Windsor Block Watch Meeting

Tonight was the first meeting of the Windsor Block Watch. Numerous residents were in attendance to learn more about how to keep our neighborhoods safe. I have posted a map that shows the streets included in the Windsor Block Watch under the Available Documents section.

One aspect of keeping our neighborhoods safe is Issue 15, the .5% Temporary (5-year) Income Tax Renewal. Information provided at the City-Wide Discussion Forum can be accessed from this web page in its own special section. This information answers questions raised at the Block Watch meeting, such as "What departments are funded from the General Fund?" "How many employees are paid from the General Fund?" "What happened to revenues and expenses over the past few years?" and also includes some basic information about Issue 15. Please take the time to review this information so that you can make an informed decision regarding this important issue when you vote.

Issue 15 Income Tax Renewal--Public Discussion Meeting

CORRECTION: This meeting will be conducted October 23 at City Hall in Council Chambers, commencing at 7:00 p.m., to help answer questions about the 5-year income tax renewal, which constitutes .5% going into the General Fund. This income tax is scheduled to expire June 30, 2009 unless voter approval is received to extend it for another five years. This is the same income tax renewal that failed in May's election.

Audio from this meeting is available by clicking on the link at the right-hand side of this web page.

Ford Road Bridge

The 2008 Bridge Inspection Reports have been completed by our Engineering Department and were approved by Council last night. One particular area of concern is the Ford Road one-lane bridge over the Black River near Bur Oak Park. This bridge is rapidly deteriorating. Engineering will continue to monitor the condition of this bridge and there is a real possibility that the bridge will be closed. Further, the road descending to the bridge when you are coming from Wal Mart is deteriorating and crumbling. This area is becoming dangerous for travel and there is no money allocated for a fix now or in the near future.

A copy of the Ford Road Bridge Inspection report is located in the Documents section.

Spring Valley Conditional Use Application Approved

Last night City Council approved Spring Valley's application for a conditional use to build cluster homes on the development as part of its plan to restore and improve the golf course and include a residential component to the property. The conditions imposed by the Planning Commission were included in Council's approval of the application and appear to address all of the concerns raised by residents in the area who were initially hesitant or outright opposed to the development. Those conditions can be found in the Documents section or by following this link--Spring Valley Conditional Use approval by Planning Commission.