TheTower Times

City of Stoughton Issue 1, Spring 2013

Why you Should KnoW Where your ProPerty StaKeS are located

It is very helpful to know exactly where your property stakes (lines) are when:

• Buying a home/property so you know what you are buying and for future reference;

• Landscaping including planting trees and shrubs so they are planted to allow future growth to remain on your property;

• Seeking to install: fencing, an accessory structure or adding onto your home, so when applying for a permit you can easily draft a plan to show where the

new structure will be located;

• Trying to locate any recorded easements.

Many times we hear people say they were told or they assumed their property stake is where a fence, plantings, transformers or power poles are located. In fact that is seldom the case. The only way to be certain is to locate the

lot corner stakes as follows:

• A plat map which shows the dimensions of a property may be

obtained from the Department of Planning & Development at no charge to you. This document can be picked up at City Hall, 381 E. Main Street, Emailed, Faxed or Mailed to you. The dimensions of your property will give you a reference to start from

and makes it much easier once one stake is found;

• The stakes which are sometimes called “irons” or “monuments” vary in size but are typically approximately a 1-inch solid stake, 1.5 feet long and buried at ground level or by as much as a foot deep at each corner of the property;

• A long tape measure is helpful but not necessary to aid in your search;

• Renting a metal detector may also be helpful in locating the lot stakes;

• Ask neighbors if they have an idea where the lot stakes are located to aid in your search;

• Department of Planning & Development staff will assist but cannot locate lot stakes for you. City staff cannot come to your property to locate your property lines or take sides in a dispute over a private property stake location. Property stake disputes between property owners are a legal issue and are not regulated by City Ordinances;

• If lot stakes cannot be found, a licensed land surveyor may be hired to locate them and/or in some cases restake them. State law requires that lot stakes are not removed however that does not mean they have not been inadvertently removed. Also, many historic areas originally had wood stakes. Surveyors can be found in the Yellow Pages or contact the City staff person below for information. The cost of a survey can vary greatly so it pays to check costs;

• Over time property stakes may be removed or buried beneath retaining walls, paved driveways, concrete walks, plantings etc…making them more difficult to find;

• In some cases a survey is required for new home construction, building additions, detached accessory structures or other major projects.

For questions related to locating your lot stakes contact the City Zoning Administrator at 646-0421 or mstacey@ci.stoughton.wi.us

2 – Spring 2013 The Tower Times

CHEESERS LLC; 5.126 in; 4 in; Process color; 276733

don’t KnoW Who to call?City Hall: (608) 873-6677Building Complaints – Department of Planning & Development

(Building Inspector) 873-7626Building Permits – Department of Planning & Development -

(Building Inspector) 873-7626City Licenses – City Clerk’s Office (Deputy Clerk 646-0423)Sidewalks – Department of Planning & Development (Assistant

Planner) 646-0421Recycle Containers - 873-6677; John’s Disposal 1-888-473-4701Signs/Permits – Department of Planning & Development

(Assistant Planner) 646-0421Taxes – Finance Department 646-0420

Stoughton Municipal Utilities: (608) 873-3379Bulk Water SalesDrinking Water QuestionsElectric Service ApplicationsSewer Backups – Stoughton Municipal Utilities (Wastewater

Division)Street LightsWater Service Applications

Street Department: (608) 873-6303Dumpster – PermitsStreet ComplaintsStreet Lights – Downtown Page to FifthStreet Opening Permits*Note – if it involves Water or Sanitary Sewer a permit & fee

from Stoughton Municipal Utilities also. 873-3379Street SignsTraffic SignalsTrees – Park row

Media Services Department/WSTO TV: (608) 873-7523Cable Channel 98 or 981

WSTO WebstreamDVD/CD DuplicationEvent CoverageMedia Transfers (MiniDV, VHS, DVD, CD etc.)

exterior ParKing StandardS for recreational VehicleSA recreational vehicle is any of the following: motor home,

camping trailer, travel trailer, boat/trailer, snowmobile/trailer, ATV/trailer or similar vehicles/trailers.

Parking or storage of recreational vehicles in residential, of-fice, and business districts are permitted in the following man-ner:

Recreational vehicles:(a) Shall be parked or stored within dedicated parking spac-

es and shall be a minimum of five feet from any property line or right-of-way line.

(b) Shall not be parked or stored within a front or street yard except for (a) above.

(c) Shall be owned by the resident who is occupying the property on which the vehicle is parked or stored.

(d) Are permitted only for storage purposes except mobile homes and campers may be used for overnight sleeping for a maximum of 14 days in one calendar year.

(e) May not be permanently connected to wastewater or sanitary sewer lines, or electricity except for charging of bat-teries.

(f) May not be used for storage of goods, materials or equip-ment other than those items considered to be part of the unit or essential for its use.

If you have any questions regarding this regulation please contact the Zoning Administrator at 608-646-0421.

holiday Schedule 2013

Memorial DayMonday, May 27, 2013 All collections will be delayed by one day.

Independence DayThursday, July 4th, 2013 Thursday & Friday collections will be delayed by one day.

Labor DayMonday, September 2, 2013 All collections will be delayed by one day.

Thanksgiving DayThursday, November 28, 2013 Thursday & Friday collections will be delayed by one day.

Christmas DayWednesday, December 25, 2013 Collections from Wednesday-Friday will be delayed one day.

New Year’s DayWednesday, January 1st, 2014 Collections from Wednesday-Friday will be delayed one day.

The holiday collections may be at an earlier time of day than normal. Please be sure to put your refuse and recycling out the night before your scheduled collection day.

Please contact Johns Disposal with any questions.

Phone: (262) 473-4700 Toll Free: (888) 473-4701

Fax: (262) 473-6775 Website: www.johnsdisposal.com Email: office@johnsdisposal.com

SPring electionSThe Spring election will be held April 2, 2013. Polling places

will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

District 1: First Lutheran Church, 310 E. Washington St.

District 2: Stoughton Fire Department, 401 E. Main St.

District 3: United Methodist Church, 525 Lincoln Ave.

District 4: Lakeview Church, 2200 Lincoln Ave.

You can determine if you are registered to vote, and your polling place if you are, at this website: http://myvote.wi.gov/

You can register to vote at City Hall, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Early voting is also at City Hall and begins Monday, March 18.

For any other questions, please call the Clerk’s Office, 873-6677.

healthy yardS… healthy laKeS and StreamS

What we do in our yards can directly affect our lakes and streams. Before using fertilizer on your lawn or gardens, test your soil. A $15 soil test will show if your soil is lacking any-thing so that you don’t waste your money on something you don’t even need. Instructions and forms from the UW Soil and Plant Analysis Lab are online at http://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/madison/. Results will tell you exactly what you need for healthy lawn and gardens.

If your test shows you do indeed need fertilizer, be sure to clean up any that lands on your sidewalk, driveway or other hard surfaces. If left on paved areas, it can easily make its way to the nearest lake or stream with the next rainfall. Keeping leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste, which contain nitrogen and phosphorus, out of the street also helps prevent lakes and streams from becoming green and scummy. When these nutri-ents wash into lakes and streams they can promote nasty algae blooms and excessive weed growth (which can lower oxygen levels in the water) and may release ammonia (toxic to fish).

Healthy yards add to the beauty and value of your home. They can also help our lakes and streams by allowing rainwater to soak into the soil rather than running off to the nearest storm drain. So, do your part and keep your lakes and streams healthy by using fertilizers only if and where they are needed.

garage Sale Signage informationGarage sale signs may be placed in the parkrow or ter-

race, in front of the residence where the sale is being held, for a period not to exceed three (3) days and no more than three (3) times in a calendar year. Signs may also be placed in the parkrow or terrace at various intersections for the days of the sale; such signs shall not have a height greater than 2 1/2 feet from grade and shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area, two (2) feet in height and two (2) feet in width.

Garage sale signs are not to be attached to utility poles, trees, traffic regulatory structures or fences and shall not ob-struct vision for vehicular traffic.

No more than 3 sales are allowed per year. A sale of up to 3 consecutive days in length shall be considered one time.

If you have any questions regarding garage sale signage, please contact the Zoning Administrator at 608-646-0421

temPorary Shelter regulationSThe regulations applicable to temporary shelters are as follows:Zoning code section 78-206(9) (i) states, “Tempo-

rary Shelter. Description: These shelters are typically supported by poles, have a fabric roof and/or sides and are usually used to cover automobiles, boats, recreational vehicles, or firewood on a temporary or permanent basis. These structures are not designed for snow loading that can occur during the winter months. These shelters are not permitted in any zon-ing district in the City of Stoughton.”

These structures are not allowed to be used to cover vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles, fire-wood, etc…

These structures may be used temporarily for shade over a deck, patio or lawn area and for garage sales.

If you have any questions regarding this ordi-nance section please contact the City Zoning Admin-istrator at 608-646-0421 or mstacey@ci.stoughton.wi.us

ParKroW/terrace WaSte informationThe area between the street and the sidewalk is called the

parkrow or terrace. This area is not a dumping ground for waste such as furniture, appliances, or other garbage. Johns Disposal is contracted to pick up garbage on a weekly basis and will pick up bulk items on the last pickup day of the month. Weekly garbage and bulk items should not be put out in the parkrow/terrace area earlier than the day before the scheduled garbage pickup day.

For information related to garbage pickup contact City Hall at 608-873-6677 or there is information available at www.johnsdisposal.com

The Tower Times Spring 2013 – 3

rain and SnoW — Where do they go and What do they taKe With them?Center for Land Use EducationDo you know how the new subdivision in town affects local water resources that you use for

fishing, swimming and drinking? It all depends on the route that rainwater and snowmelt take to the lakes, streams and groundwater in your community.

Subdivisions and other types of development include impervious surfaces, such as roads, roof-tops, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots that prevent rainwater and snowmelt from soaking into the ground. The gradual addition of impervious surfaces is a cumulative process where one house doesn’t make a big difference, but the new houses, roads and parking lots built over time have a big impact on local waters by increasing the volume of runoff. In fact, one investigator has estimated that when a one-acre meadow is paved, the amount of runoff from a one-inch rainstorm increases 16-fold ( Schueler 1994 ). Increases in the amount of runoff result in more erosion, great-er delivery of pollutants to lakes and streams, and less water to recharge groundwater aquifers.

Impervious surfaces can be separated into two components as shown in Fig-ure 1 : people habitat where we live and work, and car habitat where we drive and park our vehicles. Studies from across the country show that 55 -75% of impervious surfaces are car habitat ( Cappiella 2001 ; City of Olympia 1994 ).

As shown in Figure 2 , the amount of impervious surface is a key indicator of the health of local streams. Research consistently shows that as the amount of impervious surface increases in the water-shed, the health of its streams decreases (Schueler 1994).

For example, in the Milwaukee met-ropolitan area in southeast Wisconsin, studies have found that fish and insect populations in warm water streams de-cline dramatically when impervious sur-faces exceed about 8 - 1 0 % of the wa-tershed. Streams with more than 1 2 % imperviousness have consistently poor fish communities (Wang and others 2000 and 2001 ).

How do impervious surfaces affect your community? A s Figure 3 illustrates, in a natural system approximately 10% of rainwater flows over the land surface directly to lakes and rivers while 50% of rainwater filters into the ground and is stored as groundwater or slowly makes its way back into rivers and lakes. An unintended result of development is that impervious surfaces cause more water to run off the landscape and less to infiltrate to groundwater. For example a neighbor-hood with 1-acre lots with 10-20% im-pervious surface could expect the amount of runoff to double after development (EPA 1993). Unfortunately, this water bypasses the natural water filter provided by soil, microbial action and vegetation and car-ries additional pollutants directly to sur-face waters.

When trees, shrubs and grasses are re-placed with impervious surfaces, the fol-lowing community benefits are threatened:

* Safe drinking water filtered by the natural soils and plants* Sufficient groundwater for drinking, irrigation and industry* Water storage capacity to protect homes from flooding* Healthy streams with fish spawning areas, flows and stable banks* Cool, shady water for a diversity of fish* Food and habitat for songbirds and other animals* Natural scenery for relaxation and privacy

What can you do?The first step is to share this information with citizens and local officials in your community

and to help them understand the effects of impervious surfaces on water resources. Remember, prevention is less costly than remediation and collaboration is more productive than confrontation.

Written by By Lynn Markham, Center for Land Use Education,UW-Stevens Point, www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter, 715-346-3783

SourcesAdams, S. 2001. Cleaning and Protecting Wisconsin’s Waters: Infiltration standards: Prevent-

ing urban runoff by retaining natural water cycles. Clean Water Coalition, Madison, WI , http: //www.wisconsinrivers.org/CleanWater/infiltration.pdf, 608-441-4811.

Cappiella, K. and K. Brown. 2001. Land Use and Impervious Cover in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Watershed Protection Techniques, 3 (4) : 8 3 5 - 84 0

City of Olympia, 1994. Impervious Surface Reduction Study: Technical and Policy Analysis — Final Report. Public Works Department, Olympia, Washington. 8 3 pp.

Schueler, T. R. 1992. Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Urbanization on Streams: A Compre-hensive Strategy for Local Government. In Watershed Restoration Source book. Publication # 9 2 7 0 1 of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, edited by P. Kumble and T. Schueler.

Schueler, T. R. 1994. The Importance of Imperviousness. Watershed Protection Techniques. 1 (3) : 100 - 111 or http: //www. stormwatercenter. net/Practice/ 1 - Importance/020 of/020 Imperviousness.pdf

Wang, L. , J. Lyons, P. Kanehl, R. Bannerman, and E. Emmons 2000. Watershed Urbanization and Changes in Fish Communities in Southeastern Wisconsin Streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 3 6 : 5 (1173 - 1187).

Wang, L. , J. Lyons, and P. Kanehl 2001. Impacts of Urbanization on Stream Habitat and Fish Across Multiple Spatial Scales.

Environmental Management. 28(2) : 255-266.

Additional ResourcesCenter for Watershed Protection (C WP). Ellicott City, MD , (410) 461-8323, http://www.cwp.orgEnvironmental Protection Agency. T o learn which watershed you live in check http: //www.

epa.gov/surfNonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO), an educational program for local land

use officials that addresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection. Haddam, CT, 860-345-4511 , http: //nemo.uconn.edu

A Storm on the Horizon: An Educational Video on the Effects of Stormwater on Our Rivers. 1 4 minutes. Produced by Kiap-TU - Wish Chapter of Trout Unlimited, demonstrates the impact of stormwater and outlines actions to allow development while protecting water resources, 715-386-7568, http: //www.lambcom.net/kiaptuwish/video. html

SPRINGERS OF LAKE KEGONSA; 3.3757 in; 3 in; Process color; 276679

MCGLYNN PHARMACY; 3.3757 in; 3 in; Process color; 276688

STOUGHTON FLORAL; 3.3757 in; 3 in; Process color; 276738

Figure 1. Impervious Surface Components Source: City of Olympia, ISRS Field Report, 1994

Figure 2. Cumulative Impacts to Streams

Figure 3. Water cycle changes associated with impervious surfaces.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 1993

noxiouS WeedS and graSS informationNoxious weed as defined by the State of Wisconsin Statute § 66.0407(1)(b) is, ‘Noxious

weed’” means Canada thistle, leafy spurge and field bindweed (creeping Jenny) and any other weed the government body of any municipality or the county board of any county by ordinance or resolution declares to be noxious within its respective boundaries.”

Noxious weeds as defined by the above Wis. Statute are not allowed in the City of Stough-ton. The City of Stoughton does not have an ordinance or resolution for any additional noxious weeds.

If you own property within the City of Stoughton and allow the above named noxious weeds to grow and/or allow grass/weeds to exceed 1-foot in height, you are in violation of the City of Stoughton Public Nuisance Ordinance Section 58-8(6). A citation may be issued to the property owner after notice of violation. Additionally, the City may contract to have the grass and/or weeds mowed and bill the property owner.

Violations are found through weekly inspections by Department of Planning & Development staff. If you have any questions related to this issue, contact the City Building Inspector at 608-873-7626.

SPringtime BringS more than floWerS With thoSe ShoWerSWhether March comes in like a lion or a lamb, it also brings spring showers and melting

snow. When snow melts and rain falls, it flows across streets, driveways, parking lots and roof-tops and transports sand, salt, leaves, oil, trash and many other pollutants directly to storm drains, which eventually end up in our lakes and streams.

Some folks mistakenly think that water running off streets goes into a sewage treatment plant. But the truth is that it goes right to our lakes and streams.

You Can HelpThere are many things each of us can do to prevent storm water pollution.• Use salt sparingly during the winter.• Sweep up any excess sand left over from the snow shoveling season.• Clean up pet waste year round–flush it down the toilet or collect it in a bucket until you

can bury it properly.• Keep cars well maintained, repairing leaks; but consider walking, public transportation or

riding a bike whenever you can.• Direct rainwater away from paved areas to lawns or gardens where it can soak in.• Keep leaves and grass clippings out of the street. Compost yard waste, debris and leaves.• Get a soil test before applying fertilizer to your lawn. Don’t pay for something you don’t

need. If a test shows that your lawn does need fertilizer, apply it according to directions and carefully clean up any spills on paved surfaces.

• Wash your car on the lawn or at a car wash that sends its used water to the sewage treat-ment plant.

• Prevent soil erosion.• Don’t let anything but rain go down the storm drain or into the ditch.Go to www.myfairlakes.com for more ideas on how you can help our lakes and streams.

4 – Spring 2013 The Tower Times

Visit the Stoughton Public Library, located at 304 S. Fourth St., at the corner of 4th Ave. & Main, just west of the city hall clock tower in downtown Stoughton. The Library is open Mon-day-Thursday 9-9, Friday & Saturday 9-5, and closed Sunday. Call us at 873-6281 or find us online at www.stoughtonpubli-clibrary.org and on Facebook.

If you do not yet have a free library card, just bring in a current picture ID with proof of your current address. If your ID does not show your current address, please bring some other proof of address such as a piece mail, personal check, utility bill, lease agreement, etc…. Parents must sign the registration form for children under age 18.

Welcome!Meet the Library’s new Youth Services Librarian, Amanda

Bosky from Palm Springs, Florida. Amanda joined the staff of the Stoughton Public Library in March. She has over 12 year’s experi-ence working with youth of all ages in public libraries. Amanda has an MA in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida, and a BA in English from Florida Atlantic Uni-versity. She is also a writer of teen literature, has an agent, and is working on getting her first book published. You can visit her website at amandacoppedge.com. Watch the Library’s website (stoughtonpubliclibrary.org) or Facebook page for an announce-ment coming soon of an official Meet & Greet for Amanda.

Kelly Verheyden, the previous Youth Services Librarian, is now working as the Library’s Adult Services Librarian. Come in and meet Amanda, and also say hello to Kelly!

Business is Booming!Library checkouts were up 3.1% in 2012 over 2011, and in

January of 2013, the Library saw a 4.7% increase in checkouts over January of 2012. What does that mean in actual numbers?

It means that the Stoughton Public Library checked out 267,341 items in 2012, and 23,927 items in January of this year.

In addition to checkouts at the Library, 76,565 items were sent to other public libraries for use by their clientele.

The Stoughton Public Library saw the most dramatic in-crease in the use of its wireless network: a 1,058% increase in usage in 2012 over 2011. The network was used 59,768 times by people using their laptops or other wireless devices.

Put a Little Science in Your FictionEvery genre of literature has its so-called “Golden Age,” and

that includes science fiction. The Golden Age of Science Fiction saw its beginnings in the late 1930s when John W. Campbell (1910-1971) took over editorship of the magazine, Astounding Science Fiction. Campbell insisted on quality writing from his authors, which included creation and development of realistic characters, plots, and settings.

It also included believability in the sense that Campbell in-sisted science fiction stories, other than the fantastic science, be as true to life as possible. If the reader is asked to accept one or two currently “impossible” pieces of science, the author should then do (mostly) his or (occasionally) her best to stick to what is possible and true to life for the rest of the story.

Isaac Asimov called Campbell “the most powerful force in science fiction ever,” and indeed Campbell was responsible for the success of Asimov and many other so-called classic science fiction authors such as Robert Heinlein, A. E. Van Vogt, Theo-dore Sturgeon, Lester del Rey, to name only a few.

The Golden Age of Science Fiction really got going in the 1940s, continued strong through the 1950s, but declined in the 1960s with the rise of social science fiction and other develop-ments of the genre.

Visit the Stoughton Public Library in late May for our dis-play of books from “The Golden Age of Science Fiction.”

Upcoming Library EventsTeen Spring Break Movie - Thursday, March 28, 5:30-8:45pm

Enjoy the newly released prequel to “The Lord of the Rings”. The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Bag-gins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. This film is rated PG-13. Bring a blanket and pillows to watch this ex-cellent (but very long) film. Popcorn, soda and candy will be served. No registration required. Sponsored by the Stoughton Optimist Club.

Thursdays With Murder: Your Passport to Crime FictionIf you like to read, learn & talk about crime fiction, join

us the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. as we read around the world in 2013! In Thursdays With Murder, every-one reads different books tied together by common themes or authors.

April 11 - Mysteries that take place in Spain features the mysteries of Roderic Jeffries.

May 9 - Two Authors in Italy: Donna Leon and Andrea Ca-milleri

June 13 - Mysteries that take place in the Middle East by authors Eric Ambler, Batya Gur, Barbara Nadel.

Music on the Mezz - Wednesday, April 24, 7:00 pmJohn Beutel presents, “The Accordion: It’s Not Just for Pol-

kas.” Enjoy a wide variety of music along with a bit of history of the instrument and how it works.

April Adult Book Discussion - Tuesday, April 23 at 7pm“State of Wonder” by Ann PatchettCopies of the books are available at the Adult Services Desk.

No registration required.

May Adult Book Discussion - Tuesday, May 28 at 7pm“The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey” by

Candace MillardCopies of the books are available at the Adult Services Desk.

No registration required.

Summer Reading Programs for all ages begins first week of June.

For Children: “Dig Into Reading”For Teens and Adults: “Ground Breaking Reads.”Contact or visit the Library for more information.

Adopt-A-Magazine Program Orphan magazines are available for adoption at the Stough-

ton Public Library. Magazine adoption allows individuals, groups, and businesses to purchase magazine subscriptions as gifts for the Stoughton Public Library. It’s a great way to honor a special person, or publicize your group or business to the thou-sands of people who visit Stoughton Public Library each month.

Friends of the Stoughton Public Library The Friends of the Stoughton Public Library is a non-profit

organization devoted to promoting, supporting and improving library services, materials, and facilities for the Stoughton com-munity; stimulating gifts and bequests to the library; providing volunteer support to strengthen the library’s programs; and encouraging the broadest possible use of its facilities, materi-als and services.

Spring Book Sale, Wednesday, April 24 (Friends Night) – Saturday, April 27

Featuring popular fiction by best-selling and favorite au-thors. Non-Fiction topics including: Gardening, golf, military history, biographies, crafts, quilting, recipe books and more. Children’s picture books and readers. Plus, a selection of music CDs and DVDs. Friends memberships are available at the door.

Friends Pie Place at Syttende MaiStop by for the greatest homemade pie you’ll ever taste! Friday, May 17, 5:30 – 8:00 pm during the Canoe Race

Portage at Division Street ParkSaturday, May 18, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Library

Friends of the Stoughton Public Library Meetings The 2013 regular meetings will be held the 2nd Wednesday of

the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Carnegie Meeting Room at the Li-brary. The meetings are open to all interested, so stop by to learn about the Friends on April 10, June 12, August 14, and October 9.

The Friends of the Stoughton Public Library is a non-profit educational organization devoted to promoting, supporting and improving library services, materials, and facilities for the Stoughton community; stimulating gifts and bequests to the li-brary; providing volunteer support to strengthen the library’s programs; and encouraging the broadest possible use of its fa-cilities, materials and services.

CRESS FUNERAL SERVICE; 6.8763 in; 6 in; Process color; 276736 MCFARLAND STATE BANK; 3.3757 in; 6 in; Process color; 276755

HANSON ELECTRONICS; 3.3757 in; 3 in; Process color; 277678

The Tower Times Spring 2013 – 5

STOUGHTON HOSPITAL ASSN-PR; 5.126 in; 8 in; Process color; 275479

Street talKSHello, I’m Street Superintendent Karl Manthe. Welcome to the second article of “Street Talks”.

You may ask: “What is Street Talks? Why should I read this article?” Street Talks provides you with all the information you need to know about the services the Street Department provides. This information will benefit both you and the city so we can continue to excel with customer service.

Well, I believe we are all tired of winter and dealing with snow, ice, and frigid temperatures - I know I am. Wow, the weather experts were way off on their predictions of a mild winter.

Thanks to all of you that moved your vehicles during snow emergencies, kept your sidewalks clean of snow, and trash carts out of the street for snow removal efforts by city crews.

The equipment we use to carry out curbside service is large and needs adequate space to be able to navigate around vehicles and other obstacles.

Curbside Brush Collection – NEW ScheduleThe curbside brush collection has some changes to the schedule this year. The Street De-

partment has normally picked up brush curbside on the first full week of the month from April thru November. Due to promoting best pruning practices, we will only be collecting brush in the months of April, May, October and November. It is not healthy to prune trees in the summer heat, open wounds attract insects that can spread diseases to your trees. If you need to prune or remove a tree during the summer months, brush can be hauled to yard waste site (permit needed). Please have brush placed in the parkrow on the Monday of collection by 6:30 am.

Yardwaste SiteThe site is located at 1051 Collins Road (off County Hwy A) in the

Township of Dunkirk. The site accepts yardwaste (grass clippings, leaves, garden waste, and sod), shrubbery, and brush. The tentative opening date is April 2nd this year, although with winter season still hanging around, the site will not open until the snow melts and lawns are dry enough to start spring cleanup. Yardwaste site will remain open until November 16th. The site is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. A Permit (window decal) is required for the site and the cost is $20 dollars and is good for the entire season. Permits can be purchased at the Street Department during normal business hours at 515 S. Fourth Street or at the yardwaste site during hours of operations.

Spring Leaf CollectionThe Street Department provides a spring leaf collection for those leaves that fall late or for

those who like to rake in the spring. Depending on the weather (when all the snow melts and we can see our lawns again – gosh that groundhog was wrong again) Spring Leaf Collection will oc-cur for two weeks (Tentative dates are weeks of April 22nd and 29th). It is important to make sure leaves are placed in the terrace (area between curb and sidewalk) for collection. It is a viola-tion to rake leaves into the gutter/street. Leaves raked into the street often wash into the storm-water system and pollute our lakes and rivers. Our leaf vacuums need to be close to the curb line of the street and it really helps if you can keep that area free of parked vehicles and trailers.

Grass ClippingsWhen mowing your lawn, make sure to keep the

grass clippings on your property and do not blow or sweep clippings from the driveway or sidewalk into the street. There is a city ordinance prohibiting yard waste in the street which will be strictly enforced.

Sec 50-5. Offense against public peace, order and other public interests (h) Littering Prohibited (1) No person shall throw any glass, garbage, rubbish, waste, slop, dirty water, brush, yard waste, dirt, rocky mate-rials or noxious liquid or other litter or unwholesome substance upon the streets, alleys, highways, public parks, or other property of the city of upon any private property not owned by him or upon the surface of any body of water within the city. This violation is subject to fines from $50.00 to $1,000.00

Street Construction ScheduleThe city has scheduled major street reconstruction on the following streets this year; W.

Milwaukee Street (Stoughton Ave to S. Fourth St), S. Fourth Street (W. Milwaukee St to Bridge), Hillside Avenue (E. Main St to Ridge St), and Ridge Street (Hillside Ave to Coopers Causeway). Street reconstruction projects are scheduled to start late April and be completed by the end of July.

Street pulverization project is scheduled for Lincoln Avenue (Kriedeman Dr to Eisenhower Rd). Pulverization project is scheduled for July.

The city has also scheduled yearly preventive maintenance of crack sealing and boiler chip slag sealer. Streets to be determined, but residents affected by this work will be notified by door hanger/letter of scheduled work.

Parkrow Trees & Planting PermitsIt is important to plant the proper tree in the park-

row to assure a long-lived and healthy tree. Also the size of the tree is important to insure that it will not have to be trimmed due to power lines. Permits are required to plant or remove parkrow trees. There is no charge for these permits; however we need this information in order to keep our tree Inventory up to date. These permits can be obtained at the street department or online at www.ci.stoughton.wi.us/streets&parks/TreeCommission

List of tree specifications are also available or you may view these on the web site.

Remember to call Diggers Locate at 811 or 1-800-242-8511 or email them at diggershotline.com at least 3 days prior to planting

Street Opening PermitsA street opening permit is required if you or a contractor works within the city right-a-way.

Permits can be obtained at the Street Department or online at www.ci.stoughton.wi.us and click on street department tab and then permits link. Cost range from $50 dollars to $150 dollars.

Encumbrance PermitsAn encumbrance permit is required if you are going to leave a dumpster or POD in the street

for more than 2 hours. Permits can be obtained at the Street Department or online at www.ci.stoughton.wi.us and click on street department tab and then permits link. Cost is $25 dollars and the permit is good for 30 days, when it can be renewed for another $25 dollars.

Street Closing PermitsPublic streets may be closed (block parties, running events) for the use of private citizens

and non-profit organizations provided said individual organization applies for a Street Closing permit and the completed application is submitted in time frame needed to Street Superinten-dent Karl Manthe.

Refuse & Recycling Cart PlacementJohn’s Disposal and the City request that carts not be placed in the street, but instead place

refuse carts on the terrace or your driveway approach. Please place cart(s) a minimum of 2 feet apart at the end of your driveway or terrace area. Please do not set carts to close to mailboxes, trees, and light poles. Keeping the carts out of the street also allows street crews to effectively sweep streets during the spring and summer.

Mailbox PlacementTo reduce the chances that your mailbox may be hit by a snow plow next winter, now is a

good time to move your mailbox and follow US Postal regulations and place your mailbox 40-42 inches above the road surface and back 6 inches from the curb with the door down. Following these guidelines will increase productivity by snow plow operators.

Social MediaLet us know of a better way to get the word out to you or other information you would like

provided. We are exploring Facebook and Twitter as another option to communicate with resi-dents.

Up Coming ChangesThe Street Department is looking into the creation of a “Green Waste Recycling Center” that

residents would be able to come to and pickup up compost, fire wood, and other recycled prod-ucts for a small fee.

Future Articles Will IncludeThe July issue will include information on Keeping our Urban Trees Healthy, Fall Leaf Collec-

tion Schedule, and Green Waste recycling Center. These articles will be published in Tower Times issues and placed on our web site at www.

ci.stoughton.wi.us with time related information. While on the web site, check out Frequently Asked Questions.

Feel free to call with any questions, hope you find some helpful information with this article. Until the next time, have a safe and happy holiday season

Sincerely, Karl Manthe, Street Superintendent 608-873-6303 • kmanthe@ci.stoughton.wi.us

6 – Spring 2013 The Tower Times

(608) 873-3379 • www.stoughtonutilities.com

Energy Assistance Funds Still AvailableAs a customer of Stoughton

Utilities, you may be eligible for our Customer Credit Program. This is a Commitment to Community program that was established to help members of our community with limited financial resources cover their energy costs.

Under the eligibility require-ments, customers at or below 60 percent of the state’s median in-come may qualify for WHEAP as-sistance, including:

• A single person earning up to $24,284 per year;

• A family of four with an income of up to $46,696. Customers who did not qualify for assistance a few years

ago may now be eligible. To determine eligibility, applicants must provide the following to their local social services or en-ergy services office:

• Proof of income for the past three months for all house-hold members 18 years or older;

• Social Security cards for everyone in the household; • Utility bills (heating and electric) for the past 12 months; • If applicable, a rent certificate or landlord’s statement

verifying that heat is included in the rent.To apply for energy assistance, please contact Energy

Services Inc. at (608) 267-8601 to schedule an appointment. You may apply anytime from October 1, 2012 through May 15, 2013.

If you are approved for energy assistance through WHEAP, you will automatically be approved for Stoughton Utilities’ Customer Credit Program without having to complete any ad-ditional paperwork.

Work Safely with Digger’s HotlineWith the beauti-

ful spring weather ap-proaching, your list of outside work may be starting to grow - build a deck, plant some trees, install a gym set for the children, or more. If your list includes any digging, state law (Wisconsin Statute 182.0175) requires you to notify Diggers Hotline.

Diggers Hotline is a statewide notification system developed to provide excavators and the general public with the ability to inform multiple owners of underground facilities of intended non-emergency excavation via a single telephone call.

You may contact Diggers Hotline at 811 from any phone year round. You must, however, allow three working days (ex-cluding weekends and holidays) notice for the location of the underground facilities prior to digging.

Diggers Hotline will process three types of calls: 1) excava-tion 2) planning of excavation and 3) safe working clearance information for overhead lines. The call center will ask for an address or location information. Specific marking instructions also will need to be provided. Once the locate is completed, you have ten calendar days to begin your excavation work be-fore you must call to have the underground facilities relocated.

Please note that there are no charges to individual custom-ers for this service. For more information on Wisconsin’s Dig-ger’s Hotline program, please visit www.diggershotline.com

Give Them a Brake!Working outdoors in Wiscon-

sin’s unpredictable weather is hard enough, but when utility crews have to deal with dangerous drivers in work zones, it only makes it that much more difficult. Whether it’s around electric linemen restoring a power outage or a water crew repair-ing a water main break, work zones are no place for impatience or ag-gressive driving. The added seconds you may save while speeding through a work zone are not worth placing your utility’s workers’ lives at risk.

Tragically, over 1,000 people die across the nation every year in road work zones. Please follow these important tips for safely driving in road work zones. Your life, and ours, depend on it!

• Always buckle up.• Pay attention. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic

lanes may be changed and people and vehicles may be working near the road.

• Always slow down, and travel at posted work zone speed limits.

• Minimize distractions, such as cell phone use.• Keep a safe distance from traffic barriers, construction

equipment, utility workers, and other traffic.• Watch for and follow all warning, lane closure, and con-

struction detour signs.• Plan ahead and give yourself time to reach your

destination.

Service Disconnections Resume April 15Stoughton Utilities is advising electric customers who are

behind on their bills to immediately pay any delinquent bal-ances or make payment arrangements with the utility to avoid service disconnection. Wisconsin’s Winter Emergency Period, often referred to as the moratorium on residential service dis-connection, ends April 15. After that date, utilities statewide may begin to disconnect service to customers who are past due on payment of their electric bills for any period of time, includ-ing the winter months. Stoughton Utilities will disconnect all past-due accounts on April 17.

The Winter Emergency Period, often referred to as the mor-atorium on residential service disconnection, ends April 15. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin establishes the moratorium — from October to April — to protect customers from disconnection during harsh Wisconsin winters. On April 15, utilities statewide may begin to disconnect service to cus-tomers who are past due on payment of their electric bills for any period of time.

To prevent disconnection, we are urging our customers to settle any delinquent accounts, or to contact us immediately to make payment arrangements for your past-due charges and/or customer deposits.

Several factors are used when we consider granting a De-ferred Payment Agreement for a customer. Some of the factors include:

• Compliance with prior payment arrangements• The size of your overdue bill• How long your bill has been overdue• Payment historyCustomers are required to appear in person at our office to

establish a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA), so don’t wait until the last minute. Please note that you will be required to pay a down payment of up to 50% when entering into a De-ferred Payment Agreement. For details about our DPA policies, please visit custservice.stoughtonutilities.com

Create a better futureAs a customer of Stoughton Utilities, you

can purchase renewable energy blocks to offset a part or all of your electrical usage through our Renewable Energy Program. Renewable energy is generated from clean, green energy sources such as wind, biogas, and the sun, and is purchased in 300 kilo-watt-hour (kWh) blocks; each block costs $3.

Purchasing one block of renewable en-ergy each month for one year has the equiv-alent impact on the environment as not driving a car for six months and avoids emitting over three tons of carbon dioxide.

To enroll in Stoughton’s Renewable Energy Program, visit renewable.stoughtonutilities.com.

E-Billing… Go green, go paperless!Paperless E-Billing is simple,

convenient, and smart. Wither paperless billing, there are no bills to mail, file or to clutter your mailbox. You can manage the entire bill-paying process online using our E-Pay system, including access 24 hours a day to view past bills and payment activity and flexible payment op-tions. It also puts you in control of your personal information and reduces your impact on the environment.

And for a limited time, we’re giving a $5.00 bill credit to all customers that enroll in paperless E-Billing! Visit epay.stough-tonutilities.com to get started.

Annual Drinking Water Quality ReportStoughton Utilities issues an annual water quality report

with important information about the source and quality of your municipal drinking water. In the past, this report was mailed to all households within the City of Stoughton. In an ef-fort to lower our environmental impact, beginning in 2013 this report will be published online.

We are proud to report that your local drinking water meets or surpasses all federal and local standards set for quality and safety under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

You can view the full report at CCR.stoughtonutilities.com. If you do not have internet access, or if you prefer a physi-

cal copy of the annual report, please contact our office at (608) 873-3379 and we will mail a paper copy to your home or business.

Stoughton to Be ShoWcaSed: BeSt old houSe neighBorhoodS 2013The Stoughton Landmarks Commission is excited to share

the news with you that Stoughton will be featured in the Spring online edition of This Old House magazine. Annually, the edi-tors of This Old House magazine compile a list of the Best Old House Neighborhoods, one community for each state, and this year Stoughton’s historic neighborhoods have been chosen as the Wisconsin representative.

We are pleased and honored that the publishers of a na-tional magazine have chosen to highlight Stoughton for its wealth of historic homes, unique community character, vibrant historic downtown, and affordability, all of which contribute to the high quality of life in Stoughton. City leaders and mem-bers of the community, past and present, work hard to preserve both the history and the beautiful and unique architecture of the city. Those of us lucky enough to live here already appre-ciate these benefits, but we are heartened to know that soon many more around the country will know about what makes Stoughton such a beautiful and friendly place to live.

The article will be published in April. Visit http://www.thisol-dhouse.com/toh/info/0,,20564865,00.html and look for it soon!

Finding Meaning in Historic Preservation in StoughtonWith the news that Stoughton will be featured in a national

magazine highlighting its historic architecture and community character, the Stoughton Landmarks Commission would like to tell you a little bit more about what historic preservation means to Stoughton. While many of you live in historic houses, shop at businesses located on our historic Main Street and maybe even see a show at our historic Opera House, have you thought

about how these unique places make Stoughton such a wonderful place to live? And what is historic preservation anyway?

Historic preservation is the act of retaining and protecting build-ings, places and objects of histori-cal and cultural significance to the community. More than any other man-made element, historic build-ings and landscapes differentiate one community from all others.

National-chain clothing stores, book stores and restaurants look exactly the same all across the country; the unique his-toric architecture of a community cannot be duplicated. When you see City Hall with its iconic clock tower, you know you are in Stoughton. Historic preservation identifies and protects a community’s unique history and sense of place.

Some benefits of historic preservation are intangible. Ex-amples of these benefits include community pride, creating a sense of place, retaining the history and authenticity of a place, and maintaining a visually and culturally rich community. It should be understood though that many benefits of historic preservation are tangible and these include stable neighbor-hoods, increased property values, job creation and increased tourism, access to financial incentives to preserve buildings, and preserving natural resources and the environment.

In Stoughton, events such as Syttende Mai, the Coffee Break Festival and the Victorian Holiday Weekend all are rooted in

celebrating and showcasing facets of Stoughton’s unique histo-ry. Yet these community celebrations are locally and regionally popular, attracting participants from a wide range of commu-nities. The success of these events generates tourism revenue and is one way in which the preservation of our rich architec-tural heritage fosters economic growth in Stoughton.

In Stoughton we are fortunate to have a Landmarks Com-mission established by City ordinance that is responsible for identifying and protecting architectural landmarks in the City. Visit www.stoughtonlandmarks.com for more information or to find out how to become more involved in preserving Stough-ton’s cultural heritage. The website has links to resources for homeowners and building owners including financial incen-tives for the restoration of your home or historic building.

So, go out and explore Stoughton’s many wonderful fea-tures. Whether playing at a park, boating on the river, get-ting ice cream while shopping along Main Street, or strolling through the tree-lined streets of its beautiful neighborhoods, Stoughton’s history is here for you to discover and enjoy.

UTILITYWORKAHEAD

The Tower Times Spring 2013 – 7

Youth Lacrosse Skills CampThis program is for children in grades 1st-6th and all skill

levels. The philosophy behind the program is to teach basic skills and fundamentals, develop athletic skills, make new friends, and most importantly have fun! Please let contact the Recreation Department if you would like to help out. All equip-ment will be provided. Days: Sundays Dates: April 14 – May 19 (6 weeks) Time: 5:00-6:00 PM Location: Racetrack Park Fee: $35 – Resident, $43 – Non-Resident Registration Deadline: April 8 Grades Program Code1-2 1301.107 3-4 1301.108 5-6 1301.109

Spring Mini Ball SoccerStart your little Pele on his or her way to a lifelong love

of recreation activities. Nothing compares to soccer for an in-troduction to structured team sports. The emphasis on this program is having fun, getting your child to like sports, and developing their physical literacy. This program isn’t intended on teaching high level soccer skills to your child because of the ages of the participants. Volunteer coaches needed!Days: Sundays Dates: April 7 – May 12 Location: Racetrack Park Fee: $30 – Resident, $38 – Non-Resident Registration Deadline: March 29 Ages/Grades Program Code Times Pre-K (ages 3+) 1130.111 3:00-3:45 pm Kindergarten 1130.112 4:00-4:45 pm

Adult Softball LeaguesWe have four men’s softball leagues which is one of the

largest in the area. We have leagues on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. We also offer a coed league on Friday Nights at Mandt Park. The leagues run from May to August. Contact the Recreation Department or go to our web site for an entry form. Contact the Recreation Department if you would like to be put on a free agent list. Entries are due April 11th, 2012

Active Stoughton for Life One of the main goals of the Stoughton Parks and Recre-

ation Department is to create healthy lifestyles. A proven way to create healthy lifestyles is through physical activity and sport. Active Stoughton for Life (AS4L) is a movement to im-prove physical activity and sport in Stoughton. AS4L uses a sci-entific model called the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Model as its framework.

LTAD was created by sports scientist Dr. Istvan Balyi. LTAD is a seven-stage training, competition, and recovery pathway guiding an individual’s experience in recreation and sport from infancy through adulthood. LTAD does away with early special-ization until age 12 and eases into more competitiveness as they mature and children get older. Using LTAD will make physical activity and sports more enjoyable for the children, and assist them in becoming better athletes. This will also foster in children the continued desire to participate in sports that will lead to ac-tive and healthy lifestyles for the duration of their lives.

LTAD is used by hundreds of national sport federations, and is currently being introduced in America through national sport associations such as USA Hockey, USA Youth Soccer, and USA Football.

Spring/Summer Youth Sport ProgramsLearn to Play Girls Softball League

Our youth softball program focuses on developing softball FUNdamentals, athletic skills, and the love of sports. Time each week will be divided into a separate practice of 30 min-utes and a game of 45 minutes. Teams will have 6-7 children to make the games move along at a faster pace and more playing time for each child. Practices will focus on the FUNdamentals of softball such as proper grip on the ball and throwing motion. Practice plans will be provided to coaches. Players are respon-sible to bring their own glove. All other equipment is provided. ProgCode: 1100.209 Grade K 1100.210 Grade 1-2 Dates: Sundays, June 9 – July 28 (8 weeks) Times: 5:30 & 6:15 PM Game Time. Please note that

practice could start as early as 5:00 PM Place: Racetrack Park Fees: Resident - $40 Non-Resident - $48

(Register by June 2) Coaches: Volunteers needed

Rally Cap T-Ball (Boys and Girls Ages 4-Pre K)T-Ball provides the perfect introduction to the American

pastime. Each week will be divided into a separate practice time of 30 minutes and a game time of 30 minutes. Teams will have 6-7 children to make the games move along at a faster pace and more playing time for each child. Practices will focus

on the FUNdamentals of baseball such as proper grip on the ball and throwing motion. Practice plans will be provided to coaches. Players are responsible to bring their own glove. All other equipment is provided. ProgCode: 1111.205 Days & Dates: Sundays, June 9 – July 28 (8 weeks) Times: 4:00, 4:45, and 5:30 PM Game Times. Please

note that practice could start as early as 3:30 PM

Place: Racetrack Park Fees: Resident - $40 Non-Resident - $48

(Register by June 2) Coaches: Volunteers needed

Summer Golf ProgramsGolf Clinic

Improve your full swing and short game at our golf clinic. Participants will receive instruction each day on driving, iron play and putting using the facilities at Coachman’s Golf Resort. Clubs and balls are available for use at the Coachman’s Pro Shop. Prizes awarded each day. This clinic will also get your child ready for the playing lessons program. Register by June 1. Dates: June 8 & June 9 Days: Saturday & Sunday Place: Coachman’s Golf Course - Meet at Driving Range Instructors: Dave Taebel Fees: Resident - $28 Non-Resident - $38 Program Code Grade Time 1160.209 3 - 5 12:30 – 1:45 1160.210 6 - 8 2:00 – 3:15 3160.204 Parent/Child 5:30 – 6:30 (Maximum of 2 kids per adult) (Adult must be present with each child) (Will take first 16 people) Private Lessons by appointment

Golf Lessons for AdultsHigh School Golf team coach Dave Taebel will be providing

golf instruction this summer for adults. This is a fourth year program that helps the beginning adult or anyone that feels a better swing would help their game. This is a great option for retired people that want to make golf their new passion. Class size is limited to the first 15 registrations. Register by April 5. Max of 10 golfers. ProgCode: 2160.208 Dates: April 14 – May 19 (No Class May 12) Days: Sundays Place: Coachman’s Golf Course Time: 1:00-1:45 pm Instructor: Dave Taebel Fees: Resident - $55, Non-Resident - $65

How to sign-up for a program?1. The first way is by filling out a paper registration form.

A paper registration form can be found near the end of the guide. Once the paper registration form is filled out, a person can mail it to us or stop by our office.

2. The second way is by going to our online registration site, https://activenet9.active.com/stoughtonrec/.

These are only a sampling of our programs. For a complete listing go to our online registration website.

381 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI 53589 • 873-6746 stoughtonrecreation@ci.stoughton.wi.us •

www.cityofstoughton.com/rec https://activenet9.active.com/stoughtonrec/

SNAG GolfSNAG® stands for “Starting New at Golf”. It is a FUN game that is EASY to learn and can be played ANYWHERE. SNAG® con-

tains all the elements of golf but in a modified form. Falling somewhere between miniature golf and regulation golf, SNAG® allows for full shots, pitching, chipping, and putting. It is a proven learning & training tool for entry level golfers. For more information go to www.snaggolf.com. Max of 16 participants in a class. Grades Program Code Dates Days TimesK-2 1163.202 6/11-7/9 (no class 7/2) Tuesdays 8:00-8:45 am K-2 1163.203 6/11-7/9 (no class 7/2) Tuesdays 9:00-9:45 am Place: Coachman’s Driving Range Area Instructors: Dave Taebel Fees: Resident - $30, Non-Resident - $38

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8 - The Tower Times - Spring 2013