Broadband coverage is increasingly critical to local government's ability to deliver services efficiently. Broadband infrastructure facilitates remote monitoring of meters, sensors, public safety officer information, administration, billing, and countless other tasks and services.
LGI has collected some resources to help local governments understand the status of broadband deployment in Wisconsin.
 
Broadband: Where is the Coverage by Andy Lewis
Presentation made to the Intercounty Coordinating Committee on April 21, 2014.
 
Economic & Social Impact of Broadband Investment in Wisconsin 

A recent article in the Wisconsin State Journal by Tom Still credits local government collaboration along with State incentives, land, location and logistics for landing three big economic development projects - the Amazon distribution center in Kenosha, a United Natural Foods distribution center in Sturtevant (Racine County) and another one in Prescott in Pierce County. 
"Principle of 'creative destruction' means churn and learn for Wisconsin economy"

Charles Marohn will be in Wisconsin in November to make two presentations - one in Milwaukee and one in Madison.  Charles Marohn, is the President of Strong Towns, a Minnesota-based  nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. He has traveled around the country to discuss the reasons behind persistent local financial challenges and methods for helping America’s cities and villages achieve financial strength and resiliency.
 

Click here for more details.  The water utility industry in Wisconsin is a rising cost industry, facing increasing challenges to remain financially viable and provide high quality, affordable service.  These challenges include: industry fragmentation, mounting infrastructure needs, rate design that does not reflect replacement costs, and loss of customer demand due to conservation and economic pressures.   The purpose of this forum is to gain an understanding of the costs drivers in the industry and to explore barriers and opportunities for moving forward to meet new demands.  This session will address options for meeting the challenge of rising costs associated with any number of issues now facing an aging water system infrastructure.   One promising option is to pursue cooperation among systems to achieve benefits of scale and best use of resources yet still maintaining your system identity. 

Click here for more information or to register. Government agencies around Wisconsin are seeking new strategies to sustain and improve services for their customers – the people they serve.  Discover how your agency or department can drive higher service and capacity, while also reducing costs and wastes.  This two-day intensive seminar will address all aspects of Lean including cultural implementation issues, Lean tools, interactive learning exercises, and conclude with a practical hands-on simulation.  Facilitated by Harry Kenworthy, Principal & Manager of the 

The third annual Lean Government Conference was a great success with over 135 experts, state, county, municipal and town officials convening to learn from one another and discuss specific methods for getting more done with fewer resources.
Many of the presentations from the conference have been posted to the web. Some sessions were highly interactive and were not focused on a formal presentation, so there will not be a presentation listed for those sessions. The presentations may be viewed through the Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence website at http://www.wisquality.org/lean-government-2013/lean-government-conference-presentations/.

This two-volume publication from the University of Wisconsin - Extension is an excellent resource for local governments wanting to improve their financial, social and environmental sustainability.
 
Volume 1 features:

• Guidance for Adapting Local Government Functions
• Energy
• Buildings
• Transportation/Mobility
• Procurement
• Investments
• Human Resources
• Case Studies & Sample Resolutions

Click here to download Volume 1 (2.76 mb)
or visit:
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/clue/Documents/Eco-M/SustainabilityToolkitVolume1.pdf
 
Volume 2 features:

UW-Extension Local Government Center and the Wisconsin Towns Association. 8:00 am – 3:15 pm. Nine locations across the state. Cost:  $65; late registrations $75, includes lunch. These workshops cover a basic curriculum on budgeting; payroll; financial administration; DOR update, forms, electronic filing and levy limits; local government’s role in sustainable communities; common parliamentary procedure issues; liability protection; annexation; and a “hot topics” session from the Wisconsin Towns Association. More information is available at lgc.uwex.edu/Workshops/index.html. To register, contact the Wisconsin Towns Association at (715) 526-3157.

 
Dates & Locations for Town and Village Workshops

The program for Wisconsin's 3rd annual Lean Government Conference has been posted and on-line conference registration is now open.  The venue this year will be the conference facilities at the American Family Center in Madison.  This facility is conveniently located at the intersection of Hwy 151 and Interstates 39, 90 and 94 - offering easy acces for people coming from all parts of Wisconsin.  For conference details and registration, visit http://www.wisquality.org/lean-government-2013/.