Local News Briefs Thursday 7/23/15

Sheboygan County Sheriff’s officials say three people suffered minor injuries when their 29 foot fishing vessel struck the north pier at the Sheboygan Marina last night. The boat was going 19 knots or about 22 miles per hour when it hit the pier. It beached itself on rocks next to the pier. The three; 72-year-old Ronald Campbell of Reedsville, and 58-year-old Karen and 63-year-old Donald Lisowe of Kiel were taken to Sheboygan Memorial Hospital for treatment. Alcohol was not a factor in the mishap that was reported at 9:40 p.m. 

UW FDL Dean Would Like To Stay

UW-Fond du Lac Dean John Short says he’d love to stay in Fond du Lac, but with a new administrative plan for the UW system’s 13 two-year schools his future is uncertain. Eighty-three administrative positions will be cut including six to seven at the UW-Fond du Lac campus. The 13 campuses have executive officers or deans that will organize into four regional administrative teams. He has the option of applying for leadership for one of those regional positions. He says the UW-Fond du Lac will be part of the northeast region, which also includes the UW-Manitowoc and UW-Fox Valley. He says he likes Fond du Lac. He says it’s a friendly community and he has become actively involved in it. He says he knows how committed people are to quality of life whether it’s through his role with the Lakeside Park Exploratory Committee, working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rotary, recruiting students and talking with business leaders.

Blue Line Debt Limit Raised

Fond du Lac County supervisors this week approved a resolution that allows the Blue Line Family Ice Center to raise it’s debt limit. The Blue Line has a lease agreement with the County for the facility on County Fairgrounds’ land that allows a certain amount of debt, but asked to have that limit raised for improvements at the rink. Steve Little is the treasurer for the Center’s Board of Directors. He says they need to do some renovations for the facility. He says the work will cost about $1.1 million. He says they will be replacing their refrigeration system, heating, ventilating and air condition system, and painting both the inside and outside of the facility. He says they will be able to raise about $600,000 in donations with the rest coming from a loan. County Supervisor Dean Will noted the center is an asset to the community. He says it brings a lot of business into the community during tournaments and events.

NFDL Sheds Light On Neighbor Problems

The North Fond du Lac Village Board this week held a public hearing for a light control ordinance that’s being created. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says in the past they’ve tried to mitigate arguments between neighbors when one complains about too much light coming from security or outdoors lighting. He says they looked at neighboring communities light ordinances and came up with one that is fair. He says they will still try and have neighbors work out their disputes over lighting, but if it gets to be too much of a problem they will have an ordinance to fall back on. He says they will purchase a light meter and if the light is beyond a certain measurement it will violate the ordinance.

Unemployment Rates Up Slightly

Unemployment rates increased slightly in both the City and County of Fond du Lac in June. According to federal labor statistics the City’s jobless rate increased from 4.8 to 4.9 percent and the County’s rose from 4.2 to 4.4 percent. Both the City and County rates are lower than June of 2014 when the City’s unemployment rate was at 5.6 percent the County’s stood at 5.2 percent. To see more click here.

Mayville Added To State Revitalization Program

A Dodge County community is among 18 in the state added to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporations Connect Communities program. Main Street Mayville has been added to the downtown and urban corridor redevelopment and revitalization program that now boasts 43 participants. Since the program was launched in January 2014, participating communities have reported adding 175 net new businesses and more than 500 jobs, as well as $30 million in private investment.