County

A packed crowd filled the Middleton Public Library on Thursday, October 23, for a community conversation on one of Dane County’s most pressing issues — housing. The forum, “What’s Happening with Housing? Causes, Impacts, and Solutions to Dane County’s Housing Crisis,” brought together city officials, nonprofit leaders, and housing experts to discuss the growing gap between population and housing supply, skyrocketing rent costs, and what local residents can do to help.

Nearly a year and a half after Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield dropped coverage for customers at Sauk Prairie Hospital in a controversial decision that played out in the paper’s letters to the editor page, they have reversed course, and coverage will start back up on January 1^st. Sauk Prairie Healthcare announced the news on October 16^th. Anthem members will regain in-network access to Sauk Prairie Healthcare’s hospitals, facilities, and healthcare professionals.

On August 8, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed “a proclamation honoring a uniquely American folk dance that draws influence from a variety of cultures.”

When families in crisis need help, they often don’t know where to turn. For decades, United Way’s 211 phone service has offered a simple solution: dial three numbers to be connected with trained staff who can guide callers to food pantries, housing support, utility assistance, mental health care, and more.

Wisconsin’s 2^nd Congressional District will have one contested race in this month’s primary election.

In the wake of the 2020 Presidential Election where Donald Trump lost the State of Wisconsin by 20,000 votes a lawsuit was filed primarily against the Wisconsin Elections Commission challenging the guidance at that point allowing ballot drop boxes.

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. 

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.

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.

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.