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Message from the President
Dan Everson, Dane County
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Welcome back!
This is the time of year that I am reminded of my descendants talking about how they used to take a spoonful of cod liver oil from being vitamin D deficient.
The annual meeting in Wausau went really well. I am thankful we had decent travel conditions throughout the state. Also, I have to give a huge thanks to the executive board for staying on task and accomplishing everything within one day. We have some really committed and dedicated individuals within our organization.
Now it’s time to get to work. Non-metallic annual reports are under review and it sounds like the shoreland ordinance review is finding its way to completion, which means administering and enforcing something that really has not gone over well with the public. However, will you take the time at the counter or over the phone to thoroughly explain the process and purpose behind the changes? It takes time and patience and can be very difficult. Also, remember that we are being scrutinized more than ever before and one negative situation will unfortunately effect our organization as a whole. The shoreland sub-committee firmly believes that we should try to work out various scenarios together as an organization as a whole, as much as possible. Suggestions on accomplishing this challenge is to have a panel discussion at the spring conference, utilizing Google Groups and to reach out to the various members on the shoreland NR 115 sub-committee.
As the year unfolds, my challenge to each of you throughout the year is to try and better the organization. It may not be within your position to address a certain issue or speak on a subject, but we could be better off if more of us stepped up. The bottom line is you may have a connection to someone or some group that could help us to get a “seat at the table” on a pressing piece of legislation. Maybe it’s something that your county is leading the charge on and we could benefit as a whole if it is shared. Please get involved within your county and your district. If you are in a managerial role or as a supervisor, please be supportive of your staff attending a WCCA event is some way.
Speaking of event, our next one is the Spring Conference in Mosinee, March 30-31st. Rob Schierman of Bayfield County has been under a lot of stress, a good kind of stress putting together an agenda for us and hopefully, you are there to participate and learn a little something new.
Attached picture was taken during the Frozen Otter this past January, an ultra 64 miler in the North Kettle Moraine. I was able to finish within the 24 hour timeframe and not once did I think of work related items. It was great!
Stay positive, remember, the days are getting longer and motorcycle weather isn’t too far away!
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The Executive Board held their annual meeting in January. Find their approved Budget, President goals, Committee Appointments and 2017 Schedule on the website. Click the picture to be directed.
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The Spring Conference will be March 30 - March 31 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Mosinee. Click above to get more information.
NOTE: BE SURE THE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND CHECK ARE MAILED TO THE NEW ADDRESS! HIGHLIGHT THIS ON THE FORM SO YOUR CHECK WRITER WILL SEE IT.
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DISTRICT REPORTS
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WCCA will be giving out 2 - $500 scholarships this spring! Applications are due March 10. Click above for more information.
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CLICK HERE FOR UPDATES
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There are still several counties who have not submitted their directory information. Please fill out this form and submit it back with a photo if you haven't already done so! Thank you!
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The WCCA and the Center for Land Use Education sponsored a Leadership Training in January for new and nearly new zoning staff. 21 people attended the training. Some of the responses from the training attendees include:
"Thank you so much for sponsoring this. I am glad that as an executive body you are investing in fostering professional development in our new cohort of code administrators. The fall conference was slightly overwhelming as a newbie, so having this type of function was necessary for me to give myself a little more credit."
"Definitely fund future sessions! Was probably one of the most useful training I have gone to in my professional career."
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WE WILL BE HAVING A SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP DURING OUR SPRING CONFERENCE. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING OR DONATING SOMETHING FOR THIS WORTHWHILE CAUSE.
PLEASE LET YOUR DISTRICT REP KNOW BY MARCH 1 WHAT YOU WILL BE DONATING. THANK YOU!
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Karson Gosh, Sheboygan County
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Karson Gosh is the new Conservation Assistant/Code and Zoning Technician for Sheboygan County Planning & Conservation Department.
She graduated from Waukesha West High School in 2011 before heading to UW-Milwaukee. While at UWM, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Conservation & Environmental Science and interned at Ozaukee County Land & Water Management Department learning about conservation best management practices as well as sanitation and shoreland zoning. She started working for Sheboygan County in May of 2016.
Karson loves animals, travelling, and being outside as much as possible in the summer. Kayaking, hiking, and camping are some of her favorite things to do. When winter rolls around however, she'll be hibernating under a heated blanket, until it’s above freezing!
She is an only child from Waukesha, WI. Her parents are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year! She lives in Sheboygan now with her boyfriend, her dog, her cat, her guinea pig, and her aquarium full of fish. She says, "It’s delightfully crowded."
Something unique about Karson? She had a foreign exchange student from Costa Rica during high school who became like family. Karson has been there more times than she can count on one hand to visit her. It’s like a second home!
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
Sheboygan County Planning and Conservation Department
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The Sheboygan County Land & Water Department merged with the Planning & Resources Department in 2010 to become the Sheboygan County Planning & Conservation Department.They have much to offer!
They administer PACE Financing, USEPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, Household Hazardous Waste Disposal, Waste Pharmaceutical Disposal, Deer Donation Program, County-sponsored Water Quality Improvement Program, County Tree Sale Program, County-sponsored Stewardship Program, CDBG Program Outside of City of Sheboygan, Snowmobile Trail Program, Well Abandonment Program, Wildlife Damage Program, Nonmetallic Mining Program, Sanitary Ordinance, Shoreland/Floodplain Ordinance, Farmland Preservation Program, Subdivision Ordinance, Animal Waste Storage Ordinance, Stormwater/Erosion Control Ordinance, County GIS System/Data, Rural Addressing, County Parks & Rec Facilities, Abler/Schneiter Wetland Mitigation Property, Amsterdam Dunes Wetland Mitigation Bank Property, Annual Conservation Programs & Projects, and the Sheboygan Marsh Campground.
Staff includes:
Aaron Brault – Director
Eric Fehlhaber – Manager & Conservationist
Chris Ertman – Conservation Specialist
David Clappes – Conservation Specialist
Greg Kroeplien – Conservation Specialist
Emily Stewart – Planning Analyst
Kevin Stange – Code Administrator
Kathryn Fabian – Code Administrator
Karsen Gosh – Code Technician
Brett Zemba – GIS Specialist
Karin Pierce – GIS Specialist
Chris Martin – Park & Recreation Technician
Cheryl Beernink – Administrative Specialist
Mackinzi Beaty – AIS Specialist – Contract Employee
Sheboygan County is home to many wonderful opportunities. Out of the top 75 family owned businesses in the State, 8 call Sheboygan County home. We are consistently ranked one of the best places in the US to raise a family, retire, and live. We are consistently ranked one of the safest places in the US to live. We boast a company, ACUITY, that is consistently ranked one of the best places to work in the US, and in fact, was ranked only behind Google the last two years. We are considered the most equitable place to live in the US. We boast the Freshwater Surfing Capital of the World in the City of Sheboygan. Based on number of patents filed, we have been considered in the top 20 of most Innovative Communities in the US. We have two of the top resorts in the US in the County, one being the only AAA Five Diamond resort in the Midwest. We have become a golf course destination by having five courses ranked in the top 100 in the US.
The Sheboygan County Conservation Association is one of the largest and most active conservation association in the State. We are one of only thirteen communities in the US to be designated a spaceport. We still make things…we have the third highest percentage of manufacturing employment in the US and the third highest percentage of middle-class households in the US. We have one of the oldest continuously operated road race circuits in the US in Road America. We are only one of a handful of entire counties to be classified a Bicycle Friendly County. The Sheboygan Symphony is the longest continuously running symphony in the State at over 98 years.
The County has the largest restored wetland in the Lake Michigan/Lake Superior basins, that being the Sheboygan County Marsh. You can also climb the tallest wooden observation tower in the State at the Sheboygan County Marsh. The County recently implemented a sales tax, which, is not unique. However, that revenue will be entirely utilized for transportation projects and a portion of the revenue is being shared with all of the County’s cities, villages, and towns for their transportation projects, which are both very unique. We will soon be classified part of a National Marine Sanctuary. And, in addition to all that, we boast a great lakefront and beaches, great restaurants, great scenery, great in-land lakes, great employers, great terrain, and great communities with distinctive characteristics.
In addition to the items mentioned above, we have great mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and hiking trails, especially in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Blue Harbor Resort and Waterpark is fantastic to visit year-round. The Kohler Design Center & Museum is one-of-a-kind. We have some of the best charter fishing on the Great Lakes. The Weill Center for the Arts is a great place to take in show or performance. There are a number of great festivals throughout the County every year. Henschel’s Indian Museum is truly a memorable visit. And, if you bring the kids, the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum is a great place to spend a couple of hours.
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WCCA CONTACTS
Email - wccadm@yahoo.com
Web Page - www.wccadm.com
President - Dan Everson, Dane County
1st Vice President - Rob Schierman, Bayfield County
2nd Vice President - Dean Johnson, Marathon County
Past President - Terry Ochs, Dodge County
Secretary/Treasurer - Heather Marquardt, Wood County
Webpage Coordinator/DeCoder Editor - CeCe Tesky, Rusk County
wccawebpage@yahoo.com
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