Vernon County Board Passes Resolution Recognizing Ho-Chunk Nation for $1.2 Million Payment to County
 The Vernon County Board today passed a resolution in recognition of a $1.2 million payment from the Ho-Chunk Nation to Vernon County.
The resolution comes as a result of an intergovernmental agreement executed between the Ho-Chunk Nation and Vernon County to arrange for the payment $1.2 million in gaming proceeds annually for the 1,200 acres of Ho-Chunk Nation land held in tribal trust in Vernon County.
Under the most recent gaming compact with the State of Wisconsin, the Ho-Chunk Nation agreed that commencing May 1, 2010, the Nation will deduct from its annual payment to the State of Wisconsin $1,000 paid to the county for each acre of land owned by the United States of America in trust for the Nation.
"Vernon County and the Ho-Chunk Nation have been good neighbors and we value the spirit of cooperation that exists between our two governments," said Vernon County Board Chair Tom Spenner. "Over many years, Vernon County and the Ho-Chunk Nation have taken steps to formalize their cooperative relationship through a variety of means and we are excited today to have passed this resolution recognizing them."
In addition, the Ho-Chunk Nation commented, "The Ho-Chunk Nation has a long standing history in the area and we are dedicated to our ancestral homelands. We wanted to make sure our payments to the state went back to our communities, so that we all could benefit. We are committed to fostering positive relationships and we look forward to expanding those rapports with Vernon County."
Above photo: Vernon County Board Chairman Thomas Spenner joins Ho-Chunk Nation spokesperson Anne Thundercloud shortly after the passing of the resolution.
To read the full media release, click here.
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Wisconsin Way Sponsors Economic Summit Series
 The Wisconsin Way, UW System, Competitive Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Technology Council, and the Wisconsin Higher Education Business Roundtable are planning a series of summits to develop recommendations on how to boost Wisconsin's economy and create more jobs. To read a Wisconsin State Journal article on the summits, click here. To register online and learn more, click here. |
WCA in the News: "With State in Crisis, It's Time to Chart New Path"
 Read a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel business commentary by John Torinus, which discusses WCA's role in finding solutions to Wisconsin's economic future, by clicking here. |
NACo Health Reform Implementation Information: Early Retiree Reinsurance Program Update
On June 29, 2010 the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) announced that it will begin accepting applications for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. The temporary program created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act reimburses participating employment-based plans for a portion of the cost of providing health benefits for non-Medicare eligible early retirees and their spouses, surviving spouses and dependents. Counties that provide these benefits and that meet the other application criteria are eligible to apply.
The payments from the reinsurance program are intended to provide financial relief to employers for high cost claims and to help them maintain health care coverage for early retirees. Additionally, the savings gained through the program can help employers lower their health care costs or offer employees reduced premiums.
Please find the application for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program at http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/index.html#early_retiree, along with application FAQs and additional information about the program. For a link to the HHS press release, please go to:http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/06/20100629a.html.
Please also visit www.naco.org/healthreformimplement for recordings of NACo health reform implementation webinars and other resources, and send health reform implementation questions to healthreforminfo@naco.org.
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Register for WCA July Educational Seminar on Collective Bargaining and Binding Arbitration
The next WCA Educational Seminar, "Collective Bargaining and Binding Arbitration," will be held July 26, 2010 at the Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee. As a reminder, WCA Educational Seminars qualify for CLE credits. To learn more, click here.
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Apply Now for 2010 Arts in the Community Awards
Arts Wisconsin seeks nominations for the 2010 Arts in the Community Awards, honoring civic leaders who have encouraged and supported innovative approaches to using the arts to build and sustain vibrant, healthy, creative communities.
Learn more here.
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Douglas County Supervisor Lew Martin Nominated as Meals on Wheels American Volunteer of the Year: Vote Today!
 Douglas County Board Supervisors Lew Martin has been nominated as the Meals on Wheels American Volunteer of the Year. He is one of only a handful of people across the nation being considered this year and polling to select the top volunteer is currently happening online through July. To watch a video on Lew's service, click here. To see all nominees, as well as vote, click here. Congratulations to Lew for your recognition and years of service. Good luck! |
WCA Annual Conference Will Be Here Before You Know It..Are You Registered?
 Registration is open for the 2010 WCA Annual Conference September
26-28 in Milwaukee County. This year's event will be held at the Frontier
Airlines Center (formerly Midwest Airlines Center) and the Hilton Milwaukee
City Center. To view the tentative agenda,
as well as for registration information, click here. If you are a business
interested in exhibiting at the event, click here. For additional WCA Conference information, including exhibition opportunities, contact WCA Marketing and Events Coordinator Cheryl Fleck at fleck@wicounties.org or at 866.404.2700. |
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Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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WCA and "The Wisconsin Way" in the News
Read an editorial that ran in The Capital Times June 22, 2010 on the Wisconsin Way and WCA's efforts, by clicking here.
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Applications Still Being Accepted for County Mutual and WCA GHT
Scholarships; New Scholarship Program for Medical Students
The Wisconsin County Mutual, as well as the WCA Group Health Trust (GHT), is now taking applications for their 2010 scholarship program. Click here for the County Mutual and click here for the WCA GHT Application. In addition, the WCA GHT has a new scholarship for medical students in Wisconsin focusing on primary care. Learn more here.
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