SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT
Transcription
SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT
SCHOFIELD FALL, SPOTLIGHT 2010 PAGE 33 ISSUE SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT Dates to Remember... Citizens of Schofield: Compost Site Extended Hours October 18-22 - 7 AM-8 PM Fall Clean-Up October 22 - 10 AM-5 PM October 23 - 8 AM-NOON Make a Difference Day October 23 Hydrant Flushing November 1 - November 19 Community Halloween Party October 31 - 1-3 PM Greenheck Fieldhouse Trick-or-Treat October 31 - 4-7 PM No Overnight Parking November 1 - March 31 Regular City Council Meetings Are held the second Tuesday of the month October through March at 6 p.m. and April through September at 7 p.m. at Schofield City Hall in the Council Chambers. I would like to take this opportunity to explain the current situation with the Mayor position in the City of Schofield. With the unfortunate death of Mayor Allen Bremer last June, it became my responsibility as President of the City Council to assume the duties of Mayor in his absence. At that point, the City Council had several options to fill the Mayoral vacancy. Being that the vacancy occurred after June 1st, a special election is not an option per State Statute. The Council could have appointed an Interim Mayor to fill the vacancy until the next election in April, 2011. What the Council ultimately chose to do was not to take any formal action. By doing that, I continue to fulfill the duties of President of the Council which as stated before includes assuming the duties of the Mayor in his absence. Therefore, I will remain as Acting Mayor until either the Council appoints an Interim Mayor or until the April, 2011 election. I would like to give you, the citizens of Schofield, the same assurance that I gave Mayor Bremer before his death. That assurance is that as long as I fill the role as your Mayor, I will give that responsibility my complete and thorough attention. I will carry out the duties of the position to the best of my ability. At the current time we are working on several very important issues. One, of course, is the 2011 City budget. With the current economic climate and the issue the State has with its budget, we will be challenged to continue to provide you with the services you expect and deserve with little or no increase in overall spending. We have also been working with the Wisconsin D.N.R. to clear up some compliance issues with our storm water runoff permit. Recently, we have secured funding from the Metropolitan Planning Organization to cover approximately one half of the reconstruction costs for South Grand Avenue. The M.P.O. is a group that administers State funds for road projects in this area. This is the first time the City of Schofield has been able to get funding through this group. This is great news for Schofield as the funding committed to our project is approximately $900,000. I have detailed more about this in my Public Works update. In conclusion I would like to say that I am honored to be serving as your Mayor. As always, if you have any comments or suggestions please contact me. Sincerely, Ken Fabel, Acting Mayor City of Schofield Pictures Wanted! “City of Schofield Pride” Send us a picture(s) of your favorite Schofield location and we may post it on our website. Photo should be no wider than 500 pixels. Email your photo(s) along with the location and your name (will be posted with picture) to lreeves@ cityofschofield.org. (Photo postings are at the discretion of the City.) SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE Thank you from Esther Bremer and Family...... I want to thank the Citizens of Schofield, council members and city staff for the love and support you showed Allen and our entire family during his 2½ year battle with colon cancer. Whether you offered supportive words, sent cards, food, plants, flowers or offered a prayer for us..................please know that you helped us endure and gave us strength to keep going. My husband Allen truly loved being your Mayor. It was his life’s passion because he grew up here and wanted Schofield to continue to be a beautiful and safe place to live. Some of Allen’s favorite times as Mayor were when he walked the neighborhoods during his campaigns and visited with all of you. He enjoyed talking to residents about their concerns and ideas. Another special time for Allen was when he delivered Christmas food baskets from the city’s annual food drive. One little boy even said “Thank you Allen”. We asked how he knew who Allen was and he replied, “From your campaign magnet on the refrigerator”. Allen sure got a kick out of that. Probably Allen’s proudest moment was when he was able to visit the James Krause Mayoral Park a week before he died. That park and what it stands for was so important to Allen and we are all grateful he was able to visit the park, see his paver stone, and sit on the Mayors’ bench. We have pictures of that and I will treasure them always. Thank you again, Esther Butterfly Garden This summer along with the Mayoral Walk we had a butterfly garden built at our James Krause Mayoral Park. The butterfly garden will need a couple of years for the plants to grow big enough to attract butterflies. The type of flowers in our garden will only attract butterflies for food and not for reproducing. The monarch butterfly lays its eggs on the milk weed plant. From there the eggs Photo Courtesy of Tom Wetterneck hatch into larva and mature into caterpillars. They then find a stem or branch to change into a cocoon and later hatch into butterflies. The butterfly will only live for two to six weeks with its main purpose to lay eggs before it dies. This life cycle is repeated about four times with the last two cycles here in Wisconsin. The last butterflies to hatch in September and October will migrate south to Texas or Mexico. This is where they hibernate. Maybe you have seen pictures of the thousands of butterflies in one tree. They are the lucky ones to live for eight to nine months. They then start the migration north laying eggs along the way. It is usually June before they get this far. They can fly up to about 200 miles in a day. Up to 95% of all monarch eggs do not make it to full mature butterflies. They have a lot of predators such as ants, spiders, and flies, not to mention the weather, and mowing down the milk weed. To help out the success rate I have bought a butterfly sanctuary. I hope to have a couple more by spring. This is a screened-in container I have on wheels and hope to keep at the park. If everything goes right we will have monarchs in all stages of their life cycle for you to observe next summer. I hope that while you and your children check out the caterpillars and cocoons you will be careful of the delicate butterfly containers. The containers will be put away each night and brought out in the morning. I want to thank the city crew for the cart they made to wheel the container around for your observation pleasure. Kregg Hoehn Parks & Recreation Chairperson, 4th Ward Alderman Recipe Corner Meet Virgine (Jeanie) G. White, City of Schofield Election Worker Cranberry Apple Pie 2 ½ cups of cranberries 1 ½ cups of sliced apples 1 ½ cups of sugar 3 tbsp of quick cooking tapioca 3 tbsp of water Combine the above ingredients in a large bowl and let stand until you make the crust (top & bottom). Bake in a hot oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue to bake for about 30 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Jeanie White has been a member of the Schofield community for 56 years, 36 of which have been served as an election worker. Bob Gwidt was Mayor at the time. One of her highlights of being an election worker was when the ballot machine was fixed, so it wouldn’t jam anymore! Jeanie chose the Cranberry Apple Pie because she likes cranberries and is always looking for new recipes. She found this one in Better Homes and Gardens. SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE Everest Metro Police Department News MARATHON COUNTY SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT (SIU) On August 26, 2010, the Marathon County Special Investigations Unit was recognized as the “Drug Unit of the Year” by the Wisconsin Narcotic Officers Association. Officer Dan Goff of the Everest Metro Police Department also received a letter of Commendation from the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office for his role in SIU as a lead investigator in a major drug case. This case resulted in numerous felony convictions following Chief Wally Sparks a two-year investigation into a cocaine trafficking ring that was operating in the Wausau area in 2008-2009. The investigation also resulted in the federal indictment of a major Chicago cocaine distributor, who is believed to be responsible for the sale and distribution of between 40 to 50 kilos of cocaine into the central and northern areas of Wisconsin. A federal arrest warrant was issued and members of SIU and the Chicago PD arrested this subject in Chicago on March 17th 2010. New Community Service Officer The department is pleased to welcome “Officer Leah” Long as the department’s new Community Service Officer (CSO). She started her official duties on September 6, 2010 and replaces Officer Brenda Pellowski who served as CSO and did an outstanding job serving the community in that capacity for the past six years. Officer Long will teach DARE classes to our 5th grade children and will serve as the department’s liaison to, or directly involved with, many community service programs including: Crime Stoppers, Marathon County Domestic Abuse Intervention, Reduction and Fatality Review Teams, Marathon County Adults at Risk I Team, Marathon County Restorative Justice Program, Safe Kids Coalition, Neighborhood Watch, Child Passenger Safety Seat Checks, Family Advocacy Mentoring, National Night Out, Gifts from Heaven, Child Advocacy Center of North Central Wisconsin, Everest Optimist Club & Bike Rodeo. Officer Long will also be handling a number of other educational and service related functions that directly benefit our local youth and schools programs. Join United Way Volunteer Connection for . . . Make A Difference Day On October 23, join United Way Volunteer Connection and volunteers across our community for Make A Difference Day. You, your family or a group can make a difference that day by volunteering to rake for someone elderly or disabled, hauling bagged leaves to the yard waste site, or making a donation of food, toiletry items or winter outerwear to help neighbors in need. All projects are happening from 8 am-noon at the Wausau National Guard Armory. Register in advance or read the details online at www.united- waymc.org/madd. For residents in need of raking help, the request deadline has passed. Welcome New Businesses We're happy you are in Schofield!!! T&D Truck Repair El Vallarta Mexican Restaurant Please call Volunteer Connection at 715-848-2927 to get on the “stand-by” list for this year or to get included on the list for assistance in 2011. SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE Greetings from Schofield Fire Department The Firefighters were busy this summer training in a house on Spring Street that was later demolished. Training in vacant homes provides valuable hands-on, real scenarios. If you have a house or a building/garage that is going to be vacant or demolished please contact the Fire Chief to give the Firefighters the opportunity to train in a real situation. Schofield EMT’s have responded to 85 ambulance calls as of July 31st 2010 and 23 fire calls. Firefighters are out and about doing fire safety inspections at all Schofield businesses and apartments. We do these to ensure the safety of the employees, the public and the Chief Tracy Fremming Firefighters responding to a fire call there. Schofield Fire Department is currently seeking residents for employment. You do not have to be an EMT or Firefighter; we will send you to the classes and pay for them. You must be 18 years old, live in Schofield and have a current driver’s license. You respond from home via pager and are paid per run and for training. Please pick up an application from City Hall or on our website at www. cityofschofield.org. With winter just around the corner, remember to keep your fire hydrants shoveled all winter. County Board Update The County Board’s primary focus over the past two months has been evaluate to and rank all County Ken Fabel County Board Supervisor District 16 and 3rd Ward Alderman programs. The reason this has been done is that extremely difficult budgeting decisions for 2011 and 2012 are anticipated. It is expected that some programs will have to be reduced or eliminated. The ranking process was completed at a special County Board retreat in August. With the information generated through this process, Brad Karger, the County Administrator, City Employees along with his staff will now prepare City of Schofield employees work hard everyday to make our city a great place to live and work. Employees are (left to right): a preliminary budget to present to ranking of programs will be reflected in Kevin King, Public Works/Zoning Administrator Jarrod Zilisch, Public Works Virgil Wenzel, Public Works Mark Thuot, Public Works Lori Hauswirth, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Lisa Reeves, Clerk/Treasurer Rick Stoviak, Public Works Email Addresses at City Hall Acting Mayor Ken Fabel Public Works/Kevin King Clerk/Treasurer/Lisa Reeves Deputy Clerk/Treas/Lori Hauswirth Building Inspector/Dan Dziadosz Website The City of Schofield’s website has all the latest calendar of events, agendas, minutes and much, much more. You can view the website at http://cityofschofield.org. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] the Board. The expectation is that the his proposed budget. I’m sure that the news media will continue to provide coverage on where cuts to various programs will be made. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments on this or any other County Board issues, please contact me. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has an opinion on this before final approval of the budget in November. Ken Fabel County Board Supervisor District 16 SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE Leaf and Brush Policy Under the City of Schofield Burning Ordinance 23-370, leaves and brush cannot be burned within City limits. You can haul your leaves and brush to the compost site on Drott Street or the City will pick up curbside. To utilize curbside pickup, brush should be neatly piled with the large ends of the brush facing the street and leaves must be bagged. No grass clippings allowed in pickup. Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal Public Works News Compost Site Hours Mon.-Tues., Thurs.-Fri. – 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Wed. - 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sat. - 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Closed Sun. and Holidays Compost Site Extended Hours During Fall Cleanup Week Monday-Friday, October 18 - 22 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Cleanup Dates Friday, October 22nd – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, October 23rd – 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Winter Parking The owner, occupant or person in charge of any building fronting upon or adjoining any street, and the owner, or person in charge of any unoccupied dwelling or lot fronting any street, is required to remove snow and ice from your sidewalk within 24 hours after a snowfall. Please do not throw snow or ice in the streets. The City would like to thank residents who shovel out around fire hydrants. With winter around the corner, issues arise regarding parking on City streets. The City has an ordinance which goes into effect from November 1st to March 31st stating that “no person shall park any vehicle on any public street or highway in the City of Schofield between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.” This allows the City crew a clear road for snow removal. Snowmobile Regulation Christmas Tree Pickup It is unlawful for anyone to operate a snowmobile upon any public right of way, in any public park, sidewalk pedestrian way, or on any other public municipal property in the City of Schofield. Fall Cleanup Items need to be brought to the cleanup site at the shelter parking lot by City Hall, 200 Park Street. For the elderly, the City workers will pick up items at your residence if you have item/s placed curbside. You MUST call 715359-5230 by Tuesday the week of the cleanup to make arrangements for payment and pickup. The City of Schofield Public Works Department will pick up your Christmas tree curbside during the month of January. Remember to remove all ornaments and lights. Christmas Tree Safety A dry cut evergreen tree can become a raging inferno in seconds. Follow these safety precautions to ensure that the only thing burning brightly is your spirits: • Water, water, water. Never let a cut tree dry out. Check the tree stand’s water reservoir frequently, particularly when you first bring the tree into your home. If the water does fall below the bottom of the tree, even for a few minutes, recut the trunk about an inch up. • Location, location, location. Place the tree well away from heat sources like radiators, fireplaces, wood stoves, and hot air vents. • Recheck for dryness. On a daily basis, check for excessive needle drop or dry, brittle needles. (Needles should bend easily without breaking.) If your tree fails these tests, it is dry and has become a fire hazard. • Use only approved lights. Look for the UL seal on all Christmas lights. Never allow candles near a tree. • Keep cords at bay. To avoid a tripping hazard, stow extension cords out of traffic lanes near the tree. New DNR Rules New DNR rules will now require chlorination of City wells. We will be adding corrosion control measures by the end of this year. If you have any questions feel free to contact Kevin King at 715241-8863. WPS Light Poles If you notice a WPS light that is burned out, jot down the pole number (example: 17ac76) and call WPS at 1-800-450-7260 to make them aware of the outage. Off-Premise Advertising Prohibited The City of Schofield prohibits offpremise advertising of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to, garage sale signs, real estate signs, temporary banners, etc. Any sign you put up must be located on your property. Random Acts of Being Neighborly Please be sure to help your elderly neighbors with their leaf raking and snow shoveling. We all could use some extra help from time to time and this is a great opportunity to show our neighbors we care! Kevin King Public Works Zoning Administrator SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE Parks and Recreation Committee Report Another summer has come and gone and with it we have had many changes. Our great City has lost another Mayor way too early. This early summer we had our dedication of the James Krause Mayoral Park. Thank you to all the citizens that showed up for it. A special thank you to all the City crew along with Lisa Krause for all of their work. Thanks to Kevin King, our Public Works Administrator for donating the food and also cooking for us that day. If you haven’t visited the park recently we have a Mayoral Walk honoring all of our Mayors for their service. We also put in a butterfly garden. Look on page 2 in this edition of the Schofield Spotlight for an article on the butterfly garden. The tennis courts at our James Krause Mayoral Park have been repainted. The new stripes are for pickle ball, a sport that is gaining popularity. If you want to know more about this sport you can look it up on the internet or better yet ask the people using our courts. We are working on the boat landing above the dam as we go to print. This should be done in the next few weeks. We will be refinishing the wooden picnic tables in our parks this winter. Hopefully they will be finished by spring. We would like to thank Intercity Bank, Greenheck and Grand Daddy’s for donating park benches this summer. Also Mayor Bremer’s family has donated a picnic table to be put at the Mayoral Park in honor of Al Bremer. Another thank you goes out to Norm Zurawski for making the new Mayoral Park sign. Remember, check out our web site, www.cityofschofield.org for things happening to our City. We have a link for parks with pictures of some of the parks. The updated pictures of all the parks will be ready by late fall. Sincerely, Kregg Hoehn Rental Facilities Public Works Update By the time this newsletter is printed work will be completed on the Landon Street reconstruction project. Several other street repair and chip seal projects were also completed this year. We are currently working on finalizing our budget which includes projects for 2011. If you have comments or suggestions for projects you would like to see included for 2011, please contact Kevin King or myself. As mentioned in the Mayor’s comments, our South Grand Avenue reconstruction project has been approved for funding by the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The amount approved was $892,179 which is approximately one half of the anticipated cost. The Schofield portion of the project will be from Kort Street to the stop and go lights by the Eau Claire River Bridge. The reconstruction project will most likely take place in 2013. We have worked on securing funding for this project through the M.P.O. for several years and the fact that it has been approved is truly great news for the City. Without the M.P.O funding, the City would have had to absorb the entire cost of the project which is approximately $1.8 million. Once again if you have any comments or questions on public works issues, please contact myself or Kevin King. Ken Fabel, Public Works Committee Chairman & 3rd Ward Alderman The City has several facilities available at City Hall for large gatherings. Banquet Hall (inside City Hall) This facility can accommodate a standing crowd of up to 360, or 257 people if chairs are set up; or 120 occupants if both tables and chairs are used. The hall features a full serving kitchen with appliances (stove/refrig/large coffee maker), bathroom facilities and a large blacktopped parking area. Chairs and tables are provided and must be set up and taken down by those using the facility. Outdoor Shelter Located on the grounds of City Hall at Schofield Park and directly in back of Schofield Elementary School, this facility is a rustic, roofed shelter with a cement floor. Sixteen large picnic tables in the shelter can accommodate large gatherings. The Shelter has kitchen facilities with appliances, indoor bathroom facilities and features a large stone fireplace. The area around the shelter has a sand-based volleyball court with net and a scenic view of Lake Wausau (a chain-link fence separates the lake/embankment from the shelter property). The softball diamond and playground area/equipment adjoin the shelter property. Paved parking is plentiful. Reservations In person only at City Hall. Open dates can be checked by calling City Hall at 715-359-5230. Resident Non Resident Indoor Hall $100 $125 Park Shelter $75 $100 Security Deposit Required Reservations for both the Hall and Shelter require a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the rent fee. This must be paid at the time of making the reservation and is in addition to the refundable key deposit of $50. Dennis Richmond Public Property Chairperson SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE Water & Sewer News Water Usage Water Rate Increase The most common reasons for high water usage are excessive irrigation and leaky plumbing fixtures. Following are some conservation tips and possible causes of excessive water usage. Every water-using appliance or activity in your home/business can make a difference. • You can install faucet aerators and restrictors - inexpensive inserts that can help reduce water use. They’re easy to install by yourself. • Periodically check throughout the house for leaky faucets and valves. Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An inexpensive washer is usually enough to stop them. • Have you had extra guests? Remember, extra people mean more water usage. • Check your toilet for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring to water in tank. If coloring appears in toilet bowl with out flushing, there is a leak. Also, listen for the sound of running water. • Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse off. Any longer comes under the heading of recreation. Five-minute showers use less water than baths, and tub bathers should keep in mind that a half- full tub cleans just as well as a full tub. The City of Schofield Water & Sewer Commission will be filing an application with the Public Service Commission for a 3% water rate increase on September 30, 2010. If the application is approved by the PSC and City Council the water rate increase will take effect on January 1, 2011. If you have any questions or concerns, please join the Water & Sewer Commission at the monthly meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Sewer Backups Schofield residents and businesses having sewer backup problems should call the Schofield Water/Sewer Department Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM for a complete assessment before calling any sewer cleaning service. After 4:30 PM and on weekends, call the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department at 715-2611200 (DO NOT call 911). They will contact a City Utility Worker after normal working hours. A City Utility Worker will respond to all sewer backup requests for assistance. The Schofield Utility will not provide any compensation to property owners or renters for damage done by sudden and accidental sewer backups. We recommend that you add this coverage to your homeowner’s insurance policy. Reminder: Do not place items such as personal hygiene products, clothing, diapers and small toys in the sewer lines. These items will plug your sewer lateral, City sewer mains and could result in unnecessary expense for you and the City. Unused & Unwanted Medication Drop-Box Program Drop Box Rules • YES drop off over-the-counter or prescription drugs • YES drop off medications in original containers • YES remove personal information by either tearing off or marking out • YES leave on medicine name and dosage • NO radioactive chemo drugs or IV bags • No needles or syringes • No garbage or trash Location & Times Everest Metro Police Dept – 5303 Mesker Street, Weston Drop Box in Public Lobby Area – M-F 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No holiday drop off Rothschild Police Dept – 211 Grand Avenue, Rothschild Drop Box in Public Entrance Area – 24/7-365 days a year Wausau Police Dept. – 515 Grand Avenue, Wausau Drop Slot in Public Lobby Area – M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m No holiday drop off Hydrant/Water Main Flushing Mains will be flushed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Areas may experience “dirty water” for short periods of time. It’s best to leave an outside faucet run for a short time to clear the problem. Avoid the use of bleach in your laundry for it may stain your clothing during this time. Some areas may also experience low water pressure during this process. Water Main Flushing Schedule North End, November 1-5 South End, November 8-12 Industrial Park, November 15-19 SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE Finance Committee Update The Finance Committee will soon be reviewing the 2011 budget. Each year we must balance the need for services provided and necessary capital outlays with our projected unreserved funds and revenues. Like any business entity, a large portion of our annual budget disbursements are for necessary services the City provides. These include police and fire protection, garbage collection, bus and pool subsidies, labor costs and expenses of public works and staff employees, debt payments, and general administrative expenses. These are our fixed costs regardless of revenue. Discretionary disbursements in a given budget can include major equipment James DeBauche Finance Committee Chairperson purchases and street improvements. th & 4 Ward Alderperson Per Acting Mayor Ken Fabel’s comments, we have received a large grant for reconstruction of South Grand Avenue. This is a project truly needed and will save a considerable amount of interest if the City had to finance the total cost of the reconstruction. The grant, however, will not cover the total cost of construction. The projected completion date is 2013. The City’s portion of the cost will have to be covered by the next few years’ budgets for street construction and/or future bank borrowing. Bank loans can be a quick fix to balance an annual budget. They do, however, have to be paid with interest and impact future budgets. Having covered the budget disbursements, we go to the City’s revenue in the budget process. The main revenues are State Aids and grants and real estate taxes. Your real estate tax statement includes County, State, two school districts and City taxes. The City’s portion for 2009 on my personal tax statement was 31.17%. In the budget process we have always tried to keep the City’s portion of your property tax as low as possible. We do however have to provide services and programs needed and are always subject to increased demand and inflation factors. The grants and aids are also subject to change from year to year and impact the budgeting process. Although our Mil rate per thousand in computing your city taxes may be higher than some of our neighboring communities, Schofield to date has not in effect reduced the rate by substituting separate fees for customary services. Examples of these separate fees charged by other municipalities are garbage collection, fire hydrant, and ground water fees. Your Schofield rate includes all of these services. The new member of the Wausau City Council has suggested cooperation and possible consolidations. This is not entirely new and undoubtedly will be discussed in the future. Schofield has a good history in cooperating with other communities to reduce the cost of providing services. We are always open to discussions which will be beneficial to the City of Schofield and our neighboring communities. If you have questions on any of the above information, please contact me. As chairman of the Finance Committee and a 4th Ward Alderman, I am always interested in your thoughts and comments as they relate to the City of Schofield. You may of course, also contact your ward’s council members and Acting Mayor, Ken Fabel. I am sure they too want your input. Jim DeBauche, 4th Ward Alderman Dog and Cat Licenses The City would like to remind you that dog and cat tag licenses are required each calendar year for your pet. The tag licenses for 2011 will begin mid December to be processed at the Schofield City Hall. The license application will be mailed in your tax statement or can be filled out at City Hall. A current copy of your pet’s rabies vaccination is required. Fee: Dogs – Male/Female-$10 Spayed/Neutered-$5 Cats-$5 Pet Reminders Tax Collection Information REAL ESTATE • At least 50% per parcel must be paid at City Hall or through Official Payments by January 31, 2011. • After January 31, 2011 payments must be made to the Marathon County Treasurer. • If at least 50% of each parcel’s tax is paid by January 31st, the balance due, without interest and penalty, at the County Treasurer’s office by July 31st. After that date, the bal- ance remaining is subject to a 1.5% interest and penalty per month from February 1st. • If no tax payments, or less than 50% of each parcel’s tax payment is made to City Hall or through Official Payments by January 31st, any balance remaining is payable at the County Treasurer and sub- ject to a 1.5% interest and penalty per month from February 1st. PERSONAL PROPERTY • Entire tax is due at City Hall or through Official Payments by Janu- ary 31, 2011. • Amounts not paid by January 31, 2011 are delinquent and bear inter- est and penalty at 1.5% per month from February 1st. You can use Official Payments by going to: www.official payments.com or calling 1-800-272-9829 (Jurisdiction code 6777). Official Payments charges a 2.75% convenience fee. Discover, Mastercard, Visa and American Express are accepted. Boat Launch/Duck Hunters Daily boat launch permits are still available for duck hunters at the boat launch site. As a reminder, duck hunters are not allowed to discharge a fire arm within 150 yards of shore. • No more than 2 dogs and/or 2 cats allowed in one residential unit. • Pets shall be vaccinated against rabies within 30 days after the pet reaches 4 months of age and revaccinated within 1 year after initial vaccination. • No dog or cat shall run at large in the City. • No person shall exercise or walk a dog on a leash more than 6 feet in length. • No person shall own any animal which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, or wailing shall disturb other persons. PAGE Building Permits IS THERE A GENERAL GUIDELINE FOR WHEN A PERMIT IS NEEDED? Yes, generally speaking, if the work that you plan on doing is an alteration, that might affect light, ventilation, structural elements, or exiting, a building permit is required. GETTING A PERMIT - All permit requests will be routed through the Zoning Administrator for review, prior to referring them to the Building Inspector for review. Applications for a permit may be picked up at the municipal center, filled Dan Dziadosz out, and returned for review. Applications are then passed Building Inspector on to Building Inspector Dan Dziadosz for code compliance review. You may call Kevin at the municipal building, 715-359-5230, or the public works garage with your zoning questions. You may also call the municipal building and leave a message. Either Kevin or Dan will return your call. The Building Inspector is available Thursday evenings, or by appointment. You may call the municipal building, or call the Inspector directly, at 715-297-7115. IS A PERMIT NEEDED FOR – • New construction or an addition to a building? YES • Remodeling of a house? YES • Construction of detached garages and storage buildings? YES • Construction of decks and porches? YES • Residing or repairing a building with the SAME materials? NO • Replacement of shingles? NO (one overlay only – however, if a structural repair is needed – a building permit is needed) • Replacement of windows in the same openings? NO • Installation of new windows? YES, if changing the opening size. • Replacement of heating units, water heaters or air conditioners? NO • Replacement of light fixtures, switches or plumbing fixtures? NO • Installation of a satellite dish? YES • Demolition or moving of a building? YES • Construction of a fence? NO WHAT IS THE COST OF A PERMIT? Permit fees vary depending on the work that you will be doing. Always check if there is a question, as failure to get a required permit is a DOUBLE FEE. CHANGES OF USE – Did you know that the change of use in a building requires that building to be reviewed for changes in the code? Recent examples might include a cold storage warehouse that is now being used to store something hazardous; or an office building being converted to a restaurant. Several important code issues may need to be addressed, such as exiting, toilet rooms and sprinkler systems. Another type of change in use, involves the zoning and building code. As an example, if you have a single-family residence in a commercial zoning district, the use of the building is only approved as a single-family dwelling. It may not be converted to a commercial use, even though the underlying land is zoned commercial. Changing a residence to a commercial use usually involves having a registered architect, engineer or designer review the building for commercial code compliance, and then submitting it to the State of Wisconsin for their approval. City Council Meetings from October to April are now being held at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month. SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT Winterize Your Water Pipes Prepare your plumbing (outside and inside) for freezing weather. Know what to do during freezing weather and if your pipes freeze or break. OUTSIDE PLUMBING • Caulk around pipes where they enter the house. Close all foundation vents. Cut wood or styrofoam blocks to fit vent openings, then slide them into the vents. Open the vents again in the spring to prevent dry rot. • Protect outside pipes and faucets. In some homes, the outside faucet has a separate shut-off in the basement. If you have a separate valve, shut if off. Then go outside and turn on all the faucets to drain water in the lines. Leave the outside faucets on while you go back and check your outside shut-off valve for a small brass plug or cap on the valve. Turn this plug far enough that water drains from the valve. Then, tighten the plug back and turn off all the outside faucets. • Wrap outside faucets or hose bibs. Do this if you don’t have a separate valve to turn off outside faucets. (Also remember to disconnect garden hoses.) Use newspaper or rags covered with plastic, fiberglass or molded foam insulating covers to wrap the faucet. • Drain in-ground sprinkler systems. Check manufacturer’s instructions for the best way to do this. INSIDE PLUMBING • Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as the crawl space, attic, garage or basement. Use insulating tape or molded pipe sleeve and wrap it over the entire length of exposed pipe. • Shut off and drain your water system if you are leaving home for several days. (Turn off the water heater before draining the system.) Turn off the main shut-off valve, then go through the house and turn on all faucets, sinks, tubs, showers, etc., and flush the toilets. Go back to the valve and remove the plug so that it can drain completely. Follow-up by re-tightening the valve and turning off the open faucets. • Open cupboard doors in the kitchen and bathrooms. Leaving the cupboard doors open when the temperature is below freezing allows pipes behind the cupboards to get more heat. • Let the water run if the temperature dips below freezing. (A stream slightly smaller than a pencil width should be sufficient.) Faucets farthest from the street should be the ones left running. Using cold water will save on your gas or electric bill. SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE 10 Electronics Banned from Landfills Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law, 2009 Wisconsin Act 50, was signed into law by Governor Doyle in October 2009. The law established a collection and recycling system in Wisconsin for certain consumer electronic devices discarded by households, K-12 public schools and Milwaukee Parental Choice Program schools. This is now called the E-Cycle Wisconsin program. The law also enacted a disposal ban that restricts landfilling or incineration of these devices as of September 1, 2010. The following electronics are covered in the ban: • Televisions • Computers (including desktop, laptop, netbook and tablet computers) • Desktop printers (including those that scan, fax, or copy) • Computer monitors • Other computer accessories including keyboards, mice, speakers, external hard drives and flash drives • DVD players, DVRs, VCRs and other video players • Fax machines • Cell phones This ban covers everyone in the state, and applies no matter where a device was purchased or who used it. Households, schools, businesses, governments and institutions are all covered under the ban. Marathon County Hazardous Waste Site Has Moved! Hazardous waste can now be dropped off at Marathon County Solid Waste Department R18500 E. Hwy. 29 – Ringle, WI Materials Accepted Degreasers – Cleaning Solvents Drain Cleaners – Dry Cleaning Fluid Floor/Furniture Polish Mildew Cleaners Herbicides – Insecticides Metal Cleaners – Oven Cleaners Oil-based Paints – Solvents Strippers – Thinners Turpentine – Varnish Creosote – Fuel – Ether Questions? Call 715-446-3101 Ext. 2 Schofield Feels the Affects of the September 24, 2010 Flood Waters South Grand Avenue Boat dock at Schofield Lions Boat Landing SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE 11 2010 Community Halloween Party Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 1:00-3:00 p.m. Greenheck Fieldhouse Fun, Games and Prizes for All Children through Grade-School Age Sponsored by: EMPD & Schofield & Weston Businesses Anyone looking for additional information or any businesses that would like to contribute towards this event can contact Officer Leah Long at (715) 359-4202. Halloween Trick or Treat Hours for the City of Schofield October 31, 2010 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please heed these basic recommended safety tips to keep your children safe: ~ Have each child carry or wear something “lit” (flashlight, glow stick, etc.). ~ Plan a route in advance. ~ Children of any age should be accompanied by a parent. ~ Never allow children to eat any candy before it is inspected (throw away any “opened” candy). ~ Children should walk, not run and avoid cutting across yards or driveways where hidden obstacles may be present. Only trick or treat at houses that are lit. PAGE 12 SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE 13 SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE 14 Garbage and Recycling Collection Garbage Pick-up Days (please have to curb by 6 a.m.) North of Eau Claire River Bridge: every Tuesday - South of Eau Claire River Bridge: every Wednesday Recycling Pick-up Days (please have to curb by 6 a.m.) North of Eau Claire River Bridge: 1st Tuesday of each month - South of Eau Claire River Bridge: 1st Wednesday of each month Veolia Waste Services Midwest Inc. Veolia ES Solid Waste LLC is the handler of waste and recycling in the City of Schofield. Our goal is to make recycling as easy as possible for you. Changes have been made in the sorting of recycling materials. The color of your bins does not matter. ** During Holiday weeks, always expect a pickup a day later, after scheduled Holiday. (ex. Memorial Day, Monday’s pickup will be Tuesday, and everything that week is a day later.) SPECIAL WASTE RECYCLING USED MOTOR OIL Motor oil should be left curbside on your recycling day in a plastic container with lid fastened. (milk jug) BATTERIES Lead acid batteries (car, lawnmower, motorcycle, etc.) CONTAINER FOR CO-MINGLE (any color bin) #1 PLASTICS These primary plastics include pop bottles. Rinse and remove caps and rings. (Look at bottom of container for number ) #2 PLASTICS These plastics include milk jugs & detergent bottles. Rinse and remove caps and rings. (Look at bottom of container for number ) GLASS Clear, Brown and Green in color. Only bottles and jars. Rinse and remove cap and metal rings. DO NOT BREAK GLASS!! NO CERAMICS, DISHES OR WINDOW GLASS!!! ALUMINUM CANS Do not crush cans. (cans only) TIN/BI-METAL CANS Rinse and remove labels from cans. (food cans only) CONTAINER FOR PAPER PRODUCTS/FIBERS CORRUGATED CARDBOARD Flatten boxes. They do not need to be tied. (All contaminated cardboard including pizza boxes should go in your regular trash.) OFFICE PAPER, NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINES Place in a paper bag and then place next to cardboard. *If you have any questions, or have to schedule large item pickups, call Veolia at: 715-359-6637. Veolia also offers a 95 gallon cart service for $6 a month. Stickers are available at Schofield City Hall for $1 each for additional bags. Veolia Waste Services Midwest Inc. - Wausau 5509 Fuller Street, Weston, WI 54476-3106 Phone 715-359-6637 Fax 715-359-2123 SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT PAGE 15 Direct Bill Payment Take advantage of the FREE DIRECT BILL PAYMENT SERVICE we are offering at the City of Schofield Utilities. You can have your utility bill electronically paid from any bank, savings & loan or credit union account. Sign up today to start enjoying these benefits: *No check to write. *No more late payment charges. *No postage to pay. *No matter where you are your bill will be paid. The due date that appears on your bill is the date the funds are withdrawn from your account. To sign up for the City of Schofield Utilities Direct Bill Payment Option service, please fill out the attached form, and along with a CHECK OR SAVINGS DEPOSIT SLIP marked “VOID”, drop off or mail it to the City of Schofield Utilities address found on the form. If you have any questions, please contact us at 715-359-5230. (Clip and return bottom half) Application for Electronic Payment Please clip out and return this electronic transfer authorization agreement. Name on City of Schofield Utilities Bill (please print) Customer Address Name of Financial Institution Account Number Telephone Number Telephone Number Address of Financial Institution Routing Number Name of Bank Account Holder Account Number I hereby authorize the financial institution named to charge my: r Checking Account Authorized Signature r Savings Account Date Mail this completed form along with a check or savings deposit slip marked “Void” to: City of Schofield Utilities 200 Park Street Schofield, WI 54476 Resident Extended Vacancy Form (**Don’t Pay Late Fees) If you leave home for any extended period of time (one month or more), complete this form and send it to City of Schofield Utilities (address above) to receive your utility bill on time. Name_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Expected Departure Date_ ________________________________________________________________________________ Expected Return Date____________________________________________________________________________________ Forwarding Address_ ____________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip___________________________________________________________________________________________ SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT Prsrt Std PAGE 16 SCHOFIELD SPOTLIGHT US Postage Paid Wausau WI Permit # 3 200 Park Street Schofield, WI 54476 Phone: 715-359-5230 Fax: 715-359-5973 www.cityofschofield.org ELECTED OFFICIALS CITY OF SCHOFIELD OFFICE HOURS AND PHONE NUMBERS Ken Fabel, Acting Mayor 715-573-1410 City Clerk/Treasurer Public Works/Zoning Offices Kevin Fabel, Ward 1 Robert Szekeress, Ward 1 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 715-581-3478 715-359-2642 715-359-5230 715-241-8863 Joan Joss, Ward 2 Fred Will, Ward 2 715-359-3524 715-573-7071 Building Inspector After Hours Emergencies Ken Fabel, Ward 3 Dennis Richmond, Ward 3 715-297-7115 (after 4:30 p.m. and weekends) 715-573-1410 715-359-7575 Call the Marathon County Kregg Hoehn, Ward 4 James DeBauche, Ward 4 Everest Metro Police Sheriff’s Department 715-581-0924 715-359-6704 715-359-4202 (non-emergency) 715-261-1200 Regular City Council Meetings: Are held the second Tuesday of the month October through March at 6 p.m. and April through September at 7 p.m. at Schofield City Hall in the Council Chambers. Compost Site Extended Hours (Monday-Friday, October 18-22) Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Be prepared to show identification to verify you live in Schofield. Fall Cleanup Dates and Times Oct. 22, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Oct 23, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Cleanup drop off site is at City Hall on Park Street. Note: Fees assessed to residents reflect what the City is charged to dispose of items. Water Main Flushing/ Sewer Jetting Schedule North End, November 1-5 South End, November 8-12 Industrial Park, November 15-19
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