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League of Women Votersof the Ripon Area P.o. Box 5

Ripon, Wisconsin 54971http://riponarea.wi.lwvnet.org

September 2015"Like" us on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/League-of- Women-Voters-Ripon-WI-ArealI14476978650612

President's message: Hello all, we are geared up for an interesting year. See Cindy Diemer's note onour poverty study. The committee worked hard doing research. Cindy and Judy Harris sent out letters andquestionnaires, Linda Holloway put them into a spread sheet and organized a publicity campaign. Liz Ringstadkept us on track, and we all took part in the meeting. Plus we are pleased that 14 members participated,representatives from several of the area schools came and offered their expertise, and The RiponCommonwealth used the press release 2 weeks in a row and Tim Lyke came to the meeting. Amidst lots ofinteresting aspects and we noted people from different networking, and heard from 2 representatives from theBoy's and Girl's Club which addresses some of the poverty issues we were discussing. Perhaps we will visitthem in Berlin.

You will be glad to know that new member Lelani Sanchez is starting to get our website in order, and will beworking with Pam Nelson-Icenogle to learn about it. Linda and Cindy have worked up a card with our scheduleon it and other information that we can hand out and also have on the website.

See Art Baseler's info on the voter ID meeting Oct. 22 (rescheduled so the city clerk could speak).He and GaryWetzel are in charge of the program.

I am going through boxes of LWV info. If any of you are curious about it let me know.

Jean Johnson

LWV Ripon Area Calendar - double check your calendar some items have been updatedThursday, Sept 24, 6:30 PM at Ripon High School- LOCAL PROGRAM MEETING POVERTYSTUDYThursday, Oct 22, 6:30 pm at Ripon City Hall-VOTER ID INFORMATIONAL MEETINGSaturday, Oct 10, Issues Briefing, WI-LWV. MadisonThursday, Nov 12,6:30 PM at Ripon High School-STATE URBAN POLICY REVIEWThursday, Dec 10, 6PM CHRISTMAS GALA dinner at Ripon College

2016Saturday, Jan. 16, LIVELY ISSUES MEETING*Thursday, Feb 11, 6:30 PM at Ripon High School-LOCAL PROGRAM MEETING POVERTYSTUDYThursday, Mar 10, at Ripon High School-LOCAL PROGRAM MEETING WATER RESOURCESabout new upper Mississippi interleague groupThursday, Apr 14,6:30 PM at Ripon High School either State update on Urban Policy or NationalprogramSaturday, May 14, 11:30 AM Ripon League Annual Meeting*

*Location to be determined

2President (WI Re., LWVLMR board1st Vice President (Membership Chair)2nd Vice President (Water Action Chair)Secretary (Fundraising Chair)TreasurerDirector (Voter Services)Director (2 year )Director (1 year)

Jean Johnson 748-6699 jeanjohnson624@ gmail.comCindy Diemer 748-2797 cdiemer@morainepark.eduCindy Ebert 748-5994 fritze@centurytel.netMary Avery 896-2941 averym@ripon.eduRich Diemer 748-2797 richdiemer@gmail.comGary Wetzel 748-3280 garywetzel@yahoo.comEllen Sorenson 960-3397 ec1airetogo@gmail.comArt Baseler 748-7692 artbaseler@aim.com

Poverty Study Committee Moves ForwardOur Poverty Study Continues -Shared Results and Concerns

After sending our local Poverty Study Survey to nine area Public School Districts in Fond du Lac, Green Lakeand Waushara counties, we shared results from 6 districts in an open meeting on September 24th. We expect atleast one more district to return the survey.

A truly exciting aspect of the meeting was strong attendance with 14 LWV members and about 8 otherconcerned individuals who shared detailed information from different area communities, organizations andschool districts. The flip side of this successful meeting of concerned individuals was growing awareness anddocumentation of widespread poverty in our area affecting families and children.

An example of2014-2015 poverty statistics is the number of area students who qualify for Free and ReducedLunch programs now ranging from 30-60% with Ripon Area School District seeing their percentage doubling inten years. Of particular concern are children who do not have access to free breakfast or lunch during thesummer months and children for whom after school programming is not available. Meeting participants alsoshared successful programs and efforts spearheaded by schools, churches, organizations and individuals.

As the Poverty Study committee anticipated, the issues and needs swirl around food security, housing, healthcare, transportation, and wages.

A spreadsheet listing responses and comments compiled from the 12 questions is available to members andother interested individuals. Other statistical information from Green Lake and Waushara counties as well asDPI reports will be shared at future meetings.

Thanks to the Poverty Study Committee members Judy Harris, Linda Holloway, Jean Johnson, and LizRingstad who have worked hard to move the study forward. Additional meetings will focus on learning moreabout poverty from an Economic Development perspective.

Cindy DiemerPoverty Study Chair

Voter Services Committee - ReportThe League of Women Voters-Ripon Area with the cooperation of Ripon City Clerk Ann Schommerwill be giving a presentation explaining the voter 10 law which will be in effect for all future elections.Topics to be covered but not limited to are:

• What 10's will be valid?• If I don't have a valid 10, where and how do I obtain one.• How does this law affect voters who are house bound or unable to get to the polls?

3• Where can I get further information about voter IO?• How does this law affect college students?• This meeting will take place on• Thursday October 22nd at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers of Ripon City Hall.• All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Gary Wetzel and Art Baseler

Mark your calendar: Valuable information as we study Poverty Issues

Heroin & Prescription Drug Abuse Summit

Tuesday, November 17,2015Royal Ridges

5:30-6:30pm Meet with local resources & professionals6:30-8:30pm - Presentations

Hear directly from local law enforcement, legal experts, healthcare providers & recovering heroinaddicts and their families.

Sponsored by Agnesian Health Care, Ripon Commonwealth Press, Royal Ridges, Ripon Area SchoolDistrict and City of Ripon Police.

Time for Action on Proposed Changes to Civil ServiceIn 1905 Wisconsin rejected patronage as the basis on which hiring and firing should be determined for state employees.On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform will hold a public hearing on a bill,Dot formally introduced as of today which would gut the essential structure of Wisconsin's civil service.

The Wisconsin LWV has strong positions in favor of merit recruitment and selection for state employees who implementprograms, investigate complaints, and/or manage employees. (The League recognizes that high level policy-makingpositions are appropriately appointed in a different manner.) Here are the League's positions (scroll down to CivilService): http://www .Iwvwi.orglIssuesAdvocacy/GovernmentStructuresProcedures.aspx

In contrast, the legislative proposal (LRB-2783/1 and LRB 3389/1) which will be considered at Tuesday's hearing doesthe following:

• replaces the examination process, which is currently used for hiring, with a resume based process. Resumereview is inherently more subjective and susceptible to political influence than an objective process that looksat specific achievements and skills .

• 'Just cause" to discipline an employee is defined as "performance or conduct that is inadequate, unsuitable, orinferior." Could the definition of "unsuitable" be interpreted as comments supporting a candidate or positionopposed by the current administration?

4• all personnel authority would be consolidated into the Department of Administration, which is headed by what

newspapers routinely call ''the Governor's top aide" and is recognized as the most partisan of state agencies.

CALL TO ACTION: League members should contact their state senators and assembly representativesto express their opposition to the civil service bill, which would return Wisconsin to the discreditedsystem of patronage hiring and firing for state employees.

For contact information for your legislators, go to: http://iegis.wisconsin.gov/ and enter your address near the map of Wisconsinunder the heading Find My Legislators.

Surface and Ground Water InformationThe following article is from Times & Tides a Publication of the Green Lake Association, the article isreprinted with their knowledge and blessings. The Green Lake Association is a non-profitorganization fully funded by member support.

TIMES & TIDES VOL. 4111'-10.2 4

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TOpRighT Photo: David Albrighr pfr;rs ty.":arris tre ,"cnTable civersior: structure mat ~'i2Sinsta!!e-:Japprax;mare.y 3 veers ago. The structure or/ens ~$Bferduring rain events to reduce nmo7 into Green Lske.SQ;:orr,Rigr,t Photo: Ajt.r,g~'itstenas in c fi3;'d Los,ng an excenmetva' ccvercroo [hECaims to reduce eroscn and orovde the soi/:i;i'tn aojftionai nLitrients in tne Soring. (o'/,:2ffng the emoant of tertueerneedea.

LOCAL AREA FARMER MAKING ADIFfERENCE FOR WATERSHED HEALTHAs a fourth generation farmer, David Albright quite literally

has his roots in Green Lake. His family first established afarm over 130 years ago. Today he shares land with his fa-

ther, Wayne Albright, and is part of a cooperative farming operationthat altogether manages over 2.000 acres of land within Green Lakeand Fond du Lac Counties.

1n recent years, the agricultural industry has recognized theopportunity to reduce its impact on Wisconsin's waterways,Runofffiom agricultural fields is indeed a significant contributorto phosphorous and nitrogen loading - although, not the solecontributor - and Albright recognized this issue early on.

"There were several things that began to change in the area about20 years ago. including the transfer of many farms from dairy andcattle operations to primarily cash crops:' said Albright. "\Ve recog-nized the issue that livestock were causing due to runoff and havesince moved away from that."

While Albright believes the transfer from livestock fanning tocrop farming has improved runoff quality to Green Lake, early croppractices were still lacking in effective runoff management Recog-nizing this, Albright worked closely with the Green Lake and Fonddu Lac County Land Conservation Departments and began to adoptrecommended best management practices.

'There are several things we have done, including developinga nutrient management plan to reduce chemical and fertilizerapplications. we have experimented with various cover crops toretain soil. we do not till the land before spring. and we havealso installed a 'farmable diversion structure,' " said Albright.

Many of these services are either completely or partially coveredthrough county and federal government funding. Albright hopes thatmore local fanners will see the benefits and adopt similar manage-ment practices into their farms.

'INSTEAD OF FARMS BE, G PART OF T IE PROBLEM THEv l,;AN

BE A PART OF THE SO UTiON. I THINK THA ANYTHI G V E CAN

DO TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIO""' OF THE. LAND THAT WE DEPf- ,.'

UPON IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO. 'Ocr.:· J ;.. I· l' ~ I. ! r

"Instead of farms being part of the problem, they can be a partofthe solution," stated Albright. "I think that anything we can doto improve the condition of the land that we depend upon issomething we should do.":;'')

9 VOL. 41 I NO 2 TIMES & TIDES

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C1 READ YOUR LANDSCAPEThe best way to improve your property is to first identify anypotential runoff or pollution problems. Begin by reading yourlandscape, especially after a heavy rainstorm. Where does thewater flow? Are there areas with evidence of erosion or heavysurface runoff? Do portions flow into a neighbor's property,or directly into a curb gutter, stream or the lake?

Then consider the various practices presented on thefollowing pages that you can incorporate into your property.Remember that these are recommendations that you can adaptto your own individual needs.

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TIMES & TIDES VOL 41 I NO 2 10

LANDSCAPE WITH NATIVE PLANTSOut with the new, in with the old! Native plants haveadapted to our specific soil and climate conditions,making them much hardier than non-nativespecies. Native plants have incredibly deepstructures (some reaching over 15 feet deep!), which means they areextremely effective at increasing drainage and reducing erosion. Theyalso attract birds, butterflies and other creatures that are important forthe health of our ecosystem.

PROPERLY DISPOSE OF YARD WASTEFrom grass clippings to autumn leaves, property main-tenance means inevitable yard waste. Keep in mind thatone standard bag ofleaves contains enough phosphorusto fuel the growth of over 25 pounds of algae and aquaticweeds. So, what's the best way to handle yard waste

while reducing negative impacts to our waterways?

Keep it Out of the Gutter It seems all-too-convenient to blow grassclippings and leaves over the curb, but yard waste should be kept on theterrace and off of the street. In fact, some local ordinances require that.Rainstorms can carry phosphorus-loaded leaves and grass clippings tostorm drains, where it flows untreated to nearby waterways. Go aboveand beyond by clearing storm drains of yard waste and other debris.

Don't Rake into the Lake Just as leaves can function as yardfertilizer, they can also function as weed fertilizer. In addition to anincrease in weed and algae growth, raking leaves directly into the lakebreakdowns this organic matter into a phosphorus-loaded sludge thatcreates a maintenance headache for shoreline owners. Work with yourlandscape contractors to keep leaves out of the lake.

Mulch it Leave the rake and leaf-blower in the shed! Mulching getsrid ofleaves without having to wrestle those precarious piles. Attacha mulching blade and run over fallen leaves with a lawn mower. Theblade will cut the leaves into small pieces, which will settle undetectedbeneath the green canopy of your lawn. Mulching also acts as freefertilizer and feeds underground microbes that benefit soil health.

Compost it Fallen leaves are critical to composting.Leaves, twigs and other carbon-rich "brown" plantmaterial can be added to existing compost piles to

bring balance to nitrogen-rich lawnclippings, fruit and vegetable waste andother "green" plant material. Or, largepiles of leaves can be composted on

their own. Ifkept moist andperiodically turned, the leaveswill decompose and create dark,crumbly compost that can enrichthe soil in your garden.

REDIRECT YOURDOWNSPOUTSRooftop downspouts direct rain-storm runoff away from a house'sfoundation to prevent flooding.Here's a simple improvement-instead of angling a downspout todrain towards a driveway or otherhard surface, redirect it towards ayard or a garden. This allows therunoff to bypass the storm sewer

system, where it is 4instead able to drain 1/into the ground andbe naturally cleanedby the soil.

BUILD A RAIN GARDENA rain garden is a beneficiallandscaping tool that utilizes ashallow depression and nativeplants to soak up excess rainwa-ter from rooftops, driveways andother nonporous surfaces. Insteadof carrying pollution and sedimentinto local waterways, a rain gardeninfiltrates excess runoff into thesoil, where it is naturally filteredand cleaned. A rain garden canabsorb 30% more water than atraditional lawn and (Zprovides habitat for _birds, butterflies and Ubeneficial insects,including mosquito-eating dragonflies.

Check online for how-to manualsor consult with a local contractor tolearn more about incorporating a raingarden into your yard.

Check out www.plantnative.org/rpl-mirnnwi.htm for a list of nativeplants for the region.

r:::::J USE FERTILIZER-!g. L PROPERLY

. ",Q. Yard fertilizers can help'., to maintain lawns, but

excess fertilizer canresult in green lawns

that grow green lakes. Reduce thenegative impact of fertilizer use byminimizing the amount andfrequency in which it is applied.• Test your soil to determine how

much fertilizer your lawn needs(if any at all) and the best timeto apply it. Note that Wisconsinlaw bans phosphorus-containingfertilizer to be used for standardyard maintenance unless a soiltest shows there is a deficit.

• Use only the amount of lawnfertilizer you need. Twice theproduct won't make your lawntwice as green!

• Do not apply fertilizer to frozenground or drainage areas inyour yard, where it could easilyrun off your property and intostorm drains.

1CREATE A BUFFERVegetation can slow down and soak up polluted runoff before it flowsour rivers and lakes. Install a buffer of native plants, trees and shrubsalong the water's edge to remove nutrients, stabilize the shoreline,provide habitat, and improve the aesthetics of your yard. A buffer widthof 35 feet is recommended, but simply leaving a few feet of un-rnowedlawn can even make a difference.

11 VOL. 41 I NO 2 TIMES & TIDES

INSTALL A RAIN BARRELStill paying for filtered water from the spigot for your plantsand garden? Collect water from your rooftop by attaching arain barrel to your downspout. Many rain barrels include

hose attachments, so they canbe used just like a regulargarden hose. Rain barrels area great way to conserve water,reduce runoff and lowerwater bills.• Rain barrels can be bought

at low costs or you canbuild your own out ofrecycled materials.Be certain that your rainbarrel is covered so thatmosquitoes don't breed.

• Allow for overflow drain-age in case the rain barrelexceeds its capacity.

INCORPORATEA BIOSWALEORINFILTRATIONTRENCHDivert or slow waterby incorporating a bioswale orinfiltration trench. A bioswaleis a shallow ditch planted withnative vegetation and aninfiltration trench (sometimescalled a "French drain") is a trenchfilled and made level by stones.Both structures encouragerainwater runoff to be divertedtowards a more ideal locationand to drain into the ground,where it is naturally filteredand cleaned.

INSTALL ANINFILTRATION CHAMBERFor those who want the benefitsof a rain garden or infiltrationarea without losing yard space,consider working with a contractorto install an underground infiltrationchamber. Infiltration chambers areburied, bottomless chambers thatcapture runoff through a surfaceinlet and allow the water to slowlyseep into the ground. They donot hold water and do not requirepumping, such as a cistern would.Once installed, infiltration chambersare not visible from ~...·+Dthe surface and

can be discretely UI! ljltincorporated intoa yard.

MINIMIZE HARD SURFACESSoil has the ability to naturally clean runoff from harm-ful chemicals and nutrients. Hard surfaces - such asrooftops, driveways and patios - prevent water fromsoaking into the ground, thereby increasing runoff andtransporting pollutants downstream.• Use flagstone, pea gravel or pervious pavers for drive-

ways and walkways, instead of blacktop or cement surfaces, so thatwater can be absorbed into the ground.

• Install pervious cement in parking stalls and other low-traffic areasin parking lots.

• Avoid unnecessary soil compaction with the use of heavy machin-ery or vehicles. While it may seem harmless, compacted soil doesnot effectively absorb water, and takes several years to regain thatcapability once it's been compacted.

INCLUDE EROSION CONTROL ONCONSTRUCTION PROJECTSWhether you're constructing a home, landscap-ing your property or simply performing anythingthat requires moving soil, erosion from recently-disturbed ground can be a significant concern in

lake health. Soil naturally contains phosphorus and other nutrientsthat can degrade and cloud downstream waterways, Even when localordinances don't require it, work with your contractor to incorporateproper erosion control techniques to keep soil upstream and out ofthe lake.• Consider a silt fence on the project's down-slope areas, geotextile

fabric or straw on loose soil, and periodic sandbags or hay balebarriers in ditches and drainage ways.

• Regularly clean the roadway from dirt and debris.• Pay particularly close attention to nearby storm drains by installing

geotextile fabric and sand bags to prevent soil-loaded runoff frommoving downstream.