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County Board asks state to rescind Smart Growth

With little surprise, the Taylor County Board of Supervisors voted 15-1 Tuesday to support a resolution asking the State Legislature to rescind the "Smart Growth" legislation. Smart Growth is a state requirement for local governments to complete a comprehensive land-use plan by January 2010.

The county had applied last year for a grant to help with the cost of developing a county-wide plan, with 22 of 27 municipalities joining in that request. The grant was turned down due to a low qualifying score for the limited funds available.

Dan Hoffman, chairman of the Town of Little Black spoke against Smart Growth. He said the township took a vote of citizens and it showed 200 against Smart Growth and 65 for it. He cited another vote at the Stetsonville Centennial Center where 155 people voted against Smart Growth and two voted for it. He told county supervisors that the votes should give them a good idea what people think. The Town of Little Black was one of the townships who declined to join in the county grant effort.

Rodney Kropp, chairman of the Town of Goodrich told supervisors that his town residents were "wild" about Smart Growth and want nothing to do with it. "Vote to rescind it," he said.

Town of Browning resident George Daniels said a majority of township residents voted against Smart Growth. "It is terribly poor legislation. It was never discussed by the full legislature, instead brought in by the back door. . . . It is an unfunded mandate being shoved down the throat of local governments."

Supervisor George Southworth reported that the Town of Hammel citizens also voted against Smart Growth.

"It's not just Taylor County that's against this," said Supervisor Mary Bix. "I just talked with [Rep.] Mary Williams and she already has resolutions like this from Price and Rusk Counties."

Supervisor Wayne Lato said the main issue is that it is an unfunded requirement.

Supervisor Chuck Zenner said that since they learned the state won't come in if a municipality doesn't complete its plan, many think it's okay not to do land-use planning. However, each township should still do it on their own.

Supervisor Joe Sweda agreed, "We don't have to do it, but the threats of loss of aids or lawyers coming in make you think you should. I can't see it in rural areas, we don't need the cost. But this doesn't preclude local governments from doing it if they want to."

Supervisor Al Beadles said, "The Town of Jump River can make its own decisions without the state telling us what to do." He was also suspicious of how the Smart Growth legislation came into being, and objected to the unfunded mandate.

Another point of view

Supervisor Lester Lewis turned the discussion to the good points of land-use planning. He said there was a lack of knowledge among citizens about Smart Growth. "It's wrong to think we don't need planning. As other areas become more restricting in land use, people will move to areas with low restrictions, like ours. If the county doesn't do comprehensive planning it will result in problems with subdivisions, private roads, and so on. Whether you vote to rescind Smart Growth or not, it's foolish to think we don't need a plan."

Supervisor Jim Seidl agreed, "I'm not in favor of Smart Growth as a one-size-fits-all document. But I do agree we need a planning document."

Supervisor Bix also agreed with that point, adding, "But Taylor County's plan should be based on our needs, not Madison's."

Little Black Chairman Hoffman spoke again, "Yes, we in the township believe we have to do planning, but it can be solved by ordinances and resolutions voted on by citizens, not Madison. Our people will be able to vote on every ordinance or resolution brought up."

Taylor County Zoning Administrator Larry Peterson urged caution to supervisors. He pointed out that 22 of the 27 municipalities wanted to participate in the Smart Growth grant. The township representatives at the meeting were from those townships who did not participate.

He said, "I know there are concerns, but Taylor County is one of only 10 counties in the state with no planning or zoning. We will see a rise in undesirable development, large farms, subdivisions that will bring major problems. This won't go away."

He also pointed out that the other counties who have already gone to considerable expense to develop their Smart Growth plans won't stand still for other counties not doing the same.

Peterson asked the board, "Please weigh both sides, the good and the bad. Don't just look at the needs today, but look at the issues facing us 20 years from now."

Daniels clarified his position, saying he agreed there had to be planning, but Smart Growth had some bad elements which needed to be repealed. He said the legislation needs to be rewritten, and then allow local officials to develop a plan.

Supervisor John Werner III said, "At first I was sort of for Smart Growth, I agreed with the idea of planning. But I've re-thought it and I think the townships run well. Let it go back to townships to do. Only three or four townships really need it, right around Medford. I don't like the state telling us what to do, and with no money to do it."

Supervisor George Dums argued the other side, "If a slaughter house/mega farm wants to come in right now, it would be hard to stop them. We need to look to the future. We need to plan now for it."

In the end, the board voted in support of the resolution to rescind Smart Growth legislation, with Lester Lewis voting no.

In other county business, the board:

approved a resolution in memory of former Highway Department employee Carl Balciar.

Voted to accept direct control of the Taylor County 4-H program for the purpose of obtaining liability insurance coverage for 4-H volunteers. The 4-H volunteers currently pay for insurance coverage and have limited coverage. By the county accepting control of the program, 4-H volunteers can be covered under the county's policy for general liability, personal injury and automobile liability coverage at no additional cost. As part of that, the board also approved the list of 4-H program events and activities.

Approved a resolution opposing the use of segregated recycling funds for non-recycling related use. The state mandates municipalities to provide recycling services, and the state set up the Segregated Recycling Fund to help fund those programs. In the 2001-03 Biennial Budget, the legislature increased landfill tipping surcharges from $.30 per ton to $3 per ton and designated the revenue go into this fund. However over the past couple of years, the legislature also transferred $3 million to the general fund, $1 million to the DNR for Chronic Wasting Disease, and propose another $3 million to the general fund. At the same time, Solid Waste Administrator Larry Peterson reports that Taylor County's recycling program ran a $37,000 deficit, which had to be picked up by taxpayers - when the money should have been sitting in the state fund.

Approved a resolution supporting Senate Bill 15 addressing the review of unfunded and under-funded state mandates which put a strain on budgets of local government.

Requested a waiver from the state mandates regarding lottery and gaming tax credit processing. Taylor County states it already has a more accurate method of obtaining this information, and the mandate would result in more cost and a higher error rate.