KFIZ News Tuesday 11/29/16

FDL City Council Pleased With City Managers Performance

The Fond du Lac City Council is pleased with City Manager Joe Moore’s performance over the past year. City Council President Lee Ann Lorrigan says Moore had an average rating of 4.52 on 15 different elements of performance and leadership in an annual evaluation. The rating was based on a 1 to 5 scale with one being a poor score and five being the best. She says they are very pleased with what he has done for the City. The Council is working on goals for Moore for 2017. She says those goals should be announced shortly. The City Council appreciated the City Manager’s skilled management of the budget process and his dependable and professional demeanor. Moore has been with the City since August of 2012.

More Optimism Over FDL County Economy For 2017

Fifty-one percent of those participating in an Economic Forecast for Fond du Lac County in 2017 believe the economy will remain stable next year. Another 42 percent believe the economy will actually be better. The Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation released results of the forecast Monday. FCEDC President Steve Jenkins says compared to 2016 there was more optimism and emphasis on stability. Jenkins says it is encouraging, but a new presidential administration will also mean new policies that could affect the economy.

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Waupun Common Council Candidates

Waupun residents will be voting for mayor and three aldermanic seats for the Common Council next spring. City Clerk Angie Hull says Julie Nickel is currently mayor and the Aldermanic Districts 1, 3, and 5 seats are held by Jason Westphal, Ryan Mielke and Michael Johnson respectively.  Nickel, Westphal and Mielke have filed declarations of candidacy. Johnson is not running for reelection. Bobbi Vossekuil has also taken out papers for the District 5 seat. Candidates can begin circulating nomination papers for office this Thursday. They have to be returned by January 3rd.

Medicare Scams

An administrator with the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection warns Senior Citizens to watch out for potential scams while enrolling or making changes to their Medicare. Frank Frassetto, the Administrator of the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection, says there are no agents promoting enrollment via phone or door-to-door. He also says the Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans are only sold by a private company. He says if you have questions there are people you can contact. He says local protective services representatives can answer questions or you can call the Medicare number on the back of your Medicare card. He says if someone is asking for personal information they shouldn’t be. He also says Plan D is voluntary. Medicare Enrollment is through December 7th.

MPTC Keeping Up With Changes In Automotive Technology

An automotive instructor with Moraine Park Technical College says they are trying to keep up with changes in automotive technology. Tim Moy has been an automotive instructor for 15 years and was a mechanic for 20 years. He says they’ve seen enrollment in their courses drop as high school populations and the unemployment rate decrease. Meanwhile he says they are keeping up with as best they can the transition to more hybrids and electric vehicles.  He says MPTC got equipment a couple years ago to diagnose and test hybrid battery packs and recondition them. Moy says they would like to give students at least the basics to understand the concepts and then move them on to the technology as well.

Clydesdale Rides Will Be Offered Again

The Whisper Hill Clydesdale rides in Downtown Fond du Lac during Small Business Saturday proved to be popular. Dusty Krikau of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership says they will offer them again on Saturday, December 10th. The rides will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost was $5 per person and $3 for kids 6 and under. Rides began and ended at Mac Place Art and Tea Shoppe at 82 South Macy Street. Krikau says tickets will be available for the rides that Saturday. She says they went up Main Street all the way to Division. The proceeds went to support Whisper Hill Clydesdales Special Needs a local non-profit.