An envrontalist group that goes by the name of ”FORCE” is actively opposing the opening of a trap rock quarry in Osceola. Of course, this got my attention with a quickness as I am always skeptical of environmentalist groups – especaily when they use the use the oppressive hand of the DNR to get their way.
FORCE, or Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment, as a group is ridiculously difficult to find information on; however there is a group that goes by the same name in Canada… And curiously enough, they do the exact same thing. This prompted me to wonder if the group that is acting up in Osceola is a branch of the Canadian FORCE. If so, why are they interfering with rural Wisconsin’s affairs and invoking the wrath of the Wisconsin DNR in their quest?
This is worth investigating further. if anybody has any information on this group, I would be interested in knowing.
Filed under: Polk County
Score one for AFSCME…
Even though the county is facing a $3 million+ shortfall, an attempt to cut back on county employees has failed. What’s worse is that even if the county raises property taxes by the maximum amount allowed by law, the increase in revenue won’t even cover the employee’s pay raises – leaving the $3 million shortfall still unaddressed.
As stated before, 73% of county expenses is for employee salaries. And yet, the county has their hands tied in their ability to contend with rising employee expenditures at a time when county revenues are declining.
Filed under: Polk County
Due to the possibility of redistricting and issues that may arise from the 2010 census, the motion has been withdrawn by the people involved.
It is our hope to see this effort renewed at a later date. Any attempt to reduce the size and burden of government should be embraced.
Filed under: Polk County
From the Osceola Sun:
Some Polk County residents who want the size of the county board reduced from 23 to seven members gave notice of a “statement of intent” for a public referendum on the proposal at Tuesday’s county board meeting.
According to a Clayton area woman who spoke during the public comment period, Wisconsin Act 100, passed a few years ago, gives citizens 60 days to collect enough signatures to force a referendum on the issue.
Act 100 requires that the number of signatures be 25 percent of the total vote for supervisor candidates in the most recent spring election. With 6,898 residents voting in Polk County supervisory contests in the spring 2008 election, that means 1,725 signatures will be needed on petitions for a referendum.
Act 100 also established a redistricting process for a smaller county board.
“We are confident that Polk County voters will wholeheartedly support government reduction that results in dollar savings, time savings and increased efficiency,” the speaker said. She did not indicate who was included in her “we” reference.
Filed under: Polk County
According to the Osceola Sun, Polk County is spending $45,000 to begin a project that they hope will prompt the state to fork over $225,000 in federal stimulus cash. The initial $45,000 is called “leverage dollars” because it is hoped that it will be used to leverage more money from the state.
If the gamble fails, we will be on the hook for the project.
Filed under: Polk County
Of interest is the County Board turning up their noses at making cuts to their own pay and benefits as one supervisor (Patricia Schmidt) was quoted as saying “if we don’t respect ourselves, how is the rest of the county going to respect us?” (from County Press Ledger, 6/19/09)
Uh huh. In other words, while the rest of us are taking deep pay cuts and losing our jobs, the county supervisors shouldn’t have to make sacrifices because we won’t respect them if they do? I think she’s got that a little backwards.
Also of interest is the fact that 73% of the budget goes to county employee salaries. In comparison, St. Croix County is 70% and Barron County is 49%.
AFSCME has already gotten involved in the hopes of protecting their paychecks and benefits by suggesting other cost cutting measures to try before going after county employees.
Finance Committee Chair, Gary Bergstrom, tried to pass a resolution to cut 31 county jobs, claiming that “to face a $3 million debt and try to cover it without pesonnel cuts is unlikely.” Needless to say, the resolution was defeated by the Board of Supervisors, once again teaching the rest of us that while we have to make sacrifices when the going gets tough, government is untouchable.
