Municipal News: Jan. 15 – 22

A crew from Iron Works of Baileys Harbor removed nine docks from the Baileys Harbor Marina last week. The docks are being stored at the town’s green site and the town will salvage what they can from them. Floating docks will replace the docks that were removed and are expected to be in place by May 1. Photo by Jim Lundstrom.

City of Sturgeon Bay: The Plan Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 pm on Jan. 20 regarding a petition to change the zoning classification at 49 N. Madison Ave. from Central Business District to Planned Unit Development, to allow for construction of an approximately 34-unit, four-story apartment building. New Urban Focus, Inc., is the petitioner.

The Sturgeon Bay Board of Education met at 7 pm on Jan. 13 to discuss a resolution authorizing the district to exceed the state revenue limit by $1.9 million for the 2016-17 school year; $2.25 million for the 2017-18 school year; and $2.7 million for the 2018-19 school year. All are for “non-recurring purposes consisting of funding educational programing for students.” In a note to the board, District Superintendent Dan Tjernagel wrote, “While there are various reasons for reductions the district has made in the past ranging from reduced enrollment to changes at the State level and more, the reality is that we’ve eliminated at least 30 positions since 2002, made changes to employee benefits, and reduced staff take home pay, yet still find ourselves needing an operating referendum in order to avoid crippling cuts that would permanently impact the quality of the education we could offer.

“I would like to note that this is not due to any mismanagement, reckless spending, or the addition of any programs in recent months or years, but rather is the current reality of navigating revenue limits that were put into place beginning with the 1993-1994 school year…Many school districts find themselves in a precarious position these days, and here in Sturgeon Bay we also have the unique mixture of a relatively small amount of equalized value combined with a larger student population than neighbors with more property value have.

“As a result of the administration and Board’s study of our current state, as well as the review of at least 18 different projection scenarios, we come to the point of needing to approve a resolution to meet the statutory timelines for appearance on the April 5, 2016 ballot.”

County of Door: The Finance Committee meets at 2 pm on Jan. 18. The ADRC Advisory Board meets at 4 pm on Jan. 18 at the Door County Senior Resource Center. The Library Board meets in the library’s Jane Greene Room at 5 pm on Jan. 18. The Law Enforcement Committee meets at 8:30 am on Jan. 20. The Land Conservation Committee meets at 8:30 am on Jan. 21.

Town of Egg Harbor: The town board meets at 7 pm on Jan. 18. A meeting of the Wisconsin Towns Association will be held at 7 pm on Jan. 21.

Town of Jacksonport: Recycling 10 am to noon on Jan. 23.

Town of Liberty Grove: The town board meets at 7 pm on Jan. 20.

Town of Sevastopol: The town board meets at 7 pm on Jan. 18.

Town of Union: The town board meets at 6:30 pm on Jan. 19.

Village of Egg Harbor: The Utility Committee meets at 10 am on Jan. 20. A Joint Fire Commission meeting will be held at 7 pm on Jan. 21.

Village of Forestville: The Planning Commission meets at 5:30 pm on Jan. 21, followed by a village board meeting at 6 pm.

Village of Sister Bay: The village board meets at 6 pm on Jan. 19.