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June 14, 2007 Resolution 2007-05 Phosphorus Ban sponsor request

Town of Lake Mills
RESOLUTION NO 2007-05

WHEREAS, phosphorus delivered to public waterways causes excessive
plant and 
algae growth, with one pound of phosphorus producing up to 500 pounds
of 
algae, and

WHEREAS, such plant and algae growth causes murky water clarity, weed
choked 
recreational areas and low dissolved oxygen levels, harming fish and
aquatic 
life, and

WHEREAS, such diminished water quality from phosphorus pollution
lowers 
property values and harms the tourism and outdoor recreation
industry, and

WHEREAS, phosphorus discharges from industry, wastewater treatment
plants 
and agricultural are limited by regulation, while unnecessary
phosphorus 
enters the waters of the State from the use of lawn fertilizers, and

WHEREAS, statutory authority to limit the sale or application of lawn

fertilizers containing phosphorus requires each local government in
an 
affected area to enact similar regulatory ordinances, and

WHEREAS, a water body negatively affected by phosphorus is often not
in the 
same municipality as the point of sale or use of lawn fertilizer
which may 
affect the water body and

WHEREAS, regulation in Wisconsin is patchwork at best, because of
limited 
authority to regulate phosphorus uses, and

WHEREAS, this proposal has been reviewed and recommended by the Town
and 
City of Lake Mills Joint Rock Lake Committee, Rock Lake Improvement 
Association and the Lake Mills Town Board,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Lake Mills Board of 
Supervisors requests its legislative delegation to sponsor new state
law 
similar to laws of the State of Minnesota concerning this issue which

prohibit the sale or application of lawn fertilizers containing
unnecessary 
phosphorus components, or, in the alternative, to sponsor legislation

authorizing Jefferson County to adopt a county-wide ordinance
prohibiting 
the sale or use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus (subject to

limited exceptions) which statutory authorization would make such a
county 
ordinance applicable to the cities, towns and villages in Jefferson
County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk shall provide a copy of
this 
resolution the Wisconsin Town's Association and to legislators
representing 
Jefferson County.

       James Heinz, Town Chairperson

       David Schroeder, Supervisor I

       Thomas Berns, Supervisor II

Attest: June 12, 2007
  Robin Untz, Town Clerk

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