Bjorn Bakken Reports

Peninsula Pulse Senior Correspondent Bjorn Bakken reports on the political scene in Fish Creek, Ephraim, and Ellison Bay on a continuing, but irregular schedule with emphasis on town and village meetings, which he cannot always attend. Here is his dispatch, filed 10 July, 2008:

The Ephraim common council, and members of the Zoning and Appeals board met in open session with at least nine citizens present to hear complaints particularly from shore property owners about recent re-assessments. The issue appeared to be that low water levels were creating more beachfront in front of the beach property owners who were then asked to pay higher taxes because the lots were growing larger, and in some cases, now had more front feet. Councilman Akkar Swenson asked whether measurements were taken at high or low tide.

In other council activities it was reported that structural engineers had determined that sodding the village hall roof was not a good idea.