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October 27, 2004

Candidates speak to the issues

Editor's Note: In order to assist our readers in their decision at the polls next week, the Courier Press asked all of our candidates for local offices to respond to two questions: What is the most important issue facing your constituents and what distinguishes you from your opponent? What follows are the responses submitted to us.

Martin Sprosty, incumbent, Crawford County Treasurer
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING YOUR CONSTITUENTS? I believe the most important issue facing constituents is managing the County Treasurer's office in a professional manner. Some of the successful keys to good management are knowledge, accountability, experience, and efficiency along with good communication. In the years I have been treasurer these keys have been of the highest priority to my staff and me. Knowing state and county laws is necessary in the county treasurer's office in order to conduct day-to-day business. Also my computer knowledge has enabled me help save the county thousands of dollars by writing programs for the general receipting and property tax collection process. Because my staff and I are already efficient at our positions, there is no need for the county to spend money on training or unauthorized overtime. Working as a team with a positive attitude is a key to good communication. In our office, you are treated with respect and greeted with a smile.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM YOUR OPPONENT? Experience and dedication along with my education are what I believe distinguishes me from my opponent. I have written and updated many of the computer programs used in the office. Some examples are Property Tax Rolls, Tax Collection, and Tax Settlement. I am also currently working on placing information from the treasurer's office on the county website. I am dedicated to my position and to doing a good job as the treasurer. This position has been my career, a career which I love, and a career in which I am not ready to give up. I don't let anything stand in the way of my being the best Crawford County treasurer I can be. My friends and family understand that about me, and they support the fact that I do put my position as treasurer first in my life. When I say education I don't only mean my computer science and math degree, I also mean everything I have learned from the residents of Crawford County over the last thirty-two years. That education has been the most valuable.

Faye Johnson, candidate, Crawford County Treasurer
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING YOUR POTENTIAL CONSTITUENTS? I feel that it is very important for the County Committees to have complete and accurate financial records to be more financially responsible. The current annual audit report states that the financial statements are not being reconciled on a monthly basis. It will be my duty to report the accurate information monthly to the finance committee so they have an accurate account of available funds. In 2003 the county had purchased a financial software system but that system was never interfaced with the treasurer's office. I plan to implement this system so that true accounts of the county's financial records are more readily available. I will then focus on the duties of the office to keep a true and correct account of the receipt and expenditure of all moneys which come into the office.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM YOUR OPPONENT? I feel that there are many things that distinguish me from my opponent. The main thing that distinguishes me is that I am dedicated to getting the job done well. I will use the software system that the county has implemented rather than wasting the county's time on a system that won't interface with the county's system. I am able to do this because I have a good rapport with county governing committees. I have a good work ethic and I am dependable. I also have developed a good working relationship with the public during my 28 years as deputy county treasurer.

Janet Geisler, incumbent, Crawford County Clerk
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING YOUR CONSTITUENTS? Taxes are a major concern for all taxpayers. Individual departments and the county as a whole need to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers for staying within their budget limits. The clerk plays a vital role in furnishing financial information to the departments and the supervisors on a monthly basis to assist them in overseeing the county's budget. The Crawford County Code of Ordinances clearly states that the duties for preparing the budget for County Board lay with the Finance Committee. I will do all that I can to furnish supervisors with the information they need to make informed financial decisions. Making a political promise to taxpayers that their taxes will be lower if elected is a promise that would be difficult to keep.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM YOUR OPPONENT? There is one clear difference and that is experience. The County Clerk's office covers a wide variety of duties such as: financial and payroll; personnel; insurance; election; agendas and minutes; tax apportionment; marriage licenses; DNR licenses and temporary plates. It is essential to have a clerk who is experienced in these matters and the daily issues that arise. I have very strong work ethics and believe the Clerk needs to be available to the public. While it is possible that I could be out promoting the county, I believe it is more important to the taxpayers of the county that I am in the office and on the job. That is what I have been elected to do. Experience is the key difference.

Luanne Neumann, candidate, Crawford County Clerk (no photo available)
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING YOUR POTENTIAL CONSTITUENTS? The cost of providing services is the most important issue facing Crawford County residents. County government has basically two sources of income ‹ funding that comes from the federal or state sources (a local return on your income taxes), and funding that it raises directly through property taxes. It is important that the county brings back as much tax dollars as it can from Madison and Washington D.C. (rather than going to other communities), so that it needs to take as little as possible from the property taxpayers that live here.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM YOUR OPPONENT?
I feel that the county clerk has a very important role in holding down the costs of operating government in Crawford County. My opponent has said it's not the clerk's responsibility. I find that just a little amusing since it's listed in the job description that I was given at the clerk's office when I filed my nomination papers. I have management experience in a variety of professional settings. I represent change.
I will bring fresh ideas and strong leadership to the Crawford County administrative team.

Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend, so be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night. During the past 10 years fire departments have encouraged the changing of batteries when the clocks were turned back to Standard Time the last weekend of October. Rural Bridgeport and Prairie du Chien Fire Chief John Gillitzer said "This life saving habit of changing batteries in smoke alarms may be the key to life safety during a fire." He emphasized, "Change your clock and change the batteries and test your smoke alarms on Saturday night."

Tax rate for school purposes to go up slightly 
The Prairie du Chien Board of Education approved a general fund of $11,173,882 at its annual budget hearing Monday night. The 2004-2005 fiscal year budget will be supported by a district tax levy of $3,987,900, which is $102,383 more than last year's levy. The tax rate for school purposes will be $10.46. The tax rate last year was $10.40 and the average tax rate for the past six years is $10.56. A tax rate of $10.46 means that the owner of a property valued at $100,000 will pay $1,046 in taxes for school purposes, $6 more than a year ago. A $50,000 property will have taxes of $523, which is $3 more than last year. In a presentation before the board, Business Manager Mike Coughlin said that salaries (48 percent), benefits (25 percent) and special education (9 percent) comprise 82 percent of the district's expenditures. Thus, the outcome of the ongoing negotiations with the teacher's union may have a significant impact upon the budget. Other items that affect the district's budget include: enrollment fluctuations; state budget concerns and possible legislative action over the revenue limit, qualified economic offer, property tax freeze and the lowering state aid; the increasing debt service; increasing utility costs and special needs for non-special education students.

APPROVED as part of the budget was $130,000 for a community service program, through which district residents, children and adults, can participate in programs provided by the school district. Possible programs presented Monday night included open gym and access to the weight room for adults and several sports programs for youth. All community service programs will be open to residents of the district, regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with any of the schools. A community service committee will be formed to determine what programs will be offered to the community by the district. The community service committee will consist of three members of the board, school administrators and, of course, community members. A special school board meeting concerning the community service program will be scheduled in the near future. Community service will be offered on a yearly basis and will have to be approved by the school board each year.
IN OTHER ACTION Monday night, the board voted unanimously to have School Board President Mary Jorgensen give a presentation to the Prairie du Chien City Council recommending a school resource officer for the Prairie du Chien District. Jorgensen will give the recommendation at the City Council's meeting on Nov. 9. District Administrator Jim O'Meara said that a school resource officer would be a "win-win" situation for the district because the district would gain an officer at no expense. O'Meara also said that the city would have a "win-win" situation because the city would save 25 percent of an officer's salary, and perhaps 100 percent of the salary in the future due to more grants for the program.
A motion to have a school resource officer on a trial basis for one year was defeated by a vote of 8-3 at the last City Council meeting on Oct. 5.

October 25, 2004

Election Day preparation 
Election Day is almost here. And the way that the 9/11 terror attacks affected our sense of national security, the Election of 2000 affected our sense of election accuracy and security. The contested ballots and events in Florida made people everywhere wonder could that happen at their polling place? According to Janet Geisler, an election mess similar to Florida is very unlikely in Crawford County. But that doesn't mean that she hasn't been very attentive to her duties surrounding the election. After all, it is a big responsibility to see that the election is conducted in an efficient and aboveboard manner, and that every vote in the county is counted This election, she said, is "definitely one you can't take lightly." How does the county conduct elections? It is a detailed process that begins long before November 2. According to Geisler, the process begins when she distributes the ballots to the towns and villages and to the City of Prairie du Chien. This year that process occurred later than usual due to a lawsuit brought by the Democratic Party in an attempt to keep independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader off of the ballot. Official ballots could not be printed and distributed until the court case was finalized. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided that the Nader/Camejo ticket would appear on the ballot in Wisconsin on September 30. Geisler got the official ballots in her office on October 4, and had them all delivered to the towns and villages by the next day. "You don't want that to become an issue," she said, "that people can't get their ballot." The other major preliminary process for the election is one that citizens must do ‹ register to vote. Prairie du Chien City manager, Gary Koch said that voter registration this year is running very high. "We've been real busy registering voters," he said, although he noted that they did not have an exact figure of how many voter had been registered yet. There have been a large number of absentee voters as well, he said. "We are above 2000 levels," he said, "and there is a week to go." Both Geisler and Koch expect a very large voter turnout for this election. Wisconsin has liberal voter registration laws. Voters are encouraged to pre-register to vote, but it is also possible to register at the polling place on Election Day. Preregistration makes the voting process go faster on Election Day. The names of pre-registered voters appears on a list when the voter goes to the polling place, so they election judges can simply cross the person's name off of the list and give them a ballot. Pre-registration for voting closed last Wednesday. To register at the polls on Election Day, an individual must bring with them proof of residency such as a driver's license or a utility bill that shows the address where the person lives. Generally you must have been a resident of the state of Wisconsin for ten days to vote, but Geisler says voters can get a provisional ballot vote if they have lived in the state less than ten days. Voters in Crawford County can feel secure about their ballot being counted accurately because all of the ballots in the county are paper ballots that are hand marked and hand counted. Accuracy is the upside to old-fashioned paper ballots. They can be counted and recanted if necessary. Ballots that are not counted because they are not clearly marked must be counted and documented as well. Generally, Geisler says, there are few ballots that are not counted because they are marked improperly in a general election. The drawback to paper ballots is that it is a slow process to count them. Geisler says that T.V. stations begin calling around 9 p.m. to get results for the 10 p.m. news, but it's hard to have much of anything to give them, since only the smallest towns and villages have anything counted by then. "You can't rush them, they have to take their time," she said. Geisler said that she expects to work until at least 2 a.m. on election night. Election results do not become final on election night. According to Geisler, the results don't become official until after the Board of Canvas certifies them. The board is made up of representatives from both parties, and meets on the Thursday following the election. They check the tallies from the towns, villages and cities, and certify the counts. Are there ever problems? "There have been recounts requested by candidates," said Geisler, "but they have never changed the outcome of the election."

Wisconsin absentee ballots provide an easy, no-hassle method of voting for everyone
In a departure from the tradition for elected officials, Governor Jim Doyle, along with First Lady Jessica Doyle, cast his ballot last Thursday rather than voting on Election Day. The Governor and First Lady voted at the City Clerk's office in Madison, taking the opportunity to encourage other Wisconsin citizens to cast their votes early to avoid long lines on Election Day. "I want to encourage Wisconsin citizens to exercise their right to vote early this year," said Governor Doyle. "By voting early at your municipal clerk's office, or getting an absentee ballot through the mail, you can avoid long lines at the polling place on Election Day." The Governor said he wanted to call attention to the importance as well as the convenience of early voting. Many Wisconsin citizens may be unaware that this is one of the few states in which a voter does not need a reason to vote by absentee ballot. Citizens who wish to vote early have two options: they may vote in person - as the Governor will do tomorrow - or they may vote by mail. Voting in person Wisconsin citizens may vote absentee in person at their municipal clerk's office - i.e., City Clerk or Town Clerk or Village Clerk -through Monday, November 1, 2004. Persons voting absentee at their municipal clerk's office may register at the same time if they are not already registered (residency for voting purposes requires ten-day residency). These newly registering voters should bring proof of residency with them, such as a current drivers license, utility bill, a copy of a lease, a university ID, or certain other documents. Voting by mail Citizens who wish to submit their absentee ballot by mail must request their ballot from their local clerk's office by Friday, October 29, 2004. Voters are encouraged to make the request as early as possible however, because the ballot must be returned to their local clerk's office no later than Election Day to be counted.

New greenhouse to enhance student growth at River Ridge
River Ridge High School will soon have a new facility in which agriculture students as well as biology and science students will be able to gain hands-on experience and knowledge. The 30-foot by 40-foot greenhouse, currently under construction at the back of the parking lot, will allow students to test their green thumbs as they grow plants and conduct experiments while studying genetics and other biological and horticultural subjects. "Hopefully, it will enhance our program," said agriculture teacher Pete Drone, who noted that the greenhouse will give students experience and the chance to more fully explore career possibilities. Drone said that River Ridge agriculture students built the infrastructure of the greenhouse last spring. A crew from River Ridge Builders have been working to complete the project by installing a large fan, vents and the Lexon material that will make up the walls and roof of the greenhouse. Gas, electrical and water were installed this past summer. "Hopefully, it will be up and running this spring," said Drone, in noting that tables and a furnace will also need to be set up. The Lexon material of the walls and roof is a sturdy, two-sided, clear material with air between the two sides. Lexon is an excellent material for holding the heat of greenhouse in, said Drone, who noted that Cassville has a similar greenhouse that is working quite well. Drone said that potted plants and vegetables will be grown in the greenhouse at first, while other plants, such as poinsettias, will be raised later on as the program expands. The greenhouse has been about one and a half years in the making.

 
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