WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 120 NO. 48 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Soccer team wins Baldwin Blast. PAGE 10
Trail use survey is live
At Big Lake Store, several docks may go BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
A set of long-standing and widely used docks near the Big Lake Store may soon be removed. It’s a plan the docks’ owner doesn’t like, and hopes the public will contest. According to Earl Mork, owner of the Big Lake Store, the docks have been there for more than a half-century. Mork said he helped install the docks in 1963 and has owned them since 1983. Technically, however, the docks aren’t on Mork’s property. They’re on land owned by the Township of Alden. “It’s not a very complex issue,” said Peter Wetzel, a conservation warden with the Department of Natural Resources. “We can’t have someone profiting on public property when no one else is allowed to.” Wetzel said he received a complaint about the docks two summers ago as he was patrolling Big Lake by boat. “We don’t sit there and scour maps looking for these sorts of situations,” he said.
“[…] I was approached by an individual who told me they believed Mr. Mork had docks on public property and was profiting. After I received the complaint I looked at Polk County’s GIS [geographic information system map] website and found that most of his docks were in the Town of Alden road right of way.” Mork argues that if the docks are removed, it’s the public that will lose. “If there’s no dock there, when people land the boat they’ll have to climb in and out of the water,” he said. “Any of the older people won’t be able to use the landing […] Last Thursday I had five people on the pontoon I rented out. The youngest was 77 and oldest was 92. They’re able to get out there on the pontoon.” A concerned fisherman echoed Mork’s claim. “I love to fish that lake and I won’t be able to if they take the docks out,” said Donald Vorwald. “None of the old or handicapped people will be able to.” However, while Mork allows people to fish from the docks
A survey on the uses of the Stower Seven Lakes and Cattail Trail is now available online through www.co.polk.wi.us/parks website. The Polk County Trail Planning Subcommittee created the survey in an effort to gather public opinion on the Cattail and Stower Seven Lakes Trails. The committee hopes the input will help them determine high-quality recreation opportunities on the trail. Note: the committee will only accept surveys with all questions answered. One survey form is allowed per person. Surveys can be filled out online by going to www.co.polk.wi.us/parks or printed and individually mailed to Polk County Parks, 100 Polk County Plaza Suite 10, Balsam Lake, WI 54810. Must be postmarked by July 9.
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Earl Mork, owner of the Big Lake Store, near his docks. The docks sit on Alden Township property and have for more than 50 years. This year, the DNR told Mork he must remove all but two.
at no charge, he rents out pontoons and slips. That makes the store a marina, according to the DNR — a business for which Mork has no permit. Mork said he doesn’t really profit from the docks them-
selves. “In the end I make a wash on that lake,” he continued. “The public gains so much because they can use the dock SEE DOCKS, PAGE 14
July 2 deadline to claim child sales tax rebate issued by the DOR says that “sound fiscal management and a strong economy resulted in a state budget surplus of almost $400 million for the State of Wisconsin,” leading to the creation of the program. The $100 is a refund of sales and use tax paid on purchases made for raising a dependent child in 2017. A refund of $100 for each dependent child, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), is available to the person who claims the child as a dependent on their income tax returns. Only one $100 sales tax refund per child is available. A qualified child must be: · Under age 18 on December 31, 2017 · A dependent of the claimant for tax year 2017 · A Wisconsin resident on December 31, 2017 · A United States citizen Chandler says the fastest and most convenient way to claim the rebate is to go to childtaxrebate.wi.gov where you will find more details, frequently asked questions and information. You can apply for the Child Sales Tax Rebate online 24/7 from May
BY TOM STANGL
TSTANGL THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
The deadline is approaching for Wisconsin residents with dependent children to claim a $100 per child sales tax rebate. July 2 is the deadline to file claims, according to Secretary of Revenue Richard Chandler. Chandler made a swing through Polk County last week to encourage participation in the program, administered by his department. As of June 18, 58.2 percent of eligible households in Polk County had filed claims. “Our message for people who are eligible to claim this rebate is to do it now,” said Chandler. “It’s easy to put this off and think you’ll do it later. However, after July 2, we are unable to accept claims, so if you’re eligible, don’t wait.” The Department of Revenue (DOR) estimates that roughly 670,000 households, with 1.22 million children in total, are eligible to file a claim. Postcards were mailed in May to households with instructions on how to file the claim. As of the 18th, an estimated 460,000 claims had been made. Chandler explains that the legislature passed a measure this session authorizing this one time payment to taxpayers. A release NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
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15 through July 2. If you don’t have internet access, you may file a claim by phone at (608) 266-KIDS (5437), Monday – Friday from 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Chandler says it has been taking less than three weeks for the rebate to be direct deposited into checking accounts, longer if checks are printed and mailed. In his visit, Chandler highlighted the state’s strong economy and the Walker administration’s commitment to lowering the tax burden to residents. Wisconsin’s state and local tax burden is now 0.3 percent below the national average of the 50 states. In 1995, the state ranked fourth in the 50 states for state and local tax burdens; in 2015 the state was 21st. Chandler notes that there is a two year lag in reporting and he estimates the state will look even better when the next results are announced. The state will also have a school shopping sales tax holiday August 1 – 5. No sales tax will be charged for clothing under $75, computer equipment under $750, school supplies and computer supplies under $250.
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