Madison Media Digest: Voting, Services & Development

Here’s what we were reading while getting our winter boots out of storage:

Voting

Madison’s election went relatively smoothly. Wisconsin State Journal reported one instance of a voting issue, in which a voter said she lost her chance to vote because she was directed to insert her ballot into the machine before marking her choice. UW-Madison reported high voter turnout, with more than a thousand voters coming through Gordon Dining and Event Center.

Public services

Jennifer Cheatham, superintendent of the Madison School District, wrote a guest column in the State Journal renewing the district’s commitment to equity and excellence. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the voucher program will likely be expanded after the Republicans expanded their control of the legislature. Madison Museum of Contemporary Art brings arts to the schools through its Art on Tour program. Schools that are selected have art installed in the school and are provided with lesson plans.

Mayor Paul Soglin wants the Madison Fire Department to study working across city lines, which has been discussed as part of a county-wide revamping of emergency services. Consultants are looking at using space in the City-County and Municipal buildings better and in a more energy-efficient way. The Madison Police Department’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee met with local leaders to discuss neighborhood issues. Dane County and the City of Madison are considering budget amendments to fund equipping some police officers with body cameras. If approved, some officers would wear the cameras as early as later summer or early fall. Proposed changes to the oversight structure of the 911 call center were approved by County Executive Joe Parisi and Sheriff Dave Mahoney. It will now need to be approved by the County Board.

Development

Dane County will spend $300,000 of the 2015 budget to look into updating the Alliant Energy Center. Businesses along East Johnson Street are breathing a sigh of relief as construction ends and the road is scheduled to reopen next week. Groups have formed to oppose the expansion of music venues on East Washington. Neighbors are concerned about parking, noise, and traffic. Development of a new 40-unit apartment complex on South Park Street has been postponed due to oil contamination of the area. While the lot previously housed a bakery, it’s suspected that a gas station also used to sit on the property.