Changes that will impact the Green Bay community in 2012

The New Year will mean changes to many organizations, municipalities and events across the Green Bay area.

Some highlights include:

Education

The new year isn't expected to be an easy one for local school districts.

Officials expect to make budget cuts for 2012-13 that could affect students or programming.

The state biennial budget cut $800 million in general aids to schools, and limited the revenue districts can collect from taxpayers.

In 2011-12, districts were able to trim costs by requiring employees to pay more for health insurance and toward their pensions, but administrators say more noticeable cuts likely will come in 2012.

The state budget also ended collective bargaining for most public workers, including teachers. Many local school boards and teachers unions signed one- and two-year contracts before the law was enacted and educators now are starting to create employee handbooks to eventually replace contracts. School administrators and board members say they will work with unions as they design handbooks, but some teachers worry they won't have a say about future working conditions, including work hours and class size.

A state committee is reviewing the way teachers are evaluated and is expected to make recommendations sometime in 2012. Teachers are concerned new rules could place too much emphasis on how well students perform on standardized tests. State school superintendent Tony Evers has said that will be one component of the new standards, which also could include peer, parent and principal reviews.

? Patti Zarling/Press-Gazette

Concealed carry

The state Department of Justice is hoping to make some changes to concealed carry legislation in 2012.

The DOJ is expected to propose legislation that would address or clarify aspects of the concealed carry law, which took effect Nov. 1 and allows residents who are 21 or older and complete safety training to apply for a permit to carry a concealed handgun, knife or electric weapon, such as a Taser.

"At this point, we are not prepared to say what we may propose, but we have been keeping track of issues brought to our attention from law enforcement, the public and others," department spokeswoman Dana Brueck said.

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The department will work with the state Legislature and plans to hold a public hearing regarding the proposed changes, Brueck said.

? Hannah O'Brien/Press-Gazette

Courts

This will be the year that Brown County expects to get its veterans court up and running.

The special court system to be run by Brown County Judge Kendall Kelley is intended to steer military veteran offenders into treatment rather than prison in appropriate cases.

The intention isn't to reduce the veterans' level of accountability but to find more effective ways to deal with the special emotional issues that often plague veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, Kelley has said.

Under the plan, Kelley would preside over the court, and police, prosecutors and Veterans Administration officials would refer veterans who commit crimes.

In the veterans court program, offenders could be more easily steered toward a wealth of counseling services offered through the Veterans Administration that likely would be more beneficial than treatment programs available in the prison system, Kelley said.

? Paul Srubas/Press-Gazette

Brown County

Key issues facing Brown County government this year include an election to decide who will sit on the County Board and whether to continue the seven-figure expenditure for the upgrade of a county-wide radio system for police, fire and rescue personnel.

Also looming is the need to hire several department heads or attempt to merge some departments as a way to cut costs and improve efficiency. Executive Troy Streckenbach has said he is considering options for consolidation and expects to reveal more early in 2012.

Elections will be April 3, with 24 of 26 current supervisors seeking another term. About one-third of the elections are contested.

? Doug Schneider/Press-Gazette

Green Bay

In Green Bay, the downtown business district could look a lot different in 2012.

City officials plan to demolish the former Washington Commons shopping mall and launch construction of the new Schreiber Foods Inc. corporate headquarters and research center. Officials expect the $50 million development to change the face of downtown and ultimately create more than 500 jobs.

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Work also is scheduled to conclude in 2012 on the downtown WaterMark development, which will produce a children's museum, waterfront restaurant and other businesses at the site of the long-dormant former Younkers department store.

Not far away, the KI Convention Center could undergo a dramatic expansion, if city officials are able to assemble financing for their $18 million concept.

And on the west side of the Fox River, new owners will attempt to finance their plans for redeveloping the former Larsen Green industrial complex into a public market, retail businesses and apartments.

? Scott Williams/Press-Gazette

New leaders

The villages of Howard and Suamico each hired a new administrator in September ? Paul Evert and Steve Kubacki, respectively.

Ed Delgado was elected to his first term as chairman of the Oneida Tribe of Indians in July.

With a few months of leadership under their belts, each is expected to take steps to implement his vision for the coming year.

Delgado has advocated for a return to tribal principals, calling for better sharing of resources to ensure care for all tribal members.

Howard is crafting a new comprehensive plan, and Evert will help complete that project as well as try to boost economic development and business retention.

Kubacki will aim to balance two goals of maintaining and enhancing Suamico's tax base and village services while also preserving and enhancing the village's natural resources and environment.

Source: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120102/GPG0101/201020476&located=rss

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