In Hazelhurst, a proposed ordinance discussion was postponed due to a typo. Meanwhile, significant violations of public openness occurred in St. Francis and Chippewa County, where media were obstructed from attending meetings and quoting witness testimony. These incidents emphasize the ongoing challenges public officials face in upholding transparency.
President Trump’s new legislation, pivotal for the 2026 House elections, faces scrutiny from Democrats who claim it favors the wealthy. In Wisconsin, they aim to close a 6-2 GOP House margin without redistricting. Disputes over healthcare funding have emerged, with criticism aimed at Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s role in budget decisions.
Following recent elections, the Village of Arena has experienced significant resignations, leaving it without a president, trustee, and clerk/treasurer. Complaints, including procedural violations and election irregularities, have been filed against officials. An emergency board meeting was convened to secure village operations and oversee financial audits, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
At the April 8 Board meeting, Arena Trustees addressed a clerical discrepancy regarding a candidate forum not listed in official reports, prompting questions from Trustee Uminowicz. The board also approved purchasing a new truck, discussed sewer maintenance issues, and voted on an ordinance for short-term rentals, including Airbnb.
This election, we’d be voting for Paul Pustina for Arena village president and Steve Wilkinson, Joseph Hipsky and Don Helt for village trustees. We encourage you to do the same.
We always wanted our first endorsements as an editorial board to be founded upon a well-thought out rubric that was replicable and transparent. We have not had the time or bandwidth to yet set up such a rubric. However, the stakes in the Village of Arena in the upcoming election on April 1 are so dire that we feel compelled to take a position as an editorial board.
The River Valley School Board voted to reduce its workforce, cutting ten positions, including teachers and secretarial roles, due to financial constraints from closing the Early Learning Center. The total annual savings from these cuts amount to over $1 million. The board will also hold a referendum to exceed revenue limits for additional funding.
The River Valley School District Board plans to close the River Valley Early Learning Center due to declining enrollment and costs, saving about $1 million annually. A special meeting scheduled for Jan. 20 will address staff reductions and employment considerations related to this closure. The board is set to finalize an operational referendum at their Jan. 9 meeting.
The joint fire and EMS agreement between the Village and Town of Arena experienced a 17-hour lapse due to negotiations over a new contract extension. After separate meetings, both parties agreed to extend the current terms until November 8, 2024, amid concerns regarding funding discrepancies and fire service obligations.
The Village of Arena Board of Trustees held a special meeting to discuss separate fire and EMS agreements with the Town of Arena. Concerns were raised about the impact on morale and the absence of mutual aid in the EMS agreement. The board resolved formatting and grammatical issues, and the edited agreements will be reviewed by the village attorney and the Town of Arena.
The Village of Arena Board extended its policing agreement with Iowa County Sheriff’s office through 2025 and discussed liquidating surplus police equipment. The board also addressed emergency services issues, water services rebate, and public works matters. Additionally, they approved maintenance for the water tower, a payment for the new wellhouse project, and extended the sewer line project’s completion date. The board also considered the sale of the village’s cell tower to UScellular and voted against implementing a No Mow May ordinance.