Local

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Common Council approved the 2023 budget at its Nov. 15 meeting. The council also approved purchasing equipment to provide unleaded fuel at Middleton Municipal Airport-Morey Field and deferred a resolution declaring the end of the public emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The approved budget includes a tax levy of $20.5 million which reduces the city’s portion of the property tax bill by about 14 percent.

Property values increased in 2022, a reevaluation year, by 23.9 percent resulting in the assessed value of the median single-family home increasing from $336,100 to $414,400 or about 23 percent. The mill rate drops from $6.25 per $1,000 of property value to $5.37 per $1,000.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The town’s 2023 budget projects to spend less money than this year’s, collects more property taxes and cuts the budget deficit by two-thirds.

The town board last week unanimously approved the $5.719 million budget after town electors voted in favor of a $3.235 million property tax levy, up from $3.146 million this year.

According to financials provided by the town:

Town taxes on a $400,000 house would be $852.10 for 2023, $1,065.12 for a $500,000 house and $1,278.15 for a $600,000 property.

The town’s property tax mill rate remains practically unchanged at $.00213 for 2023 compared to $.002129 this year.

Helping to keep the mill rate steady was a $41.5 million increase in the town’s tax base this year, pushing it to $1.518 billion.

Property tax bills are mailed during the third week of December and payable in full by Jan. 31 or, the first installment as shown on individual tax bills by Jan. 31.

MIDDLETON–Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar announced on Monday that he will not seek a third term.

The two-term mayor cited that he had accomplished the goals he had set for the city as a reason for his departure. Those goals included: better roads, protection of our nature preserves, clean energy and sustainability, affordable property taxes, and support of our local businesses.

“Middleton has much better roads–look at our University Avenue, Gammon Road, Park Street, High Point Road, and many others. In 2017, they were all falling apart. We have increased the road repair budget and implemented new procedures to extend the life of the roads.

“Restoration of Pheasant Branch Conservancy from flood damage is nearly complete. The projects already awarded to the contractors will fix the bridges, and we will have a freshly paved trail from Deming way to Century Avenue.

MADISON–First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC), in Madison, is offering a free traditional Thanksgiving Day meal of turkey, vegetables, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rolls and pie on November 24, 2022.

Meals are available for delivery or can be picked up at the church, 1609 University Ave., Madison, from 12-3 p.m. There is no charge, but RSVP is required by 4 p.m. on Nov. 21. Open to the public. All are welcome.

To RSVP, visit firstcongmadison.org or call 608-233-9751.

First Congregational UCC has offered the free community Thanksgiving meal for 30 years, except for a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In past years, on average, 500 meals were served.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Residents abuse toward road contractors has reached the point where two contractors are becoming reluctant to continue working for the town, Crew Leader Scott Ballweg told the Town of Middleton Board of Supervisors last week.

“(Contractors) have been cursed at, one lady actually spit at one of the guys, they’ve been threatened that a homeowner will bring a gun out if they come on their property,” Ballweg said.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has been involved in at least one of the incidents with one resident unsuccessfully tried to get a deputy sheriff fired and was very abusive to her, Ballweg said.

“The (deputy) sheriff, Brandi (Anderson) said she didn’t want to put up with it and was ready to quit. So, there’s a lot of things boiling over,” he added.

Flash points have occurred when road work prevents residents from using their driveway for four or five hours or, up to 72 hours after concrete is poured.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council held a special meeting Nov. 10 to make final budget deliberations before voting to approve the budget at its Nov. 15 meeting. The proposed budget calls for a $20.5 million tax levy which would reduce the tax rate by about 14 percent.

Finance Director Bill Burns reviewed the major changes from last year's budget. Burns points out that 2022 was a property revaluation year which resulted in the total assessed value for the city increasing by 23.9 percent. That means the assessed value of the median single-family home increased from $336,100 to $414,400 or about 23 percent. The mill rate would be reduced from $6.25 per $1,000 of property value to $5.37 per $1,000.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission approved the final plat and specific building plans for phase one of the proposed Belle Farm development. The approvals passed with various contingencies that must be addressed before being approved by the common council.

The Belle Farm general building plan proposes a community development with more than 800 homes and multifamily units on 44 acres at 4887 Parmenter St. north of Graber Pond. The project would extend Belle Fontaine Boulevard from High Road to Parmenter Street creating a “main street” through the development with storefront commercial spaces.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Voters in the Town of Middleton waited in long lines, sometimes nearing three hours, when casting their ballots last week.

Those that waited said that people in line were patient, courteous and friendly to one another during the wait, but they also want to know how this happened, and what measures can be taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Steve Kurr who has lived in the Town of Middleton since 2005 timed his wait with his son, which clocked in at two hours and 55 minutes. “I have never waited more than 10 minutes,” he said of previous voting experiences in the town.

Kurr said he was surprised by the wait but added that it was worth it.

“We feel it is important to vote and vote every time,” he said.

He said he didn’t witness anyone leave, but he said people were good about saving spots for others when they left the line and allowing elderly and disabled voters to go ahead of them in line.

MADISON - A Madison man who killed two Middleton High School and a Madison High School student when he drove into their car was sentenced Wednesday to 18 years in prison and 12 years extended supervision.

Eric N. Mehring, 31, was driving 60 miles an hour on Mineral Point Road last October when his car rear ended a car in which John “Jack” Miller, 17, and Evan Kratochwill, 18, of Middleton and Simon Bilessi, 17, a Madison West High School student.

Mehring had a blood-alcohol concentration of .214 percent after the crash, well above the prohibited level of .08 percent.

Mehring was driving east bound on Mineral Point Road after drinking at two bars in Pine Bluff.

He pleaded guilty in July to three counts of homicide by intoxicated use a vehicle.

At sentencing, family members of the teens gave emotional statements about the loss of their loved ones.

MIDDLETON–On Nov. 15 at approximately 1:49 p.m., Middleton Police Officers responded to a crash at Le Nails Salon, 6771 University Ave. Calls to 911 reported that a vehicle had just crashed into the building.

Upon investigating the crash, officers learned that a driver was parking in front of the business when her boot became stuck between the gas and brake pedals while parking. The vehicle then crashed through the glass-panel wall, where it came to a stop.

One employee inside the nail salon was injured and transported by Middleton EMS to a local Emergency Room. The driver was uninjured.

The Middleton Fire Department assisted in securing the building after the car was removed.