Happy Spring!

The weather may still be a bit undecided, but we have crossed over the threshold of the Vernal Equinox on the way to summer! As the
Bay begins to melt and the disappearance of the snow uncovers a winters worth of hidden treasures, my mind often considers this
amazing body of water that we live on; Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior. Ive been reading a lot of articles lately about the water crisis
that is unfolding in the Southwest, and California. The Colorado River stopped reaching the ocean years ago, and the ground water
tables in California are at their lowest recorded levels in history. Some are predicting a dust bowl in California reminsicent of the 1930s,
which spurred much of the migration to California in the first place. Its easy to think that, because of where we live, we are immune to
these types of challenges. Unfortunately, thats the kind of thinking that leads to devastating consequences in the future. Sometimes, that
future is not as far off as it seems. Its important for each one of us to remain vigiliant about water quality so that we can maintain, for
generations to come, the abundance of clean fresh water that many of us take for granted. The mentality of yesteryear was that the
solution to pollution is dilution. With a body of water as big as this out our back door, theres plenty of dilution; or so we once
thought. We have reached a point where that mentality is catching up with us.
Each one of us make choices every day that affect the quality of the water in Chequamegon Bay. There are a few ways that water gets
into the Bay. One in which we each have a lot of control, is through the sewer system. When deciding what goes down your drain,
consider this; some of the best, pure, untreated groundwater in the world, flows from your tap. Not everyone can say that. You decide
every day what gets added to that water. Eventually, all that water goes into the lake, and anything that the waste water treatment
process does not remove enters the Lake as well. What kind of detergents are you using? Is there a better option? Does your shampoo or
body wash contain microbeads, the newest form of plastic pollution to hit the Great Lakes? What is getting rinsed down your drain?
Paint? Solvents? Drain cleaners? Hazardous wastes like that, can be disposed of at the Clean Sweep events held each year, rather than
rinsing it away. We work hard to keep the waste water treatment plant running to the best possible standard, but no treatment process
is perfect. Its better to keep contaminants out of the water to begin with.
Another path to the lake is through our stormwater system. Many people dont realize that this system, in most cases flows to the lake
untreated. All the trash that we see blowing around in these spring winds, and pet waste that is left on the ground finds its way to the
lake, unless someone picks it up. Are you that someone? Much of the herbicides and fertilizers used on lawns and gardens, eventually
finds its way to the lake as well. Did you know that dandelion flowers, leaves and roots are edible? Maybe eating them instead of spraying them would be a better option. Oil and gas leaks from our cars and spills at the gas station or while filling the lawnmower all add up,
but we can each do our part on a daily basis help maintain the purity of our Lake.
The water crisis in California is already beginning to affect us here as well. The cost of food, much of which is grown in California, is
and will continue to rise, as those farms lose their ability to irrigate. Consider where your food is coming from and look for local
alternatives. Local options may be more expensive in the short term, but helping local producers scale up now, by buying their products
and asking retailers to increase local offerings, will pay off in the long run. Developing a robust local food system does not happen
overnight, but we have the opportunity now to lay the ground work so that we may begin to adapt and prepare.
The water challenges around the world may seem far away, when sitting on the shores of the greatest of the Great Lakes. We have a vital
global resource that is still relatively pure, right out our doors. Washburn is upstream from Lake Superior, and Lake Superior is upstream
from just about everything. It is our responsibility as global citizens to insure that the headwaters to the world remain as clean and pure
as possible. Please make good choices, and thank you for doing you part.
Sincerely,

Scott Griffiths, Mayor

cell- 715.685.4031
office- 715.373.6160 x7
wasburnmayor@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/washburnmayor

Thinking about getting chickens? Think ahead!

- Do some homework about what is
involved in keeping happy healthy chickens.
- Visit city hall or the city website and read the
ordinance before you order your chickens.
Many people dont realize that the permit
process can take over a month.
- The ordinance has specific guidelines
about coop construction. Save yourself some
headaches and check them out before you
buy materials or start building.
Learn more and download forms on the city zoning page:
http://cityofwashburn.org/zonecode.htm

WHO: CITY OF WASHBURN RESIDENTS

WHEN:
SATURDAY, May 9, 2015
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
WHAT: The dumpsters are available to dispose of
most types of waste.
EXCEPT: Food Waste & Hazardous Materials
(Clean Sweep is July 18th)

Appliances, TVs, batteries and tires will be

accepted for a fee.
You can see the fee schedule at
cityofwashburn .org

Curbside Recycling Guidelines

Acceptable

Unacceptable

Paper

Letterhead
Windowless Envelopes
Standard Forms
Computer Print Out
Post-It Notes
Copy Paper
Clean Dry Newsprint
Magazines
Catalogs
Phone Books

Manila Folders
Overnight Delivery Envelopes
Food Contaminated Paper

Cardboard/paperboard
Corrugated Cardboard
Waxy Cardboard
Non-contaminted
Food-Contaminated Boxes
Food Boxes
Pizza Boxes

Shoe Boxes
Cereal Boxes
Soda Or Beer Boxes
Paper Egg Cartons

Glass

Food/Beverage Containers

Ceramics
Light Bulbs
Mirror Glass
Drinking Glasses
Ovenware
Crystal
Blue tinted Glass

Plastic
containers that contained
petroleum-based products
(e.g. motor oil containers)

All plastics containing # 1-7

Metal
Metal Siding
Cookie Sheets
Other Metal items
http://www.wm.com/thinkgreen/what-can-i-recycle.jsp

Aluminum Cans
Metal Food Cans

You can get a bin at City Hall

Learn more about curbside pick-up,

the recycling schedule, the yard waste dump
schedule and more at:
http://cityofwashburn.org/waste.htm

New Housing in Washburn?

A 32-unit development, recently built by Movin Out in Stoughton WI.

http://www.movin-out.org/ElvenSted.html

At Februarys City Council meeting, a representative of Movin Out, a

Madison based non-profit, discussed the concept of building a 24-unit
housing development in Washburn The potential development would
include units for people with disabilities and families with disabled children,
affordable units for people of low to median income, and units available at
full market rate.
At the March Council meeting, after a lengthy discussion, the Council
approved (6-1) the formation of an ad hoc exploratory committee to look
into the issue more deeply. Some of the questions that the committee will be
addressing:
- Potential locations for the development
- Potential revenues from property taxes, water and sewer utility
connections.
- Is there enough demand for this potential housing?
- How much financial support will the development require from city
TID funds?
- Is this a good fit for Washburn?
There are many questions to be answered and many steps in the process
before any develoment of this nature will move forward. The formation of
the ad-hoc committee is the first step to insure that we,as a City, do our due
diligence.
If you have questions or concerns that you would like to see the ad hoc
committee address, please forward them to me, or Scott Kluver at City Hall.
If you would like to learn more about Movin Out, you can visit their
website:
http://www.movin-out.org/
If you would like to see the City Council discussion regarding the formation
of the the ad-hoc committee, you can see it at the link below, beginning at
approximately 41:00 minutes.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/59720358

Seeking Citizen Committee Member

The ad-hoc exploratory committee consists of the following people:
- MayorScott Griffiths
- Council President- (to be elected in April)
- WDA PresidentRick Geisen
- City AttorneyDavid Siegler
- City Administrator Scott Kluver
- Rep. from Washburn Housing Authority- (yet to be named)
- Citizen Representative (this could be you!)
The councils directive was to find someone to represent the retired/ disabled
community for the ad-hoc committee. Are you interested in being involved?
Please stop by City Hall and pick up an application. We hope to have the
committee named by mid April, so please apply soon if youre interested.

Lunch with the Mayor

at Patsys
Wed. April 22nd 12:00pm