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E-EDITION ON MONROECOUNTYHERALD.COM
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MONROE COUNTY
Your Local State Award-Winning Newspaper
VOLUME 165 | NUMBER 49
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2024
TWO SECTIONS | 30 PAGES
City of Sparta hears audit report for 2023 from Baker & Tilly New position at Parks and Rec open for immediate hire By BENNY MAILMAN Editor On Wednesday, June 12th, at 6 p.m., Mayor Kevin Riley and the Sparta City Council gaveled in another session of the Common Council. The hi-lights on the agenda were the reading of the 2023 audit report, a resolution on golf course fees for River Run, and the addition of an administrative assistant position for the Parks and Recreation Department. All council members were present for the meeting. Alderman, Kevin Brueggeman, kicked off the meeting by leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Directly following the routine honoring of America, two service awards were given
out. One was for Kimberly Wegner, for having served five years at the Sparta Free Library. She accepted her award from Mayor Riley, and the first one to shake her hand after the recognition, was Michelle Tryggestad, Director of the Sparta Free Library. Wegner works in Youth Services. The second award was for Sam Peterson, who has served 10 years for the city’s water department. Peterson was not present to receive the award. The next order of business was the reading of the 2023 Audit. Treasurer, Mark Sund, introduced Andrea Jansen, from Baker and Tilly, a top ten advisory tax and assurance firm, based out of Madison, Wisconsin. Jansen’s expediency to the podium was aided in her having sat in the front row. “We were able to issue an unmodified opinion, 'AUDIT REPORT' cont. pg. 5
Tomah home values reassessed
By JAYME BAHL Staff Writer
The city of Tomah was found incompliant with a greater than 10% reassessment of resident rule, which is required every five years, not annually. As a result, new assessments were made and mailed to each resident affected. Questions may be directed to the phone number listed on the reassessment letter received. At Tomah’s committee of the whole meeting, on Monday, June 17th, 2024, city
clerk, Becki Weyer, raised awareness of the new assessments during her report. “I did want to mention that our assessor did contact me today,” Weyer said. “The letters for the full assessment on the city of Tomah, for all properties, did go out. So, you may have already received this letter yourself or you may have heard about it. If not, you may want to check your mailbox.” Weyer explained the reason behind the new assessments. 'REASSESSED' cont. pg. 9
Phil Mlsna showing the soft sand made from his sand separation operation. Herald photo by Kyle Evans.
MDS Dairy Farm fined with no environmental harm done By KYLE EVANS Staff writer From 2016 to present, Phil Mlsna and Mlsna Dairy Supply (MDS) have stuck over $10 million in improvements into his farm, consistent with the concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) regulations, handed down by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). All of these projects were in compliance. Then in July of 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a lawsuit against Mlsna, based on not having a CAFO permit from 2015 to 2023. MDS was charged with failing to submit
complete permit issuance application, failure to obtain CAFO permit, and failure to submit plans/specifications for system/facility. When presented with the lawsuit, Mlsna questioned it, based on the fact that he has done everything the DNR has asked of him and his business. Mlsna got rid of calf huts and built new buildings, to house animals to be contained inside. Mlsna added concrete to a pit because the DNR said it needed more capacity. Mlsna had a sand recycling system put in that creates basically beach sand out of used sand from cow beds. That sand is then used to bed the cows again, after
all the contaminates have been removed. But the state continued with the lawsuit anyway, racking up legal fees, paperwork, witnesses, and more. Mlsna submitted numerous applications for the permit, and it was approved, effective September 1, 2023, after the DNR was able to conduct a site visit, to assure compliance mandates had been met. Mlsna’s lawyer, David Abt, pushed for a judgement of $54,577.50, which included $10,350 in the state’s attorney fees. After the state had incurred more and more legal costs, they increased the asking to over $575,000. In November of 2023,
Monroe County Judge, Mark Goodman, heard three days of testimony. Mlsna said, “They produced no evidence of any environmental harm, that all DNR witnesses testified to.” According to witness testimony in court documents, Deborah Dix, a retired DNR Environmental Enforcement Specialist, was on the stand and was asked if any of the missed paperwork resulted in any environmental harm. Dix said, “Not that I’m aware of.” Bernie Michaud, a DNR CAFO Engineer Supervisor, was asked the same question. He said, “I’m not aware of 'MLSNA' cont. pg. 9
SACS members host mini event ahead of main fundraiser By JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ MORAN Contributing Writer SACS (Sparta Area Cancer Support) members sponsor other fundraisers leading up to their main Rally event, in August, including “Kick Cancer to the Curb” in June, and a brat sale at Theisen’s, in May. Every penny donated goes toward helping local people battling cancer with immediate their needs also known as “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” SACS members celebrated the successful fundraisers at their recent June meeting, on June 10th, 2024. On Friday, June 7th, Sparta High School students stepped up and stood out at Fast Eddie’s, coaxing donations
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from patrons, by holding out a bucket and explaining their cause. As a result, the teens brought in $928.91, to help neighbors fighting cancer. One donor even dropped in a $100 bill! There were three generations volunteering together, changing lives and making meaningful memories. At the same time, the teens earned service hours, to put toward their graduation requirement. At another mini fundraiser, other SACS members volunteered their time selling brats at Thiesen’s. They were grateful to report that they received $600, although that amount is lower than what has been donated in previous years. On August 2nd, 2024, SACS’ will be hosting the
INDEX
25th year of their Cancer Walk/Rally. This year, the event will be held at the scenic Evans Bosshard Park, selected for its accessibility, shade, restrooms, concessions, bandshell, and tranquil natural areas including Beaver Creek. It is hoped that on August 2nd, the SACS Walk will be heavily attended by friends and families of all ages. With their experience and new ideas, the event promises to be fun, memorable, productive, and meaningful. All funds donated at the mini fundraisers, as well as the big Walk Rally coming up on August 2nd, will go directly to help local neighbors offset financial concerns, so that they can focus on getting better. Teens and anyone
interested in getting involved are encouraged to do so, by attending a meeting, reaching out on social media, or calling a board member. Watch the Herald and SACS for more news and updates about the Rally at Evans Bosshard Park, on August 2nd, 2024. You can learn more, volunteer, or apply for assistance, at https:// spartaareacancersupport.org/ the official website for SACS. You can order your 2024 SACS tee shirt by getting ahold of Kathy Culpitt, at 608-269-6162. You can also shop for SACS gear online, at https://pnpproducts.chipply. com/SACS/store Contact the Board of Directors via phone:
Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Puzzles. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . 4
Sports. . . . . . . . . . 7 & 8 TV Guide. . . . . . . . . . 10 Classifieds. . . . 12 & 13
'SACS' cont. pg. 9
Three generations of Spartans volunteer together as SACS Neighbors Helping Neighbors, making meaningful memories and raising funds to help area cancer patients. From left to right: Khaleesi Nichols, Tara Nichols, Theresa Nichols, Harper Nichols, Madelyn Nichols. Theresa explains, “Tara’s my daughter and the other 3 girls are my granddaughters. Last year they all helped. This year they collected $928.91!! Photo contributed by Theresa Nichols. Benny Mailman, Editor
editor@monroecountyherald.com
Greg Evans, Publisher
greg@monroecountyherald.com
Published by Evans Print + Media Group 1302 River Road Sparta, Wisconsin 54656 608-269-3186