March 21, 2022 | Number 61 |
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Governor Signs Another League Initiative!
The regular session of the Legislature has come to a close, but the Governor will continue to sign or veto bills over the next couple of weeks. Last week, the League was happy to see SB 835, now Wisconsin Act 198 signed into law. The League and the Towns Association worked together on this compromise legislation which includes the following changes:
- Limits on the ability of newly incorporated municipalities to acquire the remaining town remnant through boundary agreements or by annexation.
- Restores ability of municipalities to annex across county lines.
- Places minor limits on municipal extraterritorial land division and zoning powers.
- Prohibits condemning blighted properties outside of municipal boundaries.
- Modifies maximum duration of interim municipal ordinances freezing extraterritorial zoning.
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Municipal Authority to Regulate Electric Fences Limited
Last week, the Governor also signed SB 812 into law as Wisconsin Act 197, limiting the ability of municipalities to regulate certain electric fences. The new law defines a “battery-powered, alarmed electric security fence” and creates specific prohibitions regarding the regulation and use of such fences including prohibiting political subdivisions from doing all of the following acts:
- prohibiting the installation or use of such fences, except on property designated exclusively for residential use;
- requiring a permit, other than an alarm system permit, for the installation or use of such fences; and
- imposing installation or operation requirements that are inconsistent with certain professional standards specified in the bill.
The League opposed this bill.
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The League's Winter Chief Executives Workshop
March 22, 23 and 24 - Virtual - $50. Does your municipality attract or repel? That’s the funny thing about magnets; they can do either one. One pole of a magnet attracts, while the other pole repels. There’s no middle ground, your municipality is growing or shrinking. Either you’re drawing in new residents, businesses, ideas and energy, or pushing them down the road. The League’s Winter Chief Executives Workshop will present you with fresh ideas for becoming a Magnetic Municipality; one that draws in new ideas, new people and new energy. Join us for three ninety-minute webinars March 22-24, 2022, as we explore: Magnetic Communities, Solving the Daycare Dilemma, Grants Panel.
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TODAY: Treasury ARPA Reporting Webinar for NEUs
As reported in Friday's Capitol Buzz, U.S. Treasury is hosting a webinar for Non-Entitlement Units (NEUs, typically communities under 50,000 in population) on Monday, March 21 at 2 p.m. central time. The topics to be covered are reporting and compliance under ARPA.
Please register for the webinar: here.
If Treasury reaches RSVP capacity and you cannot attend the webinar, Treasury will post a recording of the webinar on Treasury's website following the live presentation.
To assist recipients with logging into Treasury's Portal, an NEU User Guide has been posted and Treasury has posted a video to assist NEUs with in logging-in to Treasury's Portal, confirming their accounts, submitting the required agreements, and supporting documentation: NEU Intro to Reporting-www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qd8tYYl0pg
Coming Soon: April Project and Expenditure Report - The first reporting deadline for NEUs to submit the Project and Expenditure Report is April 30, 2022, and will cover the period between March 3, 2021 and March 31, 2022. The Project and Expenditure Report will become available to complete approximately 30 days before the deadline.
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PFAS UPDATE
After the Natural Resources Board approved two rules establishing PFAS standards at its February meeting, Governor Tony Evers approved both on March 2 and they were sent that day to the legislature to start the legislative passive review process.
One of the rules, CR 21-083/SS 091-19/Rule No. WY-23-19, establishes surface water quality criteria and analytical methods for detection and minimization of PFOS and PFOA. The other rule, CR 21-088/SS 089-19/Rule No. DG-24-19, establishes a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water of 70 ppt instead of the 20 ppt MCL recommended by DNR staff. The rule will require water systems to begin testing drinking water for PFOA and PFOS similar to how systems test for other inorganic contaminates.
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Local Government Election Integrity Coalition Seeking Feedback
On March 7, a Public Service Announcement from Wisconsin’s three local government associations began to air across the state with the goal of helping to restore faith in our system of voting ahead of the April 5th election. You can view the PSA here and additional resources here on this effort.
Now we’d like to hear from you! Examples of your feedback can include the following:
- Maybe you’re a poll worker and want to briefly explain in 1-2 sentences how you are dedicated to maintaining our election process.
- Maybe you want to share your commitment to serving your community and make sure people understand that their vote counts.
We would like to include these comments when we highlight our “We Trust Them” PSA in a future magazine article, so if you provide comments, please know that they may appear in a future publication. Please send your comments to [email protected].
Help us to spread the word about the “We Trust Them” PSA:
Click here to share, like & comment on the PSA from the League’s Facebook page, here to retweet, and here to like, comment and share the PSA on the League’s LinkedIn page.
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ICYMI - Special Edition - League-EL
by Claire Silverman, Legal Counsel and Maria Davis, Assistant Legal Counsel, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
"Municipal clerks face the difficult task of deciding how to handle the return of absentee ballots for the April 5, 2022 election without guidance from the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC)." (Read the full Memo as a PDF.)
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IN THE NEWS
(Paywalls may apply)
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Wisconsin DOJ sues Johnson Controls, Tyco for ‘forever chemicals’ violations Read the article. Click here to like, comment or share this on the League's Facebook page.
Wisconsin homeowner aid program removes racial component after facing challenge Read the article.
Evers plan spends $56M in federal funding on police, court backlog Read the article.
Mayor Nickels Represents Manitowoc and Wisconsin in Washington D.C. Read the article.
As reported COVID-19 cases decline, signs of a possible uptick detected in wastewater Read the article.
Douglas County receives $2M in housing grants
Community Development Block Grant funding helps low- to moderate-income homeowners and home buyers in 10-county region. Read the article.
City of Janesville approves TIF deal with living wage requirement for pet treat manufacturer Read the article.
Oshkosh Mayor Lori Palmeri, council member Aaron Wojciechowski announce bids for 54th Assembly District seat Read the article.
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2nd Tuesday of every month.
April 12, 2022, 12:00-1:00 via Zoom
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The League's Winter Chief Executives Workshop
March 22, 23 and 24 - Virtual - $50.
Magnetic Communities, Solving the Daycare Dilemma, Grants Panel.
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Cyber Awareness for Municipal Officials
Thursday, April 14, 2022
12:00p.m – 1:30pm
Where are you at risk in the workplace and at home?
Join us for an entry level discussion of cybersecurity risks to municipal officials at work and home. Learn about what best practices you should be implementing and the vulnerabilities criminals are searching for. This course will provide time for Q&A and discussion of incidents in Wisconsin.
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The League's Building Inspectors Institute
April 20-22, 2022
Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan
Attendees will receive: 12 Commercial Building, 12 UDC Building and 6 UDC HVAC credits
The League's Plumbing Inspectors Institute
April 20-22, 2022
Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan
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Sign up now for the League's Popular Local Government 101
Workbook included for ALL participants - print or USB.
Via Zoom:
May 6 - Webinar
September 9 - Webinar
If you register for the Local Govt 101 webinar, you can participate in any of the Local Govt webinars within a year from your registration. Mix and match the four segments - take them all in one-day or attend when you can.
Webinar Agenda (PDF) (Content is the same but the schedule is different.)
In-person:
May 13, 2022 – Eau Claire, The Lismore Hotel
June 3, 2022 – Madison Marriott West
September 16, 2022 – Green Bay, Tundra Lodge
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Email questions or comments to:
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