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2009 District Meetings Dates and Locations

(12/12/08) As in past years WTA will be offering 17 different dates and locations for the 2009 District meetings around the state starting January 24, 2009. You can link to the exact dates and locations here. The 2009 District meeting agenda will include an update on state legislative issues and  federal stimulus issues for local government.  Legal and educational topics will include "Ordinance Adoption, Amendment, and Enforcement" and "Bidding for Public Contracts -- From Basics to...What happens when someone makes a mistake?" The registration for each meeting is from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. with the meeting beginning at 8:45 a.m. and adjourning at 3:15 p.m. The cost is $35 per person if registered through WTA office seven or more days in advance and includes refreshments and lunch. If registered less than seven days in advance the cost is $40 per person. Click here for a registration form to copy and mail or fax to the WTA office.

Working Lands Workshop Webcast Available on WisconsinEye

(12/30/08) If you were unable to participate in one of the five special one-day “Working Lands” workshops cosponsored by WTA in December, you can still see the full December 16 workshop in Kimberly online thanks to WisconsinEye. The sessions focused on innovative strategies to preserve working lands, successful efforts elsewhere and the state's Working Lands Initiative. PowerPoint presentations, the December 16 workshop agenda and other information about the workshops are available here.

New DNR Rules Impact Shotgun-Only
Hunting Restrictions

(10/27/08) Recent Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rule changes adopted as part of the battle to contain Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Wisconsin’s whitetail deer population could impact many towns in southern Wisconsin that restrict deer hunting to shotguns. One of the rule changes made by the DNR is to allow deer hunting with rifles in many of these formerly shotgun-only areas. Click here to read an informative article on this development by WTA Attorney Lee Turonie.

Extension Offers Energy Sustainability Webinars

(10/29/08) Town leaders seeking more information about energy conservation and sustainability are invited to participate in the UW-Extension Building Communities Webinar Series: Focus on Sustainability. The programs are scheduled for the third Tuesday of the month from 11:30-12:30. The programs are hosted by 32 county Extension offices and four UW campuses for a nominal fee and can be downloaded individually as well. Click here for registration and information about each of the programs or contact Andrea Rush at andrea.rush@uwex.edu or (608) 265-8136.

Increasing the Levy Limit If Your Town is Under 2,000 in Population

(10/18/08) Towns under 2,000 in population have the option of asking the town electors to authorize the town board to exceed the levy limits that are in place for 2008 at a special town elector meeting (see s. 66.0602(5), Wis. Stat.).  In order to obtain this approval, the town board must first adopt a resolution in support of the increase. Next, a special town elector meeting must be called where the question will appear on the agenda. At that meeting, the electors must then adopt a resolution in support of the town board's resolution. Finally, the electors set the final levy for the town by resolution. Click here for sample forms that may be used for this process.

WTA and Other Local Government Associations Create the Local Government Institute of WI

(04/30/08) The WTA is partnering with other local government associations to create a non-profit institute that will research policy issues of shared concern to Wisconsin’s towns, villages, cities and counties. The Local Government Institute of Wisconsin (LGI) was formed in October 2007 to conduct research, foster collaboration and educate the public and policymakers on ways to improve local services. Past WTA President Terry McMahon is a voting member and WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman is a non-voting member of the institute’s board. Click here for more information about the new institute. Click here for more information.