Leader-Telegram from Eau Claire, Wisconsin • 9

re City Editor 7-Doug Men. (CX) 233-7077 velppirs fig impact fee proposa many metropolitan that are areas trying to control growth, Quinn said. Finance Director Rebecca Noland said the city needs the fees because it doesn't have I "If Eau Claire implements impact, fees we will be in a decided minority in Western said Pat Quinn, a representative of Ayres Associates. Hudson is the only area community charging impact fees, he said. Quinn served on an advisory committee that rtr3year.T?.,yv jj Conneonfee Imctfca By Jenny Price Leader-Telegram staff Costs of balancing the city budget should be shared by all taxpayers, not shouldered by builders and developers through impact and connection fees, the City Council was told Monday.

Builders and developers filled a public hearing to object to the proposed fees. The 1996 city budget includes fees for con-' meeting all new development to city sewer and water service and another fee for park construction. The council plans to consider a resolution today directing city staff to prepare an ordinance imposing the fees. on new businesses, said Mike Benrud, a real, estate agent who also served on the committee. Benrud called the fees "target taxation" that1 would make prospective companies feet unwelcome.

The committee produced a letter from Strand, president and owner of StrandWare saying an $18,000 impact fee would have been weighed against the offers of other com-! munities like Menomonie. "The psychological part of the impact fee; would have been very damaging to the Strand said. Other committee members agreed the fees; See COUNCIL, Page 4B; any way other than taxes to pay for new development "This is an issue about fairness," Noland said. "Should growth pay for growth or should it be spread out to the entire tax base?" Developers counter that the fees could cause a neg Quinn examined development costs for the council. The committee, comprised mostly of developers, recommended against the new fees.

Impact and connection fees are used in ative psychological effect Benrud Fox affiliates may be sold to Florida-based company Martinson said Grant Communications owns Fox affiliates in Davenport, Iowa, Huntsville, and Roanoke, and a United Paramount Network affiliate in northern New York state. The company's chief executive officer is Milton Grant Asked why WEUX and WLAX were attractive to Grant Martinson said, "He realizes the potential for Fox No changes are expected from the sale, Martinson said. In the last year WEUX added a locally produced monthly public affairs program and twice-nightly local news breaks. Next month WEUX expects to expand its power to 1.5 million watts at a new broadcasting antenna in Colfax. Grant Communications would be the fourth owner of WEUX, even though the station has been on the air only since February 1993.

The original owner of the station's license, Family Group Broadcasting of Tampa, declared bankruptcy. Like WEUX, Grant's Roanoke station originally was owned by Family Group. Martinson said Aries, which is incorporated in Nevada, will continue to own NBC affiliate WGBA-TV in Green Bay. By Rod Stetzer Leader-Telegram staff Tentatively put a "sold" sign in front of another Eau Claire television station. Grant Communications of Fort Lauderdale, wants to buy Fox Broadcasting Co.

affiliates WEUX-TV (Channel 48) of Eau Claire and sister station WLAX-TV (Channel 25) of La Crosse from Aries Communications of Green Bay. Papers probably will be filed with the Federal Communications Commission this week, WEUX General Manager Nancy Martinson said. She said it would be mid-January at the earliest before the FCC acts on the proposed sale. This has been a busy year for Eau Claire television stations. In April, WEAU-TV (Channel 13) emerged from bankruptcy.

Then last month, the FCC approved the sale of ABC affiliate WQOW-TV (Channel 18) to Shockley Communications Corp. of Madison. Grant Communications' offer was accepted by Aries on Wednesday, Martinson said. No sales prices have been disclosed, but Martinson said both stations have been doing well financially. "It wasn't that our owner was trying to get rid of us," Martinson said.

Fire safety starts in the home 14th annual fire safety poster contest: Sponsored by United Paper Workers Local 42 and the Western Wisconsin Safety Council, open to third-grade students in Eau Claire. One boy and one girl will be awarded a bicycle. Winners announced Oct. 24. Fire safety house: Oakwood Mall, Friday and Saturday.

Fire prevention displays: Oakwood Mall, Oct. Thursday through Saturday, provided by area fire departments, Department of Natural Resources, and Chippewa Valley Technical College. Fire drills: At local elementary schools, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Community Based Residential Facilities, through Saturday. Fire extinguisher demonstrations: By prevention bureau inspectors at local businesses, call 839-4825 for information. Jenny Price A ribbon for A purple ribbon is tied around a tree along Highway 10 irr Stevens Point Hundreds of the ribbons are tied to tress and signs along the highway between 4 Junction City and Park Ridse in remembrance ofJessyca MuRenberg, the 13-year-old girl who has been missing for more than three weeks.

Staff photo by Stavt KJntisrman By Jenny Price Leader-Telegram staff If you aren't careful, you could burn your house down. The three leading causes of home fires are cooking, cigarette use and home heating appliances, said Eau Claire Fire Department Deputy Chief of Prevention Bruce Fuerbringer. Knowing the danger spots can help prevent a tragedy, Fuerbringer said. Oct. 8 to 14 is Fire Prevention Week, and fire departments are sponsoring activities to increase awareness and safety.

The most common cause of house fires is people putting food on the stove or in the oven and forgetting about it said Janet Harter, an Eau Claire fire inspector. It is crucial to have working smoke detectors and a home evacuation plan with a designated meeting area outside. All family members should know their address and how to call 911, Harter said. Eighty percent of all fire deaths and 75 percent of all fire-related injuries result from home fires, Fuerbringer said. Adults are targeted for fire safety education just as much as children are, Harter said.

"Ask any 5-year-old and they'll tell you, 'stop, drop and she said. "Ask an adult and they have to think about Fire prevention education is focused at all age levels, she said, including fire drills at local schools and elderly housing complexes. Rfleriomoiriie districts decide $17-million question Board schedules election on middle, elementary school plans elementary plan were to pass, it would total about 14 cents per $1,000. "The problem I'm still wrestling with is we haven't determined if the middle school will be off-site or on-site (of the current high school and middle school area)," Peterson said. "If I'm going to I want to know where the building is going to be." Like Peterson, Quilling and Harnisch supported having the new middle school on the same site as the current high school.

There's money being spent foolishly on another site," Quilling said. "We don't even know where it is." Quilling said he was concerned buses would have to make an additional stop if the middle school is at a new site and food service would have to be transported to the middle school from the high school. Superintendent Dave Smette said board members were arguing over small issues. The site would be determined later because a special annual meeting would be necessary before land could be purchased for a new middle school. "I don't hear any board member around the table saying we do not need a new middle school," Smette said.

"That's important. You're all saying there is a definite need for a middle school." authorize borrowing up to just over $3.79 million to acquire land, construct a new elementary school and buy equipment and furnishings. School officials said based on a 4 percent growth in equalized assessed property valuation and 67 percent state aid, property taxpayers would pay an average of 59 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation over the next 20 years to pay for the new construction. If only the middle school passes, assuming similar growth and state aid, the cost would be 46 cents per $1,000. If only the By Pamela Powers Menomonie News Bureau MENOMONIE The Menomonie school board decided on a split vote to hold a $17.38 million referendum on Saturday, Dec.

2. The board voted 5-3 Monday night in favor of the special election for a new middle school and elementary school Voting against holding the special election and the two referendum questions were board members Marshall Quilling, Gary Peterson and Lloyd Harnisch. Voting in favor were board members Tina Feigal, Lynn Klatt, Dave Kreutzer, David Thomas and Phil Steans. One referendum question will ask voters to allow for borrowing up to $13.59 million to build a new middle school, remodel and renovate the existing high school and middle school and possibly the costs of land, equipment and furnishings. The second question will ask voters to Plea bargain in works for horse shooting case I Three men face p-- muiupie cnarges i Schools opens at mall Scheels All Sports, a sporting goods store, opened in the east wing of Oakwood Mall Monday, manager Jan Hook said.

Scheels, part of a company with headquarters in Fargo, sells all types of sporting goods, Hook said. It also buys used guns and other' sporting goods and offers trade-ins. J.C. Penney used to be in the space now occupied by Scheels, but it built a larger store at the mall and moved in this summer. Scheels remodeled the space and moved in less than four months, Hook said.

The store employs 100 people and will have its official grand opening Saturday, Nov. 4. Crash victims identified FOUNTAIN CITY Authorities identified two people killed in a two-vehicle accident Sunday night in Buffalo County. Esther G. Hoskins, 61, and her husband, Milton J.

Hoskins, 64, both of Fountain City, were pronounced dead at the scene. Esther Hoskins was driving southbound on Highway 35 with her husband and three grandchildren when the car struck a deer a half-mile south of Merrick State Park Road. Hoskins lost control of the car and entered the northbound lane sideways, where her vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by Tanya R. Haney. Haney, 21, of Fountain City, was in serious condition today with a head injury at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

The Hoskins' grandchildren, Billy Walsh, 8, Jessica Walsh, 5, and Samantha Walsh, 6, all of Oakdale, were treated at hospitals and released. Firm fined for bad brakes FOUNTAIN CITY The owner of a flatbed truck that lost its brakes and crashed into a railway trestle at the bottom of the Fountain City hill paid $228 in fines. Bond Drywall Supply of Onalaska was fined for having a truck on the road with defective brakes. Four put of six brakes were out of adjustment the State Patrol said. The compa ny's 1981 Ford truck also had a brake air hose that was cracked and leaking air, according to a citation.

The driver of the truck, Jeremiah S. Olson, 21, of Holmen, was ticketed for allegedly driving a truck without a commercial driver's license. Stabbing investigated STRUM Authorities are investigating an incident Friday night in which an Eleva-Strum school district student was stabbed by a student from another school during a football game. The Eleva-Strum student, whom school and Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department officials refused to identify, received a "slight" injury during the altercation, Superintendent Paul Zavada said. Zavada refused to give any more details about the incident, which occurred during the varsity football game between Eleva-Strum, and Cochrane-Fountain City at Strum.

From staff report to property and with a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer. The incidents allegedly occurred in December 1994 and January this year. Dunn County District Attorney James Peterson declined to specify what agreements are being discussed, but did say the plea agree' ment will take into account burglary charges against the men in Dunn County. Bryan and McLeod have been charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of shooting deer during the closed season and five misdemeanor counts of shining deer in October and November 1994 in Rusk County. MENOMONIE Three Dunn County men accused of shooting horses are scheduled for a plea hearing on Tuesday, Nov.

14. Charged are Jesse J. Bryan, 20, Route 1, Box 668, Menomonie; Gerald T. McLeod, 21, 2255 Wilson Lot 29, Menomonie; and Clint A. Peterson, 19, E8556 Highway 170, Colfax.

The three men are charged with two- counts of intentionally treating a horse in a cruel manner, causing the death of a horse owned by William Peterson and the death of a horse owned by Eugene Knutson. They are charged with two felony counts of causing criminal damage is 3.