By the time you read this, hopefully, dry weather has returned. Natural disasters, including torrential rains, had a huge impact but the outpouring of community volunteers brought us together as we worked to help one another. Last year the county upgraded and modernized the Tenney Lock and Dam. Following this natural disaster, there will likely be review of how lake levels are managed under DNR rules. Many people have experienced great hardship that is of great concern to me.

Billboards
In April 2016, based on neighborhood association input and extensive pro and con discussion at multiple county committees, the County Board voted, following a long debate, to discontinue the billboard lease on airport property. When the billboards were installed decades ago, the zoning was industrial and the area land use was not greenspace. An old neighborhood plan suggested removal of the billboards as the land use was changing. Today the zoning is conservancy as we now have a golf course, bike trail and Starkweather Creek natural areas, along with an attractive overpass. Removal was key to enhance beautification of the Northside as a key gateway to entering Madison on Aberg Avenue. Northside enhancement has been a key community goal since we rebranded ourselves the Northside in the 1990s.

A lawsuit was filed naming me and other supervisors as violating open meetings rules. At every level the courts ruled in favor of the County Board. The case was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. I am happy to say the courts found the allegations against me and my colleagues were unfounded. The billboards should be down by the time you read this article.

Supervisor Rusk can be reached at 249-9667 or rusk@countyofdane.com.