April 1st Kicks Off "Milton Reads 2009"

I love this photo, which shows so many great people from our great community. As City Administrator I really do consider it a privilege to get to know and befriend so many people in our community. Better yet, I often get to learn about their stories and life adventures. Believe me when I say that there are some great stories behind the faces in this picture!

Speaking of stories, April 1st is the kick-off for the "Milton Reads 2009" campaign and the story is "To Kill a Mockingbird". More information on the campaign was included in my March 12th blog post or just jump over to the Milton Public Library website for details about this program.

The picture above was published in the March 26th edition of the Milton Courier. My kids, Sydney and Sawyer, were so excited to see their picture in the paper for the very first time. They are standing in the lower-right corner of the photo. My wife, Tonya, and I are standing behind them.

Dog/Cat Licensing Deadline is Near

As a reminder, dogs and cats in the City of Milton must be licensed no later than April 1st in order to avoid a $10 penalty per animal. Now, that's only 4 days away. And, according to City records, there are still around 460 animals in the City that are not licensed.

Licensing must be done in person at City Hall, which is open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. We accept cash or check, and the fee is $8.00 for spayed or neutered dogs and cats and $15.00 for non-spayed or non-neutered dogs and cats. Dog and Cat owners must present a current rabies certificate when they purchase the licenses.

So, what happens if someone doesn't license their animal? Near the end of April a reminder post-card will be mailed to all non-renewed pet owners. If that does not result in the proper licensing, the Police Department will be notified and they will proceed with investigating the non-renewals. Obviously, the City's hope is that we can avoid this last step.

For more information you may contact City Hall at 868-6900 or by e-mail at info@ci.milton.wi.us.

Don't Ignore That Letter

Recent changes to the City's code enforcement ordinance gives greater ability for the DPW and Police Departments to enforce code violations. Typical violations include things like public nuisance properties, junk cars, building violations, weeds, etc. In this memo from Milton Police Chief Jerry Schuetz you will find an explanation of how the new rules work, and why it is important to pay more attention to violation notices.

As a side note, if you have concerns about a property in the City, there is a tool on the City's website to report the condition. Go to www.ci.milton.wi.us/service-request.aspx. If desired you can remain anonymous by leaving the contact information in the form blank. As always, you can also contact DPW at 868-6914 or by e-mail at miltondpw@charter.net or the Police Department at 868-6910 or miltonpd@charter.net. You can also send e-mail to the general City e-mail address at info@ci.milton.wi.us.

The Future of Milton's Post Office

Just today we've heard some rumors and chatter up at City Hall about the future of Milton's Post Office. Here's what we know at this point... This morning City staff heard that the employees at the Post Office in Milton received word that consideration is being given to transferring the distribution and sorting function of the office over to the Janesville office.

In order to confirm this information, City Clerk/Treasurer Nancy Zastrow contacted a regional corporate communications official with the USPS in Milwaukee. This official stated that the, "...Postal Service has not made a decision if it will be moving the carriers from Milton to Janesville. We will be analyzing the data and are [in] only preliminary stages. A decision should be made within the next few weeks..." It appears that the "customer service" aspect of the Post Office (buying stamps, sending mail, P.O. boxes, etc.) would remain in Milton in some way, shape or form.

As information is provide to me, I will attempt to keep the public updated on the latest factual information about this possible change.

Get Your Picture in the Newspaper

You are invited to a community photo shoot for Milton Reads 2009. This photo will be used for promotional posters and other advertisements connected with the Milton Reads campaign. Bring the whole family.

Where: Milton High School Auditorium
When: TONIGHT ~ Monday, March 23, 6 pm

This will take less than 20 minutes and your participation will help make this exciting event successful for Milton. Anyone with questions could contact Library Director Lisa Brooks at 608-868-7462 or by e-mail at brooks.lisa@als.lib.wi.us. More information on the Milton Reads 2009 program was included in my March 12th blog post.

View the Candidates Forum On-Line

On March 19th the Milton Kiwanis Club hosted the local candidates forum. Individuals running for City Mayor and Alderperson took part in the forum, along with positions for Milton Township. Visit www.redhawkmedia.com/city and follow the instructions on the screen to view the forum.

Collaborative Focus for Economic Recovery in Rock County

On March 16th Mayor Bruce and I joined a couple hundred other regional officials at Blackhawk Technical College for an economic development funding opportunities workshop. This event represented a collaborative effort between local organizations and the University of Michigan's Community Economic Adjustment Program.

The information presented at the event covered a diverse range of topics. The target audience included local units of government, non-profits, economic and workforce organizations, education providers and select private sector businesses.

I was encouraged to learn that there is a wide array of resources available to the communities in this area of the state that have been impacted heavily by job losses and economic downturn. To find out more about this event and what information was presented, click here to view introductory comments that were given by Bob Borremans, Executive Director of the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.