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WCA, in Partnership with Wisconsin Policy Forum, Unveils
The Green Book: A Book of County Facts
 The Wisconsin Counties Association, in partnership with the Wisconsin Policy Forum, is pleased to unveil The Green Book: A Book of County Facts. This fact book provides a wide range of information county officials will find useful in carrying out the functions of county government. Included in the fact book is information on county government structure, county population data, information on county finances, as well as information designed to assist counties in their economic development efforts.
Counties can use the data contained in The Green Book for a variety of purposes, including designing future service needs, economic development planning, and forecasting revenues and expenditures.
The publication has been shipped to all counties and for questions, please contact WCA at 866.404.2700.
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WCA Testifies Before Supreme Court in Opposition of Increased of Rates for Court-Appointed Attorneys
 On May 16, 2018, WCA testified before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in opposition to increased rates for court-appointed attorneys, citing that such an increase would be "financially devastating for cash-strapped counties struggling to provide state-mandated services in an era of growing service demands and reduced revenues."
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WCA Annual Conference Registration; Room Block Now Open!
 Registration and room blocks are now open for the 2018 WCA Annual Conference, held September 23-25 in La Crosse County.
Latest WCA Conference News:
On Sunday, September 23, 2018 from 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. there will be a Networking Session. Join your colleagues here after picking up your registration materials and network with county officials from across the state. Feel free to discuss the latest issues impacting counties, watch the Packer game, and/or just relax while your county board chair attends the WCA Annual Business Meeting. For your convenience, food and beverages will be available for purchase.
If you have additional questions, please contact Cheryl Fleck,
WCA Marketing and Events Manager, at 866.404.2700.
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LEGAL ALERT: Responding to Automated Request for Employee Information Under Wisconsin's Public Records Law
 Counties across the state are being targeted by public records requests that seek employee information. Although the exact entity seeking the records, as well as the nature and purpose of the request are unknown, many counties are assessing the best approach for responding to the request.
Read the full legal alert here from von Briesen & Roper, s.c., which provides guidance on the appropriate approach for analyzing and responding to such requests under Wisconsin's Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. ยงยง 19.31-19.39).
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Non-Ferrous Metallic Mining Handbook
To assist co
unties with changes in nonferrous metallic mining regu
lation,
WCA has developed the Non-Ferrous Metallic Mining Regulation Handbook to aid counties in addressing the issues they confront relating to the complex issue of mining regulation.
The handbook, written with the help of Andrew T. Phillips and Rebecca J. Roeker with von Briesen & Roper, is an in-depth look at the overall scope of the changes made to existing mining regulations, including environmental regulations, zoning, licensing, vested rights, equal protection, conditional use permits, and much more.
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Manitowoc County's Ledvina One of Three Finalists for Catalyst4Change Competition: Vote Today!
Stacy Ledvina, who is the supervisor of the Youth and Family Services Unit for Manitowoc County Human Services, has been selected as only one of three finalists nationwide in the Catalyst4Change Competition.
Catalyst4Change recognizes innovators in community supervision who are championing innovative programs and empowering clients.
Review the stories and vote for the nominee you feel should be recognized as a #Catalyst4Change here. Winners will be recognized at the American Parole and Probation Association Annual Training Institute in July in Philadelphia.
Read about Stacy's innovative work and vote for her here.
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Washington Ozaukee Public Health Departments Wins NACo Achievement Award
 The Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
Washington County and Ozaukee County regionalized public health services in 2016 with the formation of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department. The Counties collectively serve 220,000 residents. NACo is recognizing the new entity and its efforts to promote intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in addressing shared problems.
This is the only program in Wisconsin to be recognized by the organization in 2018 and the first Achievement Award given to a Wisconsin County in the category of Health since the implementation of NACo's online Achievement Award Search Program.
"We are honored to be recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) naming our initiatives with exceptional efforts throughout the nation," stated Health Officer Kirsten Johnson.
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Rural Development and Grants Funds Available Now
USDA Rural Development's Water and Environmental Program (WEP) is a valuable financial resource for your community. This program offers low interest loans and grants to eligible communities and has additional funding this year.
WEP assists rural communities obtain the technical assistance and financing necessary to provide clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas of 10,000 or less.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 substantially increased funding for this fiscal year. Over $120 million in loan and grant funding has been allocated to Wisconsin to assist with these projects, up from $33 million allocated in 2017. It is important to act fast as the fiscal year ends in September.
Please contact our staff at 715-345-7635 or visit our website for more information www.rd.usda.gov/wi.
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WCA Associate Members
The role and relationship of government with the private sector has changed in recent years. The creation of the WCA Associate Member Program is one more way WCA is reaching out to bring together the public and private sectors.
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WCA HOSTS SUCCESSFUL JUVENILE CORRECTIONS FORUM
With the passage of 2017 Assembly Bill 953 (2017 Wisconsin Act 185), counties will play a greater role in the juvenile corrections system. Effective January 2021, counties will be responsible for housing non-violent juveniles with a corrections disposition in secure residential care centers for children and youth (SRCCCY).
The Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) hosted a Juvenile Corrections Forum on May 3, 2018 in Wisconsin Rapids with the goal of providing counties with the tools they need to begin preparing for the closure of Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake and the opening of county SRCCCYs.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: THIRD ANNUAL vB&R PUBLIC OFFICIALS CONFERENCE
Please join the Government Law Group of von Briesen & Roper, s.c. for their
Third Annual Public Officials Conference.
The Conference provides fast-hitting information on a multitude of topics that all government officials, newly elected or seasoned, need to know to be successful.
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WATCH: WCA PARLI PRO SHOW
Running and participating in effective meetings is a critical tool for county officials, both new and returning.
Check out the #WCAParliProShow for bite sized and, believe it or not, entertaining snippets of parliamentary procedure.
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REGISTER TODAY FOR BE BOLD BRIEFING JUNE 4
The second statewide BE BOLD Briefing will be held on Monday, June 4, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Eau Claire area at Chippewa Valley Technical College.
This is an important briefing and discussion on workforce and economic development challenges and opportunities in Wisconsin!
Please register by May 28, 2018, to ensure comfortable seating, by emailing your confirmation
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COUNTY MUTUAL AND CIC PARTNER WITH STOPit
The Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation (County Mutual) and Community Insurance Corporation (CIC) has partnered with STOPit to provide all of our member districts with a proven solution that deters inappropriate behavior in schools.
The STOPit Mobile App and STOPit Web provide a safe, anonymous and comfortable way for students to share information with schools so they can provide help - as quickly and efficiently as possible.
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