Notable + Quotable

HEARD AROUND THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY

REBOOT SOCIAL, THE NAME, WE WERE ALL JUST SITTING THERE TOGETHER TALKING ABOUT HOW WE REALLY WANT TO CREATE A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE SOCIAL AGAIN.

IAN PROCK. Co-owner of Reboot Social explaining how it was named. Reboot Social is the arcade and bar that will be opening in downtown Eau Claire on Sept. 2. (via WQOW)

We serve a little over 30,000 meals a year and we have seen an increase this last summer.

JOAN LAWCEWICZ. Chippewa Falls police officer on National Night Out, which was held on Aug. 2. (via WQOW)

COMMENTS FROM OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL FEEDS TAKEN COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT

“I can’t for the next issue to come out!! Mike, you’re either making me LOL or tearing up.”

KATHY JORGENSEN. Under the Aug. 2 REAR END post about writer Mike Paulus’s experience with readers. (via Facebook)

“Green is merely a government plot to extract money from everyone except those in power. It should be obvious to all but the most zealous of the population. Prove me wrong!”

DON ZANK. Commented on our Go Green special section guide on Aug. 2. (via Facebook)

“But seriously, though. Who doesn’t like a, fried from frozen, hate sandwich anyway?”

KATY MANKAMYER PHILLIPS. Commented under the July 28 post about a Chick-Fil-A coming to Eau Claire in the future. (via Facebook)

FROM .ORG

words by v1 staff

CITY OF EAU CLAIRE VOTERS WILL FACE A REFERENDUM ON THE NOV. 8 BALLOT THAT, if approved, would increase the amount of property taxes the city collects annually by $1.45 million. The tax increase would pay for 15 new city positions: six police officers, six firefighter/paramedics, two civilian community service officers, and a 911 dispatcher.

According to city figures, the referendum would increase property taxes by about $44 annually for the owner of a $194,000 home (that’s the current median price for a home in Eau Claire).

The City Council approved the referendum unanimously at a July 26 meeting.

“I know finances are tight, and I’m not trying to get our community to pay any more money then they would like to whatsoever, but I think it’s important that when we talk about police and fire, that we do all that we can,” City Councilman Roderick Jones said, according to WEAU 13 News.

State law limits how much municipalities can collect in property taxes. If they wish to exceed that level, they must ask voters for permission via a referendum.

Meanwhile, the Eau Claire school board is also considering going to voters to request a tax hike this fall. According to the Leader-Telegram, a school board committee has considered referendum amounts of $71 million and $92 million to pay for school building upgrades. The school board could vote on final details later in August.