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MIDDLETON–Deputy superintendent Sherri Cyra presented projected 2020-21 enrollment numbers to the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District Board of Directors Monday night, but warned that the estimate was very preliminary.

Cyra said that the school anticipates growth this year and based on last year’s numbers and current enrollment for next year, anticipates 100 new K-12 students in the district. 

She said this is usually the time when 4K and Kindergarten students are enrolling which may affect enrollment numbers.

“I don’t know if we’ll have face to face enrollment,” she added.

She said Sauk Trails enrollment was low, and included, “West Middleton with boundary changes go down in terms of enrollment and sections.”

Cyra said it may be necessary to do more outreach during the summer to get students enrolled. 

Board member Anne Bauer asked if Cyra expected to see “an uptick” in e-school next year since all students are using it now.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–With the town’s annual meeting five days away, the Middleton Town Board and Stonebrook Estates residents have yet to reach an agreement on a storm water detention pond the board last month approved for construction.

Wisconsin towns can’t buy property without approval from its resident eligible voters, called electors, which is obtained at annual meetings. On April 21, the town will hold a virtual annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. when residents can call a toll-free phone number and participate.

An annual meeting’s agenda is set largely by the residents but the purchase of a 10.1 acre outlot from the Stonebrook Estates Homeowners Association is likely to make the list. 

DANE COUNTY–Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar was elected to a second term last week in the Spring Election, will official results coming in April 13. 

In the heated Middleton mayoral race, Brar received 56.9 percent of the vote with opponent Kurt Paulsen pulling in 42.8 percent. 

Several close races played out around Dane County. In the Village of Cross Plains, voters were tasked with picking three trustees for the village board from a four field race. Incumbent Kevin Thusius pulled in the most votes with 26. 8 percent, fellow incumbent Bill Brosius got 25.1 percent, Michael Pomykalski received 22.6 percent and Cameron Bjorkland had 21.1 percent of the votes. Thusius, Brosius and Pomykalski will serve as trustees.

In the Springfield Town Board Supervisor IV incumbent Dan Dresen held on to his seat with 56.2 percent of the vote, beating out Pam Krill who got 43. 8 percent. 

MIDDLETON–Middleton City Administrator Mike Davis received a suggestion from new resident, Jill Zimmerman, to show Good Neighbor spirit during the COVID-19 pandemic by decorating their neighborhoods.

“I moved here from Carmel, Indiana and following their news, saw the idea of monthly "themes" for this tough month of April during the COVID crisis.  I've been searching for ways to do my part for our community and thought spreading the idea of this may be helpful,” she said of her idea for decorating the city.

She said she suggested it to Davis who ran with it. “He contacted so many parts and pieces of the Middleton community and they all responded positively and so quickly too! I really did not expect so many to respond so quickly and was thrilled to see that! It made me realize what a caring community Middleton is–­we are all looking to spread joy and positivity,” Zimmerman said.

MIDDLETON–Updates at the Middleton Good Neighbor Hub weekly meeting kicked off with voting info from city administrator Mike Davis, who outlined voting day changes. Those changes included moving all city districts to Kromrey Middle School, safety measures put in place for voters and workers, and he reported that 8050 absentee ballots had been sent out Friday afternoon.

The conversation turned to vetting of Good Neighbor Hub volunteers when Davis asked organizer Bartlett Durand about a vetting process. 

Durand said he would vouch for the captains. 

Davis then offered to check with the police department to see if a background check could be conducted. 

Former Middleton Police Captain Steve Britt was on the meeting and reminded that the background checks cost money.

DANE COUNTY–Residents around the county, and the state, turned out to vote in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the need for protective measures for poll workers, longer voting times and social distancing.

Clerks in towns, villages and cities around the state were unsure as of Monday afternoon if the election would take place as they awaited a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision on the matter. Gov. Tony Evers had signed an executive order that morning moving the date to June, but Republican lawmakers contested the measure. (See story, page 5)

Middleton alder Luke Fuszard worked the polls from the start of voting at 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and said there was a steady flow of people coming to vote. City administrator Mike Davis said the same was true of afternoon. 

“As of 4:30 (p.m.) we hit over a thousand votes,” he said. 

MADISON–Gov. Tony Evers today directed the Department of Natural Resources to close several state parks.

Due to unprecedented crowds, litter, vandalism and out of an abundance of caution to protect public health and safety and help flatten the curve, the following Wisconsin State Parks, Forests and Recreational Areas will close at the end of the day Thurs., April 9, and will remain closed beginning Fri., April 10, until further notice:

WASHINGTON DC–In what can best be described as a voting roller coaster, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Wisconsin Spring Election must go on April 7, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Last week, District Judge William M. Conley from the US District Court-Western District of Wisconsin extended the absentee voting date to April 13 and the absentee request date to April 3. On April 6 Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order moving Election Day to June 9. On the same day the country’s highest court sided with Wisconsin Republican legislators who petitioned the court on Conley’s decision and the Wisconsin Sumpreme Court reject Evers order.

The ruling means that absentee ballots must be postmarked by tomorrow, April 7, those received after that time will not be counted. 

MIDDLETON–Middleton City Administrator Mike Davis received a suggestion from a new resident to show Good Neighbor spirit during the COVID-19 pandemic by decorating their neighborhoods.

The resident, who was unnamed, offered the following proposals for the weeks of April. In an email to residents on April 4, Davis suggested enacting the idea.

The Schedule would be as follows:

Week One, April 6: Sidewalk Chalk–Write positive messages and get creative with sidewalk chalk on sidewalks and driveways.

Week Two, April 13: Hang Banners–Paint windows or hang banners with brightly colored positive messages/fun scenes for selfies.

Week Three, April 20: Kindness Rocks–Paint brightly colored positive messages on rocks and place throughout the neighborhood for others to see.

MADISON–A Wisconsin federal judge who extended voter registration two weeks ago, has ruled that municipal clerks cannot release election results until April 13, one week after Election Day.

U.S. District Judge William Conley on Thursday extended absentee ballot request to 5 p.m. on April 3, and on Friday extended the return of ballots to April 13 by 4 p.m. In person voting was not extended, and is still slated for April 7.

The Wisconsin Election Commission petitioned the court to move the date of election results and absentee votes in an effort to get residents to mail in their ballot.