The Columbia City Council approved a $440.9 million budget for fiscal 2017 at its council meeting Monday. The new budget includes an increase in utility and park fees, as well as the addition of a new police officer. Under the budget taking effect Oct. 1, fee increases will tack on $3.59 per month to the average utility payer's bill.
Beer, soda and food waste littered the intersection of Eighth Street and Broadway where Wilkerson and other Boone County National Bank employees had been deployed to clean up the streets. Wilkerson said they scooped up the garbage with their hands and anything else they could use as shovels. The last band had just ended the first day of an inaugural Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival that drew a crowd of 70,000 or more over two days, far eclipsing anyone's expectations.
She had been living at Father Carr's Place 2B shelter for a while and had set up another housing option, but that opportunity quickly fell through. People recommended safe spaces for her to park and sleep — the Wal-Mart parking lot was a frequent option. With little money, she turned to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry for help with groceries.
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is revamping its free ride program for students and faculty. Currently, a TitanCard, the university's identification card, will allow a holder to ride for free on the city's GO Transit system. Beginning Jan. 1, however, those interested in making use of the free ride program will need to pick up a bus pass from the university.
Development of the new rental inspections program is continuing. City staff presented, during Tuesday's Common Council meeting, areas in which they hope to implement the revamped program. The presentation came after a public poll on the topic wrapped earlier this month. "The design of those districts really is data-driven," Councilor Matt Mugerauer said.
Ahead of next week's county budget hearings, here are a few things to know about the proposed 2019 budget. The proposed budget is $175.8 million, a 0.33 percent decrease from last year. The tax rate for the proposed 2019 budget is $5.26 per $1,000 in equalized property value or about 20 cents less than in 2018.
A measure to advocate for state lawmakers to ban conversion therapy for minors failed to pass the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors. The resolution, submitted by Supervisor Aaron Wojciechowski of Oshkosh, would have forwarded the resolution to the Wisconsin Counties Association, Gov. Scott Walker and state representatives and senators that represent any part of Winnebago County.
State Rep. Gordon Hintz is facing his first unopposed election. The longtime Wisconsin politician, who has represented the 54th Assembly District since 2006, assumed the role of Assembly minority leader in 2017, taking over after the seven-year term of Peter Barca. Before serving as minority leader, he served two terms on the Joint Finance Committee and was a member of the State Building Commission.
OSHKOSH - The tax levy is going up. The tax rate is going down. Public safety union negotiations are done (they got dental). These are just a few things in the 2019 Oshkosh preliminary budget. But what do they mean for the average citizen? What should you, as a taxpayer, be aware of? Two basic things: the total proposed budget for 2019 is $75.2 million, or an increase of 2.5 percent from 2018, and no positions will be eliminated.
Voters in Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties will choose Nov. 6 between incumbent state Rep. Micheal Schraa, R-Oshkosh, and Democratic challenger Joe Lavrenz of Fond du Lac for the 53rd Assembly District seat. Schraa, 57, was first elected in 2012 and has served three terms. He introduced the Juvenile Corrections Reform Bill last session and has co-authored or co-sponsored more than 200 bills since his first election.
Voters in the 53rd Assembly District will choose Nov. 6 who will represent them in the state Legislature. Incumbent state Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, and Democratic challenger Joe Lavrenz faced off Thursday night in a League of Women Voters candidate forum in Oshkosh to discuss their stances on some of the issues Wisconsin faces.
Voters in the 53rd Assembly District will choose Nov. 6 who will represent them in the state Legislature. Incumbent state Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, and Democratic challenger Joe Lavrenz faced off Thursday night in a League of Women Voters candidate forum in Oshkosh to discuss their stances on some of the issues Wisconsin faces.
After over a month of back-and-forth, city leaders finally agreed on a plan to fix the lack of parking on Oregon Street. The city will restore four parking spaces — two on each side — on the block of Oregon Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues. At its last meeting, the Common Council directed city staff to develop a compromise between two options — restoring five spaces or restoring 13 spaces.
OSHKOSH - Plans for a new education option in Oshkosh are in the works. Movement has begun on an Acton Academy, which is based around technology and hands-on projects, with "guides" instead of traditional teachers. The guides are encouraged to give suggestions rather than answer questions. The private school will not be part of the Oshkosh Area School District.
Ever wanted to live downtown? City leaders would probably like you to. Residents in downtown areas can create a near-permanent customer base for local businesses, use space for living areas that would have otherwise stayed vacant and bring in general vitality to a revitalized area. And Oshkosh wants in on it.
OSHKOSH - Event City has become the next Wisconsin city to allow "party bikes." The city will allow the bikes — large mobile bars powered by passengers' pedaling — to operate on yet-to-be-proposed routes, which still must garner city approval. The Oshkosh Common Council passed an ordinance Tuesday to allow the bikes.
