REVIEW & CALENDAR POSTING:
June 15, 2011.
June 15, 2011.
REVIEW
June 11, 2011. The Buckwheat Valley Citizens Coalition (BVCC) sponsored another Energy & Transmission Workshop in the town of La Valle, Wisconsin. It was a full house crowd, and a great conversation between locals, other rural township citizens, and the workshop presenters. Our thanks go out to Beverly Vaillancourt (La Valle Town Chair), Rob Danielson (Town of Stark), and SOUL of the Kickapoo for their participation.
A pdf copy workshop handout is available on request. Our thanks to all who attended.
June 12, 2011. The Buckwheat Valley Citizens Coalition (BVCC) received a letter from Wisconsin State Representative Edward Brooks regarding BVCC's ongoing effort to get the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (WDOR) to revise its unfair practice of penalizing Wisconsin "Wetland Reserve Program" (WRP) land owners, by its discriminatory practice of excluding WRP land owners from "Wisconsin's Land Use Value Agricultural Tax Classification" status. Representative Brooks wrote a letter to the WDOR and presented several inadequacies in current WDOR enforcement practices and asked the WDOR to respond. The WDOR Secretary (Rick Chandler) ignored the program inequality classification issues raised by Representative Brooks, reverting instead to typical WDOR tactics, citing existing Wisconsin statues (believed by many to be discriminatory and may even violate constitutional law). The BVCC, the Wisconsin Wetlands Reserve Program Coalition and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association have been asking the WDOR these same questions for over 2 years. BVCC has asked Representative Brooks to pursue legislation to correct this problem, and direct the WDOR to change it policies in this regard. Thank you Representative Brooks!
June 12, 2011. The Buckwheat Valley Citizens Coalition (BVCC) received a letter from Wisconsin State Representative Edward Brooks regarding BVCC's ongoing effort to get the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (WDOR) to revise its unfair practice of penalizing Wisconsin "Wetland Reserve Program" (WRP) land owners, by its discriminatory practice of excluding WRP land owners from "Wisconsin's Land Use Value Agricultural Tax Classification" status. Representative Brooks wrote a letter to the WDOR and presented several inadequacies in current WDOR enforcement practices and asked the WDOR to respond. The WDOR Secretary (Rick Chandler) ignored the program inequality classification issues raised by Representative Brooks, reverting instead to typical WDOR tactics, citing existing Wisconsin statues (believed by many to be discriminatory and may even violate constitutional law). The BVCC, the Wisconsin Wetlands Reserve Program Coalition and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association have been asking the WDOR these same questions for over 2 years. BVCC has asked Representative Brooks to pursue legislation to correct this problem, and direct the WDOR to change it policies in this regard. Thank you Representative Brooks!
June 13, 2011. In spite of the noble efforts of the Town Chair: Beverly Vaillancourt, the La Valle Town Board (Sauk County, Wisconsin) refused to take any action on the pending Wisconsin Department of Revenue (WDOR) investigation into its recent Real Estate Tax Revaluation of 2010. It is now up to the WDOR to take an in-depth look into the tax records and determine if this revaluation tax assessment meets reasonable Wisconsin statues and appraisal standards. The town of La Valle will now have to pay the WDOR $30,000.00 no matter what the outcome. This is what happens when no action, is the only action taken.
June 13, 2011. Another Wisconsin township has approved a "Resolution" that opposes the American Transmission Company's (ATC) Badger Coulee (BC) proposal to construct a $425 million dollar (high voltage, high capacity) electrical transmission corridor through the heartland of Wisconsin. The La Valle Township Board (La Valle, Wisconsin) held a public meeting and voted to "unanimously"approve this resolution. The town of La Valle is right in the center hub of four proposed ATC-BC routes. La Valle citizens are very concerned about the impact this proposal would have on their community. Thank you La Valle Board for taking a position on this issue. Other townships, like the Township of Stark (Stark, Wisconsin), and the Township of Baraboo (Baraboo, Wisconsin) have also passed similar resolutions in opposition too the ATC-BC line proposal. Soon, more Wisconsin townships will follow and make their positions know to the public?
June 15, 2011. The new June issue of the SOUL of the Kickapoo Newsletter "Switchback" was released. It is a great way for public citizens to become informed about energy and transmission issues. BVCC encourages everyone to get on their mailing list. Visit them at: www.soulofthekickapoo.org .
June 15, 2011. The new June issue of the SOUL of the Kickapoo Newsletter "Switchback" was released. It is a great way for public citizens to become informed about energy and transmission issues. BVCC encourages everyone to get on their mailing list. Visit them at: www.soulofthekickapoo.org .
CALENDAR
June 21, 2011. The Sauk County Board of Supervisors (SCB) of Wisconsin is holding a public meeting (which BVCC encourages everyone to attend) in the city of Baraboo, Wisconsin (which will include a public input 3 minute open microphone for anyone who wishes to address the SCB). BVCC plans to attend and offer the SCB some guidance regarding the SCB's intent to make public their ATC-BC position statement regarding the American Transmission Company's proposal to construct a $425 million dollar Badger Coulee (high voltage, high capacity) electrical transmission corridor through the heartland of Wisconsin. Please attend and make your views known through this public forum.
Board of Supervisors Meeting.
Date: Tuesday, June 21st, at 6:00 PM.
Location: West Square Building, 505 Broadway, Rm. 326, Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Information: www.co.sauk.wi.us
Board of Supervisors Meeting.
Date: Tuesday, June 21st, at 6:00 PM.
Location: West Square Building, 505 Broadway, Rm. 326, Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Information: www.co.sauk.wi.us
June 22, 2011. The grass-roots organization "SOUL (Save Our Unique Lands) of the Kickapoo," and the "Town of Stark," (Wisconsin) will be hosting a "Regional Citizens Gathering" in Cashton, Wisconsin. Guest speakers will include information about the American Transmission Company's Badger Coulee (high voltage, high capacity) electric transmission line proposal, and information on the Excel Energy proposals. Items that will be discussed are: Questions regarding the need for these projects, cost to consumers, low voltage option solutions, property value impact, and renewable energy alternatives. Homemade refreshments will be available and everyone is welcome to attend. Become informed (and have fun) at the same time!
Regional Citizens Gathering.Date: Wednesday, June 22nd, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Location: Shelter at Cashton Park, behind the Scenic Bluff Health Center, in the Town of Cashton, Wisconsin.
Information: www.co.sauk.wi.us
June 29, 2011. The American Transmission Company (ATC) will be holding one of six of its "Open Houses" regarding its proposal to construct its Badger Coulee (high capacity, high voltage) electrical transmission line through the heartland of Wisconsin. BVCC encourages everyone to attend and present your questions in writing (including those BVCC has recommended) and to ask for a verbal and a detailed written response.
ATC - Open House.
Date: June 29th, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Location: Mauston Grayside Elementary, Mauston, Wisconsin.
Information: www.BadgerCoulee.com
Contact us at: buckwheatvalley@mwt.net
