Town Road Improvement-Discretionary
(TRID) Program Awards Announced

(5/3/12)  The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced the 2012 Town Road Improvement-Discretionary (TRID, formerly TRIP-D) selected projects.  CLICK HERE for the DOT news release. There are 58 town road projects amounting to over $11,500,000 in matching state aid.  These projects are intended to provide assistance to local governments for long-term road improvements designed to protect public safety and to account for large-scale agricultural, forestry and industrial impacts on local roads.  CLICK HERE for a direct link to the list of selected projects. 

DNR Guidance on Strategic Mowing
to Reduce Invasive Species

(5/4/12)  CLICK HERE for a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with recommendations of Best Management Practices for preventing the spread of invasive species. This letter provides recommendations to help your staff to join the effort in limiting the spread of invasive plant species and to comply with the regulations of Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Rule (NR 40). Invasive plants listed as restricted or prohibited under NR 40 may not be transported, transferred or introduced without a permit – and this includes their seeds, which are spread by mowing.

Sample Ordinance to Extend Officer Terms
Due to Election Law Changes

(2/20/12)  CLICK HERE for the sample ordinance to extend town officer terms for an extra week as necessary due to recent changes to election law.  Also CLICK HERE for a pdf version. The ordinance's legal authority is 2011 Wisconsin Act 115.

Agriculture Community Engagement (ACE)
2/23/12 Educational Seminar Materials Available

(3/7/12) ACE held a day-long educational seminar in Madison on Thursday February 23rd. ACE events are a collaboration of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Counties Association and WTA. Please CLICK HERE for a copy of the brochure with program and registration details. Materials presented at the seiminar are below. Click on each blue hyperlink to see a pdf file of the materials as they become available.

"Follow the Money" by Ben Brancel, Wis. Secretary of Agriculture - speech only, no materials.

"The Road Results Are In" by Kevin Erb, Conservation Professional Development & Training Coordinator, UW-Extension

"Built to Work, Built to Last" by Steve Pudloski, Director of the Wisconsin Transportation and Information Center, UW-Madison

"Ag Equipment on Our Roads: What Regulations Apply?" by Sgt. Michael Klingenberg, Wis. State Patrol

"The Effects of Animal Welfare" by Gary Conklin, Ohio Dairy Producer

Presentation Materials from January Frac Sand Workshops
& WTA Convention Presentation BELOW

(1/3/12)  CLICK HERE for a copy of the mining presentation given by Geologist Bruce A. Brown of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey at the 64th Annual WTA Convention. Wisconsin continues to see very high interest in both metallic and non-metallic mining. Thanks for coming to Convention!

Workshop Materials are posted below, click on each item to see it.  Packet Instructions (overall materials list)

Right side of folder:
1. Agenda
2. Harnisch Local Government Guide Table of Contents
3. Harnisch Local Government Guide
4. DNR Handout
5. DOR powerpoint re: taxation assessment
6. Bruce Stelzner Power Point 
7. Chippewa County Preferred Road Use Agreement
8. WI Transportation Bulletin on Highway Weight Limits
9. Rules Petition on crystalline silica
10. Presenters and Resources

Left side of folder:
1. Toolbox for Towns Table of Contents: Handouts
2. Sand Mine Poster
3. Bedrock mining map
4. Bedrock stratographic column map
5. McCurdy Powerpoint - Frac Sand Processing - Why & Where
6. Resolution for town to adopt village powers
7. Sample Moratorium Ordinance
    Memorandum on Moratorium Authority for Towns
8. Town of Howard Ordinance
    Addendum to Howard Ordinance (other resources)
9. Key Paragraph for Licensing Ordinance
10. Town of Howard Developers Agreement
11. Town of Howard Blasting Ordinance
12. Sample Citation Authority Ordinance
13. Sample Resolution to Establish Fees and Forfeitures
14. Ericheck Study
15. Link to Hite Study
16. WI Open Meetings Law Summary
17. Avoiding a Common Violation of Open Meetings Law
18-19. Sample Form for recording minutes while in closed session & Motion to go into closed session
20. Town Ethics Ordinance
17. Citizens Guide to Standards of Conduct for Local Officials
18. Mitigating Private Interests v. Public Duties

 2012 Scholarship Application Now Available

(1/18/12) CLICK HERE for a brochure describing the rules for the 2012 Wisconsin Towns Association Scholarship Program, funded together with our scholarship partners Rural Mutual Insurance Company and Scott Construction, Inc. All applicants must be graduating from a Wisconsin public or private high school in 2012 and plan to attend a Wisconsin public or private college or vocational technical institute in 2012. Several prizes will be awarded. This year's topic is: "What is the appropriate role of recall elections in Wisconsin at the state and local levels?" The deadline for submisssions is May 30th, 2012. Good luck to all applicants! CLICK HERE for the application form to be sent in together with the essay.