Saturday, August 31, 2013

Minutes: Public Safety: August 2013

Public Safety Committee Wednesday, August 7, 2013 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting Common Council Chambers 31 South Madison Street MINUTES 1. Chairperson Jacobson called meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Roll call of committee and staff members present was: Chairperson Jacobson, Brooks and Fuchs, Police Chief Scott McElroy, and EMS Chief, Mary Beaver. 3. Motion by Fuchs, second by Jacobson, to amend the minutes to remove Owl and insert Out on agenda item 9, first paragraph and approve the July 3, 2013 regular meeting minutes. Motion passed, Brooks abstaining. 4. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed- None 5. Old Business - None 7. New Business a. Motion by Brooks, second by Fuchs, to approve the Operator’s License application(s) for Kathleen K Hermanson, Bonnie L Calkins, Lejuana E Meade, Christine Edlund, Melvin Arnold, Judy A George, Allan L Hurst, and Lynda M Laursen. Committee wanted noted that 7a4 did not have city/state/zip included on application. Motion passed. b. Motion by Brooks, second by Fuchs, to approve the Temporary Class “B” Retailer’s License application for FairShare CSA Coalition for the Seventh Annual Bike the Barn event on September 15, 2013 in Lake Leota Park, Evansville, Wisconsin. Alderperson Jacobson questioned why there was no listed bartender to accompany the application. Motion by Jacobson, second by Fuchs, to table the motion to be considered at the September 4 meeting. Motion passed on 2-1 roll call vote. c. Alderperson Jacobson brought up the Knox Box. Chairperson Jacobson discussed the item. Alderperson Brooks requested more information be brought before the committee. d. Chief McElroy presented his 2014 Budget for discussion. Items mentioned were squad replacement and radio for the emergency trailer, additional squad rifles, department staffing, and accreditation with associated expenses, phone system, utilities, and office supplies. Revenues seem to be on target for 2013. 8. Police Department There were 1142 calls for service in the month of July 2013 compared to 1113 in July last year. License plate transactions for July 2013 were 64. Officer Jones has completed Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) training. Staff completed range training August 1, 2013. On August 8, 2013 one part-time officer, Jamey Davis, will be appointed at the Police Commission meeting. Coop student, Josh Chenoweth, has been working morning hours since June 10th. The Emergency Operations Manual/Plan is being updated with the assistance of Administrative Assistant, Samantha Trumpy. The police department assisted with the 5k/10k run on the Fourth of July. The July 4th festivities went very well. On July 24, staff went to the Daycare Kids Club and met with children ages 6-10. Chief McElroy represented Evansville at the Rock County National Night Out event in Beloit on August 6, 2013. Officers Reese and Laufenberg will represent Evansville on August 15 for Evansville Night Out. Chief McElroy will attend for a short time then leave for a class. Evansville Police Department will be participating in the State of Wisconsin annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunken drivers from August 16 through September 2, 2013. 9. Emergency Medical Service The run total for the month of July 2013 was 50, with the year-to-date total up to July 31, 2013 was 312. 810 had one of the runs for July with a year-to-date total of 38. The year-to-date total for 2012 was 245, with a 67 run increase for 2013. Effective July 11, 2013, the State approved the Evansville EMS to utilize manual defibrillation on all pulse-less non-breather calls. The Evansville Night Out is scheduled for August 15, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A free of charge pool party will be offered to anyone in attendance after demonstrations are complete. A condensed Bike Rodeo will also be held for local children. 10. Motion by Fuchs, second by Jacobson, to adjourn at 7:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Jacobson, Chairperson These minutes are not official until approved by Public Safety at their next regular meeting

Public Safety Meets Wed, Sept 4, 2013

NOTICE The regular meeting of the Public Safety Committee for the City of Evansville will be held on the 4th day of September, 2013 at 6:30 p.m., in Common Council Chambers, 31 South Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin. Notice is further given that members of the City Council might be in attendance. Public Safety Committee Wednesday, September 4, 2013 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting Common Council Chambers 31 South Madison Street AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Motion to approve the August 7, 2013 regular meeting and the August 15, 2013 special meeting minutes as printed 5. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed 6. Old Business – 7. New Business a. Motion to approve the Operator’s License application(s) for: 1) Michael R Paulson 2) Whitney M Snyder b. Motion to approve the application for the Temporary Class “B”/”Class B” Retailer’s License for Evansville Chamber of Commerce & Tourism for the Shop, Savor and Stroll Chamber Event on September 20, 2013 in the Eager Economy Building, 7 East Main Street, Evansville Wisconsin. c. Discussion regarding Community Outreach with Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force d. Update and discuss the Park Store burglary, the Press Box Fire and the Church Street explosive device e. Discussion of Police Department 2014 Budget f. Discussion of Emergency Medical Service 2014 Budget 8. Evansville Police Report 9. Evansville Medical Service Report 10. Motion to adjourn Barbara Jacobson, Chairperson Requests for persons with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this meeting should be made to the Clerk’s office by calling 882-2266 with as much advance notice as possible. Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Evansville Meetings September 2013

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 Labor Day City Offices Closed 3 Plan Commission 6:00pm City Hall Fire District 7:00pm Fire Station 425 Water St Tourism Comm No Meeting 4 Public Safety 6:30pm City Hall 5 Finance/Labor Rel 5:30pm City Hall 6 7 8 9 Park Board 6:00pm City Hall 10 Common Council 6:30pm City Hall 11 EMS 6:00pm EMS Building 11 W Church St 12 Board of Review 4:00-6:00 pm City Hall Housing Auth 6:30pm Housing Auth 455 S 1st St 13 14 Municipal Court 7:45am City Hall 15 16 Economic Dev 6:00pm City Hall 17 Youth Center 6:00pm Youth Center 209 S 1st St 18 Historic Pres 6:30pm City Hall 19 20 21 22 23 24 Public Works 6:00pm DPW Shop 535 S Madison St Library Board 5:30pm Library 39 W Main St 25 Water & Light 5:00pm W&L Shop 15 Old Hwy 92 Municipal Court 6:30pm City Hal 26 Common Council 5:45pm City Hall 27 28 Comm. Of the Whole 8:00 am Creekside 102 Maple 29 30

OpEd: NFL Settles Concussion Suit with 4500 players: Concussion Ins coverage next for High school and college players?

The settlement announcement yesterday by the NFL with 4500 players gives one pause and suggests that if taxpayers would like to avoid a huge liability surprise on their tax statements, comprehensive concussion coverage for high school and college football players is next---this would be a pay to play program...pay the insurance if you want to play... Maybe it should be expanded to the grade school football programs also. Stay tuned as I follow this story.

I and E Club Meets September 11th: Beer Business on the Agenda

September 11: Build Your Own Beer Business I&E Club is presenting, just in time for Oktoberfest, a program on building your own beer business. Come to the next meeting Sept. 11 to hear Page Buchanan of House of Brews. This Madison microbrewery -- nanobrewery? -- is small but mighty unique due to its business model! This program is sponsored by CloudKnocker, a platform that allows you to search from your mobile device without being "tracked" for advertising purposes. Save the date and come to Creekside Place for this next meeting!

Evansville Observer: Mailbag: Krake: Theodore Robinson Plein Air Compe...

Evansville Observer: Mailbag: Krake: Theodore Robinson Plein Air Compe...: Theodore Robinson Plein Air Committee PO Box 321 Evansville WI 53536 Hello, It’s hard to believe that nearly two months have pass...

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Minutes: Water and Light: July 2013

Water & Light Committee Meeting Regular Meeting Wednesday, July 31, 2013 Water & Light Shop, 15 Old Highway 92, Evansville, Wisconsin 5:00 p.m. MINUTES 1. Meeting called to order at 5:01 PM. Present-Brooks, Ladick, Montgomery. Also present, Mark Sendelbach, Brian Berquist, Mayor Sandy Decker. Dan Wietecha arrived during budget discussion. 2. Motion to approve Agenda as printed. Ladick/Montgomery- passed unanimously 3. Motion to waive the reading and approve June 26, 2013, Water & Light minutes as printed. Ladick/Montgomery -passed unanimously 4. Citizen appearances other than agenda items. None. 5. Customer concerns. Discussion and possible motions for billing adjustments. None. 6. Superintendent Report. a. Project Updates i. Garfield Ave-Underground portions of project are nearly complete. Surface work will begin during 1st full week of August. Mark requested that utility be informed when removal of the old road work will be near underground electric. ii. Hwy 59 -work is complete at both ends. Early billing looks to be higher than estimate but Mark is investigating timing of transition to old 92 for possible billing overlap. iii. Old 92 & 5th St -Poles are set and line has been pulled from Madison Street to Hyne Road. b. Disconnection report-Disconnection postponed one week due to high heat. 16 notices sent, 11 still disconnected. Four notices sent for nonpayment of repayment plans. One still disconnected, possibly occupied. 7. Committee Reports a. Capital Budget discussion-As part of capital budget discussion we looked at the report from Dixon Engineering regarding condition of the water tower. Recommendations from Dixon suggest that painting inside and outside, and various maintenance items should be undertaken in a 1 to 2 year timeframe rather than 5 years we were expecting from early reports. Total estimated cost for all repairs, paint, and upgrades, including $29,000 worth of engineering and contingencies, is $218,000. 2013 capital budget had estimated $160,000 in 2014 for painting the water tower. b. Mayor Decker, Mark, Sendelbach, and Jim Brooks met with Lauri Isaacson, Cory Neeley, and Phil Hansen of WPPI on the morning of July 31 to discuss AMI costs and possible timing. Prior capital budgets have allocated $50,000 per year on an ongoing basis for implementation of AMI, a figure that has been recognized is unrealistic. Based on equipment recommendations from Elster and discussion with WPPI regarding timing and financing. Total project expenses for implementation would be near $600,000. 1st year expenses for MDM integration would include $25,000 in WPPI service startup fees and $6000 for CIS Clarity implementation. Yearly ongoing expenses would be approximately $8200 per year for WPPI MDM management plus $1500 per year for Elster software license. c. Based on earlier estimates of revenue restraints and revenue caps, ability to finance major street repair project 2014 appears unlikely. The utility had budgeted $362,500 for 2014 for a 4th Street project that is unlikely to happen in that timeframe. d. Based on these discussions changes will be made to draft capital budget worksheet to reflect these expenditures: i. For 2014-remove $50,000 for smart grid meter program. Urban rebuild, $75,000 from cash on hand. Truck number 8 replacement, $28,000 placeholder, committee requested Mark to get more accurate estimate for replacement. The Union Street transformer project, $265,000 from cash on hand using proceeds from 2013 bonding. Move 4th Street project $362,474 to 2015. Increase Paint Water Tower from $160,000 to $220,000. Add $15,000 from funds on hand for GIS handheld and mapping project. Bring Northeast Urban rebuild forward from 2015, $425,000, if funding source can be identified. ii. 2015-remove $50,000 smart grid, remove $265,000 Union St. , move 2nd Street project $553,124 to 2016, remove $160,000 paint water tower, remove $425,000 Northeast Urban rebuild. Add new capital line for AMI implementation $600,000 total with $300,000 financed by no interest loan from WPPI. We’ve asked Lauri Isaacson to investigate possible loan balances for 2015. e. Mayor Decker requested that the committee look at Lineman wage competitiveness in the marketplace before placing operating budget request to Council. Committee asked for more information to be reviewed at August meeting. 8. WPPI Report. a. Written Report 9. Old Business. a. Discussion and motion to remove from table motion made April 24 to accept bid for water tower cleaning. (Carried from June)- Following discussion, no motion was made. Earlier motion failed on table. b. Motion to accept contract with Water Tower Clean and Coat to clean tower in the amount of $3200.- Rendered moot by 9a. 10. New Business.-None 11. Upcoming meeting dates. Next meeting at August 28, 2013- 5:00 at W&L Shop 12. Motion to adjourn. Ladick/Montgomery, meeting adjourned at 6:12 PM. Jim Brooks Committee Chairperson

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Business Corner: Fun with Ameritrade at the Palmer House in Chicago: MarketDrive: The Magic of Tom Sosnoff

When hundreds of investors gather on a warm beautiful afternoon on Saturday to hear investment talk, and then after the keynote speech at 2:00PM all the older guys gather around the key speaker like a mosh pit at a rock concert---then you know you have something special---and that was the way it was in Chicago on Saturday at the Palmer House when Ameritrade put on their "Market Drive" event and Tom Sosnoff, one of the creators of the "Think or Swim" platform was the keynote speaker---My daughter, Molly had flown in on Friday night for the event and I wondered if all the effort was going to be worth it----WOW....it was the finest business event I have ever been to... The move of Ameritrade buying "Tasty trade" has meant a surge of creativity and intensity added to the capital and class of the Ameritrade organization....and the combination was on full display on Saturday....after it was all over, Molly just said: "That was stunning". If you have a chance to attend an event like this, I urge you to do so....you can watch all the video you want...read all the blurbs, but there is nothing like in person and the dynamics of talking with fellow...ya..mostly older folks..it was just wonderful...and the wonder of the restored Palmer House and the design of the event was fabulous...hope you can attend an event like this someday....

Coming soon to Creekside--Oktoberfest in Monroe PLUS Badger Game after-----Sept 14, 2013

Bus Trip to Minhas Oktoberfest in Monroe September 14 Bus leaves Creekside Place at 11am and returns by 8 pm $35 Fare Includes All This · Bus Trip via Kobussen Party Bus · Leave the driving to us · One Bloody Mary or Screwdriver at Creekside Place · Box Lunch by Greg of The Night Owl · Music and Fun all afternoon at Minhas Oktoberfest · Back to The Night Owl for the Badger Game

Minutes: Eager Library Board of Trustees: July 30, 2013

Eager Free Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes from July 30, 2013 1. Call to Order Board President Susan Kruser called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Trustees present: Kruser, Sharon Cybart, Eloise Eager, Gwen Clendenning, Wally Shannon, Vicki Lecy-Luebke. Also present: Library Director Megan Kloeckner, Bill Wilson (Himmel and Wilson, Library Consultant), Gregory Baum (FEH Associates, Inc., Architectural Firm) Absent: Bob Flaherty 2. Amendment to Agenda Eager moved to change the order of the agenda to allow our speaker to move ahead of business items. Shannon seconded the motion. All approved. 3. Gregory Baum Library consultant Wilson introduced Baum to the Board, along with some background information about other library projects he has been involved with. Baum presented to the Board an expansion process used by FEH Associates, Inc. The nine steps include: a. Building Needs Statement b. Project Goals for Success c. Site Assessment and Alternatives d. Existing Building, Drawing, Codes, and Engineering Evaluation e. Evaluation Criteria f. Design Charrette and Community Participation g. Site/Concept Development Costs h. Funding City, Grants, Capital Planning Study, Campaign i. Timetable and Schedule Baum recommended this process should start 14 months before funding is sought. The cost of this process, with this firm, is approximately $18,000. Two names were given as recommendations for the capital campaign work. 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes Shannon moved to approve the June minutes. Eager seconded. Motion passed. 5. July Bills Shannon moved to approve the bills as presented. Cybart seconded. Roll call vote: Ayes—Kruser, Eager, Clendenning, Shannon, Cybart, Lecy-Luebke. Motion carried. 6. Librarian’s Report a. Budget Update and Circulation The preliminary 2014 budget will be submitted to City in August. The budget is right on target for this year. Circulation has increased since May by approximately 800. We have been borrowing less and lending more! b. Programming Update Teen program attendance varied from 10 to 15 attendees. Programming for the younger children ended in July. Program attendance, not counting the summer reading program, was 196. c. August Author Visit Jamie Swenson will be leading the storytime August 21. The Friends of the Library will purchase her book Boom!Boom!Boom! from Book World at a discount and will be able to return those not sold. d. Fax Prices Patrons will now pay one dollar per page for using the fax machine. This will replace the confusing variety of prices charged previously. 7. Old Business a. Gift Policy Cybart has an expert examining our policy. b. No Build Easement Shannon spent a day at the Historical Society examining documents which are now in probate. c. Social Media Policy Shannon moved to adopt the policy that Arrowhead Library System has put forth. Clendenning seconded. All approved. Motion passed. 8. New Business a. Treasurer’s Report Clendenning updated the Board on all monetary accounts. A question arose about taxable dividends and interest that Clendenning will check out. A donation from Don Emerich’s memorial service is to be designated for computer purposes. The Board is grateful to the family. b. Dress Code Patron comment expressing concern for appropriate dress was shared. The Board policy was examined and it was determined that Kloeckner would address any situations deemed inappropriate. 9. Adjourn Clendenning moved to adjourn the meeting; Lecy-Luebke seconded. Meeting Adjourned at 6:55 p.m. (Eager departs 6:30 p.m.) Next meeting: August 27, 2013 Minutes by Trustee Lecy-Luebke Note: Minutes of the Library Board of Trustees are not official until approved the Library Board of Trustees at a meeting called and noticed for that purpose.

Nostalgia: 2008: Having it All; Knocking on Heaven's Door

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013 Classic: 2008: Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven's Door: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2008 "Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven's Door" or "Son of a Preacher Man"---a true story (Ed.note: click on the post for a version of the song by Bob Dylan) Last Sunday, as the family headed out of town to launch the youngest to college, we reached for the music---it had been a long standing tradition that the very first song was always supposed to be a Tom Petty number. I offered that I had a special Tom Petty tape from years ago and they said "O.K." As the song began, there were some moans. "We don't want Bob Dylan," they said in unison. "Relax" I said. Tom Petty is coming shortly. Then Tom Petty came on stage to thunderous applause and he began singing "Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven's door with Dylan, in limited acoustic version. We had never heard this version. We all loved it. As the car rolled along, I remembered a famous lunch I attended last December----a lunch of all the community organizations in Evansville. I don't get invited to too many lunches, and was just launching into the entre when the main speaker arose. We will call him "Son of a Preacher Man"---- He began by recounting that he indeed was the son of a preacher man---and that many organizations in Evansville had dreams----and those in attendence knew what they were. He went on: "For a second, let's just go around the room and list off all of these dreams"----and they obliged. The new library, the new fire station, the new city hall, the new police quarters, the Lake Leota Project, the new schools, two of them, the new community center, and the new waste water treatment plant." Just then, I decided to bite into my sandwich: The speaker went on. "I know that there are some who think we need to make choices. That we cannot have ALL of these things at once. For me, as the son of a Preacher man, I think otherwise. We can have it ALL!!! And NOW. That is what I believe." That is when I chocked on my sandwich. Posted by Evansville Observer at 10:32 AM

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Mailbag: Wireman: Events of note:

two events from Wisconsin Women's Network ONE 1. Many Voices, One Network: A Celebration of Women's Equality Day Monday, August 26, 2013 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Sunprint Cafe on the Square 10 W. Mifflin St., Madison New! Be sure to join us on Monday for news about an exciting challenge donation! As a reminder, Women's Equality Day is our only fundraiser of the year. If you have not already done so, sponsor this great event by using the secure Paypal button below, or simply mail back the sponsorship form at this link: paypal_donate button Don't forget to bid early for your favorite items on our online silent auction site! Just visit http://www.32auctions.com/WED2013 to view the items, create an account, and start bidding! Online bidding closes on Monday, August 26th at noon. Final bidding will take place at our Women's Equality Day Celebration. Have questions? Contact us at 608-255-9809 or info@wiwomensnetwork.org. TWO 2. Join us for a "Women on Topic" Brown Bag on the Student Loan Debt Crisis Join us for the next WWN "Women on Topic" Brown Bag discussion on Tuesday, September 3rd! The September Brown Bag will be led by Analiese Eicher and will focus on the student loan debt crisis and its September Speaker Analiese Eicher impacts. Eicher is the Program and Development Manager at partner organizations One Wisconsin Now and One Wisconsin Institute where she primarily works on two programs: fighting the trillion dollar student loan debt crisis; and protecting the right to vote. Eicher is an expert on voter suppression efforts aimed at students and young people in Wisconsin and is involved in first-of-its-kind research and groundbreaking polling on the issue of student loan debt and its effects on Wisconsin and the nation's economy. Read her full bio at this link. The September Brown Bag will take place in the WWN Conference Room, located in the Center for Change, 612 W. Main St., Suite 200, Madison. Have an idea for a great Brown Bag discussion topic or want more information about the series? Call us at 608-255-9809 or email info@wiwomensnetwork.org. See a list of past Brown Bag speakers at this link.

School Scoop: Let's Form Evansville's Academic Warriors!

School Scoop: Let's Form Evansville's Academic Warriors!: Calling all folks who are passionate about academic excellence! I have an idea I have been noodling about in my brain for a few years. Every...

Mailbag: Vinehout: Budget Myths Abound

Budget Myths Abound “The State is spending less.” “This budget took a deficit and turned it into a surplus.” “Wisconsin has paid off its debt.” Which of these are true statements regarding the new state budget? The answer is NONE of the above. Getting information about what’s happening in Madison is one of the most common complaints of my constituents. The slow summer news cycle allowed writers and readers to begin to catch up on, for example, the plethora of policy unrelated to the budget. Lost in most budget reviews are the basic financials – the fundamentals of the budget. Myth number one says the state spending is less and implies the size of government is smaller. But, according to numbers released by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, the 2013-15 budget spends $4 billion more than the previous. In fact, state spending is greater than it has ever been in Wisconsin’s history. The new spending goes to a number of expensive new programs. Half of the $4 billion goes to health spending. But for first time in many years there are fewer people covered by state health programs. Nearly 100,000 people are expected to lose state health coverage by January. Not taking federal money for Medicaid expansion left the state budget and citizenry in worse shape. Myth number two says this budget took a deficit and turned it into a surplus. The opposite is true. A recent Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) report tells the story. The 2013-15 budget began with a small surplus. Tax collections are improved. Wisconsin is emerging from the recession. The state had a bit more money to spend. But the recently passed budget spends more than it is projected to collect in revenue. When spending is greater than revenue – a deficit exists. Lawmakers are bound by the state constitution to balance the budget. To do this, budget writers carried money over from the last fiscal year to create a technically balanced budget. But when spending exceeds revenue the imbalance catches up with us in the next budget creating a “structural” (or built in) deficit. A recent report from the LFB pegs this deficit at the end of the 2015-2017 budget at MINUS $545 million. People are rightly confused about the difference between the deficit and the debt. Sometimes lawmakers use the terms interchangeably. But they are very different. A deficit is a mismatch between spending and revenue - spending more than money coming in. Debt is borrowing and must be paid back. Spending more than money coming in can certainly lead to more borrowing. This is exactly what’s happening in Wisconsin. The third myth says the state eliminated the debt. This is false. In fact, state debt reaches record levels in the 2013-15 budget. Why? The budget increases borrowing by more than $2 billion. Almost half of this borrowing goes to transportation spending. In addition, debt payments not made in the last legislative session catch up to lawmakers. When debt payments are not paid, interest adds up. In the depths of the recession, Governor Doyle delayed debt payments to gain cash and keep government going. In the 2011-13 legislative session, Governor Walker did not pay an even larger amount of debt payments coming due. Because debt payments were not made more money goes to pay off debt in this budget than ever before. I often hear smart budget decisions mean better times ahead. But delaying debt payments always has a cost. This budget pays that price in a greater percent of tax dollars going to pay off debt than ever before in our history. New borrowing only adds to the debt. As a result state debt reaches an all-time high of $14.7 billion - or about 101% of general tax revenue. Another myth even state officials parrot is the only alternative to spending cuts is tax increases. This assumes everything in government is at peak efficiency. This is far from the truth. Smarter budget decisions mean smarter spending decisions. An example is paying debt bills when they are coming due – so as not to add interest and penalties. But to do that would not have allowed the “surplus” used to justify the modest but politically popular tax cut.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Mailbag: Fracking: Meeting Tomorrow, August 22, 2013

Thursday, August 22, 2013 is the day! It is coming! The time is NOW to get letters, emails, and / or phone calls to the Riverway Board! This is our last chance before the very important vote TOMORROW. If you ask Mark Cupp, Executor Director of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, to forward emails to ALL board members, he will do that: mark.cupp@wisconsin.gov ------------------------------------------------------ As you compose your statements, you may find talking points to be helpful. Talking [writing] points can be found at http://www.crawfordstewardshipproject.org/sand-mining.htm . ------------------------------------------------------- **Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 5:00 pm** Location: Crawford County Administration Building at 225 N. Beaumont Road in Prairie du Chien Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board meeting in Prairie du Chien. Decision will be made on the part of the Bridgeport Mine that is located within the Riverway land boundaries. We need a very large outpouring of citizens at this meeting to show the board our support for No Frac Sand Mining within the Riverway lands. Please realize the importance of this meeting and the action the board takes! Their decision will impact the Wisconsin River for generations to come...forever. A mine with a view: Loophole opens the door for frac sand mine near Wisconsin River

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Minutes: Plan Commission: August 2013:

City of Evansville Plan Commission Regular Meeting Tuesday, August 6, 2013, 6:00 p.m. Creekside Place, 102 Maple Street MINUTES 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 6:01 pm by Mayor Sandy Decker. 2. Roll Call. Members present: Mason Braunschweig, Mayor Sandy Decker, Matt Eaton, John Gishnock, Bill Hammann, and Jon Senn. Members absent: Carol Endres. Others present: Community Development Director Nicole Sidoff and members of the public. 3. Approval of Agenda. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Senn, to approve the agenda. Motion approved 6-0. 4. Approval of Minutes. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hammann, to waive the reading of the minutes from the July 1, 2013 regular meeting and approve them as printed. Motion approved 6-0. 5. Civility Reminder. Decker noted the monthly civility reminder. 6. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed. None. 7. New Business a. Public Hearing concerning a proposed application for a Conditional Use Permit request for 498 Water Street to permit a vehicle repair and maintenance facility in an I-1 (Light Industrial) District i. Initial Staff and Applicant Comments - Sidoff explained that the applicant was currently operating a vehicle repair and maintenance business at 170 S. Union Street, which is in the wellhead protection zone. The applicant was looking for a new space outside of the wellhead protection zone, and 498 Water Street is outside of that zone. Additionally, a vehicle repair and maintenance facility had been approved for the 498 Water Street location in the past. ii. Public Hearing - Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 6:04 pm. Tim Magee, 528 Water Street, noted that he thought the proposed conditions were appropriate, as they would prevent junked vehicles from being stored on the parcel. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 6:05 pm. iii. Plan Commissioner Questions and Comments - Braunschweig suggested that the sixth condition, which is related to hours of operation, should be amended to allow the business to be open until 7 pm, which would allow residents that work out of town to “shop local”. Plan Commission members discussed reasonable hours for an auto repair business in that neighborhood and agreed that 7 am to 7 pm would be acceptable. iv. Motion - Motion by Braunschweig, seconded by Hammann to approve issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for Vehicle Repair and Maintenance for 498 Water Street, finding that the benefits of the use outweigh any potential adverse impacts, and that the proposed use is consistent with the required standards and criteria for issuance of a CUP set forth in Section 130-104(3)(a) through (e) of the Zoning Ordinance. The Permit is approved subject to the following conditions: 1. The business operator, now and in the future, shall comply with all provisions in the City’s Zoning Code, as may be amended, related to vehicle repair and maintenance (Section 130-417). 2. No vehicles associated with the vehicle repair and maintenance business or being served by the vehicle repair and maintenance business may be stored off-site or on City streets. 3. No vehicles being serviced by the vehicle repair and maintenance business may be stored at the facility for longer than 4 weeks. 4. No more than 12 customer vehicles being serviced by the vehicle repair and maintenance business shall be parked on the subject property at any point in time. 5. No items associated with the vehicle repair and maintenance business may be stored outside, other than what is expressly allowed under these conditions. 6. Hours of operation shall be limited to Monday-Saturday: 7 am – 7 pm. (Changed from 8 am - 5 pm). 7. All regulations by other governmental entities pertaining to the use shall be adhered to at all times. 8. The use shall comply with Article III of Chapter 130 at all times (Article III concerns performance standards). b. Public Hearing concerning a proposed application for a Conditional Use Permit request for 40 W. Liberty Street to permit a duplex in an R-1 District i. Initial Staff and Applicant Comments - Sidoff explained that the applicant was looking to combine a house and a cottage into one structure to meet the family’s needs for more space. The existing house and cottage are currently non-conforming, and it was determined that only way to expand the cottage while complying with the City’s Zoning Code was to combine the two structures and operate them as a duplex. Because the property is in a Historic Preservation District, the applicant was required to take their plans to the Historic Preservation Commission for review. The HPC approved the plans to combine the house and cottage. Braunschweig asked for clarification on the site map regarding where the new construction would be. ii. Public Hearing - Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 6:12 pm. There were no public comments. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 6:13 pm. iii. Plan Commissioner Questions and Comments - Hammann asked how many square feet the applicant was adding. Applicant Nicole Batinich noted that they would be adding 575 square feet. iv. Motion - Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hammann to approve issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for a duplex at 40 W. Liberty Street/128 S. First Street, finding that the benefits of the use outweigh any potential adverse impacts, and that the proposed use is consistent with the required standards and criteria for issuance of a CUP set forth in Section 130-104(3)(a) through (e) of the Zoning Ordinance. c. Update on City of Evansville Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan - Sidoff noted that the Park and Recreation Board (PRB) is doing a prioritization of recommendations this week and discussing the results at their meeting next week. The PRB will review the final draft of the Plan at their September meeting, and the Plan will come to Plan Commission to review and recommend to Common Council in October. 8. Monthly Reports a. Report on other permitting activity by Zoning Administrator. Sidoff noted she has been assisting Bluescope with the permit application process for replacing their bridge over Allen Creek. b. Report on the Unified Land Development Code Committee. No report. c. Report of the Evansville Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission approved the construction project to convert the property at 40 W. Liberty Street to a duplex, as per the discussion under item 7a. d. Report on Common Council actions relating to Plan Commission recommendations. No report. e. Report on Board of Appeals actions relating to zoning matters. Sidoff noted that Ward-Hurtley Funeral Home is applying for a sign variance, as they would like to have a larger sign than what is allowed in the residential district in which they are located. The Board of Appeals meeting will take place on Monday, August 19 at 5 pm at City Hall. f. Enforcement Report. Sidoff noted that the junked car issues in the City are being dealt with and progress is being made. Additionally, staff realized while dealing with that issue and the wellhead protection zone enforcement that a number of vehicle repair businesses do not have conditional use permits. This issue is being addressed, as per the agenda item earlier tonight and another applicant that will likely be coming forward at the September Plan Commission meeting. 9. Meeting Reminder. The next Plan Commission meeting will be on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 6 pm at City Hall. Note the change from the regular day of the week, due to the Labor Day holiday. 10. Adjournment. Hammann made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to adjourn at 6:17 pm. Motion approved 6-0. The minutes are not official until approved by the Plan Commission at their next regular meeting.

Excitement of Light Rail begins in St. Paul, Mn.:;;Will open for the Major League Baseball All Star Game, 1914

Overnight light rail vehicle tests beginning on University Avenue ST. PAUL, Minn. – Aug. 16, 2013 –Overhead wires for Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (Green Line) will be energized on the western half of University Avenue so overnight testing of light rail vehicles can begin there the week of Aug. 26. “With these tests, the Central Corridor LRT Project continues to make excellent progress toward our goal of opening in mid-2014 before the Major League Baseball All-Star game at Target Field next July. Construction is now 95 percent complete,” Metropolitan Council Chair Sue Haigh said. Beginning late night Aug. 26 into overnight hours, a light rail vehicle (LRV) is scheduled to operate on University Avenue between Stadium Village in Minneapolis and Fry Street, which is two blocks west of Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. The LRV will draw power from the overhead wires for the first time in this stretch of the 11-mile line. Light rail vehicles may be present anywhere along this segment during overnight hours. Late in the week of Aug. 19 in preparation for the so-called live wire tests the following week, a railcar mover will pull an LRV along University between Stadium Village and Fry during daytime hours to verify clearances before the lines are energized. The first live wire test of an LRV anywhere on the corridor occurred late night July 25 from the West Bank through the East Bank to Stadium Village. Live wire tests through campus resumed overnight the first full week of August and are continuing there through September. Testing on the eastern half of University Avenue and the rest of the corridor will begin later this fall. Months of testing will follow, the outcome of which will determine the line’s opening date in mid-2014. With the advent of LRV testing, Metro Transit has introduced a Green Line Quiz Bowl safety video and public service announcements. They were produced with the help of the City of Saint Paul Communications Services and its own Nick Nelson, aka “Mr. St. Paul Video,” as well as project and Metro Transit staffers. “We took a game show-style approach in hopes of getting people’s attention on the important issue of how to stay safe around light rail trains. We want people to understand that safety is a shared responsibility,” said Mike Conlon, Metro Transit’s director of rail and bus safety. Here are the links to the Green Line Quiz Bowl video and three PSAs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH2iAQBVF0I Mid-block crossing PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYduwYwAaxQ Crossing tracks PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqHgEXaXS2I Stations PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2vE6FnLnMs The videos and PSAs are the latest components of the project’s safety campaign, which includes presentations to school groups and others, safety posters at station kiosks and brochures. See the project’s safety webpage: www.centralcorridor.org/safety What to expect during overnight testing on University Avenue: For vehicles: No permanent street or sidewalk closures are scheduled. Traffic controls will be in place to help facilitate train movements through signalized intersections. For pedestrians: No permanent sidewalk or crosswalk closures are scheduled. Traffic controls will be in place to help facilitate train movements through signalized intersections. About the project: The Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Project (Green Line) will link downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis along Washington and University avenues via the state Capitol and the University of Minnesota. Construction began in late summer 2010 on the planned 11-mile Central Corridor line, and service will begin in 2014. The line will connect with the METRO Blue Line at the Metrodome station in Minneapolis and the Northstar commuter rail line at the Target Field Station. The Metropolitan Council is the grantee of federal funds. The regional government agency is charged with building the line in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The Central Corridor Management Committee, which includes commissioners from Ramsey and Hennepin counties, the mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota, provides advice and oversight. Funding is provided by the Federal Transit Administration, Counties Transit Improvement Board, state of Minnesota, Ramsey and Hennepin counties' regional railroad authorities, city of St. Paul, Metropolitan Council and the Central Corridor Funders' Collaborative. The Central Corridor LRT Project Website is www.centralcorridor.org.

Tidbits from the Tourism subcommittee minutes: July 2013:

a. Theodore Robinson Plein Air Painting Contest: Jim Brooks submitted this written report: The Plein Air event held on June 23 was once again successful with 15 participants and 8 paintings sold. Attendance was similar to 2012, and participation down slightly, perhaps due to competition with similar events in Beloit and Cedarburg on the same weeks. However, the lack of new faces and attendance at the sale from out of town means that organizers must find ways to attract new buyers for the artwork or face the diminishing returns that ended the Harvest Windmill Festival. While a returning audience of mainly local residents is encouraging the success or failure of the event will turn on attracting new purchasers to keep it financially viable. To that end, the organizers are looking at a date in September for the 2014 event. Care must be taken to not overlap the competing event in Shorewood on the 3rd weekend of September, and any Packer/Badger home game conflicts. This will be especially troubling since the 2014 Packer schedule will not be available before schedule printing deadlines for our publications.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

School Scoop: A Semi-Recent (2005) Economic Impact Study of 4K i...

School Scoop: A Semi-Recent (2005) Economic Impact Study of 4K i...: Click on the link below to see a 2005 report distributed by 4K(now), a self-describing entity that promotes the value of universal 4K. I rea...

Mailbag: Krake: Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition: Closing Ceremony--Aug 28, 2013

Theodore Robinson Plein Air Committee PO Box 321 Evansville WI 53536 Hello, It’s hard to believe that nearly two months have passed since the Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition in Evansville. But, it’s time to bring the display of those works to end. The exhibition at Creekside Place in Evansville has brought attention to the work far beyond what a single day sale could do but now it’s time to send the paintings to their new homes. Creekside Place will be holding a reception for the artists, sponsors and buyers on Wednesday night, August 28 from 6 until 7:30 PM. We invite you to join us for light refreshments and to pick up your paintings at the end of the reception. This gives the organizers one last occasion to thank all of you who’ve made it such a successful event in Evansville. We look forward to seeing all of you at Creekside place that evening, but if you are unable to attend the works will be available for pickup during business hours on Thursday and Friday as well. In just two years, the Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition has earned its place on the city’s calendar of events. The committee could not have done this alone. We thank all the sponsors, volunteers, and most importantly the artists like this all possible. Thank you. Sincerely, Rich Krake For the Organizing Committee

Tidbits from recent minutes: Economic development

a. Signage - Sidoff shared information about the Evansville Fund’s proposal to financially support a sign project. Their idea was to have a sign similar to the one in Monroe, which promotes events in the City. They proposed that the sign be located at Franklin Park, as it would be visible to people coming to the City and the four-way stop would give motorists an opportunity to read the sign. Sidoff also shared previous plans for a kiosk/sign in Franklin Park, which would mimic the architecture of the Library and serve as a “bookend” for downtown. Brooks noted that the idea of a sign promoting events is intriguing for the Evansville Community Partnership. The EDC discussed the issues of who would be responsible for maintenance and updating the sign, in addition to possible difficulties with WisDOT requirements and a lot of electrical lines being located in that corner of Franklin Park.

Tidbits from June Economic Development minutes

Took a tour of Stoughton Trailers with Keith Wise. Learned about the business - they are currently not operating at the Evansville location but would like to again in the future. They did not lay anyone off when operations ceased in Evansville - all employees were absorbed into their workforce at their other facilities.

Evansville School Board Meets Wednesday, August 14, 2013

EVANSVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Education Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday, August 14, 2013 5:30 p.m. TRIS LMC 340 Fair Street (Door 41) Note, public notice of this meeting given by posting at the District Office, Levi Leonard Elementary School Office, Theodore Robinson Intermediate School Office, J.C. McKenna Middle School Office, High School Office, Evansville School District Web Site: Evansville.k12.wi.us, and by forwarding the agenda to the Evansville Review, Union Bank & Trust and Eager Free Public Library. Approx. Time I. Roll Call: Dennis Hatfield Eric Busse Mason Braunschweig Tina Rossmiller John Rasmussen HS Rep. Hunter Johnson Kathi Swanson Sandra Spanton Nelson HS Rep. Marissa Haegele 1 min II. Approve Agenda. 1 min III. Executive Session – Under Wisconsin State Statute 19.85(1)(F) to Discuss Personal Histories of Specific Persons. 30 min IV. Public Announcements/Recognition/Upcoming Events:  August 15 – Evansville Night Out, Lake Leota Park, 6:00 – 8:00 pm  September 3 – First Day of School 1 min V. Public Presentations. 5 min VI. District Administrator Report – Update on 2013-2015 Biennial Budget. 5 min VII. Business (Action Items): A. Approval of Naming the Football Field. B. Approval of Staff Changes: Staff Resignations; Hiring of: School Nurse, Teachers, Support Staff, Co-Curricular Positions; and Administrative Contract. 15 min VIII. Information & Discussion: A. 2013-2014 FFA Overnight Field Trips. B. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Extra-Curricular Proposal. C. Citizens Advisory Committee Update. D. 4K Update. E. Second Reading of Policies: #171-Board Meetings and #760-Food Service Program. 40 min IX. Public Presentations. 5 minX. Consent (Action Items): A. Approval of July 24, 2013, Regular Meeting Minutes. B. Approval of June Bills and Reconciliation. 5 min XI. August 28, 2013, Regular Meeting Agenda. 5 min XII. Ten Minute Recess. 10 min XIII. Executive Session – Under Wisconsin State Statute 19.85(1)(c) to Discuss District Administrator Evaluation. 15 min Mission Statement: The Evansville Community School District, in active partnership with families and the community, will provide a positive learning environment that challenges all studen

Board of Appeals meets Monday, Aug 19, 2013

NOTICE The regular meeting of the Evansville Board of Zoning Appeals will be held on the date and time stated below at City Hall (Third Floor), 31 South Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin. Notice is further given that members of the City Council and Plan Commission may be in attendance. City of Evansville Board of Zoning Appeals Monday, August 19, 2013, 5:00 p.m. City Hall (Third Floor), 31 South Madison Street AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes - motion to waive the reading of the minutes from May 13, 2013 meeting and approve them as printed 4. Action Items A. Public Hearing concerning a variance application for parcel number 6-27-558.1 at 130 South Fifth Street (Ward-Hurtley Funeral Home) to allow for a larger sign than is allowed by Section 130-1278(c) of the Zoning Ordinance. i. Initial Staff and Applicant Comments ii. Public Hearing iii. Board of Zoning Appeals Questions and Comments iv. Motion 5. Motion to Adjourn Steve Stacy, Chair, City of Evansville Board of Zoning Appeals Requests for persons with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this meeting should be made to the Clerk’s office by calling 882-2266 with as much advance notice as possible. Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you. A

Mailbag: Sue: Great Program at I and E Meeting on Wednesday--Aug 14: Sector67

Hi everyone! This is one more reminder about our amazing August meeting. Meet Chris Meyers and know that this is a person who is shaping the future for inventors and entrepreneurs EVERYWHERE. He’s the founder of Sector67, a place where folks with ideas can see how they turn out. Inventors get to make prototypes; entrepreneurs get ideas of what makes a business like this work. Here’s a link to an older newspaper article about Chris and Sector67: http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=33190 This meeting is sponsored by MadREP, an agency deeply interested in helping inventors and entrepreneurs thrive in this area. For more about them: www.thrivehere.org or www.madisonregion.org. If you missed Halina’s news release, here is it. See you Wednesday! Get Your Inventor/Entrepreneur “Fix” at Sector67 At Aug. 14 I&E Club Is your ingenuity and tinkering at home driving your significant other up the wall? Have you accumulated so many gadgets and soldering irons that your mate is planning to have a secret garage sale while you’re away? Fear not, fellow inventor/entrepreneur: Sector67 offers innovation-minded individuals like you a safe haven, classes and access to even more cool equipment and tools including drill presses, oscilloscopes, injection molders and 3D printers. Chris Meyer, the founder of Sector67, will be discussing how this hacker space can help you create your next great invention or business idea at the upcoming Evansville Area Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club meeting. The meeting is free and open to the public. Following Meyer’s presentation, attendees will be able to sample the refreshments generously sponsored by the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP), an economic development organization that encompasses eight Wisconsin counties including Rock County. Sector67 is located at 2100 Winnebago St., Madison. For more information, please call (608

Monday, August 12, 2013

Dane Dances: Friday August 16: 5:30PM to 9:30PM

Dane Dances! Friday, August 16 • 5:30 - 9:30 PM Monona Terrace Rooftop Featuring: Christopher Project at 6PM MadiSalsa at 8PM DJ Pain 1 spins at 5:30PM & 7:30PM Ethnic Food Vendors: • Blowin' Smoke BBQ • Francisco's Cantina • Kipp's Cuisine The Lake Vista CafĂ© will have a special Dane Dances! menu and will be open for the entire event. In case of inclement weather concert will be moved inside. Call 261.4000 or visit communityevents.mononaterrace.com after 2pm for concert location.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Mailbag: Beer vs Fracking

BEER VS FRACKING Germany’s Reinheitsgebot, a 500-year old beer purity law, forces brewers to utilize only 4 ingredients in the beer-making process: hops, malt, yeast, and water. One of these ingredients, water, may be threatened in Germany due to the recent acceleration of the hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) industry, which German brewers say could leak chemicals into their private wells, leading to imperfections in their valued product. The Deutschen Brauer-Bund (Association of German Breweries) has urged further research and improved methods before the government’s legislation on fracking is passed. Two large German brewers, Bitburger and Anheuser Busch have shown their distaste for fracking as well, providing a powerful opponent to Angela Merkel’s pro-fracking stance. Other nations have also shown their opposition to the controversial method of oil/natural gas retrieval where water, sand, and various chemicals are pumped into the ground to break up shale rock. The United Kingdom temporarily banned fracking after drilling practices were connected to a series of earthquakes. Bulgaria and France completely outlawed the practice, and several other moratoriums have occurred in nations such as Argentina, South Africa, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Australia. In the U.S., Vermont was the first state to ban fracking on May 17th, 2012. Here in Pennsylvania, where there are currently over 110 licensed breweries, beer makers could be a factor in fracking legislation as well. We have many microbreweries and even have America’s oldest brewing company, Yuengling. With the beer history and culture that our state has, our groundwater is an asset that we should protect. A study at Duke University (http://biology.duke.edu/jackson/pnas2011.pdf) has shown that water wells in active fracking areas have, on average, 17 times the amount of methane as water wells in non-active areas. This is just one of the possible threats of fracking, others of which involve the improper storage and disposal of fracking water waste which could release various chemicals into the ground. Illegal dumping into streams, rivers, and abandoned coal mines has occurred in some cases as well. Info: Carlana Rhoten (412) 363-7472 rhotenassociates@gmail.com

Evansville Park Board Meets Monday, Aug 12th: 5 Year Park Plan Front Burner

City of Evansville, Wisconsin Park & Recreation Board Regular Monthly Meeting Evansville, City Hall Monday, August 12th , 6:00pm AGENDA 1. Call to Order & Roll Call 2. Motion to approve Agenda as printed 3. Motion to waive the reading of the JULY 9TH , 2013 minutes & approve them as printed 4. Citizen appearances, relating to Park & Recreation, not listed agenda items 5. 2014 Budget Discussion – Dan Wietecha 6. 5 Year Park Plan Discussion 7. Chair’s report from committees/council – Antes Fund: Projects & Possible Uses 8. Pool Report 9. Reports/Updates on projects or Maintenance 10. Old Business 11. New Business 12. Motion to adjourn Next meeting Monday, September 9th, 2013 - 6:00 pm, City Hall

Friday, August 09, 2013

Common Council Meets Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Common Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, August 13, 2013, 6:30 p.m. City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI Agenda 1. Call to order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Motion to waive the reading of the minutes of the July 9, 2013, regular meeting and to approve them as presented. 5. Civility reminder. 6. Citizen appearances 7. Reports of Committees A. Library Board Report B. Youth Center Advisory Board Report C. Finance and Labor Relations Committee Report (1). Motion to accept the City and Water & Light bills as presented. (2). Fiscal Overview. a. Wietecha b. Ehlers (3). Motion to approve Resolution 2013-08, mending the City of Evansville’s Fee Schedule. D. Plan Commission Report (1). Motion to approve sale of parcel 6-27-684.4 with contingencies. E. Public Safety Committee Report F. Public Works Committee Report G. Water & Light Committee Report H. Economic Development Committee Report (1). Motion to approve letter of support for Southern Wisconsin Agriculture Group (SWAG). I. Redevelopment Authority Report J. Parks and Recreation Board Report K. Historic Preservation Commission Report L. Fire District Report M. Police Commission Report N. Energy Independence Team Report O. Board of Appeals Report 8. Unfinished Business. A. Second reading and motion to adopt Ordinance 2013-05, Amending Chapter 122 of the Municipal Code, Relative to No Parking Zones. [Sponsors Jacobson and Fuchs]. 9. Communications and Recommendations from the Mayor A. Update: Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) focus group. 10. Communications from the City Administrator A. 2014 Budget: determine date for department/committee presentations in September. B. Managing the Visionistas of Urban America article. 11. New Business A. Discussion and possible motion regarding payment for traffic impact analysis for Southern Wisconsin Agriculture Group (SWAG) development. 12. Introduction of New Ordinances 13. Meeting Reminders: A. Regular Meeting: Tuesday, Sept 10, 6:30 pm, City Hall. B. Committee of the Whole Meeting: Saturday, Sept 28, 8:00 am, Creekside Place. 14. Adjournment Sandra J. Decker, Mayor Requests for persons with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this meeting should be made to the Clerk’s office by calling 882-2266 with as much advance notice as possible. Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you.

School Scoop: 4K Investigative Meeting Report

School Scoop: 4K Investigative Meeting Report: The meeting to kick off the fourth 4K investigation in 6 years was a great disappointment for me. I keep going to these meetings hoping to s...

2007: Mr. Pierick Speaks on 4K:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 Nostalgia: 2007: Mr.Pierick speaks on 4K MONDAY, JULY 16, 2007 Nostalgia: Jan 2007: Mr. Pierick Speaks on 4K------ (Ed. note; Mr. Larson of the Evansville School Board asked that 4K be placed as a board goal for the upcoming school year, or at least a review of it. I have reprinted Mr. Michael Pierick's comments about 4k at the time of the recent defeat of this proposal. It was the second consideration of 4K in one year. Mr. Larson is coming up for reelection in April of 2008.) "I have a subjective bias about preschool, and I personally believe that there are benefits to 4-year-old kindergarten. Both of my sons attended preschool, and my opinion is based upon the positive learning experience that they had. However, I have very strong reservations about going forward with this program, and even about going ahead with a pilot program. If I were to vote today, I would vote not to continue. In fact, I question why we are investing so many District resources and so much planning time on something that appears less than fully compelling. My reservations are varied. I don’t see any widely based community support for 4-year-old kindergarten, and there were more comments at the public hearing opposed to this program than in favor. This was initially presented as a program that would benefit and be supported by the existing providers of 4-year-old preschool in the District, but most of those providers who came to the public hearing spoke against it. The State legislative task force on this topic was presented a few days ago. The task force admitted that it did not vote on the recommendations. Regardless of the recommendations, there is a statement in the report that is unlikely to be refuted soon by anyone: â€Ĺ“in our current limited resource setting, increased funding for 4 year old kindergarten programs is not likely, and would only be found at the expense of another education program.” We have a facilities consulting firm, Plunkett Raysich Architects, which has given us some preliminary analysis of our facilities. According to Plunkett Raysich, we already have a need for three additional rooms to serve our elementary school population, and will need another by 2011 – in just four years. We are currently at the level of classrooms that we need to serve our intermediate school population, but will need three more rooms in four years. We now have the number of core curriculum rooms needed to serve our middle school population – not the best facility, only the right number of core curriculum rooms -- but we will need five additional classrooms in four years. And we will need one more classroom in the high school designed just five years ago. Altogether, this means we need to add about 13 classrooms in four years. The preliminary report also talks about numerous facility deficiencies in the three older buildings – some of them major deficiencies -- and even a few facility deficiencies in the new high school. The Evansville Community School District pays about two million dollars per year for construction debt. Most of that is the debt on the high school construction, which won’t be paid off for another 15 years. The rest is debt from 1992 construction to be paid off in 2012. That construction debt represents about a third of our property tax levy, two million of the six million dollars levied. However we go about adding some 13 classrooms and correcting some major deficiencies in our facilities, it is going to cost us some major money. And the only way we are going to get that money is by passing a referendum. My guess is that’s not politically doable until 2012, when the 1992 debt is fully paid. I believe that the Evansville community will support this District when we go to them and demonstrate our need for additional classrooms in order to teach additional children who have moved to the district or been born in the district. But I very much doubt that the community will support us if we increase the number of students in our buildings by adding 4 year olds over the next few years, and then turn around and say it’s too crowded. I think we need to stop planning for any 4 year old program that will place additional children in our school buildings. I think this Board needs to give a strong message about this now, so that valuable administrator and staff time can be spent on other important curriculum and planning endeavors." Posted by Evansville Observer at 4:44 PM

Evansville School Board Investigates 4 Year Old Kindergarten--Tomorrow night: Creekside: 4th time in six years

EVANSVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Evansville, WI 53536 Evansville School Board of Education Wednesday, August 7, 2013 6:30 – 8:30 pm Investigating 4 Year Old Kindergarten Creekside Place 102 Maple Street Note, public notice of this meeting given by posting at the District Office, Levi Leonard Elementary School Office, Theodore Robinson Intermediate School Office, J.C. McKenna Middle School Office, High School Office, Evansville School District Web Site: www.evansville.k12.wi.us, and by forwarding the agenda to the Evansville Review, Union Bank & Trust and Eager Free Public Library. Please be advised that a majority of the members of the Evansville Board of Education may be in attendance at this event. The governmental body will not conduct any governmental business during this event. More specific information about agenda items may b

Evansville Finance Meets Tomorrow; Thur August 8, 2013

NOTICE: The regular meeting of the Finance and Labor Relations Committee for the City of Evansville will be held on the date, time and place stated below. Notice is further given that members of the City Council might be in attendance. Finance and Labor Relations Committee Regular Meeting Thursday, August 8, 2013, 5:30 p.m. City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI AGENDA 1. Call to order and roll call. 2. Approval of Agenda. 3. Motion to waive the reading of the minutes of the July 2, 2013, regular meeting and to approve as printed. 4. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed. 5. Motion to accept the City and Water & Light bills as presented. 6. Unfinished Business: A. Discussion: Personnel Policy. B. Discussion: 2014 Budget. C. Motion to remove from the table Resolution 2013-08, Amending the City of Evansville’s Fee Schedule. 1) Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2013-08, Amending the City of Evansville’s Fee Schedule. 7. New Business: 8. Adjournment. Mason Braunschweig, Chair Requests for persons with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this meeting should be made to the City Clerk’s office by calling 882-2266 with as much advance notice as possible. Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you.

Evansville Observer: Nostalgia: November 2006: 4K: Jamie Fellows Speaks...

Evansville Observer: Nostalgia: November 2006: 4K: Jamie Fellows Speaks...: Current Daycare providers serve 142 childrens of possible 150 in Evansville. 4K proposal is duplication of services. Download File

School Scoop: District Investigates 4K for the Fourth Time in Si...

School Scoop: District Investigates 4K for the Fourth Time in Si...: Click on the link below to see that the district is again investigating 4K for the district. The meeting is TOMORROW August 7 at 6:30 at Cre...

Mailbag: Frack Film Fest

FRAC FILM FEST BARABOO First Congregational United Church of Christ 6th Ave. at Broadway, Baraboo 7:00pm parking lot entrance popcorn and lemonade will be available (also, see OTHER MEDIA events below) Wisconsin has 100+ frac sand facilities--Pennsylvania has over 2,000 frac gas drilling wells. Some welcome the industry, for others it's a disaster. "Triple Divide" by Troutman and Pribanic, is a NEW RELEASE that is just beginning to work its way across the country. The film presents factual information about the process of frack gas drilling in clear images, and it documents favorable and unfavorable impacts on local communities near the Triple (continental) Divide in Pennsylvania. Great cinematography, awesome scenery, clear and factual -- make it not just informational but a pleasure to watch. SAMPLE LETTER FROM PENNSYLVANIA (see Huffington Post) I was offered a lease (I have about 7 acres) but refused it. I love my home, my land, my area, the animals, birds and fish living near me, and all living things on this planet. No matter how much money I would have been offered, I would never accept a lease to frack my land. Instead, I have been actively fighting against the abomination of fracking. The more I learn about it, the more horrified I am that our government is allowing the destruction of our country, the contamination of our water, air and land, the onslaught of the strangest diseases, the loss of traditional jobs, the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, the spreading of silica dust... the list goes on and on. In my opinion, the only reason fracking is being allowed in this country is that a few CEOs of the richest industries in the world are getting richer, and with their wealth, and the wealth of their companies, they are buying off our politicians. It's that simple. OTHER MEDIA: Fractivists are connecting across the country! JUST POSTED on youtube.com "Frackenstein: An Environmental Nightmare" Wanda Guthrie, with the Environmental Task Force of the Thomas Merton Center, is host of this 1-hour film that links frac sand mining in Wisconsin with frack gas drilling in Pennsylvania. Produced by Carlana Rhoten, filmed by Rich Fishkin Speakers: Edie Ehlert, Wisconsin

Monday, August 05, 2013

Minutes: Public Safety: July 2013

Public Safety Committee Wednesday, July 3, 2013 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting Common Council Chambers 31 South Madison Street MINUTES 1. Chairperson Jacobson called meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Roll call of committee and staff members present was: Chairperson Jacobson and Fuchs, Police Chief Scott McElroy, and EMS Assistant Chief, Zach Beaver. Others in attendance were: Ellen Hebron and Mel Marcum, Act 11 Ride representatives and Cathy Wilke of Romano’s. 3. Motion by Jacobson, second by Fuchs, to approve the agenda as printed. 4. Motion by Jacobson, second by Fuchs, to approve the May 1, 2013 regular meeting minutes as printed. Motion passed. 5. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed- None 6. Old Business - None 7. New Business a. Motion by Jacobson, second by Fuchs, to recommend to Common Council approval to amend the Alcohol Beverage License for the Class “B” Beer/”Class B” Liquor License for Romano’s Pizza Inc., Francesco Romano, agent, 74 N Sixth Street, Evansville WI 53536, d/b/a Romano’s Pizza, 50 Union Street, Evansville WI 53536 to include a summer party event on July 27th from 4 p.m. with a DJ until closing. Cathy Wilke stated that set up will be on the northeast side of the building, only beer will be sold outside, and the area will be gated. The DJ will start at 4 p.m. and play until midnight. They will change the time if needed. Motion passed. b. Committee discussed possible recommendation to change parking ordinance 122-63 regarding Railroad Street. Motion by Fuchs, second by Jacobson, to recommend to Common Council to amend the parking ordinance 122-63. Committee requested that exact measurement be given to Common Council. The amendment is only to include a change in parking south of the alleyway. Motion passed. c. Discussion regarding the Act 11 Fund-Raising Bicycle Ride August 1 through August 4 through Evansville stopping at Lake Leota Park on August 1, 2013. Representatives stated the ride begins August 1 from 10am to 2pm with approximately 80 cyclists participating. d. Motion by Jacobson, second by Fuchs, to amend the motion to not approve a request for reduction of an EMS charge. Motion passed. Motion by Jacobson, second by Fuchs, to not approve reduction of EMS bill for File #87939, EMS call C97-100206-00034. Motion passed. 8. Police Department There were 969 calls for service in the month of June 2013 compared to 961 in June last year. License plate transactions were not available for June 2013; last year we had 741 transactions. Staffing for the July 4th festivities are pretty much set with 13 volunteers assisting with the parade. The Emergency Operations Manual/Plan is being updated with the assistance of Administrative Assistance, Samantha Trumpy. Address issue notices were sent to 19 residences/businesses with all 19 now in compliance. Officer Reese was promoted to Sergeant June 5th. The eligibility list for a full and part-time police officer of 31 candidates was narrowed down to 10 after the assessment center. Background checks are currently in process for those candidates. Josh Chenoweth started working morning hours at the department June 10, 2013. Officer Mahan Strupp will attend DAAT instructor training in 2013. Lieutenant Koehler and Sergeant Reese attended Management training June 12, 2013. Spillman training has been completed by all staff. Tim Kriz and the department are working hard and making solid progress to get ready for our mock assessment. We are expecting this to occur in August or September. A sample of the paperwork for the mock review was presented to the committee. A budget amendment will be forthcoming in July to include expenses for changes to the evidence room to comply with accreditation requirements. They include a gun safe, a smaller safe for money and installing ventilation in the evidence room with quotes totaling $1515.00. Anticipated costs for additional training will be required due to accreditation requirements to bring one part-time officer on with the department. Chief McElroy presented plans for next year’s budget. He plans to include one squad to be replaced, automatic transfer for squad video/audio, a rear emergency light for the Tahoe, two additional squad rifles, tactical vests and expenses to maintain accreditation requirements. More detailed information will be available next month. 9. Emergency Medical Service The year –to-date run total as of June 30, 2013 was 262, with June’s total being 45. 810 had nine of those runs. EMS will be participating in National Night Owl on August 15, 2013. After the demonstrations are complete, a free pool party will be held for everyone in attendance from 8pm to 10pm. Evansville pool staff training was delayed due to the recent storms and park flooding. We hope to reschedule a make-up session this month. Evansville EMS has been approved by the State to utilize manual defibrillation on all pulse-less non-breather calls. This will substantially decrease the down time during a code situation that is common with the use of AED’s (automatic external defibrillators). All staff has been trained and passed competency exams on this skill. We will officially begin using this skill on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. 10. Motion by Jacobson, second by Fuchs, to adjourn at 7:31 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Jacobson, Chairperson These minutes are not official until approved by Public Safety at their next regular meeting

Mailbag: Jim: Events Coming to Creekside Place

The next ten days will be busy at Creekside Place. I hope you can join us. Jim http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRWHMANIbx3EG_WndZkyCrpQPTpaB8pZSOvrSQrroFoEh9ocewd Friday August 9—Volunteer Appreciation Picnic Come to Creekside Place from 11 to 1 and join in the fun as we celebrate the volunteers that make it all possible. We’ll be cooking on the new grill and are still looking for a few food items for the celebration. The Volunteer of the Year Award for 2013 will be announced that day as well. If you’d like to provide soda, salads, or even a dessert call 882-0407 for more information http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS8yIchTT28u35WDFpKPqLKwOemBDqrdKXthNe8hiHV3CVdeVsUyAI&E Club Speaker- August 14 at 6:30 Chris Meyer from Sector 67 (www.sector67.org) will be the August 14 speaker for the Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club. This presentation will be presented by MadREP , formerly known as THRIVE. Michael also stated several times that MadREP wants to financially help launch another hacker / maker / incubator space in southern Wisconsin. Check out Sector 67’s website, see what MadREP is working on in our area, and then attend the I&E meeting on August 13 at Creekside Place. http://sr.photos1.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP226/k2260241.jpgEvansville Night Out- August 15 6-8 pm Join Creekside Place and dozens of Evansville organizations at Lake Leota Park for a special night. Police, Fire, and EMS will be joined by units from Dane and Rock Counties. Bring the kids for a night of games and giveaways plus horses, helicopters and much, much more.

Dane Dances Coming Friday, August 9, 2013

Dane Dances! Friday, August 9 • 5:30 - 9:30 PM Monona Terrace Rooftop Featuring: Davis Family Band at 6PM Primitive Culture at 8PM DJ Pain 1 spins at 5:30PM & 7:30PM Ethnic Food Vendors: • Blowin' Smoke BBQ • Francisco's Cantina • Kipp's Cuisine The Lake Vista CafĂ© will have a special Dane Dances! menu and will be open for the entire event. In case of inclement weather concert will be moved to the Alliant Energy Center. Call 261.4000 or visit communityevents.mononaterrace.com afte

Mailbag: Wireman: New Threat to Wisconsin Voters

from League of Women Voters note NEW THREAT TO WISCONSIN starts 2nd paragraph Tuesday, August 6 is the 48th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Please see column attached and at the following link: http://www.lwvwi.org/Portals/0/News%20and%20Events/PDFS/What%20have%20we%20done%20to%20deserve%20voter%20suppression.pdf U.S. Supreme Court in June gutted key components of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which became law on August 6, 1965. Before the ink was dry on the Supreme Court ruling, several states announced they will implement restrictive laws that have been on hold or introduce new voting restrictions. Wisconsin was not covered by the VRA’s “preclearance” requirements, which now cannot be enforced until Congress acts to update the law. However, we have had our share of unneeded and unfair voting laws proposed and, in some cases, enacted in the past couple of years. NEW THREAT TO WISCONSIN For example, a new proposal from Senator Glenn Grothman would severely limit the hours when municipal clerks may offer in-person absentee voting for their constituents to no more than 24 hours a week, during business hours, for a two-week period prior to an election. This would reduce the opportunities for voters across the state who have daytime jobs or family commitments. Proponents claim the proposal would create uniformity around the state, but it would not. By treating all municipalities equally, it would favor voters in small communities where a clerk serves a couple of hundred residents rather than a hundred thousand. In addition, the proposal does not say that all clerks’ offices shall be open 24 hours per week; rather it says they shall be open no more than 24 hours per week. Thus it sets a maximum level at which a clerk may serve her constituents, not a minimum level. Limiting early voting to business hours would complicate the lives of the many part-time municipal clerks in our state who have “day jobs” and perform their clerk duties off-hours. How will they serve their constituents, who also may work during business hours? This proposal would impose a statewide, cookie-cutter solution to a nonexistent problem. It makes one wonder what Wisconsin voters have done to deserve yet another restrictive voting law. Wisconsin consistently ranks near the top nationally for clean, efficiently administered elections with high voter participation. Federal and state investigations have not substantiated the rumors of voter impersonation that proponents of restrictive laws often cite. The problems we have seen have largely been a matter of poll worker error or, more rarely, mismanagement. Founded by the suffragists who fought for decades to win the right to vote for women, the nonpartisan League of Women Voters has held for 93 years that voting is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed. Our government should not restrict a fundamental, constitutional citizen right based on unsubstantiated stories and circumstantial evidence. If anything, lawmakers should be working to make registration and voting more accessible to all qualified citizens. We can do this by investing more in the training of local election officials, bringing our voter registration system into the 21st century, and equipping voters with full and reliable information about the choices on the ballot.

Murder Mystery Night Coming----August 13th---mark the calendar

Tuesday, August 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is our Murder Mystery Night, which the big finale for our young adult summer program. We have a lot of kids signed up already so it will likely be a lively evening :) We're working with the community theater to arrange for the actors who will play the suspects, and I'll be here to sort of run the show as it were, but, I think it'd be really great to have an additional handful of people who can help tidy up, make sure the library is cleared out, and just generally be a grown-up presence during the evening. 2-3 people would be ideal. If there is anyone who is interested in playing a suspect role, I bet we could have them do that, too! Laura Damon-Moore, Assistant Director 608-882-2260, damon-moore.laura@als.lib.wi.us or

Sunday, August 04, 2013

Mailbag: UW law student wants your feedback

UW Law Student Wants Your Feedback *Greetings. The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network forwarded this request for feedback on a potential new program from the Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic. Please take a look and if you have time, please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Thank you.* I am a current UW Law Student working in the Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic this Summer. If you are not familiar, the Clinic provides business and legal services free of charge to early-stage entrepreneurs in Wisconsin. We are currently working on business plans with the goal of creating a stream of funding for the Clinic so we can provide more Wisconsin entrepreneurs with free legal services. There is a discussion about the project on the Law & Entrepreneurship LinkedIn page. My group is working on a business plan for a proposed legal service website that we are evaluating. The paid legal services website is a web-based portal that provides easy access to legal forms, documents, explanatory videos and advice. We are trying to gather data using a survey we created to gauge community interested in a service like this. If you would like to help, the link to the live survey is: https://uwmadison.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_38BIuaEsTO54pkF Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Joseph Calavenna Student Attorney, Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic University of Wisconsin Law School Calavenna@wisc.edu http://www.uwle.org 9 hours ago

Saturday, August 03, 2013

Mailbag: Iowa: Frac Sand: Invitation to attend meeting in Decorah, IA August 18, 2013

Hello Friends from the Region, Here's an invitation to come meet in Decorah, IA on Sunday morning, August 18 from 9:00 am to noon. Why in the world would you want to do that? Here in Winneshiek County we are working fast and hard toward passing an ordinance banning frac sand mining. We are empowered to do so through the work of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, celdf.org, which has for 13 years been empowering communities to take local control through a particular kind of ordinance. There are now 150 such communities, and we aim to be one of the next. We have learned a lot about Community Rights work in the last few months, and people from other parts of the region have asked us to share it. Here's the moment. Can you come? If we hear back from at least 10 of you who'd like to come, we'll spend the morning sharing what we know with you. Also: Here's info on the Decorah Sept. workshop on CR. Register soon! We're holding a Democracy School Nov. 1 and 2, led by celdf. Room for 23 more people. Let me know if you're interested in attending. Here's an article you might like to read: “Help! I've Been Colonized and I Can't Get Up...!” by Jane Anne Morris http://www.poclad.org/BWA/2005/BWA_2005_FEB.html

Mailbag: Wireman: The Democracy Convention

WORKSHOPS ON ALL IMPORTANT ISSUES CUT AND PAST THE CONTACT AND CLICK TO GET THE SCHEDULE Aug 7 - 11 The Democracy Convention - https://democracyconvention.org/ . If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most — in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, military, government, media, constitution — you will find something inspiring here. Contact: schedule.democracyconvention@gmail.com

Friday, August 02, 2013

Movie "Triple Divide" will be shown Wed August 7, 2013: 7pm: Baraboo First Congregational Church: Baraboo 53913

The FRAC FILM FEST showing of "Triple Divide" will be delayed til Wednesday August 7 AT 7:00PM at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Broadway at 6th Ave., Baraboo 53913 because there is an important meeting where we all are needed. MEETING ON AUGUST 5 -- PLEASE ATTEND AND SPEAK Re: Aug. 5 Joint meeting of Sauk County Board Exec./Legis. and Conserv./Planning/Zoning Committees re: Badger Plant- please attend (6:30 pm, Baraboo) On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:28 AM, reedsburgacc wrote: Public comments welcome before the meeting 6:30 pm- Baraboo West Square Bldg.

Mailbag: Wireman: Dane Dances starts TONIGHT

DANE DANCES STARTS TONIGHT FRI THESE ARE THE MOST FUN EVENTS & MOST INTERRACIAL,INTERETHNIC, INTERGENERATIONAL AUGUST 2– Monona Terrace Rooftop DJ VPS @ 5:30 & 7:30 Streetlife - 6:00-7:30 Orquesta De Kache - 8:00-9:30 ETHNIC FOOD VENDORS Blowing Smoke Francisco's Kipps Cuisine Lake Vista Cafe RAIN BACKUP LOCATIONS: August 16th & 30th –Inside Monona Terrace August 2rd, 9, & 23th – Alliant Energy Center AUGUST 9- Monona Terrace Rooftop DJ Pain 1 @ 5:30 & 7:30 Davis Family - 6:00-7:30 Primitive Culture - 8:00-9:30 AUGUST 16 - Monona Terrace Rooftop DJ Pain 1 @ 5:30 & 7:30 Christopher Project - 6:00-7:30 MadiSalsa - 8:00-9:30 AUGUST 23- Monona Terrace Rooftop DJ VPS @ 5:30 & 7:30 Nabori - 6:00-7:30 VO5 - 8:00-9:30 AUGUST 30- Monona Terrace Rooftop DJ VPS @ 5:30 & 7:30 Grupo Candela - 6:00 Eddie Butts - 8:00

Monona Terrace News---special program coming August 15

PechaKucha Night Madison FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7pm • Community Terrace Monona Terrace What is PechaKucha? The concept is simple: Each presenter shows 20 images for 20 seconds apiece. It’s an event that is never the same twice, so leave your expectations at the door. Monona Terrace is proud to serve as the official Madison site for PechaKucha International. Cash bar on site. Thursday, August 15 “Lessons Learned: Fortunes and Failures” Presented by High Tech Happy Hour" The path to entrepreneurship is filled with many ups and downs. Making the leap from concept to reality is not always easy, and rarely follows a plan. Come and listen to local trail blazers talk about their expectations, trials and errors, changes in plans, and cherished successes. Sponsored by Monona Terrace & High Tech Happy Hour Devised and shared by KleinDytham Architecture connect with us twitterfacebooklinkedinflickrfoursquare