The Jefferson County Board met Oct. 22 to discuss\nupcoming projects including the renovation of the Jefferson County courthouse\nand the Badger State Solar project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
County Board Chairperson, Jim Schroeder announced he will\nnot be running in this year\u2019s election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Proposed Budget<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposed 2020 budget will decrease the mill rate from\n3.99 to 3.80. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposed expenditures for 2020 is estimated at\n$85,139,626. The main expenditures include general government, public safety\nand health and human services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main sources of revenue will come from taxes,\nintergovernmental revenues, and public charges for services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A major expenditure for this upcoming year and the years\nthat follow will be the renovation of the courthouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ben Wehmeier, Jefferson County administrator said the\ncondition of the courthouse has been overlooked for many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The courthouse will need several maintenance upgrades.\nThe analysis of the facility will start in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dick Jones, Jefferson County board supervisor said, \u201cThe duct-tape\nsolution is creating a downward spiral.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n These new\nrenovations will transform the 50-year-old courthouse into a more modern\nbuilding. These changes will ultimately provide better services, efficient\ncommunication and incorporate newer technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have little\nroom for debt\u201d, Schroeder said in regards to how the renovations will be paid\nutilizing the 2020 budget. It could take up to a few years to get all the\nrenovations completed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Badger State Solar\nProject<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Badger State\nSolar is a proposed 149-megawatt solar farm located between the towns of\nOakland and Jefferson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The project will\nfeature rows of solar panels that absorb sunlight throughout the day. The solar\nfarm will generate clean power for Wisconsin for 25 to 40 years. Once the\nproject\u2019s life is over, the land will be restored for agricultural use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The project will\nbe a significant source of local tax revenue with over $550,000 expected in\nannual shared revenue. There will be over $2.6 million in local earnings during\nconstruction for Jefferson County, as well as over $446,000 in long-term\nearnings annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jefferson County\nis negotiating an agreement with the developer. There are many phases to this\nproject: planning, approval, and construction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot\nof studies being conducted regarding the negative consequences of a solar farm.\nSome of those being, the glare off the panels, sound impacts, magnetic frequent\nstudies, drainage and waterway concerns, and fencing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also a\nlot of positives to having a solar farm in Wisconsin. This project will create\nhundreds of jobs, bring in more revenue for the county as well as the farmers\nand produce clean energy with no emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor many\nfarmers that\u2019s quadrupling their income over night\u201d, Wehmeier said in regards\nto the economic sustainment for farmers who are participating in this project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Public\nService Commission of Wisconsin has jurisdiction over this project because the\nfarm is over 100-megawatts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There will be a\nchance to comment on the project at a public hearing at the Jefferson County\nFairgrounds Nov. 6. To learn more about the project, visit their website or\ncall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other action Tuesday:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For\nmore information on the Jefferson County Board, including meeting agendas and\nminutes and videos, visit https:\/\/www.jeffersoncountywi.gov\/<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Jefferson County Board met Oct. 22 to discuss upcoming projects including the renovation of the Jefferson County courthouse and the Badger State Solar project. County Board Chairperson, Jim Schroeder announced he will not be running in this year\u2019s election. … Continue reading