Well, the 2007 Local Government Management Internship Program was officially launched today at the Eau Claire County Government Center, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Eight undergraduate interns were treated to a morning of orientation activities complete with welcoming remarks from the Chair of the Eau Claire County Board, the County Administrator, Tom McCarty, and the City of Chippewa Falls Administrator, Dan Elsass (Wittenberg ’73). Senior planner Todd Andrews also gave the interns an overview of the new Wisconsin Smart Growth Law which requires all local governments in Wisconsin to adopt a comprehensive plan containing 9 essential elements, and as of 2010 all land use actions must be consistent with the plan.
The interns were then given a brief description of the projects they will be working on during the 9-week program. These include the following:
Eau Claire County:
1. Conversion of paper land use maps to GIS and creation of property tax data base.2. Revision of Comprehensive Plan
3. Performance Budgeting Project Launch and Outcome Performance Measures
4. Revision and Updating of Personnel Policies and Employee Handbook
5. Assist with Feasibility Study of $15 Million Airport Terminal Expansion
6. Research on land use development options around the airport
7. Research on Alternatives of Incarceration and Assistance to Multi- Agency Task Force on Recidivism
City of Chippewa Falls:
1. Updating and Revision of Personnel Policies and Administrative Procedures Handbook
2. Implementing new financial tracking software for special assessments
3. Research on possible expansion of shared ride taxis beyond city limits
4. Research on possible implementation of express bus service from city of Eau Claire
5. Research on renegotiation of CATV franchise agreement
6. Updating of city’s 5-year Parks and Recreation Plan
7. Updating of the city’s Forestry Management Plan
The students are all excited about getting started on their projects and they posed for a formal picture outside the Eau Claire County Government Center.
Students–Back row L-R: Dylan Owens (’09), Chris Martin (’08), Kris Boppel (’08), Seth Morgan (’08). Front row L-R: Patricia Wendt (’08), Zoe Monahan (’07—University of Oregon), Clark Disney (’07), and Katie Tallman (’08).
