Design Dane!

Keep Our Rural Communities Working

Dane County has wonderfully healthy rural towns and some of the best farmers and farm land in the world. Preservation of working farms is essential to our economy and our county's character. To ensure that we maintain a strong agricultural economy in Dane County, and preserve our valuable farm land for agricultural uses, I propose we:

Establish a Farmland Mitigation Program which will require long-term protection of one acre of farmland for every acre of agricultural land converted to nonagricultural use.

Adopt Farm Priority Zones where the county will target benefits to assist farm families and where residential development will be limited.

Since 1990, Dane County farmland has been sold for non-agricultural
uses at an average rate of 3,270
acres annually, an area the size of Lake Monona each year.

-Dane County Regional Trends, 1996,1997

Work with towns to update the Dane County Farmland Preservation Plan and provide a process for towns to make local development decisions.

Create a Farm Marketing Program to work with farmers and the community to identify and develop new farm markets, coordinate education programs, and set up a farmers' environmental savings program to help farmers save money and lessen pollution by reducing use of purchased fertilizers and pesticides.

Appoint a Dane County Agricultural Council to advise the County Executive and County Board on agricultural matters.

Each farm contributes to the local community the economic value of eight non-far1n households.

-Agri-View, 4/30/98

Build Strong Cities and Villages

Dane County's many diverse cities and villages are vibrant centers of work, home and play. Targeting new job growth and housing to areas where public services such as roads and schools already exist, will save tax dollars and preserve separate visual identities of our cities and villages.

To promote these goals, I recommend we:

Establish a revolving loan fund to help cities and villages revitalize neighborhoods and downtowns, expand community gardens, clean up brownfields and improve the way people get around.

Target county funds for roads and other facilities to promote efficient growth of cities and villages.

Pursue federal grants to help local communities build community centers, provide more and better housing and create jobs.

Work with private lenders to offer loans and mortgages that encourage sensible growth.

Conserve Our Lands and Waters

In order to preserve valuable natural resources and recreational areas for all of today and for future generations, we need to:

Create a Dane County Stewardship Fur to acquire parks, open space and agricultural easements. Propose a major countywide referendum to provide broad financial support for the county, local governments and non-profit organizations to purchase and protect natural resource. agricultural land and easements over the next 10 years.

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Revised: July 14, 1998