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Weekly Blast!: Last week the Town of Grant hosted the Portage County unit meeting of the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA). This week I attended the WTA Annual Convention in Stevens Point. Town and village officers from all over the State of Wisconsin were present; hundreds of them. Each year this event helps to educate officers about state statutes, current legislation, road maintenance and construction, budgeting, ambulance and fire protection, and so much more. No one officer can attend all the sessions available (we need the entire board to do that!) but these are the ones I attended: 1) Cypersecurity Attacks; 2) Fire Protection Service Fees; 3) Legal “Cracker Barrel” (where officers can ask the WTA attorneys ANYTHING); 4) Large-Scale Wind & Solar; and 5) Industrial Development. Each session was extremely interesting and educational. Of particular interest was the session on Fire Protection Service Fees. Currently we pay for fire protection services from our general fund to the Town of Grand Rapids and the Village of Plainfield. The first uses equalized value to determine what we pay whereas the second uses a formula that is proportional to each contracted municipality. The former does not and so unfortunately, we pay a disproportional amount to T. Grand Rapids. In this WTA session they recommended two options if we don’t want to continue pulling from our general fund: 1) referendum to increase our levy; or 2) using a formula based on square footage of homes/businesses/land size, etc. to have landowners pay proportionally based on the anticipated expense of a fire to their parcel. It’s a very interesting option and several towns are working with their assessors to create a fair formula for landowners. For example, an agricultural field would pay far less than a large commercial building, or a small home would pay less than a large one with several accessory buildings, etc. Moving forward the Town of Grant will be looking at options as the price of fire protection increases every year. We need to find ways to make it fair with the greatest protection for all our residents, their homes, businesses, and land. Enjoy the anticipated stunning weather, Sharon

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Weekly News Blast

The Board held its monthly meeting on Wednesday. Of note was correspondences from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. There are now four (4) real or potential utility solar projects approved or applied for in Portage County with large acreages in the Towns of Buena Vista, Grant, Pine Grove, Plover and recently Stockton (map). Further, a large transmission line that will bisect a small portion of the most SE part of Grant. Notice was also received this week that the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation has appealed the Vista Sands Solar project approved last month by the PSC (notice).

The WDNR plans to install two (2) small parking areas at the end of 130th south of CTH W and at the end of Quarry east of CTH F. Both areas are frequently used by hunters, birders, dog trailers, etc. during the year. Currently the roads are considered “low maintenance” but the Town intends to lift and reshape them in cooperation with the Department prior to installation of improved access for vehicles. In further cooperation the WDNR will consider allowing the Town to install a comparable parking area on state land just west of the culvert on Griffith west of CTH F if the middle road section is discontinued as requested by abutting landowners. More to follow on these projects this spring/summer.

Lots like we might get some measurable snow in the next 24 hours. Enjoy it! Please know that our plow operators will do the best they can to keep our roads open. Sharon