61st Annual Convention of
Wisconsin Towns Association
Sunday, October 5, 2008 to Wednesday, October 8, 2008
@ Radisson Paper Valley Hotel & Convention Center
333 W. College Avenue, Appleton, Wis.
The 61st Annual Convention of Wisconsin Towns Association will be held from Sunday, October 5, 2008 to Wednesday noon, October 8, 2008 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel & Convention Center, located at 333 W. College Avenue, Appleton, Wis.
As in past years over 25 different workshop topics for all officers, planning commissioners, and other interested persons will be offered over the two and a half days of convention program. The following pages contain a tentative agenda that features the variety of activities for all attending this year’s convention in participating in. We urge every town and village to send one or more officers, plan commissioners, or other interested persons. Some of this year’s highlights follow. (Note that the agenda is a tentative agenda subject to change: Click here for a convention schedule updates).
Join your fellow officers and attendees on Sunday afternoon, October 5th, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for Early Bird Registration. The conference registration will be open in the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel & Convention Center. {Please note that a map of the Appleton downtown area will be printed in the September WTA magazine for your convenience.} Public parking is available in two city parking lots located across the street from the Paper Valley Hotel & Convention Center, which are connected by walkways for your convenience.
We invite convention attendees to come early and visit the dozens of exhibitors. From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. we will have complimentary refreshments beer, soda and snacks) in the exhibitors area sponsored by Rural Insurance Companies. {Just a note the Green Bay Packers play a game in Green Bay with a noon kickoff that day. Join the party in the exhibitors area of the convention to celebrate the Packer victory over the Atlanta Falcons!}
Registered spouses and guests of registered officers are welcome to participate in the Convention activities including the general assemblies on Monday and Tuesday mornings, or any workshop during the convention, or any social events throughout the convention. Registration for spouses and guests is $25.00 for the entire convention or one day. However, registration for spouses and guests does not include lunch on Monday and Tuesday, which is included only for all registered officers. However, spouses and guests may join everyone for lunch by purchasing an optional ticket for lunch at a price of $12.00 for each day. Tickets will be required to eat lunch each day.
Monday afternoon an optional spouses or guests guided tour of History Museum at the Castle (which will give a look at early life in the Fox Cities and a look at the Houdini Exhibit, honoring Appleton’s favorite son Harry Houdini and some of his magic at its finest) and the Paper Discovery Center (which provides a hands-on experience of how paper is made in area mills and home to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame). This optional event will leave from the Paper Valley Hotel at 1:15 p.m. and return about 4:00 p.m. The cost of $8.00 per person includes transportation and admission to both sites. Please you’re your registration forms and make payment with other registration payments for this optional tour.
Tuesday afternoon, bus transportation for shopping at the Fox River Mall in the Town of Grand Chute (just east of Appleton) will be provided for spouses and guests free of charge. Departure will be at 1:15 p.m. with return at approximately 3:45 p.m. No charge for this bus service to the mall will be required. As an option for registered spouses and guests on Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. the always popular “Bingo” for prizes will be played. Please note that spouses and guests must be registered for the WTA convention and displaying their WTA nametag to participate in any of these optional spouse/guest events.
As in recent years, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) has arranged a special farm dairy tour of a modern dairy farm in the area. This year’s tour will be on Tuesday afternoon, October 7th, departing the Paper Valley Hotel by 1:15 p.m. and returning by 4:30 p.m. There is no cost for this optional event, but to determine approximate numbers please mark your registration form if you want to participate in this farm tour. These tours have been very popular in recent years, so mark your registration form to receive a free ticket for this event.
On Monday evening, October 6th from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. join everyone at the Paper Valley Hotel & Convention Center for dancing to the music of the Charles Justmann Band or just listening to the music. This musical group is making a repeat performance from past years by request of many past convention attendees. (Note that music and dancing will only be offered on Monday evening of this year’s convention.) Complimentary beer, soda and snacks will also be available. No admission charge for this event for registered officers and spouses/guests.
On Tuesday evening the Annual WTA Awards banquet will be held. Presentation of $7,500 in cash awards to the winners of the Rural Insurance Companies/Scott Construction Inc./ WTA Scholarships will be made at this award banquet. We will also be continuing the tradition started in 2007 of recognizing long standing town and village officers who have served for 30 years or more (in one or more offices in total). This year recognition will be given for any officer who has served for 30 years or more attending the convention who was not honored in 2007. For any officers who were honored in 2007 but are attending in 2008 who have reached a particular a five year plateau of 35 years; 40 years; 45 years; 50 years; or 55 years, recognition will again be given for the five year plateau. Please mark your registration form accordingly with acknowledge of whether you were recognized in 2007 and if you are at the 35; 45; 50; or 55 year mark. The cost of the optional banquet ticket is $35 per ticket. Tickets for spouses/guests who are not registered for the convention are available for this Tuesday Evening Awards Banquet at a cost of $35 per ticket.
The entertainment following the awards ceremony will be the return of C. Willi Myles, a humorist who will have you laughing at yourself and with him. For those who attended the 2005 Convention in Stevens Point, Wis. you will remember C.Willi telling you about his coming from Georgia to Minnesota to play football and his view of the strength of the Midwest attitude that “things could always be worse!” We know you will enjoy his return performance!
The cost of registration for the entire convention or one day for town/village officers ($110 for all days or $60.00 for one day) which includes lunch on Monday and Tuesday. Lunch tickets will be collected each day.
Monday’s lunch menu will include tossed garden greens with Italian dressing, Parmesan breadsticks, Breast of Chicken parmesan with marinara sauce, Penne Alfredo, Suateed broccoli, asparagus and mushrooms, Spaghetti and meatballs, with coffee milk and tea.
Tuesday’s lunch menu will be a soup and sandwich buffet including soup du jour, staked ham subs, piled turkey subs, wedged herb foccacia, potato chips, vegetable crudite, appropriate condiments, coffee, milk, and tea.
Cookies will be available! {Note that pizza is not on the menu! We heard your comments loud and clear from last year.}
Note registered spouses and guests may purchase the optional lunch tickets for $12.00 per day.
Please mark your registration forms accordingly.
On Wednesday morning from 9:00 a.m. to about 11:00 a.m., a Legislative and Current Issues Update will be presented by WTA staff. A good portion of this morning’s time will be used to discuss possible items for the WTA Legislative Agenda for 2009-2010. We urge as many officers as possible to participate in this discussion and make your views known to set the direction for the Association’s legislative agenda for the next two years.
Please see the registration form on this website or in the July WTA magazine. It may be duplicated, but one registration form should be sent for each officer and spouse/guest. Please mark the form accordingly, including the number of years served if more than 30 years in office, and if you were recognized in 2007 for long standing service. Note Tuesday Evening Awards Banquet is an Optional Event, not included in the registration cost. Note that registrations received after Wednesday, September 24, 2008, will have a late registration charge of an additional $15.00 per person for late registration. We need your registrations by that date to insure proper head counts for meals and events. Please register early!
Tentative 61st Annual Convention Schedule
Complimentary Reception sponsored by Rural Insurance Companies in the Exhibit area from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visit the nearly 70 different exhibitors.
Enjoy one of the many fine restaurants in the Appleton area on Sunday evening. Information on restaurants and on other area activities will be available at the WTA Convention Registration Booth.
7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Registration for Convention at Radisson Paper Valley Hotel
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Exhibit Area Open
Complimentary Coffee sponsored by Scott Construction, Inc. in Exhibit Area from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. each morning.
8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. General Legal Cracker Barrel in General Assembly Area
8:45 to 10:45 General Assembly (with several featured speakers to be invited)
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon Round I Workshop Topics:
(1) Local Roads Improvement Program Update, including information on TRIP and TRANS 206 reviews to insure compliance with program requirements. Hear what consequences including reimbursement to state for failure to comply with program requirements! Presented by DOT representatives.
(2) Announcement of Health Insurance Options for towns and villages for their employees and possible officers. More information on this new program in WTA August, 2008 Magazine. Target date for writing such health insurance is December 1, 2008. Again, more information to come in August WTA magazine.
(3) Wind Turbine Siting & Possible Legislative Changes WTA will seek—Hear about what towns can do to regulate wind turbines under current law and participate in a discussion on possible legislative changes for the next session to retain as much local control over wind turbine siting in the future! Presented by Attorney Glenn Stoddard and WTA Executive Director Rick Stadelman
(4) Working Lands—Hear more details of what can be done to preserve working lands (both agriculture and forest land). Possible proposed changes to Farmland Preservation Program. Possible creation of Agricultural Enterprise areas. Possible purchase of agricultural conservation easements (PACE). Possible Farmland Preservation Planning Grants. And More! Presented by representatives of DATCP and Working Lands Task Force.
(5) Timely Workers Compensation Claim Reports equals Reduced Workers Comp Costs
Hear how timely claim reporting impacts workers compensation costs. How can a town or village be better prepared before an injury ever happens? Hear key points to consider in your workers comp program that can help create a better experience for you and your injured employees and at the same time help save costs. Presented by Rural Insurance Companies.
Noon Lunch 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Lunch will be provided as part of the convention registration for those town and village officers registered for the convention. Spouses and guests may purchase a lunch ticket at a cost of $12.00 per lunch. (See menu details in convention highlights above.) Visit the Exhibitor area after you have hade lunch for cookies!
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Round I Workshops described above will be repeated.
2:125 p.m. Urban Towns Committee Annual meeting including election of three board members (anyone may attend but only member towns and village representatives may vote at this annual meeting and election)
Monday, October 6, 2008 Tentative Schedule (continued)
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Round II Workshop Topics:
(1) On the Clock: Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Trends and Issues-- Hear about FLSA requirements for overtime for employees. What about volunteers and overtime? How to properly calculate overtime. What is compensatory time? What limitations exist for compensatory time? Presented by Attorney Daniel G. Vliet of Davis & Kuelthau, S.C.
(2) Town Roles in Land Divisions—Towns are increasingly looking to play a proactive role in managing the creation of new parcels. Town governments can use land division ordinances to implement comprehensive plans and help achieve goals related to working lands protection, stormwater management, and more. Hear an overview of town land division regulations and a report on recent research on historic parcel creation in six Wisconsin towns over the last 50 years. Hear about new ways of measuring residential density in towns and show how town ordinances can help achieve local community objectives. Presented by Eric Olson of the UW Extension Center for Land Use Education
(3) Invasive Species threaten Wisconsin—Hear what the Dept. of Natural Resources is proposing for “best management practices” in general on invasive species controls, but in particular on practices for towns and villages to implement on highway corridors including highway maintenance practices such as when and how to mow highway right of ways to avoid spreading of invasive plant species. Presented by DNR representatives.
(4) Safety at Recycling and Solid Waste Drop-off Facilities—Learn some tips on managing the potential risks at your recycling and solid waste drop-off facilities. Many of these same tips and techniques can apply to your other public facilities. Presented by Rural Insurance Co.
(5) Additional Topics to be announced in August WTA Magazine in this time slot.
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Round II Workshops described above will be repeated
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Exhibitor Reception (complimentary beer, soda and snacks)
Dinner on your own on Monday Evening
8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Dance and enjoy the music of the Charles Justmann Band
This will be a return engagement for this popular band. Complimentary beer, soda, and snacks. Come enjoy the evening with fellow officers and guests. No charge! Admission upon displaying convention registration badge.
7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration for Convention at Radisson Paper Valley Hotel
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Exhibit Area Open
Complimentary Coffee sponsored by Scott Construction, Inc. in Exhibit Area from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. each morning.
8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. General Legal Cracker Barrel in General Assembly Area
8:45 to 10:45 a.m. General Assembly (with several featured speakers to be invited)
10:50 a.m. until completed (but no later than Noon) Resolutions Session
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Tentative Schedule (continued)
Noon Lunch 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Lunch will be provided as part of the convention registration for those town and village officers registered for the convention. Spouses and guests may purchase a lunch ticket at a cost of $12.00 per lunch. (See menu details in convention highlights above.)
1:00 p.m. to about 2:00 p.m. Bingo for Registered Spouses & Guests
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Round III Workshop Topics:
(1) Legal Cracker Barrel—Bring your legal questions and hear other questions answered by WTA Legal Counsel Carol Nawrocki and Lee Turonie
(2) An Introduction to Performance Measurement in Local Government—Hear what performance measurement is! How could it help your town or village better budget and manage your financial resources. Hear the basics of how to use these concepts. Presented by Alan Probst, Local Government Specialist of the Local Government Center of the UW-Extension.
(3) Election Staff of Government Accountability Board Workshop for Clerks on Election issues (note this will be a two hour workshop concluding at 3:15 p.m.)
(4) CDARS Program—Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service Program— Towns and village treasurers hear how your town and village can place large amounts of money at one bank with the security of knowing both the principal and interest are eligible for complete FDIC protection. Presented by Chris Boyce, Senior VP Chief Invest. Officer of Anchor Bank
(5) Municipal Constitutional Takings Issues---Presented by Education Dir. Tom Harnisch
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Round IV Workshop Topics:
(1) Legal Cracker Barrel (continued as above)
(2) An Introduction to Performance Measurements in Local Government (repeated as described above)
(3) Workshop for Clerks on Election Issues (continued as described above)
(4) Treasurers’ Cracker Barrel---Treasurers hear about collecting delinquent personal property taxes, special charges and new settlement issues for leasehold property. Bring your questions for Executive Director Rick Stadelman and Carol Doran of Wis. Dept. of Revenue
(5) Wis. Deferred Compensation Program—Hear about the benefits of the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program as a employee benefit for your employees from Eric Seeger of Wis. Deferred Compensation Program.
(6) Cluster Wastewater Systems—Opportunities and Challenges for rural and small towns and villages. Cluster wastewater systems prove wastewater solutions for small unsewered communities, planned new developments, environmentally sensitive lakeshore properties, recreational facilities, and rural commercial applications. Hear how these systems may benefit your town or village. How can towns and villages insure that these systems are properly managed and maintained? Presented by Rick Apfel of Ayres Associates
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Round V Workshop Topics
(1) Cluster Wastewater Systems—Opportunities and Challenges (Repeat of same workshop as described above at 2:15 p.m.)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Tentative Schedule (continued)
(2) Municipal Constitutional Takings Issues (Repeat of same workshop as described above at 1:00 p.m. presented by Attorney and Education Director Tom Harnisch)
(3) Treasurers’ Cracker Barrel (continued as described above at 2:15 p.m. presented by Executive Director Rick Stadelman and Carol Doran of Wis. Dept. of Revenue)
(4) Additional topics to be announced in August WTA magazine in this time slot
4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Free Time
6:15 p.m. Doors to Tuesday Evening Awards Banquet Open
6:30 p.m. Dinner Banquet is served {Note this is an optional event. Ticket required.}
The Tuesday Evening Awards Banquet is an optional buffet dinner of assorted salads, green beans amandine, garlic smashed potatoes, wild rice blend, braised beef tenderloin tips with noodles, carved pork steamship and Dutch Apple Pie or Cherry Pie for a cost of $35 per person.
Winners of 2008 Rural Insurance Companies/Scott Construction Inc./WTA Scholarships will be announced (a total of $7,500 in scholarships will be awarded)
Special Recognition for all town and village officers in attendance who have served in one or more elected offices for 30 years or more and were not recognized in 2007, except recognition will be made to those officers who have reached the 35 year mark; 45 year mark; 50 year mark; or 55 year mark, or 60 year mark. Please mark your registration form with years of service if more than 30 years and if you were recognized at the 2007 Convention.
Banquet entertainment is a return of Humorist “C. Willi Myles” (He will have you laughing at yourself and with him!)
Note there is no music this year following the banquet and speaker.
8:30 a.m. Coffee, rolls and milk compliments of Scott Construction Inc.
9:00 a.m. Legislative and Current Issues Update by WTA Legislative Staff
Discussion on Draft Legislative Agenda for 2009-2010 (See Sept. WTA Magazine for draft agenda to be discussed) Expect conclusion about 11:00 a.m. or so
2008 Assessor Workshops at WTA Convention Announced
Monday - October 6
8:45 – 11:45 AM Class = Posting Sales – Handling foreclosures etc
Instructors - DOR
3 hr law / management
12:15 – 1:15 – Round Table/Cracker Barrel discussion
1:15 – 4:15PM Class = BOR procedures
Instructors – WTA & DOR personnel
3 hr law / management
Tuesday – October 7
8:45 – 11:45 AM Class = Valuing mega farms –
Instructor – Dennis Badtke
3 hr appraisal
1:15 – 4:15 PM Class = Tour Dairy farm – follow-up of mega farms and
what is exempt on the farm
Instructors – Dennis Badtke & Ryan Raatz
3 hr appraisal
Assessor certification is pending for the Dairy Farm Tour with DOR. Assessors should use registration form in this magazine to register for Annual Convention.
Mark your calendars now! Make hotel reservations at any of hotels in Appleton area as given in a page following the WTA Convention Registration Form
Send in your Registration Form as soon as possible with payment! No registrations will be accepted without enclosed payment! Late Registrations received after Wednesday, September 24, 2008 will have an additional $15 late fee!
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