Neighbors –

Stay safe during this heat wave! Public health has cooling shelters and other resources available. I just stepped outside with my pup, who immediately laid down in the grass instead of going for a walk as I had intended. This heat is no joke and can have serious health implications! Please check on and keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbors, especially aging folks.  

One time-sensitive issue I’d like residents to be aware of is a new vacancy on the County Board for district 13 (map), which was held by Olivia Xistris-Songpanya. Details about the appointment process are available online. Candidates must submit paperwork and collect 25 elector signatures by 9/1. Public hearings for each district, held in person, will be conducted by County Board Chair Miles. The hearing for District 13 will take place on Thursday, September 7 at 5:30pm at Union South. The district includes part of the UW Campus and the Regent Street neighborhood east of Allen. County ordinances provide for a vacancy in the office of county supervisor occurring at this point in the term to be filled by temporary appointment by the County Board chairperson, with confirmation by the County Board. The seat will then be subject to the regular spring election for all County Board districts, which will take place on April 2, 2024. The County Board intends to act on the appointment at its regularly-scheduled meeting on September 21, 2023. The annual salary is currently $11,423.47. For most Board members, this is a part time role and individuals (like me!) also hold day jobs. I’m happy to discuss this vacancy, and our other two in Middleton and Verona, with anyone who is interested in learning more.

A few recent acquisitions: I’m excited to announce the recent purchase of a considerable property in Verona (see coverage here) of over 600 acres near the Sugar River. This is an excellent use of our county conservation dollars. My colleage on the Board, Mike Bare, who represents Verona, shared: “It’s a beautiful plot at the gates of the Driftless Area that will fit well with other nearby state, local, and County conservation efforts. It includes wooded areas, wetlands, 2,000 feet of Sugar River shore, and farm land that the County will lease. The purchase will help offset the County’s carbon footprint, help abate polluting runoff into streams and the Sugar River, and help offset pollution entering the River from effluent. The plans include the possibility to allow public access and trails, and linking with nearby kayak/canoe access, foot traffic, bicycling, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. There are multiple reasons this is a long-term win for taxpayers and I’m proud to sponsor the resolution to purchase this land.” I agree! Keep an eye out for improvements and eventual public access at this unique property.

The MPO (a transit-related board), which I serve on, is also investing in completing a section of the Glacial Drumlin Path in Cottage Grove. There are some nasty, unsafe segments that essentially require crossing heavily trafficked roads. The WI Bike Federation said it well in their comments to our Commission: “This is a critical segment in the plan to connect Madison and Cottage Grove - and eventually to have a continuous trail connecting Madison with Milwaukee. Bicycle trips between Madison and Cottage Grove will be significantly safer and easier with this connection. It will increase the number of people choosing to bike both between Cottage Grove and Madison and will also assist people looking to reach other communities like Deerfield, Lake Mills and Milwaukee. The recreational opportunities will support the economic vitality of all the linked communities and this connection will also provide access to jobs in these growing communities. The importance of trails for our Wisconsin communities cannot be understated. Bike Fed members frequently cite this missing segment of trail as the greatest opportunity for interconnectivity in Southeastern Wisconsin.”

The Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change has one of my favorite monthly newsletters. Check out the latest one. It features articles on energy tax credits, spongy moths, and more! There’s lots of other good news to celebrate, from broadband grants to distribution of overdose aid kits and expansion of our regional airport. All recent press releases are available here. 

One issue I’m especially interested in advancing relates to identifying behavioral health responses to crises in the county in lieu of relying on law enforcement, which is our current approach outside the City of Madison (which is implementing the CARES pilot). There was a great article from the Cap Times in July that lays out what’s happening and where I share some info about the unique challenges of county-wide response.

We’re juuuuust getting into the county’s annual budget process. As a Committee Chair, it’s my responsibility to make sure that the budgets for the departments under the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee, which includes everything from the Sheriff’s Office to Courts, Medical Examiner, and 911, are aligned with our priorities and budget requirements. The Executive is expected to release his proposed budget in October, which will be followed by public hearings and then later by Supervisor amendments and negotiation. Issues I have on my radar are additional staffing for the 911 call center, food systems coordination, and additional expenditure using opioid settlement funds to focus on harm reduction. 

Finally, we are seeing… dare I say it… COVID spikes locally. As much as anyone, I’d like to think this will never be an issue again, but just this week the County Jail closed to visitors due to a spike. Local COVID data is here, which shows an 84% rise in hospitalizations in the last 2 weeks. The total number of hospitalizations is still low, but we’re keeping an eye on this going into fall.  

As always, please reach out if you would to learn more about the County’s work or touch base on County Board and policy issues.

Richelle Andrae

Dane County Board Supervisor District 11

Andrae.richelle@countyofdane.com