Oneida County which will permit a law enforcement officer to stop a vehicle is aquatic vegetation is being transported. If a citation is issued, violators can expect a fine of $200-500. While the fine is a part of the ordinance, it is expected that this ordinance will also help to educate the public on cleaning their watercraft, etc... before transporting to another body of water.

Questions were raised by board members if this was the right thing to do, and how are officers going to be able to distinguish between invasive and non-invasive species. Supervisor Romelle Vandervest said that we have to "start somewhere".

After much debate, the ordinance passed on an 11-7 vote

Floodplain ordinances updated in Oneida County

Some changes were made by the Oneida County Board at their most recent meeting pertaining to floodplains. The changes are:

Resolutions were passed at the June 17th meeting that revise and recreate chapter 20 of the Oneida County Floodplain Ordinance. This was done to comply with NR116 & FEMA regulations.

An ordinance amendment was also passed which will now require building permits for all structures, regardless of value for all properties within the general floodplain district.