Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Wind Siting Commission Proposed Rule lists dBA standard and requires noise studies; Nighttime cessation option noted.

b) Except as provided in sub. (3)(a) and (d), a developer shall operate the wind energy system in 18 a manner that does not exceed 50 dBA at any nonparticipating residence or occupied community 19 building existing on the date of approval of the wind energy system by the political subdivision. 20
(3) MITIGATION. (a) A developer, owner or operator shall test for compliance with the noise 21 limits upon complaint by a nonparticipating resident. If the complaint relates to noise during 22 nighttime hours, the noise limit for those areas related to the complaint shall be reduced to 45 23
PSC Chapter 128 Proposed Draft Rule (5.14.10)
1-AC-231
Page 13 of 38
dBA during nighttime hours and the developer, owner or operator shall ensure the seasonally-1 reduced nighttime noise limit is met. For purposes of this paragraph, nighttime hours are the 2 hours between 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily, from April 1 to September 30. 3
(b) Methods available for the developer, owner or operator to comply with noise limits shall 4 include operational curtailment of a wind turbine. 5
(c) A developer shall provide notification of the requirements of this section to potentially-6 affected owners of nonparticipating residences and occupied community buildings before the 7 initial operation of the wind energy system. 8
(d) In the event audible noise due to wind energy system operations contains a steady pure tone, 9 such as a whine, whistle, screech, or hum, the developer, owner or operator shall promptly take 10 corrective action to eliminate the cause of the steady pure tone. Operational curtailment of a 11 wind turbine during nighttime hours may be used to comply with this paragraph until the cause 12 of the steady pure tone can be permanently eliminated. This paragraph does not apply to 13 rhythmic sound that may be generated by the rotation of wind turbine blades. 14
(e) A developer shall evaluate compliance with the noise limits as part of pre- and post-15 construction noise studies. A developer, owner or operator shall conduct pre- and post-16 construction noise studies as described in the most current version of the noise measurement 17 protocol. 18
(f) The commission shall establish a noise measurement protocol, which shall contain minimum 19 requirements for pre- and post-construction noise studies. The commission may revise the noise 20 measurement protocol as necessary. The commission shall make the noise measurement 21 protocol available to the public on the commission’s website. 22

Mailbag: ECP: Volunteers still needed for Fourth Weekend

Hello All and Welcome from a busy week at ECP.



My thanks go out to all of you who have volunteered for one of the many jobs at this year’s celebration. But, just in case we missed some of you who are willing to volunteer, we still have a few spots to fill. Look over the list and let me know if we can pencil in you or, better yet, you and one of your friends.



I’ve attached the flyer so you can all see what fun is planned starting with the Blue Olives and fireworks on Thursday night and going straight through to more fireworks over the lake on Sunday!



We need



ID Checkers at the gate

Thursday 10-12 pm

Friday 10-12 pm

Saturday 10-12 pm



Spillway gate watchers

Various shifts all weekend



Fireworks donation takers

Thursday and Sunday night



One or two to help with the Euchre tournament

Saturday at 11 am



There may be other spots left to fill as the weekend wears on

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Transportation Future: The Rebirth of the Union Station: St. Paul

As you come into St. Paul on 94, you can look over the deep hillside where in 1900 the shanty town of the Irish immigrants were....and up the hill to where their Church resides still today. Down below is the magnificant Union Depot...mostly dormant now, but oneday, maybe one can take a train from the Monona Station in Madison to St. Paul. Click on the post for the story in the Star Tribune.

Nostalgia: Town of Union: Wind Turbine: "The Answer is No"

Have any of you lived near a wind turbine? Dialogue between plan commission and Ecoenergy.

Download File

Nostalgia: Town of Union: Wind Turbine Siting:

Living Under the Turbines----live testimony of residents with experience----

Download File

Friday, June 25, 2010

Northwind 100: Full Disclosure from Medford Mass:

Click on the post for the picture from Medford, Mass and their Northwind 100 turbine. You can see the energy savings they have generated in a year and a half. Enjoy.

The latest on the Renovations at the Night Owl-----

Click on the post for the minutes from the recent historic preservation committee.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Evansville Chamber of Commerce proposes to manage Evansville Economic Development

(Ed.note: This is a portion of the Evansville Finance Committee minutes from June.)

IV. Citizen Appearances.
a. Chamber of Commerce. Morning discussed the draft proposal they had distributed to the Committee. The Chamber of Commerce would like to partner with the City under a contract arrangement. Under the proposal, the City would pay the Chamber $20,000 to coordinate economic development and tourism efforts. They are bringing this proposal now so it could be considered as part of the budget process; they plan to present their proposal to the City Council in July.

Deal Frees Overture of Debt: WSJ

Click on the post for the story in the Wisconsin State Journal.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Blackhawk Tech Cuts Taxes; Gazette

Click on the post for the full story in the Gazette.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Friday, June 18, 2010

Public Hearing Notice:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Evansville Board of Appeals
Wednesday July 21, 2010 6:00 PM
City Hall (Third Floor), 31 South Madison Street, Evansville, WI


Notice is hereby given that the City of Evansville Board of Appeals will conduct a public hearing at 6:00 PM on Wednesday 21, 2010 to consider a variance from the dimension standards of the floodplain fill requirements of Section 54-133(1)(a) of the City of Evansville Municipal Code at Allen Creek Gallery, 137 E. Main Street, Evansville. The hearing will be conducted in the Third Floor City Council Chambers at City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street.

Copies of the variance application, grading plan, and site plan are available for inspection at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall, 31 South Madison Street; Evansville, WI. All interested parties are invited to attend and provide comment.

Submitted by Judy Walton, City Clerk

Evansville Rocks the 4th: Memories of "Mustang Sally"

Click on the post for the "Mediafly" version of "Mustang Sally". This year I will be ready for that tenor sax move to the center mini stage.

Get Ready for Evansville Idol July 4th: 1pm-5PM: Video: Even the Judges Sing at Evansville Idol

Video; Judge Denise warms up the crowd as Evansville Idol competition begins. July 5, 2009; Evansville, Wisonsin.

Download File

Evansville Blood Drive: July 1st; St. Johns Church Mark the Calender

Please keep in mind if you're a friend close to Evansville the Community Blood Drive on Thur. July 1st. @ St. Johns Luthern Church from noon-6:00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We need your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Mailbag; Weathermaven writes: Re Precip YTD

Since January 1, we've had 12.97" of precip (includes snow water
equivalent) and the 30-year mean is 12.42", a difference of +0.55".
That's "normal" in my book. However on June 1, we were -1.48" from
normal. So you were correct, before this last rainy period we were
dry, though not terribly so.

BTW, on snowfall for the season we were very close to normal, 1.7"
above the 30 year mean at 49.9".

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Mailbag: I & E Meeting: Wednesday; June 9: " Money in Your Pocket": Dean Houlberg Speaks

Lender Talks about Money in Your Pocket at I&E Meeting June 9



Dreaming about starting a business of your own? Wondering how to convince lenders to finance your dream? Learn what lenders want to know by attending the Evansville Area Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club meeting set for 6:30 pm. Wednesday, June 9, in the lower level of the historic Eager Economy Building at 7 E. Main St.



Speaking about “Money in Your Pocket: What It Takes to Start a Business from a Lender’s Perspective,” is Dean Houlberg, a local banker with 36 years of experience. Houlberg will talk about the five Cs, and none of them include charm or charisma. Instead, they are the five Cs of credit, important to lenders reviewing loan applications. Briefly:

Capacity is the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Character focuses on the borrower’s integrity and credibility.

Capital counts on the borrower’s own resources, including equity.

Collateral is the asset or assets used as security against the loan.

Conditions are external forces affecting the business, such as competition and trends.

Houlberg works with commercial and agricultural lending as a loan officer and vice president at Bank of Evansville.



The public is invited to attend the Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club meeting. Every meeting includes a popular networking session, during which each person has about a minute to promote their business, invention or quest for a solution.



The meetings are free, due to donations and meeting sponsors. The sponsor for the June program is Terry Sweet with Pre-paid Legal Services. Members of Pre-paid Legal Services receive cost-effective legal services from a large network of attorneys and law firms across the country. Members also have access to business consultants through GoSmallBiz.com, which entrepreneurs may find especially helpful.



For more information about the June meeting or about the Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club in general, contact club President John Gishnock at 608-882-6656 or Sue Berg, vice president of outreach and marketing, at 608-882-0986.

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

M3 Money Supply Declining: Seeking Alpha

With Money Supply, and the broadest indicator being M3, in decline.....is the real fear deflation? Where has all the money gone?

Click on the post for the thought provoking article in Seeking Alpha.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Evansville Observer Celebrates Digital Artists of Evansville

Evansville in June is celebrating the artists of Evansville, its painters and potters etc. One classification that is required of all high school arts departments in the modern age is digital art. Click on the post for an example of the work of Ryan McNeal, a recent graduate of Evansville High School. More samples to come.

Friday, June 04, 2010

Video: Discover Wisconsin--Evansville Film Trailer released

Click on the post for the trailer---the film will be released June 12th. Stay tuned.

WPT: Formecology in the Spotlight: Bid on Wis Pub Television Item of Formecology

Now you can bid on $1000 of design services from Formecology for the Wisconsin Public Television. Click on the post for the video.

Are You a DATA Hog? The Free Lunch is over; Yahoo:

Now the heavy users of data of the Smart Phone set will pay much more. Click on the post for the latest.

John Wilde Exhibit at the Chazen Museum in Madison thru July 25th

Click on the post for the details. Perfect for celebrating Evansville Artists month. Visit the Chazen for this wonderful exhibit.