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State Contracts Available to Local Governments Responding to Flooding

(06/17/08) Towns, sanitary districts and other local governments in Wisconsin can use the same state-negotiated contracts used by large agencies to buy supplies and services. Contracts typically feature competitive pricing and other benefits due to the state's large buying power and state officials note that some may be helpful in responding to the aftermath of recent flooding. Click here for more information. A complete list of contracts available to local governments can be found on the Department of Administration web site.

Cooperative Extension Offers Advise on Coping with Flood Damage

(06/17/08) Recent heavy and widespread rains in Wisconsin have left many families and farmers with questions about how to deal with flooded homes, business, farms and fields. Answers to many flood-related questions can be found online at Cooperative Extension’s Extension Responds web site, which provides accurate, objective, research-based information developed in partnership by UW-System and UW-Extension faculty and Cooperative Extension agents. For more information, please contact your county Cooperative Extension office.

DOJ Advisory Summarizes Wisconsin Fireworks Law

(06/09/08) Section 167.10, Wisc. Stats. strictly regulates the possession, sale and use of fireworks in Wisconsin and the state Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an advisory that summarizes key features of that law, including two revisions enacted as part of the 2007 budget bill. The advisory answers common questions and addresses common misunderstandings.

Summer Education Seminar Series Will Focus on "Three Basics" of Local Government

(05/27/08) WTA Education Director Thomas Harnisch invites town and village officials to a series of summer seminars (eight locations) in June, July and August on the “three basics” of local governance: Open Meetings; Open Records; and Ethics. We encourage towns and villages to invite their planning commission members and any other committee members who are subject to the open meeting law and pubic records law. The program will cover both the basics of each area as well as some of the breaking issues such as issues created by emails and computers for local officials. All eight sessions will be held on Saturdays throughout the state for the convenience of those officers who can not attend week day meetings. Click here for the registration form.

Conference to Address Stormwater Issues 

(05/12/08) The Wisconsin Towns Association is cosponsoring the Clean Water: From Politics to Policy conference on July 24 & 25, 2008 at the Manitowoc Holiday Inn. Directed at policy makers and technical staff who want to listen, learn and act on water-related issues, the event will address new federal and state runoff standards and cost effective ways communities can meet them. Click here for more information about the conference. Click here for a registration form.

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.

Review of Legislative Acts Passed in 2007-2008 Legislative Session

(04/27/08) WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman has prepared a summary of acts enacted during the 2007-2008 Legislative Session that affect towns in a variety of ways. These range from the new video franchise law and revisions to developer impact fees to repeal of the "automatic" distribution of Wisconsin Statute books to towns. Click here to see the Rick's summary. Complete copies of the newly enacted laws can be downloaded from the Wisconsin Legislature’s website at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/.

Board of Review Forms, Sample Ordinances and Helpful Information Now Available On-Line

(03/28/08) The following information and forms were distributed at Board of Review (BOR) training sessions sponsored by WTA and are now available on-line. You may copy and paste the forms to a Word file for your use:

(1) Sample Ordinance to Appoint Alternate BOR Members
(2) Sample Confidentiality Ordinance
(3) Full Notice of BOR
(4) Notice of Meeting to Adjourn BOR to Later Date
(5) BOR Basics
(6) BOR Findings of Fact, Determination and Decision Motions for BOR Deliberations
(7) BOR Deliberations and Motions