Local News Briefs Wednesday 3/19/14

The Fond du Lac County Board last night approved several appointments and creation of a new position to address upcoming retirements. Meggin McNamara was appointed County Corporation Counsel starting June 22nd. She will replace Bill Bendt who has been Corporation Counsel the past 14 years. County Executive Al Buechel says he and County Board Chairperson felt the current Assistant Corporation Counsel will do well with the promotion. Craig Walters of West Bend takes over as County Fairgrounds Supervisor on April 21st. He previously worked as Vice-President and General Manager of the Jack Walters and Sons Corporation of Allenton and will replace Dave Burke who has had the Fairgrounds Supervisor position for over 30 years. The County Board also created a full-time Parks Supervisor position with the retirement of two full-time Parks Maintenance employees and the elimination of those positions. Buechel says that will fill a supervisory void when Planning and Parks Director Sam Tobias takes time off.

FDL County Board Notes

In other Fond du Lac County Board notes from Tuesday night’s meeting the Board approved a resolution backing the Brothertown Indian Nation’s efforts to have Congress restore their recognition as an Indian Tribe. The status was taken away when the tribe moved to Wisconsin and was granted citizenship status in 1839. Dr. Faith Ottery told County supervisors restoration of the tribe status would make them eligible for federal health care benefits, educational grants, and economic development grants and allow them to maintain their cemeteries and burial grounds. She said they have no interest in gaming. There are 270 of the Brothertown Nation living in Fond du Lac County and another 30 in Calumet County. The Board also approved salaries for the Clerk of Courts and County Sheriff for the next four years, something that had to be done before the election of those positions in November. Supervisors also authorized the submission of a grant application for money to construct 14 handicap accessible fishing platforms along the lagoon in Lakeside Park. The Winnebagoland Conservation Alliance would be providing the brunt of the funding for the $14,000 project.

Foster Seeks Full Term On FDL City Council

Appointed to the Fond du Lac City Council last September, Brian Foster is seeking a full two-year term on the Council April 1st.  He has previous experience as a mayor and member of a City Council for a small town in Iowa. He says the challenge for a City Council is to stay within budgetary limits, yet maintain services people need. He says when the Council is approached with development opportunities like the redevelopment of the Retlaw Theater they have to make sure the plan is solid. Foster also has a leadership role through his job as a warden at Kettle Moraine Correctional in Plymouth. He says he’d like to think that he looks at the big picture when it comes to issues and when he makes a decision it will stand the test of time. Foster is one of five candidates seeking four seats on the Council.

NFDL Farmers Market Discontinued

The North Fond du Lac Village Board decided Monday night to discontinue the Farmers Market. For the past three years it’s been held at the Village Park from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Village Administrator Chuck Hornung says it began in 2011 and they were told it would take about three years to develop. He says last year they had 21 vendors sign up for the Farmers Market, but only a few showed up on market days. He says attendance at the markets also was sparse compared to other farmers markets. Hornung says a Farmers Market is something Village residents had expressed an interest in having. 

FDL Woman Caught Trespassing In NFDL Railroad Yard

North Fond du Lac Police arrested a 56-year-old Fond du Lac woman last Saturday night for disorderly conduct and cited her for trespassing in the Canadian National railroad yard. North Fond du Lac Police Chief Darren Pautsch says they got a call after the woman was seen in the yard. She was seen walking through the yard. She got into a rail car and later climbed up into the engine of a parked train. He says she later told officers she has always liked trains. Pautsch says the woman told them she was just looking at the trains, but always wanted to ride on a train and thought she might be able to catch a ride to Canada. Chief Pautsch says the woman had not been drinking.

Gudex Elections Bills On Their Way To Governor

Two bills State Senator Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac authored will have bearing on future elections. One bill allows elections clerks to decide whether they want to do a hand count or machine count when it comes to recounts. Gudex says he talked with Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg who told him it’s expensive to replace memory packs for voting machines when they do a recount. The other would lower the number of signatures candidates for City Council will need for nomination papers. Gudex says the change is only for second and third class cities with the Council/City Manager format of Government like Fond du Lac and Oshkosh. It would lower the number of signatures needed for nomination papers from 200 to 100. The bills are on their way to the Governor to be signed into law.

Home Sales Affected By Winter Weather In February

Nasty weather continued to take its toll on the state housing market last month. Dave Clark of the Wisconsin Realtors Association says sales were down 10.1-percent. Says the harsh winter kept people from viewing and buying homes in February. He says it kept people at home. Meanwhile, prices were up 7.4-percent. The statewide median price in February was $130,000. In Fond du Lac County in February home sales were down 1.8 percent and the median price of a home fell by 11.6 percent. For more information click here.   

Sheboygan County Switching To Medical Examiner’s Position

(WHBL-Sheboygan)-Sheboygan County will transition from a coroner to a medical examiner.  The county board voted for the change Tuesday evening, meaning instead of an elected position, it will be filled by the county’s choosing. Sheboygan County Administrator Adam Payne says the change comes at the request of the retiring coroner, Dave Leffin, who wants to ensure the county has the best person for the position.  The change will take effect next January.

Phony Eviction Notices Being Sent By Email

The state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is warning residents about fake eviction notices sent out through email. The message claims that the recipient will be kicked off the premises “due to multiple violations,” and note that details of the violations are in an attached file. The attachment likely contains an executable file that will infect your computer with malicious software. The file should not be opened and should be deleted. Under current law, a valid eviction notice will not come to you by email.

Whisper Hills Clydesdales Wins Truck

Whisper Hills Clydesdales of Fond du Lac will be presented with a new Toyta Tundra pickup truck Thursday in Oshkosh after being named a winner in Toyota’s “100 Cars for Good.” That national philanthropic program is awarding 100 cars to 100 nonprofits. Whisper Hills Clydesdales officials will receive the car at Bergstrom Toyota in Oshkosh at noon Thursday. Whisper Hills Clydesdales offers equine experiences to people with special needs. 

Washington County Fair Entertainment Announced

(WBEV-Beaver Dam)-The full music lineup for the Washington County Fair has been announced. Fair Manager Sandy Lang says America’s “Technicolor Cowboys” Big and Rich will perform on Friday, July 25. Tickets go on sale next Monday and cost $40 for reserved seats, $30 for VIP seats and $10 for general admission. Previously announced musical acts include Justin Moore on Thursday, July 24 and ZZ Top on Saturday, July 26.