Local News Briefs Wednesday 11/17/15

Waupun Man Facing Drug Charges In Overdose Death

A 33-year-old Waupun man is facing three felony drug charges in Dodge County Court for allegedly supplying drugs that led to an overdose death. Christopher Skalitzky was in court this week. He allegedly supplied the methadone and oxycodone to Shallen Manske that led to her death in 2009. Skalitzky allegedly admitted to providing the drugs to the 25-year-old Juneau woman. An autopsy later indicated that Manske died from those drugs or from a pre-existing seizure disorder. A signature bond was set and Skalitzky will be back in court on December 3rd to continue the adjourned initial hearing.

FDL Plan Commission Recommends Special Use Permit Approval For Commonwealth

Fond du Lac’s Plan Commission is unanimously recommending to the City Council approval of special use permits to allow Commonwealth Development to redevelop the historic St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Schools. City Principal Planner Joellyn Dahlin says they did attach a few conditions for development of the schools in to apartments, townhouses, and cottage-style units. She says the conditions would assure that parking meets the zoning code, landscaping and storm water management development issues that will come along later in the planning process. She says no specific dates are tied to the development, but the preliminary plan is to start sometime next spring. The special use permit requests will go before the City Council next Tuesday.

NFDL Village Budget Approved

The North Fond du Lac Village Board this week approved the 2016 Village Budget and tax levy. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says no one spoke during the public hearing on the budget. He says the board unanimously approved the budget and tax levy. He says the mill rate is slightly higher than for 2015. He says that tax rate is $8.54, which is 1 percent higher than the past year, but the overall tax bill with all entities for North Fond du Lac will be going down slightly

FDL Could Provide Fire And Ambulance Back Up For Village Of NFDL

The City of Fond du Lac could be providing a “backup” ambulance and fire department auto aid to the Village of North Fond du Lac in the near future. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says the village board this week approved agreements that now have to be approved by the City of Fond du Lac. He says they’ve run into staffing problems at times with the ambulance service and the agreement with the City would “back up” that service if they ran into some issues. He says by state statute because they are a 24/7 service they need to be in service 24/7, which the “back up” agreement will ensure. The other agreement would mean that during structure fires the City of Fond du Lac would provide auto aid. Hornung says Van Dyne already provides that, but Fond du Lac would be able to provide a ladder truck while the village is working out details on the purchase of a new ladder truck.

Kohler Strike Day Two

Picketing continued outside the Kohler Company Tuesday as striking union workers wage a battle for a new contract. Some of those members of UAW Local 833 were checking IDs as vehicles entered the plant to make sure people weren’t crossing the picket line. He wasn’t hurt, but a striking employee named Travis did get dragged a short distance Monday by a vehicle. Travis says he was trying to get information from the driver who took off dragging him down the road a ways and he ended up doing “a tumble”. Another employee says a company official is claiming workers are being paid $17 an hour, but he’s certainly not making that. He says he’s been with the company 6 months and is making $11.97 an hour. Meanwhile Union President Tim Tayloe says about 1,200 other unions have offered whatever support the local union needs. But he’s hoping that it won’t be a prolonged strike.

Security Will Be Upgraded At Dodge County Courthouse And Jail

Dodge County will be beefing up security at its jail and courthouse in 2016. County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says cameras were put into the detention center when it was first built in 2000 and they need an upgrade. He says the electronics in their jail are reaching the end of their usefulness and cameras weren’t adequate when they were first installed. He says they have a lot of blind spots in their jail. He says they also need to install new doors locks and intercom systems. The courthouse also needs some new cameras. He says cameras will be added to the courtrooms and other security to keep their judges and staff safe. He says the security checkpoint near the entrance to the courthouse will also be upgraded. He says a metal detector will be added and people entering the courthouse will have to go through a screening. The County Board last week approved capital improvement projects and the cost for the security upgrade will be about $2.3 million.

Soup Sales Benefit FDL Area United Way

A couple of soup sales this week will benefit the Fond du Lac Area United Way. Today Guaranty Title Services in Fond du Lac will be doing their 4th annual chili and chicken noodle soup sale. Soup had to be ordered in advance. Tomorrow the employees at the City-County Government Center will have a bake sale, soup or chili will be for sale.  United Way Executive Director Amber Kilawee says there will also be a raffle drawing. She says they will be drawing for an iPad mini and gift baskets. She says the event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Moraine Park Technical College culinary students will prepare the chicken noodle soup.