Article posted Thursday, March 18, 2010 2:36pm

• The Door County Parks committee will consider a request to have dogs banned from all county parks at its meeting April 7. At the committee’s March meeting a citizen requested that all dogs be banned from county parks because she is allergic to them. The committee could not discuss the request at the meeting because it wasn’t an agenda item, so it was put on the April agenda.

Door County Parks Director George Pinney said dogs are currently allowed in all county parks as long as they are restrained on a leash, and people must pick up after their dogs.

“We haven’t had any problem with dogs,” Pinney said. “Most people are pretty dog-gone good about it.”

The Parks Committee meeting is April 7 at 8:30 pm at the Door County Government Center, 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay.

• The League of Women Voters of Door County is sponsoring a Candidate Forum for contested Door County Board of Supervisors races March 22 at 7 pm in Baileys Harbor. The forum is for the contested races for seats that represent northern Door County.

The forum is not a debate. The event consists of anonymous written questions submitted by the audience. It is an opportunity for the public to ask questions of the candidates and to come away better informed to vote intelligently in the spring elections.

• Door-Tran, which provides low-cost transportation in Door County, will meet April 12 from noon – 4 pm at Prince of Peace Church in Sturgeon Bay. Door County Administrator Mike Serpe and Rep. Garey Bies will be guest speakers. RSVPs are requested no later than April 1.

• Julie Felhofer, Area Specialist from the USDA Rural Development Office in Shawano, will be at the Liberty Grove Town Hall on March 24 from 10 am – 2 pm to provide information about the many loan and grant programs available to Wisconsin residents, communities and businesses.

USDA programs include but are not limited to repair loans and grants for current homeowners and home purchase/construction loans. Low interest loans are available to very low income rural residents who own and occupy a dwelling in need of repair or modernization. Examples of repairs that might be eligible include repair or replacement of septic and water systems, windows, steps, furnaces, water heaters, roofs, etc. Grant funds may be available to applicants over age 62.

For more information on USDA programs call 715.524.8522 ext. 4. To schedule an appointment call Janet Johnson, Liberty Grove Administrative Assistant, at 920.854.2934.