News, Analysis, and Insights
-
Violating WI Open Meetings Law can be Expensive for School Boards & Municipal Elected Officials
all meetings of all state and local governmental bodies shall be publicly held in places reasonably accessible to members of the public and shall be open to all citizens at all times unless otherwise expressly provided by law. … it is declared to be the public policy of this state that all persons are entitled…
-
Kronenwetter Board Meets behind Closed Doors for 2.5 hours, Arguably Violates Open Meetings Law
Trustee Charneski was excluded from the majority of the closed session under threat of a lawsuit. Background Notice of Closed SessionThe notice provision in Wis. Stat. § 19.84(2) requires that, if the chief presiding officer of a governmental body is aware that a closed session is contemplated at the time he or she gives public…
-
An Alternate Broadband Funding Plan for the County Board’s Consideration
Access to Broadband is very important to most Marathon County residents. My concerns regarding the proposed Bug Tussel loan guarantees have primarily related to the terms of the proposed loan and the somewhat misleading approach of the attempt to get approval. I am offering an alternate proposal for the Board’s consideration. Background The request for…
-
Did the County Board actually commit to a $3,000,000 Loan Guarantee for Leathercamp Broadband? (Part 2)
Supervisor Robinson again asserts that the “County Board agreed to a $3 million loan in March 2022, with the terms to be approved by the County Board at a later date” based on the “County Board Resolution 21-22 (aka Leathercamp Project)”. Resolution 21-22, which was passed by a County Board 2 terms prior to the…
-
Proposed Bug Tussel Bond Financing Appears to Violate County Debt Policy
The proposed 30 year Bonds exceed the 20 year limit imposed by the County’s Debt Policy. Section 1.51(3) Length of debt and timing of bond issues. Debt will be structured to provide for the shortest repayment period, while minimizing large fluctuations in property tax or other revenue requirements for debt retirement. The amortization period will…
-
Did the County Board actually commit to a $3,000,000+ Loan Guarantee for Leathercamp Broadband?
The County Board should give Bug Tussel a $142,175 grant from ARPA funds to meet it’s March 15, 2022 Commitment. In the long run, it will undoubtedly cost County taxpayers far less than guaranteeing a $3,000,000 (actually about $4,500,000 with reserves and capitalized interest) loan. Is Misinformation being Provided in an Attempt to Influence County…
-
Kronenwetter Election Complaint – Response and Reply
Village Clerk Birk-LaBarge filed 3 Response Documents and I filed a Reply to those documents. Email from the Wisconsin Election Commission acknowledging receipt of my reply and notifying me of next steps. My Reply Document. Village Clerk Birk-LaBarge’s Response Documents REFERENCES https://elections.wi.gov/resources/complaints/el-24-68-baker-v-birk-labarge
-
Guy Fredel – On Air with Meg on 7/23/24
Guy Fredel provided an excellent update on the 7/22/24 Kronenwetter Board Meeting and other recent Kronenwetter events. Meg shifted our time slot to Tuesday at 10:00am to accommodate a very special guest at 9:00 am Tuesday. Unfortunately, I had a prior commitment at 10:00 am, but fortunately Guy was willing and available to fill in.
-
Kronenwetter – WEC Election Complaint Update
President Voll, Trustees Vedvik, Coyle and Eiden failed to file a valid response to my election complaint. REFERENCE:
-
The Kronenwetter Saga Continues – WSAU WI Morning News 072224