KFIZ News Wednesday 8/17/16

FDL Plan Commission Recommending Special Use Permits For Marian And UW FDL

The Fond du Lac Plan Commission this week approved special use permits for projects at two City universities. The special use permits for Marian University and the UW-Fond du Lac will both go before the City Council next week. Principal Planner Joellyn Dahlin says the special use permit for improvements at Herr-Baker Field will allow Marian to partner with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers ownership to bring a Northwoods League team to Fond du Lac. She says the only concerns brought up during the commission’s meeting had to do with parking. The commission is also recommending the City Council approval a special use permit for a 121-bed student housing facility at the UW-Fond du Lac. She says something similar came before the commission a couple years ago. She says that 2014 project had fewer beds. That earlier project at the UW-Fond du Lac fell through.

Purchase Of Ladder Truck Will Be On NFDL Ballots This Fall

North Fond du Lac voters this fall will be asked to approve borrowing to purchase a new ladder truck for the village fire department. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says the village board this week approved wording for a referendum question and it is being sent to the County Clerk to be included on the November ballot. He says it is a straight forward question asking for support for the purchase of a ladder truck. He says the purchase of the ladder truck with interest for 10 years of borrowing would come to $945,000. It would cost $865,000 for truck and another $80,000 for interest. He says the tax impact would be $52 for every $100,000 of assessed value on a property. The current ladder truck is 30 years old.

Dogs Allowed In FDL Parks A Privilege

The founder of Fond du Lac Dogs in Parks says the City Council has given dog owners the opportunity to show them dogs can be allowed in parks, but it is up to those owners to show they are worth that trust. Misty Gedlinske says some people will cross the street when they see another person coming towards them with a dog. She says she would like to see that type of culture change. She says she also wanted to see something done in the City that was more welcoming for dog owners. The Council will be allowing dogs on leashes in eight City parks, but will revisit the issue again next year. She says often concerns connected to dogs are a result of their owner being irresponsible with the dog. She says the Council has given them a privilege by allowing dogs in those parks.

Sheboygan County Jail Death

Sheboygan Police are investigating a death that occurred at the County Jail over the weekend. A 36-year-old Sheboygan man was found unresponsive in his cell last Friday morning. Corrections officers and EMS tried to revive the man, but were unsuccessful. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The preliminary investigation suggests the man’s death was a suicide.

Back To School Safety Reminders

A Fond du Lac Police officer has a couple of safety reminders for parents who will be sending their kids back to school in a few weeks. Officer Erik Foster says carefully consider the back pack your child will be using at school. He says the back pack should not be wider than a child’s body. He says it should be packed light using all its compartments. Heavier items should be closer to the center of the back. He says the back pack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s body weight. He says a lot of kids use scooters now to get back and forth to school. He says even though they are foot-powered a child using one should wear a safety helmet that has met safety standards. He says they should also wear elbow and knee pads. Officer Foster also recommends monitoring your kids’ internet activity and if they participate in sports speaking with their coaches before they play.

State Fair Attendance Tops A Million

Officials with the Wisconsin State Fair say more than a million attended the recently completed event. Attendance has topped the one million mark the last four years. Other numbers supplied by Fair officials reveal 315,000 cream puffs were eaten and 55,000 grilled cheese sandwiches. Over a million rides were taken in Spin City. Next year’s Fair will be held August 3rd through the 13th.