Village of Mazomanie Eliminates First Shift Police Officer Due to Costs
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VOL. 3, WK. 42 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 $1.00 Village of Mazomanie eliminates Sauk City debates passing wheel tax first shift police officer due to costs Village president says they are short on revenue Levy stays the same, last year’s flood losses offset gains, police contract price increases by JOE BLOCK, Editor Dane County just initiated a and KARA O’KEEFFE, wheel tax, and Prairie du Sac Contributing Writer and Lodi have one as well. Department to effect cost “Beginning in 2020 the vil- tions. The letter, from Village by JOE BLOCK According to Anderson, the Editor savings of $145,000 in con- lage will contract, at a cost not Attorney William Cole, read The question of whether to tax will generate “about an tracted policing services for to exceed $285,000, for two in part: institute a wheel tax dominated The Village of Mazomanie, $80,000 increase in transporta- 2020. This cost reduction full-time deputies with Dane “I wish to emphasize the discussion at the Sauk City Vil- facing decreased revenue in tion aid.” was necessitated by the 2019 County versus three in past Village desires to continue its lage Board meeting on October 2020 because of last year’s 8. Village president Jim Ander- “The money generated from decrease in assessed valua- contracts. Contracted deputies contractual relationship with flood damage, is reducing its son put the topic on the agenda the wheel tax will go straight tion of residential and com- will maintain a varied sched- the Sheriff’s Department, al- police force from three to two and opened his remarks with into transportation,” said An- mercial properties that were ule within the village and will beit under reduced service officers. “Mazomanie will be the following: “Every year that derson. “We laid it out. And impacted by the 2018 flood be supplemented as needed by levels in order to comport cutting the dayshift position we do the budget, we’re short then you can take some of the event. Those decreases fully county patrol officers.” with its budgetary constraints. money that we budget for trans- from the contract. [Deputy] on money.” offset valuations placed on Costs to contract with the We hope to be able to negoti- portation and use it for general Nate Alwin has already been He continued, “Obviously new homes constructed in the Dane County Sheriff’s De- ate an amendment which ac- budget items.” notified and he will be reas- we’re going to be short on rev- village during 2018. The net partment have seen a $30,000 complishes that need.” Resident Tracy Haselwander signed to another position enue; we have two new [police] result is that the tax levy for increase since 2013. The 2019 “We look forward to work- asked, “Is there restrictions on within the Sheriff’s Office be- officers with the possibility of 2020 is expected to remain the contract was for $389,492. ing with your office on this usage for that fund [gathered ginning January 1, 2020,” said a third.” He also mentioned same as that levied for 2019 The Sheriff’s department matter and will be in contact from the wheel tax]?” Jan Tetzlaff, Captain, Dane the possibility of Sauk Prairie with allowances made only proposed contract was for with a proposal in the near School District’s $65 million Village administrator Vicki County Sheriff’s Office, Field for any short- term borrowing $429,799, a 10 percent in- future.” referendum. Anderson said the Breunig said regulations re- Services Division. needs of the village. In addi- crease. Since then the board has village is short on employees, strict it to transportation items. The Village released the tion to the change made in In September, the Village met several times in closed with utilities and the street de- “Maintenance of the streets, following statement at its Oct. contracted policing services, notified the Sheriff’s Depart- session for negotiations and partment as primary needs. wages for [street department] 8 board meeting: further expense reductions of ment they would be terminat- announced their decision at A wheel tax is a flat fee employees, crack filling,” she “The village has reached explained. $35,000 are probable to effect ing the entire contract as of the October meeting. charged per vehicle by a vil- an accommodation with “But then you [Anderson] a balanced budget.” next year. This was a formal- lage. According to state statute, the Dane County Sheriff’s just said you’d take money The statement continues: ity in order to enter negotia- the money collected can only be used for transportation costs. SEE TAX, PAGE 14 Now you can fi nd us on Facebook and Instagram! www.facebook.com/ WiscStarNews Wisc_Star_News A bed time story for special guests at the Sauk City Library On Oct. 4-5, the Sauk City Library held a stuffed animal sleep over for some of their younger patrons. Kids and their animals listened to stories and then the special guests were tucked into bed. 32 people--kids and adults--attended Friday, and 35 Saturday morning. Pictured, Becky Powers reads a good night story. For more photos see page 12. PHOTO BY CASSIE WEITTENHILLER PAGE 2 STAR NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 Mt. Horeb man focuses on pandas and environmental challenges by MATT GEIGER ify the Vermont township where west Wisconsin as “Critically in America facing a fire hose or at the University of Wisconsin said humans could learn a lot News Publishing Co. he lives. “And what matters is, Imperiled. At very high risk of dogs– right now, the challenge in 1986, buying a secluded old from pandas when approach- to keep it our spirit strong. Our extinction or elimination.” In is how to give people hope, and farm outside Mount Horeb. He ing such large obstacles. He “It’s an odd time to be con- spiritual connection to nature is the Sichuan Province of China, how to fight despair.” has lived there ever since, split- points out that the iconic bears, scious on this planet,” muses our redemption.” Brody works to develop strate- Brody’s journey, both to ting his time between China and which have become a totem for Marc Brody. “You can alleviate the suf- gies to restore vital corridors Wisconsin and to China, began the United States, but always the entire planet’s ecosystem, As president of the nonprofit fering of some,” he continues, for wild pandas. In Wisconsin, in an unlikely place. calling Wisconsin his home. are powerful and can be fierce Panda Mountain that works in his voice trembling with emo- in his own backyard, he does “I grew up in the center In some ways, Brody has when needed, but they prefer the Wolong Nature Reserve tion. “You can save some. You the same for butterflies. of Hollywood,” he explains. been on this path since child- peace and solitude. He says outside Chengdu, China, Brody can bring fulfillment to some. “[Restoration] becomes “Where mythologies are made. hood. As an adult, in a damp, you never see them “in a rush says it is a time of enormous We must claim victory when more meaningful, for me, espe- It was an urban environment, I forgotten old suitcase of his or a tizzy.” despair angst and an impend- we can and take solace in that.” cially in light of what happened still have impaired lungs today mother’s, he once found a grade “It’s not about saving the ing sense that the natural world Brody has spent the last [during the global climate strike because of the air pollution I school assignment in which he pandas themselves. It’s about is on the brink of collapse. But two decades working to save on Friday, Sept. 19, when mil- experienced in my youth. I re- – at seven years of age - was the metaphor of how you act this is also, he is quick to point the Giant Panda, and the natu- lions of youth all over the world member, as a child not being asked to imagine what he’d in the world. How creation and out, a time of hope. He says ral world the panda and so displayed their concern for the able to play outside.” like to do with his life. He said lives and biodiversity … can human beings can’t save every- many other species need, in fate of the planet,]” he says. When asked why he came “I would buy a farm (and) my be positively affected by your thing; they can’t fix every prob- China. An expert in protected “Humans, someway, al- to Wisconsin, he quotes Henry family would have fun.” personal commitment,” Brody lem facing a warming planet area land management and ways can find a way to be resil- David Thoreau. “It’s amazing, in life, how states. roamed by nearly 8 billion ecological stewardship, Brody ient – to be defiant and address “I went to the woods to live one thing leads to the next, Brody says there are un- people. But they are far from believes the bucolic splendor despair,” he says. “Humans, deliberately,” he says. “I went and then you find yourself in a likely allies on the side of the helpless. and ecosystems of Wiscon- someway, always find a way to Wisconsin to live deliber- certain niche,” Brody reflects. planet, but the biggest obstacle “The conversation starts sin, are no less special – and to be resilient – to be defiant ately.” After 25 years of environmen- might simply be our short atten- with the human spirit,” Brody no less in need of saving. He and address despair,” he says.