Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Non-Random Question Time

Submit your leftover questions. Get reheated answers. Submit Monona-related questions, get shiny new answers made from scratch.

(I am going to keep this post at the top for a few days. New posts will be immediately below).

36 comments:

  1. Is there any good resource that lists total property taxes (city, school, state etc.) over the past 15-20 years? Access Dane will list it for the past 2-3 years, but is there anything older somewhere?

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  2. Your blog is appreciated.

    Once again I have a question regarding the Hickory Lane MHP property.

    HLMHP property was listed on the CDA agenda on 11/24/09. It had items listed the TID redevelopment project plan and a timeline, as separate items.

    Do you know what and who is proposing redevelopment?

    It was also noticed this past week that the Opitz Realty sign has been removed from the property.

    Thank you again for your blog. Monona can learn alot from tuning in here.

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  3. Why was there a survey of the lot boundaries that abut Maywood Park. I realize some of us are encroaching.
    Will the city do anything with the information.

    Marilyn Cohn

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  4. WOW! I have been waiting for this moment. Frankly, I am surpised that you did not inform us about this sooner-as your blog is a way to know what is up around our town.

    What is Monona Moola and new milk?

    HP

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  5. "Is there any good resource that lists total property taxes (city, school, state etc.) over the past 15-20 years?"

    The closest thing I could find is on the state DOR web site:

    http://www.revenue.wi.gov/report/p.html#prop

    Under "Rates" they have reports that list data going back for 20 yearrs or more. On page 13 of the 2008 Cities, Village and Towns report it lists the totals for all districts (not including counties).

    The county rates are listed in a separate document.

    I could not find anything on school property taxes (in the time alotted as they say), but it has to be somewhere.

    This page has historical property values back to 1959:

    http://www.revenue.wi.gov/equ/history.html

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  6. "Once again I have a question regarding the Hickory Lane MHP property.

    HLMHP property was listed on the CDA agenda on 11/24/09. It had items listed the TID redevelopment project plan and a timeline, as separate items."

    I don't know, but will look into it.

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  7. "Why was there a survey of the lot boundaries that abut Maywood Park. I realize some of us are encroaching.

    Will the city do anything with the information."

    The Parks Board has been concerned about encroachments for a number of years. This survey just found the old property markers. Parks Board will be discussing the encroachment report probably at the December meeting

    The full report is available in the Parks Board packet on the web site at:

    http://www.mymonona.com/pages/calendar/details.php/322/parks++recreation+board+meeting/2009-11-10/

    or

    http://www.mymonona.com/pages/calendar/export_file.php?t=547

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  8. "What is Monona Moola and new milk?"

    Monona Moola is a coupon. You buy a $5 coupon for $4 in cash. The coupon can be used at participating stores on Monona Drive. A list of participating stores can be found on the Monona Drive's Alive web page:

    http://mononadrivesalive.com/

    According to the web page you can BUY Monona Moola at Monona Chamber of Commerce, Madison Craft & Gift Shops, Handel Automotive, and Tully’s Food & Spirits.

    I've had a link to the Monona Drive's Alive web page on the top of the left sidebar for a month or so.

    New milk? New milk jug?

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  9. Doug,
    Regarding residents encroaching on park boundaries...the village board in Cottage Grove looked at this last year and were warned by the attorney this could blow up on them, since residents get really worked up about it.
    Any idea why?
    People are extending their yards into public property and the municipality is just asking them to pull back to their proper boundaries. This seems to be a black and white issue where the city would undeniably be in the right to enforce park boundaries.

    – Craig Corsten

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  10. My guess is that once you let it go for some period of time, then people start to think of it as "theirs", especially when they have made "improvements".

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  11. Thanks Doug, the photos of the encroachment violations are great.
    Maywood Park is a gem. The charm is with all of the things people have added to their yards over the years. Glad I am not one of the violators.

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  12. Re: The Hickory Lanes site:

    http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_0073577c-ded6-11de-b3b8-001cc4c03286.html

    It states: "A former trailer park in Monona could be the site of a new medical clinic.

    The owner of the former Hickory Lane Mobile Home Park is negotiating the sale of the property, which sits on the Yahara River, with a developer who has proposed a new UW Health clinic.

    The Monona City Council is expected to vote Monday on whether the roughly 13 acres in the area south of Broadway and north of the Beltline - including the 3.8 acres of the former mobile home park - are considered blighted and qualify for tax incremental financing."

    First I've heard of it.

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  13. Thank you for the Hickory Lane information and the link to the story in the Wisconsin State Journal today.

    The article lists that 13 acres are being considered for the UW Health facility.

    The TID 6 pdf file, when the address 320 west broadway monona is googled, shows other properties being considered for blight too. It shows the owners of each property, including one of the city of Monona, another as Quartermoon LLC, and yet another as Monona Falcon LLC.

    A new question for you:

    Where would the 13 acres be in light of Hickory Lane being less than 4 acres?

    It would appear that the 13 acres might include Lottes Park. That would be a loss for the many anglers that use that ammenity. I'm only guessing here though.

    In this economy the UW Health project would be a logical development for the city to consider TIF funding for.

    It has been nice to see the property go back to it's "natural" appearance this past year, with the trees, wildlife, and flowers and such. The idea of a park there was just not in the grand scheme. It would have been nice to "keep it green".

    Monona can use a care facility in that space. It will be interesting to see the plans being proposed consider what traffic changes will be needing to be facilitated. The property does have a prime location with the easiest on and off the beltline to it's positive.

    Enquiring minds...Thank you again.

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  14. More on Hickory Lanes. I am informed that the article may not be entirely accurate.

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  15. would Monona ever want to make zoning restrictions (or if they have them...enforce them)so that people can't park their cars/trucks on their lawns for months at a time or tack on additions on top of additions and not finish them, etc...??

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  16. Regarding your comment that the article on UW Health Clinic/Hickory Lane property:

    What is you source the article is inaccurate?

    Which facts are inaccurate?

    Thank you.

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  17. Which blighed property did the city of Monona buy?

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  18. The Hickory Lanes questions/comments:

    The council is *not* being asked to vote on the redevelopment district at Monday's meeting.

    The maps for the Proposed Redevelopment District #8 can be seen at:

    http://www.mymonona.com/pages/calendar/export_file.php?t=628

    It includes not just the trailer park, but also Lottes Park. That does NOT mean Lottes Park would be developed, but including it does provide a physical connection to three parcels across Broadway. TIF and Redevelopment Districts have to consist of contiguous property. (If Lottes Park were developed, I believe the city would owe the DNR a pile of money to repay past grants. In fact, I think DNR would have to agree to the change.)

    Never say never, but I would not support development of Lottes Park unless it was replaced with a comparable facility - and I cannot think of a comparable location in Monona.

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  19. What blighted property did the city buy?

    It was in the 4500 block of Monona Drive. I don't have the exact address handy.

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  20. "would Monona ever want to make zoning restrictions (or if they have them...enforce them)so that people can't park their cars/trucks on their lawns for months at a time or tack on additions on top of additions and not finish them, etc...??"

    There are time limits on finishing additions and there have been enforcement actions. I'm not sure about the parking vehicles on lawns.

    We have struggled to find the right way to enforce building codes and related inspections. We are currently considering a partnership with McFarland.

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  21. Will the Brewers sign a top level free agent pitcher this off-season? I need your predictions.

    MM

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  22. The Maywood Park encroachment reminds me a bit of the 2004 controversy with the Tonyawatha boat landing and the Zoning board of Appeals. That cost the encroachers about $20,000 in legal fees, or so they said. There was more involved than simple encroachment on park land in that case but the lesson is be careful folks. In that case the offenders actually built there house illegally too close to the park land then took over the park land by landscaping it and installing an invisible dog fence. Again, just be careful. MM

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  23. What is Monona going to do with that block?

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  24. "Will the Brewers sign a top level free agent pitcher this off-season?"

    Well, let me think, mmm, no. First, of all there *aren't any* top level free agent pitchers! OK, John Lackey is one.

    Carl Pavano? Injuries, injuries, injuries.

    The Brewers do have money, but boy, Suppan, Parra & Bush were so awful they should not have been in a major league rotation. Can they count on more than one to rebound? Bush, yes (see I do like a Bush), but Suppan, no, and Parra, who knows?

    They need some guys that can just give you some innings.

    Here's a list of the top 50:

    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/2010-top-50-free-agents.html

    Let's hope they stay away from Randy Wolf who made a comeback in 2008 after missing half or more of each of the previous 6 seasons.

    This guy has the Brewers signing:

    - maybe Jon Garland or Ben Sheets
    - Doug Davis (!) and Jarrod Washburn



    Here's the complete list of free agent pitchers:
    (From http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/2010-mlb-free-a.html)


    Starting pitchers
    Brandon Backe (32)
    Cha Seung Baek (30)
    Miguel Batista (39)
    Erik Bedard (31) - Type B, not offered arb
    Kris Benson (34)
    Paul Byrd (39)
    Daniel Cabrera (29)
    Aroldis Chapman (22)
    Bartolo Colon (37)
    Jose Contreras (38)
    Doug Davis (34) - Type B, not offered arb
    Lenny DiNardo (30)
    Justin Duchscherer (32) - Type B, offered arb
    Adam Eaton (32)
    Shawn Estes (37)
    Josh Fogg (33)
    Jon Garland (30) - Type B, not offered arb
    Tom Glavine (44)
    Mike Hampton (37)
    Rich Harden (28) - Type B, not offered arb
    Mark Hendrickson (36)
    Livan Hernandez (35)
    Rich Hill (30)
    Shawn Hill (29)
    Jason Jennings (31)
    Jason Johnson (36)
    Randy Johnson (46) - Type B, not offered arb
    John Lackey (31) - Type A, offered arb
    Braden Looper (35) - Type B, not offered arb
    Rodrigo Lopez (34)
    Noah Lowry (29)
    Jason Marquis (31) - Type B, offered arb
    Pedro Martinez (38)
    Eric Milton (34)
    Mark Mulder (32)
    Brett Myers (29)
    Vicente Padilla (32) - Type B, not offered arb
    Carl Pavano (34) - Type B, offered arb
    Brad Penny (32)
    Odalis Perez (33)
    Andy Pettitte (38) - Type B, not offered arb
    Joel Pineiro (31) - Type B, offered arb
    Sidney Ponson (33)
    Mark Prior (28)
    Horacio Ramirez (30)
    Jason Schmidt (37)
    Ben Sheets (31)
    John Smoltz (43)
    Brett Tomko (37)
    Jarrod Washburn (35)
    Todd Wellemeyer (31)
    Kip Wells (33)
    Randy Wolf (33) - Type A, not offered arb

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  25. "What is Monona going to do with that block?"

    That is still to be determined.

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  26. The school property tax Mil rate for 15 years, and the levy and equalized value for 5 years can be found on page 29 of the MGSD annual report published at:
    http://www.mononagrove.org/cms_files/resources/09-10%20annual%20report.pdf

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  27. On the subject of Maywood park, Monona NEEDS a dog park. How about it?

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  28. Re: Dog Park. I'd love to have a dog park, but where would you put it?

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  29. Ummm... Maywood park. Central location but otherwise little used.

    Put a fence around the northern 2/3rds of the park with a gate at each end. I bet there are 1000 dogs living within walking distance of Maywood park.

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  30. No really a question, but more of a comment. Last night, went to Menards, Copps and Angelos. All were busier than I've ever seen them. Angelos had a 30 minute wait. It was nice to see Monona businesses doing well. It seems we're on the cusp.

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  31. "Maywood park. Central location but otherwise little used."

    That's a possibility. I would urge you to take a few minutes and appear at a Parks Board meeting to push for a dog park and suggest that location.

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  32. Re: Monona dog park- love the idea and think that the empty lot owned by the city on the corner of Edna Taylor Parkway and Femrite would make an excellent location. Lots of parking, no neighbors to bother, but is it too out of the way?
    Jessica Ace

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  33. Doug-- Who is running for CC in the spring. Have you heard? Are there any young upstarts?

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  34. Femrite is too far away for most residents. Let's give them something they can walk to. Maybe more than one dog park is appropriate, but let's make more of our little used central city parks.

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  35. Which little-used parks would you suggest? Maywood has been mentioned; any others?

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  36. "Doug-- Who is running for CC in the spring. Have you heard? Are there any young upstarts?"

    Alders Kugle and Wiswell are running for reelection. Alder Thomas has not taken out papers yet.

    No one else has announced or taken out papers.

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