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Ridge looks at harnessing the wind
Wind can be quite a destructive force, which the River Ridge School
District knows all too well. A good portion of the high school roof blew
off just before the start of school last year. Now, the aptly named
school is taking steps to take advantage of its position atop a windy
section of countryside. Superintendent Michael Murphy said that River
Ridge High School has been using data collected from a 150-foot-high
tower at the school to ascertain the feasibility of installing a wind
turbine that could harness the power of the wind in a positive way.
Depending upon the size of the turbine, River Ridge could produce 80 to
90 percent of its energy needs through wind power, said Murphy. In fact,
the production of excess energy would be sold to the utility company,
which would have to buy it. Murphy explained that the 150-foot-high
tower has three different levels at which wind speed and direction are
being measured from eight different sectors. The wind speed and
direction are being measured through the use of cuplike devices called
anemometers that spin in the wind. These anemometers, or "whirligigs,"
as Murphy calls them, gather the wind data and then sends the data
directly to a computer that is inside the tower. The data is compiled
each month and sent to the state in order to determine the optimal
height, pitch and position of a wind turbine that would best suit River
Ridge's needs, Murphy said. The data is being collected and compiled by
Seventh Gen- eration Energy, a company that has helped many school
districts, businesses and residential areas throughout the state to
implement energy saving systems. The Wauzeka-Steuben School District,
for example, installed a solar energy system this past year through the
help of Seventh Generation Energy. Murphy pointed out that the Waunakee
District recently set up a wind turbine system through the help of
Seventh Generation and Wisconsin Focus on Energy grants. Likewise, River
Ridge is conducting its yearlong wind study through the use of Wisconsin
Focus on Energy grants totalling between $7,000 and $9,000 that will pay
for the study. River Ridge will pay about $1,000 in order to check out
the feasibility of a wind turbine system, Murphy said. River Ridge has
been collecting wind data for about five months and a full year is
needed in order to have enough data to proceed with the project. Data
from the Montfort wind farm site is also being included in the project.
Murphy said that should the project proceed, River Ridge will be
probably be looking for investors in order to help construct a turbine.
A small turbine would save the school about 15 to 20 percent of energy
costs, while a larger one could save up to 90 percent, Murphy said. The
price at which the utility companies would buy back excess energy would
also be discussed and negotiated, Murphy said. "Wind is a natural,
persistent resource that we need to take advantage of," said Murphy, who
noted that in addition to potential energy cost savings, the study also
is providing an excellent educational opportunity for River Ridge
science classes, who are also monitoring the wind direction and speed
data.
Will it Float?
Big ideas were tossed out at a meeting held Tuesday afternoon at the
Depot, to help organize an effort to bring the Corps of Engineers dredge
boat William A. Thompson to Prairie du Chien. The 230-foot-long,
67-year-old vessel will be retired at the end of this year. Several
cities are vying to get the boat for an attraction. Blair Dillman is
spearheading an effort to bring it to Prairie du Chien. He shared his
ideas at the meeting with Chamber of Commerce director Sharon Cuchna,
Dale Klemme of Community Development Alternatives and Bill Howe, a
member of the Mississippi River Citizen's Commission. The proposed
location of the boat would be just south of the stone building at Lawler
Park. A special slip would be constructed adjacent to the foundation of
the former grain elevator. The slip would keep the water level at two
feet below flat pool elevation. Ideas for using the boat were tossed
around. It could be used for tours and a unique setting for lodging for
individuals or groups. The Thompson has dormitory style rooms with
shared bath and a more luxurious captain's quarters. Dillman commented
that the boat had a large, beautiful commercial kitchen facility that
could provide dining for guests. Klemme said he thought the boat could
be used to house environmental studies students from the University of
Wisconsin for special summer classes, or other educational activities.
Howe noted that the boat could possibly link up with the Julia Belle
Swain to provide lodging for her guests, or as headquarters for the
fishing tournaments that come to town. Several people commented that it
seemed fitting for the Thompson to come to St. Feriole Island, where the
Corps moved everyone out after the flood of 1965 - a sort of payback. "I
would be very disappointed with all of the attractions we have here, if
we could not get 15,000 people a year," said Dillman about the potential
for paying visitors for the Thompson. Self-guided tours at a ticket
price of $4 would account for about $60,000 of the proposed income, with
other activities such as lodging making up the difference, according to
Dillman. A lot of details have to be worked out in order to prepare the
application form that is due October 18. A plan and a budget to bring
utilities such as sewer, water and power to the site must be created and
insurance costs calculated. Dillman estimates it will cost more than
$50,000 to dredge the site to prepare it for slip construction.
Community Development Alternatives would become the boat's owner,
although they could subcontract out the operation of it.
Bagley woman celebrates 95
years
Dorothy Johnson of Bagley celebrates her 95th birthday with her daughter
Pat White Aug. 20 at the Bagley Community Center. It was a special
occasion at the Bagley Community Center Aug. 20 as friends gathered in
celebration of the 95th birthday of Dorothy Johnson during the "Meals
and More" event at the site. A nice meal, topped off by a 95th birthday
cake and ice cream, was enjoyed by all as they wished Dorothy well.
Along with her many friends, Dorothy's only child, daughter Pat White of
Glen Haven, was on hand to join in the fun. Dorothy grew up in the
Bagley area and in 1928 she married Bob Hamilton, an area farmer. "I
said that I would never marry a farmer, but I did," said Dorothy. "It
was awful tough in the Great Depression," recalled Dorothy, who noted
that there were not many cars or many houses with electricity in the
Bagley area during that time. The couple's first car was a 1927 Model T
Roadster. "I wish I still had that car," said Dorothy, who also recalled
that Bob sold a team of horses in order to buy a tractor during their
early years of marriage. After Bob passed away, Dorothy married Earl
Johnson, who has also passed on. Dorothy has one daughter, 12
grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and two great, great
grandchildren. At 95, Dorothy is still as full of life as ever, she
enjoys playing Euchre and is considered quite the card sharp. She
recalled with a wry smile the days when she used to play poker as a
member of the "Dirty Dozen." The Dirty Dozen would gather on a regular
basis at each other's houses to eat and play cards. Dorothy is now the
only surviving member. "She loves to gamble," said daughter Pat White,
who noted that Dorothy takes numerous excursions to area gambling boats
and also visits dog tracks. Dorothy's other interests include romance
novels and tending to her outdoor flowers. "I want flowers when I'm
alive," said Dorothy, "not when I'm dead." Dorothy has two living
sisters, Winifred Kirschbaum, 89, of St. Louis and Ruth Burrows, 79, of
Ankeny, Iowa.
Average state property tax burden up 25% since '98-99
The average property tax burden per person rose statewide 25.0
percent, or 4.6 percent per year, over the past five years, according to
a new study from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX), a
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to public-policy research
and citizen education. Total gross property tax levies averaged $1,400
per person in 2003-04. State tax credits averaged $85 per person,
leaving an average net property tax levy of $1,315 per person, up 25.0
percent from 1998-99. That year, the net amount paid was $1,052 per
person. In 2003-04, the average school levy per person statewide was
$613. Municipal levies averaged $337 per person, while county levies
were $281 per person. These three jurisdictions accounted for 88.0
percent of property taxes. Statewide, in dollar terms, net property
taxes rose 4.7 percent to $7.22 billion in 2003-04, slightly less than
the prior year's increase. This percentage increase was the lowest since
1999-2000, when net levies rose 3.9 percent, WISTAX noted in its annual
study that details statewide trends in property taxes and includes
figures for all Wisconsin municipalities. Statewide, net property taxes
rose 4.8 percent to $6.89 billion from 2001-02 to 2002-03. Among the
local governments levying the property tax, school levies (5.5 percent)
increased the most from 2002-03, followed by technical college (4.3
percent), county (3.6 percent) and municipal (3.2 percent) levies. In
the five years from 1998-99 to 2003-04, the small state levy, which
increases at the same rate as property values, rose an average of 7.7
percent annually, followed by technical college (7.4 percent), county
(5.9 percent), municipal (5.2 percent) and school district (4.2 percent)
levies. Schools levied $3.37 billion in property taxes, or 43.8 percent
of total gross levies of $7.69 billion. Cities, villages and towns
levied an estimated $1.85 billion in property taxes in 2003-04, or
nearly a quarter (24.1 percent) of the total. Other taxing jurisdictions
and their shares of the total include: counties (20.1 percent);
technical colleges (7.4 percent); the state (0.9 percent); and special
and tax incremental financing (TIF) districts (3.7 percent). The state
levies a forestry tax of 20 cents per $1,000 of property value. In
2003-04, the average statewide net property tax rate was $20.01 per
$1,000 equalized value, down 2.7 percent from $20.56 in 2002-03, WISTAX
noted. The total net property tax rate includes school, municipal,
county, technical college, state forestry, special district and TIF
district levies. The net rate is computed by adding all the amounts
levied by each taxing district, subtracting the state property tax
credit and dividing by the equalized, or full market, value of property.
Statewide, property values rose 7.6 percent over 2002-03, reaching
$360.71 billion. Property values in villages rose 9.2 percent more than
in towns (8.0 percent) and cities (6.7 percent), WISTAX said. In 2003,
property values in the city of Prairie du Chien (population estimated at
5,985) totalled $277 million, up 3 percent from the previous year. Net
property tax levies in Prairie du Chien totalled $7,094.30 thousand, up
7.1 percent. The net tax rate was $25.62 per $1,000 of equalized value,
up 4 percent (ranking 8th of the 190 cities in the state). The city rate
was $7.31 (ranking 108th of the 190 cities in the state). To compare
some other similar sized cities in Southwest Wisconsin: € In 2003,
property values in the city of Boscobel (population 3,308) totalled
$97.2 million, up 4.8 percent from the previous year. Net property tax
levies in Boscobel totalled $2,156.4 thousand, up 3.2 percent. The net
tax rate was $22.18 per $1,000 of equalized value, down 1.5 percent. The
city rate was $8.76. € In 2003, property values in the city of
Viroqua (population 4,340) totalled $166.6 million, up 1.8 percent from
the previous year. Net property tax levies in Viroqua totalled $4,010.9
thousand, up 3.7 percent. The net tax rate was $24.08 per $1,000 of
equalized value, up 1.9 percent. The city rate was $7.42. € In 2003,
property values in the city of Richland Center (population 5,162)
totalled $227.5 million, up 5.3 percent from the previous year. Net
property tax levies in Richland Center totalled $5,860.0 thousand, up
1.9 percent. The net tax rate was $24.76 per $1,000 of equalized value,
down 3.2 percent. The city rate was $6.03. From 1989-99 to 2003-04,
municipal property tax levy increases tended to be higher in villages
and towns, but when population is taken into account, their rates of
increase are comparable to the rate in cities. The average per capita
city levy was $412 in 2003-04, up 23.5 percent from five years earlier.
Village per capita levies rose by a slightly lower percentage (23.3
percent), to $387, while town per capita levies rose 24.5 percent to
$183. From 1998-99 to 2003-04, TIF levies rose 47.3 percent followed by
state (38.1 percent), technical college (36.0), county (27.2 percent)
and municipal (23.1 percent) levies. School levies grew 17.3 percent,
while special district levies rose 13.0 percent. |
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