The total transportation picture in Wisconsin sounds rather simple but, in fact, is very complex and personal. Rural passenger transportation involves not only service provided to the elderly and disabled but also affects persons looking for jobs, medical services, and others with priority mobility needs who are transit dependent because they can't afford an automobile, are unable to drive, or don't have relatives, friends, or neighbors willing or able to give them a ride. The specialized transportation programs which are administered by WisDOT are directed towards the elderly, youth and persons with disabilities, with the general public carried on at higher rates.
WisDOT regards shared-ride taxi systems as a means of providing public transportation service in smaller communities. Wisconsin’s shared program began in 1978 in Ripon with state assistance. Federal assistance from the then Section 18 program was added the next year. Initially, funding was available to communities with populations of 5,000 or more, but the population threshold was dropped to 2,500 or more in the 80s. The services, generally contracted by municipalities to state-qualified private-sector providers, are demand responsive and rides may be shared with other users. Last year WisDOT stats show, the rural and small town shared-ride taxi program included 39 systems providing 1,524,200 rides. Shared-ride systems exist in communities ranging in size from the 22,000 population in Watertown and 19,000 in Wisconsin Rapids to 4,300 in Medford and Mauston and 2,700 in Neillsville.
The share ride taxi program is a service established to provide commuters throughout the Lake Mills area with an alternative transportation option. The City of Lake Mills contracts with Brown Cab, Inc. to provide shared-rides through a reduced-rate taxi service for the young, elderly, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals, commuters, and persons who often have limited transportation options or resources. The program is funded with some rider fees and subsidized by federal and state mass transit funds along with city general funds.
The share-ride taxi program is a service established to provide commuters throughout the Lake Mills area with an alternative transportation option. The City of Lake Mills has contracted with Brown Cab, Inc., to provide shared-ride, reduced-rate taxi service for the young, elderly, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals, commuters, and persons who often have limited transportation options or resources. The program is subsidized by federal and state mass transit funds.
The City of Lake Mills is receiving State and Federal funds to assist in financing the operating project costs of the public transportation service known as the Lake Mills Share - Ride Taxi for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation conducts a cost efficiency analysis of all state-funded transit systems. The analysis uses six performance measures to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of every transit system. Each system is grouped by type and evaluated against its peers. In the report, the Lake Mills' shared-ride taxi system is compared against the performance of 41 other shared-ride taxi systems in the state.
The Legislature has directed WisDOT to annually analyze the State's investment in transit, so WisDOT and the City must do our best to ensure that funding is providing an efficient and effective service for Lake Mills.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Budget Debate
I have noticed in the discussion over whether taxes are too high, should be frozen, or cut, virtually the entire debate centers on the level of taxation, with little discussion or analysis of what services are being provided, and whether they in fact cost too much, or too little.
W. Martin Morics, Milwaukee City Comptroller,
W. Martin Morics, Milwaukee City Comptroller,
Monday, September 28, 2009
911 Joint Powers Agreement
This is the annual agreement with the county on mutual aid and dispatching. The City of Lake Mills and Jefferson County have implemented an Emergency 911 System for the purposes of providing emergency services to residents and visitors of their municipalities, including fire fighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical and other emergency services. Wisconsin State Statutes § 146.70(9), “Joint Powers Agreement,” requires that in implementing a 911 System, municipalities shall annually enter into a Joint Powers Agreement. The Agreement shall be applicable on a daily basis and shall provide that if an emergency services vehicle is dispatched in response to a request through the 911 System, such vehicle shall render its services to the persons needing the services, regardless of whether the vehicle is operating outside the vehicle’s normal jurisdictional boundaries.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Medians in the Highway
This article may explain the State Highway 89 medians at the County Highway “V” intersection.
“Funding is a fickle thing: While some states are figuring out how to spend federal stimulus money they weren’t necessarily expecting, others—and in some cases, departments within those same states—are struggling to cope with budget shortfalls. And some of the cutbacks they’re making are more visible to the public than others.
Several states have recently cut back on mowing and otherwise grooming their roadside vegetation. Many state highway and transportation departments depend on gasoline taxes to make up a good part of their budgets, and for a couple of reasons, there is less money coming in. First, people are simply driving less. Second, more of them are switching to hybrid vehicles and fuel-efficient cars. While both of these developments are good for the environment, they have the unintended result of shrinking the funding available to maintain the roads on which people are spending less time.”
~ Janice Kaspersen, http://www.erosioncontrol.com/july-august-2009/
The State of Wisconsin owns the medians in the Highway 89 right of way at the intersection with County Highway “V”. The State has historically paid Jefferson County to maintain the medians. Apparently, in an effort to save money, the State has not paid the County to maintain the medians. The State also controls the right of ways north of the intersection and pays the county to do the maintenance.
The City of Lake Mills has no jurisdiction and is not authorized by the State to maintain the right of ways. If you are concerned about the level of maintenance being provided, the State of Wisconsin is the appropriate contact. As the State has a two billion dollar deficit – they may not be inclined to care.
“Funding is a fickle thing: While some states are figuring out how to spend federal stimulus money they weren’t necessarily expecting, others—and in some cases, departments within those same states—are struggling to cope with budget shortfalls. And some of the cutbacks they’re making are more visible to the public than others.
Several states have recently cut back on mowing and otherwise grooming their roadside vegetation. Many state highway and transportation departments depend on gasoline taxes to make up a good part of their budgets, and for a couple of reasons, there is less money coming in. First, people are simply driving less. Second, more of them are switching to hybrid vehicles and fuel-efficient cars. While both of these developments are good for the environment, they have the unintended result of shrinking the funding available to maintain the roads on which people are spending less time.”
~ Janice Kaspersen, http://www.erosioncontrol.com/july-august-2009/
The State of Wisconsin owns the medians in the Highway 89 right of way at the intersection with County Highway “V”. The State has historically paid Jefferson County to maintain the medians. Apparently, in an effort to save money, the State has not paid the County to maintain the medians. The State also controls the right of ways north of the intersection and pays the county to do the maintenance.
The City of Lake Mills has no jurisdiction and is not authorized by the State to maintain the right of ways. If you are concerned about the level of maintenance being provided, the State of Wisconsin is the appropriate contact. As the State has a two billion dollar deficit – they may not be inclined to care.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Ace Hardware
The State Journal reports that the Watson Ace Hardware will open in Lake Mills on Tuesday, September 29, 2009.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sump Pump Inspection Program
Based on an Engineering study completed in 2004, each year many gallons of storm water improperly drain into the Lake Mills public sanitary sewer system. This contributes to overloading the sanitary sewer system, which may cause back-ups and health related issues. The study indicated that an increase in rain induced flows seem to be caused primarily by various illegal connections. An illegal connection is a connection that permits extraneous storm-related water to enter the sanitary sewer system. The extraneous storm-related water is water that should be going to the storm sewer or allowed to soak into the ground without entering the sanitary sewer.
Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) is the term used to refer to the extraneous water entering the sanitary sewer system through broken pipe joints, leaky manholes, improper heights of sewer vent stacks, illegally connected roof and foundation drains, clean-outs located in yards or parking areas, sump pumps or through cross-connections with storm sewers. In addition, defective house sewer lines cause extraneous water to enter the sanitary sewers and, thus, they are also illegal connections.
The sanitary sewers have been designed to transfer sanitary waste only. Extraneous storm-related water flow added to the normal sanitary flow can exceed the capacity of the sanitary sewer resulting in a situation where the sanitary sewer is "surcharged." Basically, surcharging occurs when the amount of flow trying to get through a pipe exceeds the maximum capacity of the pipe thus building up pressure in the pipe. When pressure builds up, it seeks to relieve itself through any means possible; one of which is by backing up into private sanitary services and filling basements and crawlspaces. Reducing the extraneous flow will reduce the future potential of surcharging and sewer back-ups. Sump pump inspections are one of the easiest and most effective methods for removing substantial amounts of extraneous storm-related water from the sanitary sewer system.
Sump pump systems are designed to capture surface or ground water that enters basements or crawl spaces and pump it away from the house. The basic sump system includes drain tile, a sump pit, a sump pump, a float or switch, and a drain line. The sump pit extends below the slab and collects surface water that enters the basement/crawl space or groundwater that rises to the slab.
Homeowners commonly use sump pumps in their basements to battle moisture and flooding issues. However, water from sump pumps should NOT be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. That’s called a cross connection, and it results in higher sanitary sewer costs. Often, this is a hose leading from the sump to a laundry tub or a floor drain. As you may know, water that goes down any drain in your house leads to the sanitary sewer system and eventually ends up at a wastewater treatment plant, where it is treated before being released back into the environment. Sump pump water is what engineers call "clear water"-most often rain water, ground water, or snow melt. This water should flow directly into area streams, ponds, and lakes. Water from sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, and washing machines is wastewater and must be treated before it is discharged into the environment.
Extraneous storm-related water/clear water, such as that from a sump pump, overloads the sanitary sewer system. During the rainy season (April through October), this clear water increases the flow through Lake Mill’s sanitary sewer system one to two times the usual amount and sometimes higher, primarily because of cross connections. Since the number of gallons of clear water flowing through the City sanitary sewer collection system is being treated, clear water is costly.
Surcharging may result in sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) which are discharges of untreated sewage from city sanitary sewer systems as a result of extraneous storm-related water from inflow and infiltration. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are discharges of untreated sewage and stormwater from municipal sewer systems or treatment plants that combine sewage and stormwater when the volume of flow exceeds the system’s capacity due to periods of heavy rainfall or snow melt.
Although sewage is very unsanitary, the term "sanitary sewer" is used because the sewer pipes are separate from the pipes used for storm water drainage. This helps protect public health and the environment. In some older cities, sewage and rainwater flow through the same pipes. This can cause major environmental and public health problems because untreated or partially treated-sewage is discharged into streams, rivers and other water bodies during heavy rain.
Sewage spills are technically called "sanitary sewer overflows" since it involves the overflow of sewage from the sanitary sewer system. The word "sanitary" is used only because the overflow is from the sanitary sewer system, and not because the raw sewage is sanitary. Sewage overflows often occur from sewer manholes in the streets. Sewage can also backup into homes through toilets, showers and floor drains. Sewage spills are caused by sewage filling the sewer pipes behind the clog or from surcharging to the point where it spills out of an opening in the system (generally the lowest manhole, shower drain or other plumbing fixture).
In response to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, local governments, including Lake Mills, have adopted ordinances prohibiting the intrusion of extraneous storm-related water into sanitary sewers. Many homes have sump pumps. The water pumped should be directed to the yard or a French drain, not into the sewer system. It is a violation of City and Town Codes to have such a hook-up. A sump pump can generate as much as 36 gallons per minute. If it is connected to the sewer system, you can easily see how a few illegal connections can increase the flows in the system. For example, an eight-inch sanitary sewer can handle domestic water flow from up to 465 homes; however, it takes only twelve sump pumps operating at full capacity to overload an eight-inch sanitary sewer. Reputable plumbers are aware that sump pump connections to the sewer system are illegal, but occasionally a home handyman will solve the drainage problem by connecting the sump pump flow directly to the sewer system without realizing the consequences.
A good sump pump inspection program can be the most cost-effective method of locating and fixing extraneous storm-related water intrusion into the sanitary sewer system and reducing flows for treatment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The sump pump program has to be modified to meet new ordinance requirements of only regional inspections based on evidence. The City is in the process of installing a new SCADA system that will help provide the information needed to generate the evidence needed to have Council authorize some regional inspections. Hopefully, the spring flows will generate enough data to identify specific areas that need inspection and the Council will approve the hiring of an inspector.
Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) is the term used to refer to the extraneous water entering the sanitary sewer system through broken pipe joints, leaky manholes, improper heights of sewer vent stacks, illegally connected roof and foundation drains, clean-outs located in yards or parking areas, sump pumps or through cross-connections with storm sewers. In addition, defective house sewer lines cause extraneous water to enter the sanitary sewers and, thus, they are also illegal connections.
The sanitary sewers have been designed to transfer sanitary waste only. Extraneous storm-related water flow added to the normal sanitary flow can exceed the capacity of the sanitary sewer resulting in a situation where the sanitary sewer is "surcharged." Basically, surcharging occurs when the amount of flow trying to get through a pipe exceeds the maximum capacity of the pipe thus building up pressure in the pipe. When pressure builds up, it seeks to relieve itself through any means possible; one of which is by backing up into private sanitary services and filling basements and crawlspaces. Reducing the extraneous flow will reduce the future potential of surcharging and sewer back-ups. Sump pump inspections are one of the easiest and most effective methods for removing substantial amounts of extraneous storm-related water from the sanitary sewer system.
Sump pump systems are designed to capture surface or ground water that enters basements or crawl spaces and pump it away from the house. The basic sump system includes drain tile, a sump pit, a sump pump, a float or switch, and a drain line. The sump pit extends below the slab and collects surface water that enters the basement/crawl space or groundwater that rises to the slab.
Homeowners commonly use sump pumps in their basements to battle moisture and flooding issues. However, water from sump pumps should NOT be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. That’s called a cross connection, and it results in higher sanitary sewer costs. Often, this is a hose leading from the sump to a laundry tub or a floor drain. As you may know, water that goes down any drain in your house leads to the sanitary sewer system and eventually ends up at a wastewater treatment plant, where it is treated before being released back into the environment. Sump pump water is what engineers call "clear water"-most often rain water, ground water, or snow melt. This water should flow directly into area streams, ponds, and lakes. Water from sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, and washing machines is wastewater and must be treated before it is discharged into the environment.
Extraneous storm-related water/clear water, such as that from a sump pump, overloads the sanitary sewer system. During the rainy season (April through October), this clear water increases the flow through Lake Mill’s sanitary sewer system one to two times the usual amount and sometimes higher, primarily because of cross connections. Since the number of gallons of clear water flowing through the City sanitary sewer collection system is being treated, clear water is costly.
Surcharging may result in sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) which are discharges of untreated sewage from city sanitary sewer systems as a result of extraneous storm-related water from inflow and infiltration. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are discharges of untreated sewage and stormwater from municipal sewer systems or treatment plants that combine sewage and stormwater when the volume of flow exceeds the system’s capacity due to periods of heavy rainfall or snow melt.
Although sewage is very unsanitary, the term "sanitary sewer" is used because the sewer pipes are separate from the pipes used for storm water drainage. This helps protect public health and the environment. In some older cities, sewage and rainwater flow through the same pipes. This can cause major environmental and public health problems because untreated or partially treated-sewage is discharged into streams, rivers and other water bodies during heavy rain.
Sewage spills are technically called "sanitary sewer overflows" since it involves the overflow of sewage from the sanitary sewer system. The word "sanitary" is used only because the overflow is from the sanitary sewer system, and not because the raw sewage is sanitary. Sewage overflows often occur from sewer manholes in the streets. Sewage can also backup into homes through toilets, showers and floor drains. Sewage spills are caused by sewage filling the sewer pipes behind the clog or from surcharging to the point where it spills out of an opening in the system (generally the lowest manhole, shower drain or other plumbing fixture).
In response to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, local governments, including Lake Mills, have adopted ordinances prohibiting the intrusion of extraneous storm-related water into sanitary sewers. Many homes have sump pumps. The water pumped should be directed to the yard or a French drain, not into the sewer system. It is a violation of City and Town Codes to have such a hook-up. A sump pump can generate as much as 36 gallons per minute. If it is connected to the sewer system, you can easily see how a few illegal connections can increase the flows in the system. For example, an eight-inch sanitary sewer can handle domestic water flow from up to 465 homes; however, it takes only twelve sump pumps operating at full capacity to overload an eight-inch sanitary sewer. Reputable plumbers are aware that sump pump connections to the sewer system are illegal, but occasionally a home handyman will solve the drainage problem by connecting the sump pump flow directly to the sewer system without realizing the consequences.
A good sump pump inspection program can be the most cost-effective method of locating and fixing extraneous storm-related water intrusion into the sanitary sewer system and reducing flows for treatment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The sump pump program has to be modified to meet new ordinance requirements of only regional inspections based on evidence. The City is in the process of installing a new SCADA system that will help provide the information needed to generate the evidence needed to have Council authorize some regional inspections. Hopefully, the spring flows will generate enough data to identify specific areas that need inspection and the Council will approve the hiring of an inspector.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Weights and Measures
The term “Weights and measures” by statute means weights and measures of every kind, instruments and devices for weighing and measuring, and any appliances and accessories used with any or all such instruments and devices, except meters for the measurement of electricity, gas (natural and manufactured) or water when the same are operated in a public utility system.
The statute (Chapter 98) requires the City when it has a population of more than 5,000 as determined by the most recent population estimate made by the Department of Administration to enforce the provisions of Chapter 98 within its jurisdiction. The City of Lake Mills became required to enforce the requirements of weights and measures a couple of years ago. The City has the option of establishing its own department of weights and measures or contracting with the State Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to continue providing the service.
The City would have been required to employ qualified sealers or inspectors to ensure compliance with the requirements of Chapter 98 and had the option of doing so by establishing a new City Department. The City sealers or inspectors would have had the same authority as sealers or inspectors of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The City would have had to employ sealers or inspectors from a list of applicants whose qualifications have been certified by the state or local civil service agency under the rules of the agency. The City had to procure and keep a complete set of standards of weight and measure conforming to the state standards and had to submit the standards for certification and has to do so at regular intervals as required by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The City is also required to keep a complete record of its work and annually file a report with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The chapter also authorizes the City to assess fees that do not exceed the actual cost of its weights and measures program.
The City enacted an ordinance that regulate weights and measures that comply with the requirements of Chapter 98 and the rules of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The City opted to contract with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to enforce the provisions of Chapter 98 within the City’s jurisdiction instead of establishing its own department. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection agreed to enter into a contract with the City for the required services. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection charges the City a fee sufficient to cover the Department’s costs under the contract. A City recovers the amount of the cost of these fees by assessing fees on the persons who receive services under the weights and measures program.
The statute (Chapter 98) requires the City when it has a population of more than 5,000 as determined by the most recent population estimate made by the Department of Administration to enforce the provisions of Chapter 98 within its jurisdiction. The City of Lake Mills became required to enforce the requirements of weights and measures a couple of years ago. The City has the option of establishing its own department of weights and measures or contracting with the State Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to continue providing the service.
The City would have been required to employ qualified sealers or inspectors to ensure compliance with the requirements of Chapter 98 and had the option of doing so by establishing a new City Department. The City sealers or inspectors would have had the same authority as sealers or inspectors of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The City would have had to employ sealers or inspectors from a list of applicants whose qualifications have been certified by the state or local civil service agency under the rules of the agency. The City had to procure and keep a complete set of standards of weight and measure conforming to the state standards and had to submit the standards for certification and has to do so at regular intervals as required by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The City is also required to keep a complete record of its work and annually file a report with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The chapter also authorizes the City to assess fees that do not exceed the actual cost of its weights and measures program.
The City enacted an ordinance that regulate weights and measures that comply with the requirements of Chapter 98 and the rules of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The City opted to contract with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to enforce the provisions of Chapter 98 within the City’s jurisdiction instead of establishing its own department. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection agreed to enter into a contract with the City for the required services. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection charges the City a fee sufficient to cover the Department’s costs under the contract. A City recovers the amount of the cost of these fees by assessing fees on the persons who receive services under the weights and measures program.
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