Proposed 2011 City of Whitewater Budget Reduces Spending by 0.58%

Library budget up 0.37%, not enough to maintain 2010's level of service.

Link to 2011 budget proposal.

Link to October 20 Daily Union article, "Whitewater takes look at budget".

Excerpt:   City Manager Kevin Brunner said that he directed city staff members to keep their 2011 budgets at 2010 levels.

"I have worked very hard with the department heads to realize this objective and I am pleased to say that the proposed 2011 budget that I am submitting for your consideration is actually less than the 2010 budget by over $53,000," Brunner said. "Further, the proposed 2011 budget is less than the 2008 general fund expenditures by over $168,000."

The total 2011 operating budget, as proposed, calls for spending $9,264,199, down about 0.58 percent from the 2010 budget of $9,318,019.


Library:
• Saturday open hours cut 4.5 hours weekly from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
• One library assistant position that was funded 50-percent General Fund/50-percent. 
• Library Special Revenue Fund has been changed to 100-percent Special Revenue Fund (essentially shifting the cost from city residents to rural residents through the county funding formula).
• Summer library aide position hours reduced.

Mindoro Community Library in Limbo

LINK

Link to October 13 Jackson County Chronicle article.

Excerpt: New shelving and a computer in the Farmington Town Hall are the building blocks for a future Mindoro Community Library building.

In May, thanks to Hearts and Hammers volunteers who built shelving from materials paid for by the town of Farmington, the library’s collections were moved into the Farmington Town Hall on Highway 108 in Mindoro.

Volunteers staff the library 4-6 p.m. on Mondays. In addition, materials can be checked out during town hall hours. Materials are checked out on an honor system.

The plans for a new building might be on hold or slowly progressing, but fundraising activity for a new building hasn’t stopped and neither has the regular programming.

Related articles:
Mindoro Library moving to town hall.  (Coulee News, 5/14/2010)
Town vote puts brakes on Mindoro library project.  (Coulee News, 4/22/2010)
Town lawyer OKs Mindoro library architect contract.  (Coulee News, 1/25/2010)

Fox Lake Public Library Undergoes an Inspection

Fox Lake Public Library

Link to October 21 wiscnews.com post, "Fox Lake Library safe and sound".

Excerpt: A structural engineer spoke to the Fox Lake City Council about the condition of the library building Wednesday.

The city had the library inspected after someone made claims that the building was unsafe.

Kent Fish, a registered professional engineer from General Engineering, inspected the building on Sept. 14 and said the library "was in good shape, with the exception of one area" - a concrete slab porch that is settling. He said an old cistern or fuel tank may be failing under it and recommended the slab be removed to find out what the problem is so it can be corrected.

Fish also addressed concerns about drywall cracking. He said when there is snow on the roof, the weight of the snow causes the roof to deflect, and cracks the drywall.

"Does it look bad? Yes," Fish said. "Is it a structural problem? No."

He said problems with leaking and mold in the basement of the library were caused by a downspout that had come loose. Water was dumping next to the building, which created a depression. City public works employees have already filled in the depression to correct the problem.

"The library should be in good shape structurally," Fish said.

He said it would be feasible to add on to the library.