News

(Kettle Moraine Land Trust press release) Elkhorn, Wisconsin, February 3, 2021 —The nonprofit Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT) has accepted a grant of conservation easement on nearly 176 acres of natural area and farmland adjacent to the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The property includes a 132-acre working farm and more than 35 acres of natural area. The remainder of the property is in a minimal-protection management zone where the owner is free to build residences for family members and out buildings to support farm operations.

Owners James and Lois (nee Anderson) Benes chose to protect the site in perpetuity, citing the value of working farms and recognizing the exceptional conservation values inherent in the natural areas, which include oak woodlands, remnant wet prairie, riparian wetlands, and the confluence of Bluff Creek and Whitewater Creek, two high-quality cold-water streams. The Anderson and Benes families have owned and farmed the site since the early 1930s.

Jim Benes, reflecting on the quality of the site, noted, “A few years ago we decided to preserve it for future generations and we were convinced by Maggie Zoellner (then Executive Director of KMLT) that putting the farm with the Kettle Moraine Land Trust was the way to go.  At that time, little did we know of the quality of the site; we gradually learned about the species that occupied the natural area and we came to appreciate even more the quality of the area and knew that it was important to protect it.  We are pleased with the effort put forth by KMLT personnel, current and past, and all that helped us accomplish this easement.  We are looking forward to our association with the KMLT and to continue to improve the area.”

KMLT’s current executive director Greg Rajsky agreed, stating, “the conservation values of this property are exceptional, with a rich variety of habitats. We are grateful to the Benes family for their generosity and foresight in seeking permanent protection of the property.”

In collaboration, the Benes family and KMLT have prepared a natural areas management plan for the site, which will guide activities intended to preserve and restore plant communities and natural habitat for native organisms while supporting productive soils, clean water, and scenic viewsheds for the whole community.

The Kettle Moraine Land Trust, originally established in 2000 as the Lauderdale Lakes Conservancy, preserves the natural heritage of the southern Kettle Moraine region through land conservancy, resource management, and environmental stewardship. The Trust owns four nature preserves, holds conservation easements on a number of additional properties, and assists Walworth County Parks and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with the management of publicly held natural areas.

The Trust also hosts several community events each year. Volunteers and members of the Kettle Moraine Land Trust help improve wildlife habitat and native ecosystems by working with local landowners and in partnership with organizations and municipalities. For more information visit www.kmlandtrust.org

(University of Wisconsin-River Falls submission) Anna Lucht, of Whitewater, was among 420 students receiving degrees from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls following commencement in December. Bachelor’s degrees were awarded to 386 undergraduates, while 34 students received master’s degrees. Anna Lucht earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She graduated with Senior Merit, and is part of a group that includes seniors who have maintained a 3.500 grade point for their last 60 credits at UWRF.

Founded in 1874, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is located in a scenic community just 30 miles from downtown St. Paul. Minn. UW-River Falls students are empowered, beginning in their first semester, to participate in groundbreaking research, global travel, and collaborative learning with award-winning and caring faculty. This commitment to academic excellence has led to UW-River Falls consistently being named a Best College in the Midwest.

(Cedarville University submission) Mina Truesdale, of Whitewater, was recently named to the Dean’s Honor List for the fall of 2020 at Cedarville University. This recognition required Truesdale to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about Cedarville University, visit www.cedarville.edu.

Per the Banner’s weather source, predicted lows: Friday -2; Saturday -15; Sunday -26; Monday -13; Tuesday -13; Wednesday -4, Thursday -6, Friday -20. Daily highs are expected to barely break zero.

(From the City of Whitewater Facebook page)

A Heartfelt Thanks

Dear Whitewater Community,

Thank you for your ongoing support of our families in need. The recent fire, in which a local family lost everything, was just the latest example of how this community comes together in times of need. 

Whenever there is a significant crisis, this community is ready to help, whether it’s the members of Whitewater Unites Lives (WUL), The Community Space (TCS), Breakfast Kiwanis, UWW Optimists, local churches or businesses. In addition, there are countless individuals, teachers, and staff who generously give their time, money and energy to mobilize at a moment’s notice. 

I have the privilege of hearing from the recipients of this generosity and I have been told repeatedly how Whitewater is truly a special place. During people’s most difficult times, they have shared that the outpouring of support has helped them realize that they are not alone and this has helped them to have hope.

Thank you again for your many expressions of love and for providing hope to so many members of our community.

With gratitude,

Mary Geraghty

Social Worker, Whitewater Unified School District

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
February 3, 2021

The Whitewater Common Council has scheduled a Public Information opportunity at its next meeting to explain several proposed Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) changes. The opportunity will be on a Thursday (February 18) as opposed to the Council’s normal Tuesday night schedule because of a Tuesday primary election later this month.

TIF financing utilizes the creation of Tax Incremental Finance Districts (TIDs) to facilitate and help fund development that will ultimately benefit the City, the Whitewater Unified School District, Walworth and/or Jefferson Counties, and the regional technical colleges. The tax revenue on development projects in a TID go exclusively to enable development in the district until the projects are completed and the additional tax revenues generated by the completed projects are then shared with the City and the other three units of government.

At the creation of a TID generally the City will take advantage of low interest municipal bonds to provide seed money to jump-start development. When a TID’s projects no longer need public support, the City can use accumulated TID funds to pay off the bonds. Any remaining balance is returned equitably to all four units of government.

The Common Council at its February 2 meeting voted to “call” or “exercise the option” to pay off the outstanding balance of the original bonding that jump-started the development in the general area of the Industrial Park known as TID #4. Doing so is estimated to save more than $60,000 per year in interest costs and will remove that debt load from the city’s total which could result in lower interest rates for future borrowing.

These actions lay the groundwork for a City plan to finish closing out its remaining TIDs, extend existing TID #4 funding for one year as allowed by the WI Department of Revenue (DOR), and ultimately to allow access to TIF financing as a future development tool. DOR regulations prohibit communities from having more than 12% of their assessed value in TIDs. With TID #4 remaining active the Whitewater community does reportedly exceed that percentage.

The issue of “extending” TIF #4 does apparently come with some opportunity for controversy. In a proactive approach to that possibility, City Manager Cameron Clapper provided an outline of public and other taxing unit input sessions beginning with the February 18 Public Information opportunity. The seven-step process takes place over a four-month period involving the Whitewater Community Development Authority (CDA), the Common Council and the TID Joint Review Board (JRB). The JRB includes representatives from all four units of government impacted by TIF actions.

The DOR webpage provides a matrix containing only three scenarios for when a TID can be “extended” for one year. They include a “Standard” scenario which would allow additional time to pay off incurred debt, a scenario unique to TIDs created for “technical college” projects, and an “Affordable Housing” option. It appears that only the last option would be applicable in this case. A community must adopt a Resolution that will “… specify how the municipality will improve housing stock.” “Affordable Housing” can be distinctly different than “Low Income Housing” and a City’s plan can include housing rehabilitation efforts.

(Whitewater Public Library submission) The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library offers a new take-and-make craft kit every week! Pick up your kit during curbside pick-up or while the Library is open. New craft videos are posted every Monday at 11:00 a.m. to our YouTube channel and Facebook page. For more information visit us at whitewaterlibrary.org or call 262-473-0530

(UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics submission) – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics has earned accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, the premier accrediting body for schools of business.

With this achievement, UW-Whitewater becomes the first regional comprehensive university in the UW System to achieve separate AACSB accreditation for accounting. Less than six percent of the world’s institutions of higher education that offer business programs have earned AACSB accreditation, and less than two percent have earned supplemental accounting accreditation.

“The UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics has an outstanding reputation for its accounting programs, and our graduates are in high demand by employers throughout the region,” said John Chenoweth, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “We are proud to have earned the elite distinction of AACSB accounting accreditation.”

AACSB accreditation ensures continuous improvement and provides focus for schools to deliver on their mission, innovate and drive impact.

To realize accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn or maintain AACSB business accreditation. Then, in addition to developing and implementing a mission-driven plan to satisfy the business accreditation quality standards, accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of accreditation standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.

“Our program prepares students to meet real-world challenges through transformational experiences in the classroom, internships and community service, among others,” said D’Arcy Becker, department chairperson and professor of accounting. “Separate accounting accreditation demonstrates that we pursue this educational mission at the very highest level. It shows that our faculty are experts in their fields who are committed to delivering a rigorous curriculum that provides an excellent base on which outstanding accounting careers are built.”

The UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics currently offers an accounting major and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. More information is also available on the Accounting Department, including its mission, faculty and programs.

Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue – Arms length sales recorded in January, 2021

206 E. Cravath St.	$137.400
1344 W. Walworth Ave.	248,500
1004 E. Main St.	149,000
380 Eagle Court	390,000
597 Walton Dr.	183,000
951 W. Charles St.	169,000
226 S. Summit St.	65,000
321 Indian Mound Pkwy	226,000
806 E. Main St.	94,900