Local lawmaker says: Let voters approve wheel tax | River Falls Journal | River Falls, Wisconsin

Local lawmaker says: Let voters approve wheel tax | River Falls Journal | River Falls, Wisconsin: Assembly Republican Dean Knudson of Hudson says voters have a right to be heard before their local governments slap “wheel taxes” on their autos.

Milwaukee, Beloit, Mayville, and St. Croix County charge $10-$20-dollars a year, on top of the $75 and more that vehicle owners pay to Madison.

Concealed weapons banned from St. Croix County Government Center | River Falls Journal | River Falls, Wisconsin

Concealed weapons banned from St. Croix County Government Center | River Falls Journal | River Falls, Wisconsin: 'The [Administrative Committee] unanimously approved a motion to place signs on the building designating it as a courthouse for purpose of carrying concealed weapons through November.'

Concealed Carry in County Buildings

A county employee sent me the following email:

I am writing regarding the conceal & carry law that will take effect on November 1, 2011. As a citizen in your district and employee of St. Croix County, I am asking that the Board of Supervisors pass a resolution banning concealed weapons inside ALL buildings housing County operations (i.e. not just the Government Center, but buildings in New Richmond, Baldwin and Hammond).

Without a resolution banning concealed weapons in ALL buildings housing County operations, employees and the general public will be subject to the increased anxiety of knowing any member of the public who walks through the door may be armed. Please take into consideration the employees of St. Croix County, as well as the general public, in your deliberations.

Thank you for your consideration.

My response:

Thank you for contacting me.

I believe that the right to Life is one of the most important rights a
person will have and I very strongly support the right of people to
defend their life.

I don't believe that a ban on weapons in all buildings housing county
operations will increase safety -- in fact I think it will decrease
safety because it will only stop the law-abiding citizens while
serving notice to violent people that the buildings have little to no
protection (especially outside of the government center). The Sheriff
and D.A. have both stated that they agree that just posting the
buildings won't help safety. Right now it is also true that "any
member of the public who walks through the door may be armed".

I do also support the employees right to safety so I won't support
limiting employee rights to self-defense.

Rivertown will web cast recall forum | River Falls Journal | River Falls, Wisconsin

Rivertown will web cast recall forum | River Falls Journal | River Falls, Wisconsin: "Voters can watch the 10th Senate District recall forum live next Thursday morning on any of the five Wisconsin Rivertown Newspaper Group websites.

The forum, broadcast from UW-River Falls, will begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, July 28."

Thompson named county administrator at Tuesday night's meeting | Hudson Star-Observer | Hudson, Wisconsin

Thompson named county administrator at Tuesday night's meeting | Hudson Star-Observer | Hudson, Wisconsin: "Pat Thompson, 52, was awarded a two-year contract by a 10-5 vote after a period of discussion in which some supervisors said the county was paying too much for the job.

Thompson’s base salary is $135,000 a year with incentive bonuses that could bring him an extra $15,000 each year."

Tentative Redistricting Plan and Current Supervisor locations

The tentative redistricting plan is labeled "9B" and here are the supervisors who live in the tentative districts:
1: Ryan S Sicard
2: Linda L Luckey
3: Robert Shearer
4: Daryl Standafer
5: Sharon A Norton-Bauman and Roger Rebholz
6: Buck Malick
7: None
8: Steve Hermsen
9: Buzz Marzolf and Lorin D Sather
10: None
11: Roger Larson
12: Frederick Horne
13: Esther Scott Wentz
14: None
15: Karen Meyer
16: James Stauffer and Joe Hurtgen
17: Alfred Schrank and Brian Hurtgen
18: None
19: William Peavey

Map of current supervisor's homes

If you live in one of the following areas that have no current supervisor, you will almost certianly have an open race and should look for people that you think should run: Town of Hudson south of the freeway, River Falls and N.E., South of New Richmond, Village of Baldwin and South Baldwin township.

County Administrator Salary

The Administration committee is recommending that the county pay the new Administrator $135,000 (plus a $15,000 bonus for a strategic plan). Human Resources provided salary survey information so why does the new administrator need to make more than all but one administrator in the survey? Even the Dane County executive (with a population that is 5 times as big as St. Croix) only made $110,156.80 last year and the WI governor only makes $137,092!