County

Tue
19
Dec
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Part of controversial line up and running

TOWN OF MIDDELTON – American Transmission Co. has put into service the segment of a high-voltage power line that extends between substations in the town of Middleton and Montfort, Wis. the company announced Monday. 

About 95% of the 102-mile Cardinal-Hickory Creek 345-kilovolt power line is in Wisconsin, and it was hotly contested before and after the Public Service Commission approved its construction in 2019. 

Thu
02
Nov
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Parisi Reflects on Time as County Supervisor

DANE COUNTY–Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced his retirement last month and that his last day will be May 1, 2024, marking 13 years in the elected position.

Parisi said that he has accomplished the things he set out to do and feels comfortable in his decision to retire.

One of the areas in which Parisi feels the county has made progress is the environment.

Water cleanup has been a big part of environmental issues addressed by the county, including the Suck the Muck program that dredges phosphorus from streams entering the lakes and municipal runoff programs.

“The lake clean-up is something I feel really good about. The community wants and needs it,” he said.

Conservation of prairie and wetlands has been a priority and has included the county buying up large plots of land for park and conversation areas. One of those parcels is Acker Farm, located north of Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

Thu
26
Oct
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Village Awards Mowing Contract

CROSS PLAINS–The Village Board Monday awarded a $96,743 contract to a local firm finally resolving whether the village should perform the work in-house or contract it out.

In April, the long-time mowing contractor informed the village it was abruptly ending the service which had been offered at below-market rates.

The village secured a mowing contractor at $4,000 a week. However, that lead to some board trustees favoring adding an employee and equipment to mow the village’s 52 acres of parks and public areas instead of hiring a firm.

The costs of adding a full-time, year-round employee would cost $78,000 in wages and benefits. Mowing equipment and fuel would add $44,700 in largely upfront costs.

Rickman Lawn Care, of Cross Plains, submitted the low bid at $96,743, but Village President Jay Lengfeld said that total would be reduced by up to $5,000 as Rickman erroneously included sales tax in his bid.

Fri
06
Oct
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County Executive Introduces 2024 Budget

DANE COUNTY–Dane County Executive Joe Parisi highlighted the importance of continuously bolstering the county’s safety net as he unveiled his 2024 county budget on Monday. Parisi introduced his budget at the Badger Prairie Needs Network in Verona, a partnership between the County and a highly successful non-profit organization that helps feed hundreds of people each month while assisting with life basics like job training and other services in support of the most vulnerable in our community.

Fri
29
Sep
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Board Discusses Mowing Needs, Budget

CROSS PLAINS–After years of getting below-market rates for mowing grass in village parks and other public areas, that service became a $112,000 expense this year.

The village board has been comparing doing the work with public facilities department staff versus contractors, but it didn’t reach a decision at Monday’s meeting.

Chad Rickman, of Rickman Snow Removal and Lawn Care, submitted the lowest bid of the three proposals the village received last week. However, at $96,743 for weekly mowing and trimming between April and October, the village may able to do it for $8,000 cheaper with in-house labor.

Finance Director Bobbi Zauner budgeted next year’s mowing expense at $80,000 whether it’s contracted or done in-house.

The village would have to buy mowing equipment, a trailer and possibly add an employee, which can lead to complications, said Cross Plains Village President Jay Lengfeld.

Thu
14
Sep
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Competitor Dies During Ironman

TOWN OF CROSS PLAINS–A participant in the Ironman competition, which was held on Sept. 10 in Dane County, died during the biking portion of the 140.6-mile triathlon.

Ironman Wisconsin confirmed the death of a participant during Sunday’s Ironman triathlon Sunday night on its Facebook page.

A man suffered a medical event in the Town of Cross Plains according to the post on Sept. 10. 

“It is with profound sadness to confirm the death of a race participant during Sunday’s IRONMAN Wisconsin triathlon. A race staff member and an off-duty police officer providing race assistance identified the athlete in need of support while on the bike portion of the course,” the post reads.

The 51-year-old man was immediately provided medical assistance on the scene before EMS arrived to take the man to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Fri
01
Sep
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CP Board Approves Capital Spending Plan

CROSS PLAINS–The Village Board this week approved a four-year capital spending plan that prioritizes a new village hall project and replacing some aging police squad cars.

The Cross Plains Police Department’s six and seven-year-old SUV interceptors are becoming too costly to maintain and a liability, said Chief Tony Ruesga, Jr.

“They’ve cost of thousands of dollars in past few years just to keep them going. Middleton keeps squads for four years, the place where I came from (Darlington) keeps them five years. I should have asked for a new squad last year but tried to just limp it along,” he told the board.

Replacing the squads is the number one capital priority, and although hybrid squad cars were in Ruesga’s request, Village President Jay Lengfeld opposed the idea.

Thu
24
Aug
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Spike Rett Fundraiser Comes to a Close After 20 Years

CROSS PLAINS–The annual Spike Rett fundraiser held its 20th and final event on Aug. 4-6 in Cross Plains. 

On Friday night was a traveling euchre tournament with Julie Baldwin coming in first place, Terry Buechner taking second and Mike Baldwin coming in third. 

Saturday events included a beanbag competition, live music and volleyball, the highlighted event that gave the fundraiser its name.

On Sunday, guests could bid on a silent auction and enjoy mor live music at Dotty’s Bistro.

Doug Brunner, who started the event to raise awareness and help find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a disease that affected his daughter, Jessica.

“While we haven't reached a cure yet, the first FDA approved drug is on the market and many Rett girls are benefitting from it. The drug is called Dayblue, and your support of our event helped make that a reality,” said Brunner.

Thu
24
Aug
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Three County Supervisors Resign, Board Accepting Appointment Applications

Three Dane County Board Supervisors Resign, Board Accepting Appointment Applications

DANE COUNTY–Three Dane County Board Supervisors have resigned from the Dane County Board. Alex Joers (District 9), Mike Bare (District 32) and Olivia Xistris-Songpanya (District 13) all gave their resignations last week, Joers and Bare on Aug. 18 and Xistris-Songpanya on Aug. 15.

Joers said that the decision was made because he wants to spend more time with his growing family. “My wife and I are expecting the birth of our second child in the coming months. I thought it was time to step back from one of my elected positions so I can have more evenings with my family,” he told the Times-Tribune.

Fri
14
Jul
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Village Drafts Ordinance for Short Term Rentals

CROSS PLAINS–Needing to catch up with state statutes and the popularity of rental services like, Airbnb, prompted the village of Cross Plains to advance an ordinance to allow short-term residential rentals in all zoning districts.

“We don’t have anything for short term rental, which is why we’re doing an ordinance now,” Village President Jay Lengfeld said last week.

As online vacation rental services like Airbnb and VRBO became popular alternatives to hotels and motels for travelers, many municipalities banned stays of less than 30 days. They feared renters would create noise and parking problems in otherwise residential neighborhoods.

However, state law changed in 2021 to prevent municipalities from prohibiting short-term rentals in residential zoning districts for seven days or longer. Rentals of six or fewer days are permitted but subject to additional regulations, which the village has been finalizing.

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