2015 Property Tax Bill

First installments are due by January 31, 2016 to the Rock County Treasurer, PO Box 1508, Janesville, WI 53547.

Payments can be made in person at the Courthouse (51 S. Main Street in Janesville) or mailed to PO Box 1508, Janesville, WI 53547. Payments can also be made online with a credit card or electronic check through Rock County's website. It is highly encouraged to pay electronically to avoid mail delays and electronic checks only cost $1.00 and multiple parcels can be paid in one transaction.

All checks should be made out to Rock County Treasurer. Cash payments can only be accepted in person at the Courthouse.

If you have questions regarding the Lottery Credit, please call the Rock County Treasurer at (608)757-5670.

City of Milton Received Grant for Milton Area Veterans Memorial

Dick Fry and Jarrett Goodman 

accepting the grant award from Milton

Fund Advisory Board Member Bob 

Cullen.

The City of Milton announces that it has received a grant from the Milton Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. to support the 2016 expansion of the Milton Area Veterans Memorial.

The 2016 expansion of the Milton Area Veterans Memorial includes the addition of two wings.  This grant will specifically be used to fund one of the tablets on the new “Cost of Freedom” side of the memorial.  The tablets will list two or three wars or conflicts and list the number of lives lost and the number of those who were wounded.  For more information about this project please contact Milton City Hall at (608) 868-6900.

This grant is made available from the Milton Fund, an endowment fund created to benefit the community of Milton.  The Milton Fund is a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.

For more information on how you can support your community through the Community Foundation, please call Jane Maldonis at (608) 758-0833 or 1-800-995-2379 or visit their website at www.cfsw.org.  The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin serves nine Wisconsin counties: Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, and Walworth.  For good.  For ever.

For additional information contact Al Hulick, City Administrator, at 608-868-6900 or by e-mail at ahulick@milton-wi.gov.

Be Ready this Labor Day Weekend - Great tips to keep you and your family safe

Whether you’re headed to the Great Northern Classic Rodeo in Superior, the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw in Prairie du Sac, or just a backyard barbeque with friends and family, everyone will try to take advantage of the last big summer holiday weekend. To help keep your Labor Day weekend safe, Wisconsin Emergency Management has some great tips.

“Planning ahead is key,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Brian Satula. “Making sure you’re ready to meet some of the challenges of the holiday will help you and your family.”

• Summer heat and humidity will be back this weekend with temperatures forecast to remain in the 80’s Saturday and Sunday, with some cooling Monday. There is also a slight chance of severe storms Sunday in northwestern Wisconsin and Monday in southeast Wisconsin. Make sure you drink plenty of water and limit your alcohol and caffeine intake to help your body deal with the heat. Having a portable NOAA emergency weather radio will help you monitor the storms. 
• When traveling to and from a holiday destination, never leave people or pets inside a parked car. Even with the windows cracked open, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes.
• Make sure your car is in shape to make the trip. Having a first-aid kit, bottled water and some energy bars is a good idea in case you get stranded. A car adaptor for your cell phone is also a good idea in case you need to call for help. 
• Schedule your road trip at times to help avoid the holiday travel madness. Leaving before rush hour Friday or early Saturday and driving back Monday before 4 p.m. or after 10 p.m. should make for less traffic hassles. 
• We want everyone to come home safely on Labor Day. If you’re feeling tired, drank alcohol, or feel ill, either let someone else drive or postpone the trip. 
• Check www.511wi.gov or call 511 for the latest traffic and road information on your route. 

For more information go to readywisconsin.wi.gov. For daily safety tips, follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/readywisconsin) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/readywisconsin).

Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan Update and Junction Square Plan

Notice is hereby given that the City of Milton will hold a public hearing on October 6, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 710 S. Janesville Street.

The public hearing will be held to gather public input on the draft City of Milton Comprehensive Plan update and the draft Junction Square Plan.

The draft Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint for the short-range and long-range growth, redevelopment, and preservation of the City. It will be used by City officials as a policy guide to help make decisions regarding the growth and development of the City over the next 20 years.

The draft Junction Square Plan crafts a vision for the future of Junction Square, develops a redevelopment plan for the area, and establishes an implementation strategy to accomplish the plan’s recommendations.

Both plans are available for review at the following locations:

• On the City’s website at www.milton-wi.gov/DraftPlan
• At the City Clerk’s office (710 S. Janesville Street)
• At the Milton Public Library (430 E. High Street)

Written comments on the draft Comprehensive Plan and the draft Junction Square Plan should be submitted to Elena Hilby, City Clerk at (608) 868-6900 or via email at ehilby@milton-wi.gov.

All written or electronic comments will be forwarded to the City of Milton City Council members for their consideration.

Open House for Comprehensive Plan Update and Junction Square Plan

The City of Milton invites you to participate in an Open House for the Comprehensive Plan Update and Junction Square Plan on Thursday, September 17th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Milton City Hall, 710 S. Janesville Street.

At this Open House, we will share Milton’s master plan for Junction Square and the city’s plan for growth over the next 20 years and beyond. This is your best chance to see firsthand and comment on Milton’s plans and priorities for the future.

The draft plans are available to view on the City's website (www.milton-wi.gov/DraftPlan).

For additional information, contact City Administrator Al Hulick at (608) 868-6900 or by email at ahulick@milton-wi.gov.

Press Release - Create an Emergency Plan During National Preparedness Month

Don’t Wait. Communicate. September is National Preparedness Month. Wisconsin Emergency Management’s ReadyWisconsin campaign says now is the perfect time to talk to everyone about getting ready for an emergency or disaster.

“The most important step you can take today is to make a plan,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Brian Satula. “As part of National Preparedness Month, we’re encouraging families to put together a plan that includes information on where to go during an emergency and how to communicate with loved ones if separated in a crisis.”

This means having an up-to-date contact list for those you may need to reach during a disaster and establishing alternate methods of communication in case traditional means are not available.

Text messages are a great way to communicate. Phone voice service is easily overwhelmed due to the number of calls being placed and may be unavailable in an emergency. Cell phone text messages can still get through because they take less bandwidth to deliver. 

Also, calling long distance may be easier than making a local call. Ask a friend or family member to be your “out of town” contact. You can let that contact know you’re ok. That contact can then share that information with your loved ones. 

Getting information before, during, and after an emergency can be difficult. One of the best ways to get warnings of impending and current dangers is with a NOAA Weather Radio. These radios will alert you to storms headed your way. Other emergency information is also broadcast using this system. Emergency messages are also delivered directly to your cell phone through Wireless Emergency Alerts. These alerts are free and the software is preloaded on most cell phones. Through these alerts you’ll receive a short text message about the pending danger. 

For more information go to ReadyWisconsin website: readywisconsin.wi.gov.

Rock County Sheriff's Office Press Release - School Bus Safety

With the new school year fast approaching, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind all drivers to adhere to all laws regarding the approach of a designated school bus. School bus transportation is safe; however, according to the National Coalition for School Bus Safety, 17,000 children are injured annually in school bus-related traffic accidents nationwide. Nearly one-fourth of these accidents occurred while children were boarding or exiting the school bus. Wisconsin law is clear in that as a driver, if you approach a legally marked bus with flashing red warning lights, you must:

• Stop at least 20 feet from the bus. This applies both to vehicles approaching from the rear and from opposing lanes. 
• All lanes of traffic must stop for the school bus except in opposing lanes if the highway is divided with a center median. 
• No vehicle may proceed until the bus resumes motion and turns off its flashing red warning lights. 
• The stop arm on the bus is an added communication device for other drivers, but lack of the extended arm is not a reason to pass a bus whose red lights are still flashing. 

For parents of students riding a school bus, it is important to have your children adhere to the following guidelines. These guidelines will help ensure a safe trip between home and school. 

At The Bus Stop:

• Always walk to the bus stop. Never run. Walk facing traffic. 
• Have your child wait in a safe area away from traffic and the road. 
• Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals for your child to board. Watch for red flashing lights and the stop sign to be extended, and cross only when all traffic has stopped. Look left, right, and left again before crossing. 

Exiting the Bus:

• When being dropped off, have your child take 10 giant steps away from the bus, remember that the bus driver can see your child better when they move away from the bus. 
• Have your child always use the handrail when entering or exiting the bus and have them always remain seated until the bus stops. 
• If you leave something on the bus, never return to the bus to get it. The bus driver may not see you come back, and they may begin moving the bus. Also, if you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver before you attempt to pick it up so they will know where you are. 
• Be aware of traffic on the roadway. Drivers are required to stop for all legal school buses; however, not all do. Have your child watch carefully before crossing the roadway. Remember that in rural areas the speed limit is higher which makes it more difficult for a driver to stop quickly. 

The start of a new school year is exciting for both students and their parents. Rock County Sheriff’s deputies will be out enforcing all traffic laws regarding school buses. Nonetheless, it is important for students to practice safe habits to have a safe school year.

Robert D. Spoden
SHERIFF