The 7.5 Million Dollar Question for Heights
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TRUTH JOUR THROUGH NALISM VOL. 5, WK. 13 THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 $1.00 Black Earth Village Presidency up for grabs Candidates answer questions and explain their positions by JOE BLOCK Although the three trustee seats dent Troy Esser took the reins number of years ago, Ron Nor- “Although the [village] presi- obeyed; and in case of distur- Editor are uncontested, they include upon Troge’s retirement, when ris (1989-2001) was sitting as dent is not generally considered bance, riot or other apparent one new person. The Village the village was faced with two Village President and had to a chief executive officer, necessity may appoint as many Change comes to local gov- President’s race is a bit livelier, vacant seats and a vacant Presi- resign due to a work infraction the president does have cer- special marshals as the presi- ernment, usually slowly, and with yard signs popping up for dency. His nomination by the that put him in conflict with his tain unique, statutory duties and dent deems necessary.” usually a person or two at a the two candidates facing off-- board was unanimous, as was role as Village President, then also serves as a figure-head of Below you will find the can- time. Black Earth is seating both current board members. Of the vote. Jeanne Post (2001-2006) came sorts for the village. A didates’ answers to a series of four new elected officials in this the four new board members- According to Village Admin- in and moved out of Village. village president’s statutory questions posed by the Star upcoming election. A new vil- -three trustees, and the village istrator Shellie Benish, who has Then Vern Wendt (2006-2008) duties include presiding at all News. Current Trustee Scott lage president will replace Troy president--three are incum- served since 2013: stepped in and then resigned, board meetings and signing or- Patchin did not respond in time Esser as well, the third president bents, and one is new. “The Village President his- putting Troge in that position.” dinances, bylaws, regulations, for publication. in three years. Former Village President tory is an interesting one. I The League of Wisconsin licenses, etc. In the race for trustee, Tyler Not only is Black Earth see- Pat Troge served for 11 years, want to point out that this isn’t Municipalities explains the The president also maintains Munson is running for his first ing change, but it is also seeing until 2009, and spent three years the first time with some turn- unique role of the Village Presi- peace and good order; sees time. Jared Brammerson and contested races, which is not the prior as a trustee. Current Presi- over here on that position. A dent: that ordinances are faithfully Scott Patchin are incumbents. most common in small villages. Village President trustee foster discussions and work to- board, village employees and they are acted upon by all trust- a positive yet effective meeting (1 vacancy, two year term) How important to you is wards the common goals of the the citizens. I will hold trustees ees and citizens. I believe in al- are all key components. transparency in government? village and its people. I firmly and staff accountable to do the lowing trustees and citizens the There have been issues Name: Mitch Hodson Transparency is critical for a believe that we can reach higher same. opportunity to respectfully offer raised over the past 6 months Occupation: VP Production government body to efficiently levels of success working to- What will you do to encour- their opinions on all things per- about difficulties in get- Years of residency in the and effectively accomplish the gether collaboratively through age civil discourse and accept- taining to the Village of Black ting an item placed on the Village of Black Earth: 47 duties at hand. Transparency open dialog and inclusivity of able behavior at meetings? Earth. Encouraging open dis- agenda. The current village Previous offices held, with on the board level will be a key all parties. What will you do I will set guidelines and cussion, giving the trustees or president’s policy is if there years of tenure: 6 years late component to encouraging open to encourage it? I will ensure standards to be followed at each citizens a platform to speak, is “general agreement” from 90’s and early 2000’s Village lines of communication that will open dialog between the village meeting and will ensure that fully listening and maintaining SEE EARTH, PAGE 12 The 7.5 million dollar question for Heights by JOE BLOCK of a $27 million facilities ref- planned to revisit the audi- As the Wisconsin Heights crease by 3.5 percent annually. from 2020-21. Editor erendum in the fall, the District torium project in the spring. single campus plan has come The new and current plan The District locked in low in- has decided to go forward with With letters to the editor, public into shape over the past few carves out a place for the Dis- terest rate on their bond issues, The Wisconsin Heights the question of a $7.5 million speaking at meetings, and pre- years, the projected property trict to earn interest prior to of- at 1.64 percent. School District will be present- auditorium project. sentations at board meetings, tax load has dropped. Local ficially borrowing funds. This In all, this means the District ing residents with another refer- When the board initially de- the voice of the students was taxpayers can expect to see a involved a Bank Anticipatory has to borrow $3 million less endum next week. In the wake bated putting the $27 million clear. $50 per $100,000 of value sav- Note for $27 million, and col- that the original $27 million facilities referendum, the audi- They wanted a new audito- ings in their taxes, compared to lecting the interest from that. that was projected. torium project was still in play. rium. initial projections several years That interest then lowered the Most importantly to taxpay- After a lengthy discussion at a The board voted six to one on ago. The District also saved amount needed for borrowing. ers, the mill rate--initially pro- critical meeting, board members Monday, January 25, with Mike $4.6 million on the total cost of The Anticipatory Note will be jected to be $186 per hundred decided that with the initial $27 Wagner the lone dissenting vote borrowing as bond issues came paid off in March. thousand dollars of equalized million ask, another $7.5 mil- against the referendum question into focus. The total amount borrowed value--will drop to $145. That lion was too much. being on the ballot. The District’s original plan will drop from $27 million to drop is even more significant The support from the stu- was to borrow $27 million with $24 million. The drop is driven when taking into account the dents for an auditorium project Previous referendum an estimated interest rate of 3.2 in part by the interest from the SEE HEIGHTS, PAGE 11 was loud and clear. costing less percent. They assumed equal- Bank Anticipatory Note, as well The board has already ized value in the area would in- $1.4 million in taxes collected Now you can For election results, check out the Star fi nd us on Facebook and News website at www.wiscstarnews.com Instagram! www.facebook.com/ WiscStarNews Roof Maxx® is a quick, natural and affordable alternative to a complicated, expensive and disruptive asphalt roof replacement. roofmaxx.com | (608) 335-9464 Wisc_Star_News PAGE 2 STAR NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 Local COVID-19 cases increase by 19, still on a flat trajectory by JOE BLOCK and new case rates drop. Area-wide that means at least vaccine treatment. Data and methodology News on Mondays. Editor The area defined by the Wis- seventeen residents have died The Wisconsin Heights Data is reported on a seven consin Heights School District from COVID-19. School District reported no new All data comes from the State day cycle. The region saw 19 new had three new cases. The death Vaccinations continue, with cases. The Sauk Prairie School of Wisconsin Department of School data is collected from COVID-19 cases over the past toll remains the same at 10. The 20 percent of Sauk County resi- District had two. Health. Population figures for the Wisconsin Heights School week, although experts are tell- Sauk Prairie School District dents completing their vaccine municipalities come from the District and Sauk Prairie ing people not to let their guard area had 16 new cases. The treatment. In Dane County, 21 United States Census Bureau. School District each Thursday. down as vaccinations continue death toll there is seven. percent have completed their Data is collected by the Star Wisconsin has wasted few COVID-19 vaccine doses, data show Wisconsin’s top episode of vaccine loss: A Grafton pharmacist intentionally spoiled hundreds of doses in December By Bram Sable-Smith Wisconsin’s biggest reported of Wisconsin’s list for wasted statement. it administered statewide, ac- Tennessee, which lost nearly WPR/Wisconsin Watch incident of waste, according to or spoiled doses — with many “HSHS St. Nicholas Hospi- cording to media reports. 5,000 doses in February alone, DHS: An Aurora Medical Cen- of the losses earlier in the vac- tal firmly believes this situation In Michigan, nearly 12,000 and Florida, which lost more Wisconsin vaccine provid- ter pharmacist in Grafton inten- cination rollout. Those include: was a result of human error and doses of the Moderna vaccine than 4,000 doses as of Feb.