The League's "The Local Perspective" with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos

"We're all elected by the same people." Jerry Deschane, the League's Executive Director sits down with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on location in the Assembly Chamber for the League's The Local Perspective. Speaker Vos provides his take on the local perspective and they talk about everything from housing, divided government, gun violence and the future of government financing.

Thanks to Sun Prairie Media and FACTv for their work and partnership! Watch the Local Perspective....
The Consequences of Inadequate Water Rates
August, The Municipality, pg. 4
Edward F. Maxwell, M.B.A., Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. Andrew J. Behm, M.P.A.

"Delaying infrastructure investment presents a tempting shortcut compared to raising water rates. However, municipal leaders must recognize that shortcuts now will increase infrastructure costs, debt burdens, and water rates in coming decades...."

Additional Resources:
How to Explain Water Rate Increases to Customers by Edward F. Maxwell, Ruekert & Mielke, Inc.
* Water Utility Financial Resiliency
* Water Loss Control
* Asset Management
* Read the latest on 2020 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program project requirements plus much more.
From 96% Contamination to the Birth of a Public Water Utility

The 1880's in a municipality generally meant that backyard cesspools were next to the family well and Madison was no different. Undergrad Magnus Swenson, as part of his thesis, sampled many wells and declared that 96% of the water was contaminated. The lakes were so polluted from the estimated 10 tons of manure and direct dumping into the lakes, that Madison turned to an aquifer. The decision then was public or private utility and that's where John Hein, a new City Council member made a difference.

Check out Madison Water Utilities YouTube Channel for more great videos.
Phosphorus Compliance and Variance Options For Municipal Permittees
August, The Municipality , pg. 7

The article describes the six primary options a permittee should evaluate when determining how best to comply with, or obtain a variance for, final limits for phosphorus. They include: Facility Upgrade, Chemical Treatment, Water Quality Trading, Adaptive Mgt, Multi-Discharger Variance and Standard Variance.

Additional Resources:

Take a Deep Dive on Soil Phosphorus Management in agriculture thanks to this three-part video series by the University of Wisconsin Integrated Pest and Crop Management.
RESOURCE HIGHLIGHT! Be Salt WIse!

"We rely on salt to keep our roads safe in the winter and to soften water in our homes year round but using more salt than is needed comes with a heavy price. In Wisconsin and much of the United states, chloride from salt is infiltrating into our lakes, streams and groundwater. These increased levels have impacts on our daily lives." Learn more about the impact and what you and your municipality can do...
Human Resources 101
August, The Municipality , pg. 24
 
This new monthly column will offer HR basics, best practices, and compliance information.
 
Thanks to Lisa Bergersen, JD, SPHR, Human Resources Director, City of Pewaukee for sharing her expertise. As she writes in her inaugural column, "This column is written with the understanding that most municipalities in Wisconsin do not have a dedicated HR professional. Often oversight for human resources management falls to the Administrator, Finance Director, or Clerk. My goal is to provide relevant HR information in this monthly column to assist such communities."
 
All HR Matters columns will be posted to their own page on the League's website.
 
Resources Lisa references in her column:
·          Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
·        Local Wis. SHRM Chapters http://wishrm.org/Chapters (Two-day conference in October http://www.wishrm.org/2019-State-Conference )
·         HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
·        International City/County Mgt Assoc (ICMA) https://icma.org/topic-search/human-resources
·        U.S. Office of Personnel Mgt (OPM)( https://www.opm.gov/ ). OPM's recruitment and hiring material is particularly valuable ( https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/ )
A Comparison of the First Three Approved Financial Assistance Programs for Private Lead Service Line Replacements
August, The Municipality, pg. 15

"The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has now received four applications from municipal water utilities to provide for ratepayer assisted private lead service line replacements pursuant to 2017 Wisconsin Act 137. The PSC has approved three of the four applications, with the fourth having just been filed by Kaukana Utilities on April 24, 2019. This article provides a partial analysis of the approval process and different approaches taken by the cities of Kenosha, Manitowoc, and Menasha, as approved by the PSC."  Read the article as a PDF.
An Overview of the Public Trust Doctrine: Public Rights in Surface Water
August, The Municipality, pg. 17
Claire Silverman, Legal Counsel, League of Wisconsin Municipalities

"The Public Trust Doctrine is one of the most important pieces of the surface water legal framework. Consequently, city and village officials will benefit from understanding the doctrine’s basic concepts." Claire's article discusses key concepts of the public trust doctrine including navigability, ordinary high-water mark, public rights in navigable waters, and preservation of those rights by the state, local government and the public. Read the article as a PDF.
Nominate an ARTS Champion Today!

The Arts in the Community Awards, presented by Arts Wisconsin in partnership with the League, acknowledge local champions who value the arts, culture, and creativity as integral to economic, educational, and community vitality. The goal is to honor local elected and government officials and civic leaders who are not usually identified as "arts people," but who show leadership in community cultural development and civic engagement through the arts.

Nominate your champion by August 30. The 11th annual awards will be presented at the League's 121st Annual Conference October 23-25 in Green Bay. Go to www.artswisconsin.org for application information.
Three $3,000 Grants Thanks to WEA Trust Local Spark Award!

The WEA Trust 2019 Local Spark Award is open through August 31 Enter and you'll have a chance to win one of three $3,000 grants!

Learn more at www.weatrust.com/localspark. 
Watch the video and be inspired!
So Many #CityHallSelfie Day selfies! And Villages were all in too!

Pride in your local government and the work you do to help the community thrive is the theme on August 15, aka #CityHallSelfie Day - Villages too! Selfies were posted from large and small Wisconsin communities - from Elroy to Boscobel, from Mount Pleasant to Altoona, River Falls and Lancaster, Ripon and Richfield, plus Janesville and Appleton and many more. There are even a few K9s who may have needed help taking a selfie. Wait for the one from West Bend! Thanks for tagging the League in your posts!

Details about #CityHallSelfie Day on the Engaging Local Government Leaders website.
Women Mayors and Village Presidents
The Wisconsin Women's Council is working to update this List of Women Muni Leaders in Wisconsin. It was created in response to a media request and is not complete. Please check to see if you are on this list, and if not, please fill out the short form on the League's website here .

(NOTE - if you already filled out the form, thank you. The list does not yet include those updates.)
Join Us!
The League's Local Government 101 Workshop

Municipal officials and staff with years of experience attending Local Government 101 may find themselves sitting next to elected officials and staff who are brand-new to government. In this popular one-day workshop you’ll learn about city and village powers including municipal home rule, hear about how to recognize and avoid conflicts of interest, go home with a quick tutorial on municipal budgeting as well as how to run a meeting and finish with an overview on managing public works projects. In addition, you’ll have that age-old question answered: “What is a walking quorum anyway?”

Only ONE of the six one-day Workshops remain and that is September 13 in Waupaca at the Par 4 Resort. Details and registration here !
The League's Municipal Assessors Institute
September 16-18, 2019    
Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center
Oshkosh, WI

The League's 121st Annual Conference
With Engineering & Public Works Institute
October 23-25, 2019
KI Center, Green Bay

Network with attendees from municipalities all over Wisconsin. Workshops include: Innovations in Housing Development; Human Resources 101; Bus Tour - Northern Renewal - Tour of Green Bay and Ashwaubenon; Mini Bar - A New Round of FUNdamentals for Municipal Attorneys; Exhibit Hall with 105 vendors; Mock "Bad Characters" Meeting, Table for 10 and that's just Wednesday! 

Early Bird through September 13!!

One-Day Registration is available! Register now here .

NOTE! NEW 2019 HASHTAG is #LeagueWI2019
Check out the 2018 Annual Conference Social Media
In the neighborhood? Register Now for the Nekoosa Small Community Forum

If you live in, work in, or help shape your small community and/or region, please attend one of these Forums. You'll connect with representatives from a variety of statewide resources and discuss with your regional neighborhood what your community needs and can do to grow and thrive into the future. Register here!

Nekoosa, September 11 

Brought to you in partnership by the League, Wisconsin Rural Partners, Arts Wisconsin, USDA, UW-Extension, Wisconsin Downtown Action Council and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
The League's Police & Fire Commission Workshop
November 1, 2019
Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Stevens Point

You can register now for this popular one-day workshop.

Note! We are updating the League's Police and Fire Commission Handbook and will have the new version available for workshop participants and handbook orders. In the meantime, if you order a handbook now, you will be added to the list and will be sent the handbook hot off the press later this fall.
Ehlers is providing Free 1/2 Day Levy Limit Workshops
September 17-19 in locations throughout Wisconsin

Information on the Ehlers website >> Details and registration
Political polling trends and how polling works, How to podcast and an Insiders view of social media are the latest #LocalGovMatters podcasts. Listen to all episodes here or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts .

The #LocalGovMatters Podcast is a partnership between the League, the Wheeler Report, Inc. and the Wisconsin Counties Association. You can listen on your PC or smartphone.