Blog Archives - Richfield Today

Richfield Village Comprehensive Plan Review Meeting 10-29-13

10/31/2013

The meeting started with a welcome by Josh Schoemann, Village Administrator. Josh discussed the need to have a fiscal balance between village revenues and expenditures and as well as maintain a culture that residents want to see within the village.

Jim Healy, assistant to Village Administrator/Planner then presented a community build-out review focusing on the North East Corner of Village of Richfield or Hwy 41/45 corridor. Three maps for Hwy 41/45 corridor were provided for attendees to review: 1. current approved land use plan, 2. a new plan for added residential zoning and the last with some non-residential zoning including added high-density housing.

Sterling Chalet A Gathering Place for All Occasions

10/31/2013

The Sterling Chalet (former Richfield Chalet) opened July 1, 2013 with new owners, Heidi and her husband Scott McKenna. Heidi is primarily responsible for the daily operations. She has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant business. Her experience includes waitressing, bartending and managing former restaurants ranging from fine to casual dining.

The Sterling Chalet recently opened to the public offering a Thursday Pizza Special, which includes a homemade 14” pizza get a free pitcher of domestic beer or soda and Happy Hour is 4-6, $1 off all drinks. Also, stop in and enjoy her delicious Fish Fry on Fridays.

Sterling Chalet is also open for private events, accommodating up to 500 for dinner, and offer a smaller party room perfect for Birthdays, showers or meetings. Recently the Richfield Lions held their annual Chicken Roast at the Sterling and attendees enjoyed themselves. Heidi looks forward to working with others and make that gathering a memory to last a lifetime.

Richfield official seeks info on flyers

10/31/2013

This post is from the Daily News on October 31, 2013
By DAVE RANK

Daily News Staff

It’s worth $500 to Daniel Goetz to find out who anonymously tried to stain his reputation as a public official in Richfield.

Former Town Chairman John Kohl wouldn’t mind learning the truth as well.

Both men were elected supervisors on the Richfield Town Board long before Richfield became a village in 2008. In July, about 4,000 printed flyers were left in the newspaper boxes of village residents accusing each man of influencing the Village Board to change zoning that advanced private land deals in 2008.

“They accused the Town Board of doing us a favor,” Kohl said. He believes the anonymous flyer was distributed in an attempt to “blacken the name of the Village Board” to get residents to elect new village trustees.

Both men vehemently deny the accusations and remain upset that their accusers did not have the courage to identify themselves.

No Sewer U.A. Anonymous Exposed

10/30/2013

Many Richfield residents have received emails from announcement@nosewer.org or mailers from No Sewer U. A. written by Concerned Citizen. Some residents wonder who is behind the group, why are they not willing to expose themselves or perhaps better said, stay as anonymous.

Merriam-Webster Online defines anonymous as:
1: of unknown authorship or origin <an anonymous tip>
2: not named or identified <an anonymous author> <they wish to remain anonymous>
3: lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability <the anonymous faces in the crowd> <the gray anonymous streets — William Styron>

As of this post on October 30, 2013 No Sewer U. A. is not anonymous any more. Research at Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions exposes Gil Frank as the Agent for No Sewer U.A.

NO SEWER UA or is it U.A.

10/26/2013

THIS BLOG WILL ASK MANY QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE ONLY A FEW ANSWERS..

Today, October 26, 2013 many Richfield residents received a letter in the mail from No Sewer UA. Have those same Richfield residents received emails from No Sewer UA?

1. How did the No Sewer UA group get your email address? Gil Frank made an open record request to the Village of Richfield to obtain residents email addresses. He is the same Gil Frank who recently lost an election for Richfield Village Trustee. Do you trust him to work for you if he is a future candidate?
2. Who is paying for the stationary, printing, and postage for letters received in the mail from No Sewer UA?
3. How many Richfield residents know what U.A. stands for?
4. How many residents know how to register as a U.A. group?
5. How many know who authorizes a group to be U.A.?
6. Do you know any other group in the Village of Richfield that has U.A. as part of their name?
7. What people are behind the No Sewer UA group and how is it funded?
8. Who is their Agent of Record?

So many questions and so few answers, and yet at least there is an explanation for U.A.

Who Started the NRA?

10/26/2013

Do you know why and how the NRA was founded? Perhaps it is time to learn the answer to that question.

Answer to that question is here

Should Selection of Wisconsin Chief Justice Be Changed?

10/25/2013

A proposed constitutional amendment could change the way that the Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice is selected.

Sen. Tom Tiffany will be introducing a bill that will introduce a constitutional change to the way the Chief Justice of the court will be selected. Is this a good option and should it be seriously looked at?

Currently, the chief justice is based on seniority. The proposal would require that the chief justice instead be selected by a majority of the seven justices serving on the court. The election would happen every two years and the chief justice would be limited to no more than three consecutive terms.

Current Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has been on the court since 1976 and has been chief justice since 1996.

The measure would have to pass two consecutive legislative sessions and be approved by a vote of the people statewide before taking effect.

Changing the tenure of leadership and how that leader would be chosen would make that person more accountable and amenable.

And for those who are keeping track, the next Justice up for re-election is Ann Walsh Bradley in the spring of 2015 and Justice Patrick Crooks seat is up in 2016.

Vision 2050 Washington County

10/24/2013

TIME TO GET INVOLVED

On October 23, 2013 Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission conducted a visioning workshop at the Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center.

Looking around the room state Rep. Pat Strachota said she hoped local residents take the time to participate in the Vision 2050 online survey. “We need some younger participants. These are the plans that will help determine the future of the region,” she said.

The workshop focused on the future of land use and transportation planning through the year 2050 for Washington County, Executive Director Kenneth Yunker said. “We’re using a variety of techniques to determine what people would like to see for the future of the area.”

Village Board Approve Indoor Range

10/18/2013

The Richfield Village Board last night unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing an indoor shooting range in the M-4 manufacturing district, in Helsan Business Park. This decision follows a recommendation by the village planning commission.

As discussed, this will be a high caliber facility. The permit requires the owner meet state and federal regulations for safety and security.

This facility is the first indoor shooting range in Washington county.

Richfield Today will follow this business and inform you when operations are open to the public.

WI Property Tax Reduction

10/10/2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 10, 2013

For further information, please contact:

Glenn Grothman - (608) 266-7513

Grothman Applauds Walker for Being Property Tax King

Madison: Today, Glenn Grothman enthusiastically supported Governor Walker’s proposal to hold down school property taxes.

“Given what Wisconsin taxpayers are used to, one would not have believed it would be possible that property taxes on an average house will go down FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.

“As Wisconsin’s Economy continues to outperform expectations, and sales and income tax collections were greater than expected, the idea of having property taxes drop on an average house for the third year in a row is brilliant. As someone who watched property taxes spiral out of control for decades, this will come as a welcome shock to Wisconsin taxpayers.

“It is important to remember that this is not some reckless short term gimmick. The most recent addition to Wisconsin’s rainy day fund brings us to $280 million – this is five time more than the previous high of $57 million in 2007. And remember, income taxes in the recently passed budget also fell by 4%.”

1) Property taxes on an average Wisconsin house are down for the third year in a row.

2) Income tax reduction of 4%.

3) Rainy day fund increased to five times the all-time high.

Congratulations Governor Walker and Wisconsin Legislature for multi-tasking at its best.