Noxious Weeds

1. What is redistricting and why do we redistrict?

Under both federal and state law, local governments must redraw municipal ward boundaries and political jurisdictions every 10 years to accommodate changing population and demographic trends. This process begins after the United States Census Bureau releases the decennial census data. Local governments oversee changes in maps for city and county government.

St. Croix County is only working on redistricting for our County and local municipalities. State lawmakers draw new district lines for the state’s Assembly and Senate seats and congressional districts.

2. What is the timeline and process for redistricting?

Our goal is to complete the redistricting process by December 1 while continuing to ensure a non-partisan redistricting process that prioritizes public hearings and public input on the process and the tentative maps. There will be two public hearings to review the maps. The maps will be posted to the St. Croix County website when they are available for review. The County Clerk’s Office and the Community Development Department are working with local municipalities on the redistricting process.

Below is a tentative timeline of the redistricting process. These dates may change.

August 20: St. Croix County Community Development creates tentative Supervisory District maps for Administration Committee review
August 25: St. Croix County Administration Committee reviews maps and recommends one tentative supervisory district plan for review by the County Board
September 9: St. Croix County Board holds public hearing to review and adopt a tentative supervisory district plan via resolution
September 10 to October 14: Municipalities adopt ward plans by resolution and submit ward plans to St. Croix County.
November 2: St. Croix County Board of Supervisors holds a second public hearing to review and adopt a final supervisory district plan via resolution.

3. How will this change how I vote or run for local office?

Depending on the population changes, wards, aldermanic districts, county supervisory districts, state assembly, senate, and federal congressional districts may be redrawn. Any approved changes to the maps will be updated on the St. Croix County website before December 1.

Voting:

You can find your polling place and what is on your local ballot at MyVoteWI.gov

Running for Local Office:

If you want to run for County Board Supervisor in the 2022 spring election, review the updated County Supervisory District Maps to determine which district you live in and contact the County Clerk’s Office for the proper paperwork. The updated map will be available on the St. Croix County website before December 1, 2021.

4. Why was there a delay in redistricting this year?: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Census Bureau was delayed in collecting and sharing the data we need to begin the redistricting process. Due to this delay, the redistricting process is on a compressed timeline to create updated maps that accurately reflect our current population by December 1.

5. Where can I find more information on redistricting?

You can find more information about the census and redistricting on the following sites:

United States Census Bureau
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) Guidebook to Redistricting
Wisconsin Technology Services Bureau Redistricting Resources
Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) County Decennial Redistricting Resources
Current St. Croix County Supervisory District Information (2012-2021)

If you have questions that are not answered here, please contact the St. Croix County Clerk’s Office.

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COVID-19

2. How contagious is COVID-19?

1. How does COVID-19 spread?

COVID-19 can be spread by people who are and are not showing symptoms.

According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is spread predominately by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. Find more information on how COVID-19 spreads on the CDC’s website.

Wearing a face covering, maintaining a 6-foot distance from others, avoiding large crowds, and getting vaccinated for COVID-19 are a couple ways you can help prevent the spread of this disease. Find more recommendations on our COVID-19 Guidance page.

According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people. Information suggests that this virus is spreading more efficiently than influenza. In general, the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.

Find more information on how COVID-19 spreads on the CDC’s website.

3. Can you have COVID-19 and not show symptoms?

Yes, people are testing positive who have mild or no symptoms. This is referred to asymptomatic.

A person that is not showing symptoms but has COVID-19 can still spread the disease without knowing it. This is why wearing face coverings and socially distancing are important tools in keeping us healthy and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Find more recommendations on our COVID-19 Guidance page.

4. Why should you be concerned about COVID-19?

We should all be concerned about the spread of this disease, especially among our elderly and those with compromised immune systems. People can have COVID-19, be contagious, and not show any symptoms. Although you may not feel the effects of this disease, you could still spread it to someone else.

Following the simple recommended safety measures such as wearing face coverings and socially distancing helps protect all of our communities. We are stronger when we work together.

Find more recommendations on our COVID-19 Guidance page.

5. Why are we following safety measures like social distancing and wearing masks for COVID-19 and not the flu?

While we learn more every day, there is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19. At this time we do not know the long-term impacts of this disease.

We do know more about the seasonal flu than COVID-19. We have vaccines and treatments for the seasonal flu and many people globally have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains.

For more information on the similarities and differences between COVID-19 and the flu, visit the CDC’s website.

6. Why do people in good health need to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus.

Some people can have COVID-19, be contagious, and not show any symptoms. Although you may not feel the effects of this disease, you could still spread it to someone who is at higher risk of becoming severely ill, which means they may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may not survive.

People at higher risk generally include older adults and those with underlying medical conditions.

Following the simple recommended safety measures such as wearing face coverings and socially distancing helps protect all of our communities, especially our most vulnerable.

Find more recommendations on our COVID-19 Guidance page.

7. What do I do if I need to get health care that is not related to COVID-19?: If you have a medical emergency, call 911 right away. Getting care fast could save your life. If you are not having a medical emergency, we recommend contacting your health care provider.

8. What can I do at home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?

We recommend wearing masks when you leave your home, maintaining a 6-foot distance from people who do not live in your household, washing your hands frequently, and sanitizing shared surfaces regularly, and getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

Getting regular exercise, eating healthy, getting plenty of rest, and planning fun and safe activities will also make a difference for your overall physical and mental health.

9. What is contact tracing?

St. Croix County Public Health uses contract tracing to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Contact tracing is one of the best tools we have to fight COVID-19.

When a person tests positive for COVID-19, we interview them to determine who they may have been in close contact with while they were contagious. Close contacts are instructed to stay home to monitor symptoms to prevent further spread of the virus.

10. What resources are available for business in St. Croix County affected by COVID-19?

Recommendations can be found on our COVID-19 Guidance page. Here are some additional resources for businesses:

11. What can my workplace do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?

We recommend that workplaces:

Follow St. Croix County Health's COVID-19 Guidance.
Follow six feet social distancing recommendations among employees and the public wherever possible.
Encourage frequent handwashing.
Frequently sanitize commonly touched surfaces.
Send employees home if they are sick.
Cooperate with Public Health’s disease investigation and contact tracing.

Finally, communicate with your employees about the importance of preventing the spread of COVID-19. If employees make high risk choices in their personal lives, that will increase the chance they could catch and spread the disease in the workplace.

12. Am I required to wear a face covering?: Read St. Croix County's COVID-19 Guidance for recommendations.

13. How do face coverings slow the spread of COVID-19?

According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. Many cases are asymptomatic, meaning that do not show any symptoms but can still spread the virus to others.

Wearing a face covering will help limit the number of droplets that are released and limit how far they travel. This will help protect the people around you if you are infected or do not know you are infected. Face coverings along with other measures like washing your hands frequently and social distancing work together to prevent the spread of this disease.

Find more recommendations on our COVID-19 Guidance page.

14. Where can I get a face covering?

Face coverings can be purchased at many local stores or online. We recommend wearing well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask when in public. When buying a face covering, make sure it:

Completely cover the mouth and nose.
Are not overly tight or restrictive and comfortable to wear.
Are not made of mesh or other fabric with holes or visible gaps.

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COVID-19 - Data

1. Where is the best place to find COVID-19 data?

Updated 8/5/2022

The best place to find local COVID-19 data is on the St. Croix County COVID-19 Dashboard. This dashboard shows the following data points for St. Croix County:

Total number of COVID-19 cases in St. Croix County
COVID-19 vaccination percentages of St. Croix County residents
Number of deaths
and more

Here are other sources of data showing the impact of COVID-19 on the state of Wisconsin and the United States: (the data in these sources may not immediately reflect the data from the St. Croix County Dashboard)

2. Why is the COVID-19 data on the St. Croix County website and other websites different?: The difference in numbers is due to how the numbers are reported. St. Croix County Public Health counts cases by day that we receive a positive test result for. We receive the majority of our test results from laboratories, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and other health departments in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

3. If a person tests positive more than once for COVID-19, how is that represented in the data?: The positive cases on the St. Croix County COVID-19 Dashboard are all individual cases. An individual is only counted once as a positive case no matter the number of times they receive a positive test result.

4. What is a probable case? How are they recorded?

The probable cases included in the data on the St. Croix County COVID-19 Dashboard are individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 with an antigen test, also known as a rapid test. These individuals must follow the same isolation protocol as those that test positive by PCR or NAAT test.

You can find more information on what an antigen test is and how it compares to the PCR or NAAT test on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

This definition follows the definition used by the Department of Health Services of Wisconsin.

5. What is considered an outbreak?: The state of Wisconsin defines what is considered an outbreak. Meeting the threshold of an outbreak is a marker in our response where Public Health begins to work closely with an organization to ensure that control measures are in place to prevent further spread of the disease. For businesses, this threshold is when 2 or more people test positive and have an epidemiological link. Because individuals at long term care facilities are especially susceptible to COVID-19, the threshold for these facilities is when one person tests positive.

6. How are deaths due to COVID-19 reported?

COVID-19 deaths that are reported on the St. Croix County Dashboard are reported to us by the state and or the County Medical Examiner. For a death to be reported as a COVID-19 death, COVID-19 is identified as a cause of death or a contributing factor to the death. Deaths among people with COVID-19 that were the result of non-COVID reasons (e.g., accident, overdose, etc.) are not included as a COVID-19 death

The state may be delayed in reporting COVID-19 deaths to local health departments for a variety of reasons. At times there are amendments to or delays to the state receiving notification of these deaths from vital records. The state is working on linking the vital record system with the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Reporting System, however a one to two-month delay may still exist with the vital record system processing. The state has hired additional staff to improve the timeliness and help with any backlogged data.

The addition of staff to assist with backlogged data and quality assurance measures may result in an increase in the notifications of COVID-19 deaths. These deaths may have occurred earlier in the pandemic. The state is aware of this issue and has provided the information above.

As of June 30, 2021, zero of the individuals reported as St. Croix County COVID-19 deaths had received any vaccine doses against COVID-19.

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COVID-19 - Testing

4. What is the cycle threshold (CT) used in PCR COVID-19 tests?

1. Who should get tested for COVID-19?: People who have symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested. If you have symptoms, talk to your health care provider and visit our COVID-19 Testing page for information on testing locations, cost, and more.

2. Where can I get tested for COVID-19?: Visit our COVID-19 Testing page for information on testing locations, cost, and more.

3. What is the cost to get tested for COVID-19?: Visit our COVID-19 Testing page for information on testing locations, cost, and more.

St. Croix County Public Health does not determine which certified PCR tests are used to test for COVID-19 or the cycle threshold (CT) of those tests. Public Health only receives a notification of a positive or negative test. They do not receive the CT values for those tests. Different locations may administer different tests and each test is different. The swabs collected during testing don’t contain a consistent amount of material across everyone tested. For these reasons, we cannot provide CT values.

The laboratories that run the PCR COVID-19 tests must be certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) to perform high complexity tests, have the appropriate laboratory equipment, their staff are specifically trained, and then they must demonstrate testing proficiency in testing standards. This is certification is done by the state not by the county.

Visit our COVID-19 Testing page for information on testing locations, cost, and more.

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COVID-19 Vaccines

3. How do I get a COVID-19 Vaccine?

1. Are vaccines safe?

The U.S. vaccine safety process assures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Clinical trials are conducted with thousands of participants for each approved vaccine and are continuously monitored for safety.

Vaccines have been a successful public health tool for many years in preventing the spread of infectious diseases like measles, polio, and tetanus. COVID-19 is a new and contagious disease that can be very serious. Along with wearing a face covering, socially distancing, and washing your hands, COVID-19 vaccines will be an important tool in controlling this pandemic. Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available.

We encourage you to keep up to date with vaccinations to stay healthy and prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine below.

2. Why should you get vaccinated?: Vaccines will help prevent you from getting COVID-19. The three vaccines currently available in the U.S. (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson) have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix Counties are working closely with local hospitals, health systems, and pharmacies to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine can get vaccinated.

Learn how to get your vaccine here.

4. How many shots of COVID-19 vaccine will be needed?

Pfizer and Moderna both need two doses to be most effective. These two doses are given several weeks apart. Johnson and Johnson is a one dose vaccine.

Booster shots of these vaccines are recommended. Learn more about booster shots.

5. What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?: You may experience some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects can include pain and swelling in the arm you received the shot. You may also experience a fever, chills, tiredness, and headache throughout the rest of your body. These side effects should go away in a few days.

6. Are vaccines required?: No. St. Croix County is not requiring that you get a vaccine. However, we encourage you to keep up to date with vaccinations to stay healthy and prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

7. What should I do after being vaccinated?: Visit our vaccine page for more information.

8. Where can I find more information on the COVID-19 Vaccines?

There is a lot of information about COVID-19 and vaccines online and knowing what information is trustworthy can be difficult. For accurate information about COVID-19 in your community, visit the website of your county public health department or your healthcare provider. Other trusted sources of information include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services websites. Visit these trusted sites for information about COVID-19:

Regional County Websites:

Regional Healthcare Provider Websites:

More Resources:

9. I lost my vaccination card. Where can I access my vaccination records?: You can view and print your immunization records on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

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Crime Victim Compensation

1. Can I receive compensation for my losses if I am the victim of a crime?

If you answered yes to any of the following questions, you could be eligible for Crime Victim Compensation.

Are you any of the following:

An innocent victim who has suffered injury from a crime?
A dependent or legal representative of an innocent victim who has been killed as a result of a crime?
A person who was injured while aiding a crime victim or helping a police officer?
A person who has suffered a reaction from the death of a family or household member?
A person who was injured in an automobile accident caused by an intoxicated driver?

Eligibility

The crime must have been reported to a law enforcement agency within 5 days of the crime.
The applicant must file a claim within 1 year of the date of the crime. This may be waived in certain circumstances.
The victim must be current with court-ordered child support or maintenance payments.
The victim's conduct must not have caused or contributed to the crime that led to an injury or death.
The victim must not have committed a crime that led to the injury or death.
The victim must cooperate with law enforcement officials in their investigation and prosecution of the crime.
The applicant must cooperate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in supplying information for the claim.

Car Accidents

If the victim was injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the victim must have been:

A pedestrian or a passenger in the other car
A child passenger in the offender's car
Unaware that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug

2. What does crime victim compensation pay?

If you are a victim of a crime you can receive up to $40,000 for any one injury or death, including:

Medical, hospital, surgical, pharmacy, and mental health counseling expenses.
Lost wages.
Loss of support to a dependent of a crime victim who is killed.
Reasonable replacement cost of clothing or bedding held as evidence by the police, prosecutor, or crime lab-up to $300.
Reasonable replacement value for property held as evidence and made unusable by crime lab testing-up to $200.
Reasonable and necessary costs for securing and cleaning a crime scene-up to $1000.
Cost of homemaker services.
An additional $2000 may be paid for reasonable funeral expenses.
No property loss or damage is covered other than those describe above.

Note: The State of Wisconsin pays only those out-of-pocket expenses that are not paid or payable by a private or group insurance plan, public funds, or any other source, including the offender. If you receive monies from the offender or a third party through restitution or any civil action, you must re-pay the state for any monies paid out on your behalf.

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District Attorney

1. I have been subpoenaed to testify. What can I expect?

Being a witness may not be convenient for you. Bringing a case to trial takes time. To protect every person's basic rights under the law, the criminal justice system has many steps. Your patience and cooperation make the system work.

Suggestions for Testifying

Always tell the truth. This is the single most important item of advice. If you don't remember, it's okay to say so.
Dress neatly. You want to be sure your appearance and manner does not distract the jury or judge, or make your testimony seem less valid.
Be prepared. Think about the answers you will give to the questions you probably will be asked.
Stick to the facts. The judge wants to hear only the facts as you know them to be, not what someone else told you.
Relax and speak clearly. You have nothing to fear when giving true statements. Speak loudly enough that the entire jury and court reporter can hear what you say.
One of the basic rules in a criminal case is that both sides have the chance to question the witness. Questions asked by both sides have the same goal - to find out what is true.
Don't let the defense lawyer upset you. It may seem at times that s/he is trying to pin you down, but s/he has the right to test how many facts you know and remember. Your testimony will be much more valuable if you remain calm.
Listen to the entire question before you answer. If you don't understand a question, ask that it be explained.

2. Who can I report information about drug trafficking to?: Contact the Department's Division of Narcotics Enforcement at 800-NAB DRUGS: 800-622-3784. Callers may remain anonymous.

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Emergency Communications

3. Can someone who does not speak English call 911?

1. How do I report a crime, accident or suspicious activity?: Call 911. All law enforcement agencies within St. Croix County are dispatched through the St. Croix County Emergency Communications Center. The Emergency Communications Center is the best place to start, as the Telecommunicators can assess the nature of your call and send the appropriate agency depending upon circumstances and jurisdiction.

2. Can I call 911 from a pay phone?: Yes. There is no charge for emergency 911 calls.

Yes. St. Croix County Emergency Communications subscribes to a translation service, which provides access to interpreters who speak many languages. These services are available 24 hours every day.

4. What if I am hearing impaired?: Our 911 center is equipped with a Telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD). This device will detect an incoming call from a device used by the hearing impaired and allows them to report an emergency via a keyboard device directly to a 911 Telecommunicator.

5. How does the 911 Telecommunicator know my address?: Many times your address and telephone number are provided by the 911 system. The Telecommunicator will always ask you to confirm your address and phone number.

6. What should I do if I have been the victim of a crime?: Call 911. If your initial report is made immediately following an incident, an officer is dispatched to the scene or location of the incident. The responding officer will make a determination on what sort of follow-up action is required.

7. Should I report suspicious activity that I observe?

Absolutely! Officers cannot be everywhere at once. Law enforcement depends on citizens calling to report crimes or suspicious activity. The Telecommunicator that takes your call will ask questions about the activity and descriptions of the people or vehicles involved. You may also be asked if an officer may contact you to follow up.

8. When should I call 911?

Anytime you feel an emergency response is needed. Generally this involves threats to life, health and property. This includes incidents that are happening, incidents that just happened or when you have suspect information.

Examples of When to Call 911

You see an uncontrolled fire
You see or smell unexplained smoke
Your or someone with you is in danger
A crime is being committed or just occurred
You believe an ambulance is needed for someone who is injured or sick
You feel you are in danger of bodily harm
Someone is attempting to get into your house
Suspicious person in prowling around your house or your neighborhood
A child is in danger

9. What are some examples of when not to call 911?

Do not call for any of the following reasons:

To obtain weather or road conditions
To report power outages, phone or water problems.
To ask for directions or road names
For general information or for police or jail reports
To report keys locked in a vehicle, unless someone's safety is at risk. (Child locked in the vehicle)
To request a taxi
To find out times of scheduled events (i.e. parades, concerts, curfews)

10. What do I do if I accidently dialed 911?

If you accidentally dial 911 or hear the Telecommunicator answer “911 Emergency, How may I assist you?” Please do not hang up. All you need to do is explain that you have dialed the wrong number. The Telecommunicator may confirm with you by asking a few questions, to ensure you are safe and that there is no problem. If you do hang up without talking to a Telecommunicator the following will occur:

The Telecommunicator will try to recontact you.
If the Telecommunicator is unable to re-establish contact, law enforcement will be dispatched to respond. It is our policy to send police officers when a 911 caller hangs up, and cannot re-contact the caller.

11. What information should I have ready when calling 911?

When contacting 911 have the following information:

The reason why you are calling
The address or location the responders need to find.

12. What is 911?: 911 is an emergency telephone number that provides expedient access to law enforcement, fire and rescue departments and emergency medical services. 911 is the number most people in the U.S and some in International countries call to get help in a police, fire or medical emergency. A 911 call goes over dedicated phone lines to the 911 answering point closest to the caller, and trained personnel then send the emergency help as needed.

13. What is Enhanced 911?: Enhanced 911, or E911, is a system which routes an emergency call to the 911 center closest to the caller, and automatically displays the caller’s phone number and address. The 911 Telecommunicator will typically ask the caller to verify the information, which appears on his or her computer screen.

14. What happens if I don't know my exact location when I call 911?: At times, during emergency situations such as traffic accidents, you may not know your exact location. The Telecommunicator will ask you a series of questions to help determine your exact location. When calling from a landline or a mobile phone Telecommunicators will be able to determine your general location. You will be asked to provide more detailed information if needed.

15. Why do Telecommunicators ask so many questions when I call 911?: Telecommunicators are trained to get as much information as possible. Questions are asked to obtain details related to your emergency. Depending on the nature of the call questions may be asked in order to help provide the caller with first aid instructions, life and personal safety instructions, the severity of injury, locations, people/property involved, etc. The information provided by callers will assist the responders in determining what they will need in order to keep others safe and out of harm’s way. Telecommunicators are trained to multi-task and will often be dispatching emergency response units while talking to you.

16. Why does my cell phone call 911 by accident?: Many of us use our cell phones, hang up and do not lock the key pad. Many cell phones are preprogrammed to call 911 when a quick key or the “9” key is pressed. Be sure to lock your key pad so 911 is not accidentally dialed.

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Flooding

1. What is a 100-year flood?: The term "100-year flood" is often used as an attempt to simplify the definition of a flood that statistically has a 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year. Likewise, the term "100-year storm" is used to define a rainfall event that statistically has the same 1-percent chance of occurring. In other words, during the course of 1 million years, these events would be expected to occur 10,000 times. Just because it rained 10 inches in one day last year doesn't mean it can’t rain 10 inches in one day again this year. (USGS)

2. What is flood stage?: The National Weather Service, based on the desires of the local community, establishes the "flood stage" gauge height for any given community. The flood stage gauge height is often the stage where damages begin to occur. Many communities desire to use the flood stage gauge height as an early warning alert, prior to the onset of significant damages. Significant damages may not occur until river levels are several feet above flood stage. Additionally, conditions along some rivers may have changed since the gauge and flood stages were established and reaching the flood stage may or may not result in actual damages. Again, stages are site-specific, so feet above flood stage at one location can’t be compared to another.

3. What is river stage?: A site-specific measurement of river-level referenced as the height in feet above a designated zero reference point, called the gauge zero, at the site. The zero-reference point is sometimes, but not always, chosen as the elevation of the river bottom. Normally, stage values are always positive. Drought conditions could cause the river level to fall below gauge zero, and the stage reading at that time would be negative. Since each gauge was established independently at each location, the stage reading is good for that location only and cannot be compared to other locations. For example, a stage of 30 feet at Fargo, N.D., cannot be compared to a stage of 30 feet at Grand Forks, N.D. The only way direct comparisons between two gauges can be made is by converting river stage to elevation by adding the stage to the gauge zero elevation.

4. What is a flood advisory?: A flood advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, caution should be exercised, and it can lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.

5. What is a flood watch?: People should be prepared for potential flooding. A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding.

6. What is a flood warning?: A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

7. What is a flash flood warning?: Shortage If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to higher ground. A flash flood happens quickly and can take minutes to occur. water due to the demand for water exceeding the supply.

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Government Center Expansion Project

1. What are the population projections of St. Croix County?

Currently St. Croix County is the fastest growing County in the state of Wisconsin.

In a population projection report from the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) (page 19) they state that “St. Croix County is projected to be the fastest-growing county, in terms of percentage change, through 2040, increasing by 41% (from census data in 2010). As a component county of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, it also ranked as Wisconsin’s top-growing county from 1980 to 2010.”

This report was created in December of 2013 using 2010 census data. If the DOA updates this report with 2020 census data, we will share that information.

The image of the table below is from the DOA report and shows fastest growing counties in Wisconsin by percent from 2010 to 2040. St. Croix County is the fastest growing county with a projected 41.1% change in population followed by Calumet County with a 31.1% change and Kenosha County with a 26% change.

A table showing the fastest growing counties in Wisconsin by percent from 2010 to 2040.

2. What studies have been done on the space needs for St. Croix County Government facilities?

Updated: 3-3-22

Three studies have been done on St. Croix County Government facilities since 2012.

A 2012 facilities planning study found the Government Center in Hudson to be in good condition and noted the growing needs of District Courts.

A 2019 Jail study determined that jail population projections will potentially increase at a rate consistent with the 10-year annual trend of just under 3%. Projecting out 5 years from the study (2024), the anticipated average daily population would be 146; at 10 years (2029) the average daily population would be 166; and at 15 years (2034) the average daily population would be 189.

A 2020-2021 masterplan study considered the data from the two previous studies and additional data from each department head. The department heads provided past staffing data, anticipated rate of growth, and outlined current space issues. The planning team then met with the departments to determine their current and future space needs. The result of the department interviews provided a space needs assessment used for the masterplans. Read the 2020-2021 Masterplan Study here.

A Government Center Building Subcommittee was formed in March of 2021 to discuss and review the need for an expansion of the St. Croix County Government Center in Hudson. The committee reviewed these previous studies, toured County facilities, and met with County employees to learn more about the space needs of the Government Center. After seven months of discussion, the subcommittee voted to recommend the project move forward to the Administration Committee meeting in January 2022 for consideration.

3. What are the different phases of this project?

Updated 3-3-22

This multi-phase project is divided into 4 phases that are designed to accommodate the expected growth and needs of St. Croix County. Phase 2 was approved for funding at the County Board Meeting in March of 2022.

Phase 1 – In Progress

Phase 1 is already in progress and includes a new storage building. The storage building will house facilities maintenance and emergency vehicles and Sheriff’s Office storage.

Phase 2 – Approved for Funding

Phase 2 includes building additions to the north and south and renovations to the existing building.

You can view the updated floorplans here.

Ground Floor

Entrances to the Sheriff’s Office Public Lobby, Jail, Justice Support Center, and Staff Clinic would be available on the south west side of the building. The ground floor includes:

Jail
Justice Support Center
Additional space for:
- Facilities Management and receiving area
- Emergency Management and 9-1-1 Dispatch
New or improved spaces for the Sheriff’s Office:
- Public lobby
- Secure indoor parking
- Training rooms
- Interview rooms
- Evidence labs
- Evidence storage
- Airlocked evidence return area

First Floor

Entrance is centrally located on the east side of the building. The first floor includes additional space for:

Court Rooms and Chambers
Victim Witness
Jury Assembly and Deliberations
Clerk of Court
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Child Support
Register in Probate's Office
Treasurer
County Clerk
Register of Deeds
Community Development
Justice Services
Sheriff’s Office
Conference Rooms

Second Floor

The second floor includes additional space for:

Court Rooms and Chambers
Jury Assembly and Deliberations
District Attorney’s Office
Administration
Corporation Counsel
Human Resources
Finance
Information Technology
Tenant office space for the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Public Defenders

Phase 3 – Pending

Phase 3 is planned to provide additional inmate housing, medical services, and programs for the jail if needed.

Phase 4 – Pending

Phase 4 is planned to expand the Service Center in New Richmond. Projections show the building will need an addition in approximately 10 years to accommodate the growing needs of the health and human services departments.

4. What are the benefits of expanding the Government Center now?

Updated: 3-3-22

To meet the growing need of our County we will need to expand the Government Center. Interest rates are still at historic lows but are expected to rise throughout the year and in the coming years.

5. What is the cost of Phase 2 of this expansion?

Updated: 2-9-22

After receiving feedback from the County Board, we have decreased the projected maximum budget for phase 2 of the Government Center expansion to $80 Million. The final amount we borrow may be lower. The cost for this phase will not exceed this amount.

To pay for the expansion of this phase, property taxes would increase based off your equalized property value. The dollar amounts shown in the graph below represent the maximum change to your property taxes. This amount will gradually drop back down over the years.

It is important to note that these numbers do not factor in growth to our County. We are currently the fastest growing county in Wisconsin. As our population grows and more people are paying taxes, the cost is spread out, and will result in lower taxes.

Equalized Property Value	Initial Annual Property Tax Increase
$100,000	$43
$200,000	$86
$300,000	$129
$400,000	$171
$500,000	$214
$600,000	$257
$700,000	$300
$800,000	$343

Our property taxes are determined by the County’s Mill Rate. The Mill Rate for St. Croix County has decreased every year since 2013. This expansion will raise the mill rate to near the level we were at in 2020 then should decrease in the following years.

We know that no one likes seeing their property taxes increase, but did you know that County taxes account for less than 20% of the average property tax bill? That's means less than 20 cents on every dollar you pay in property taxes goes to fund important services like 9-1-1 dispatch and our Sheriff’s Department, Court Services, and keeping our roads clear in the winter. The expansion will help ensure our services keep up with the growing needs of our County.

The images below show an example of tax bill distribution percentages for the cities of Hudson and New Richmond.

Pie Chart showing Hudson's tax bill distribution. 20% distributed to the County. Pie Chart showing New Richmond's tax bill distribution. 18% distributed to the County.

6. What are we doing to keep the cost down?

Updated: 2-9-22

We have experienced staff working on this project that have worked on similar projects in the past. They know what to look for so we can reduce cost. The design for the expansion will take a sustainable approach and reuse as much of the existing building and furniture as we can to keep costs down. After receiving feedback from the County Board, we have updated this project to decrease the scope and cost by over 10 million dollars while still meeting the needs of the County.

7. What options were considered?

During the planning process, the team met with County representatives to review various expansion options. The options included a north expansion, a south expansion, both north and south expansions as well as a separate administration building. Building security, staff circulation, and inmate movement were considered in all options. The decision was made to pursue a north and south expansion.

The County did look into virtual working environments. Many County employees have the capability to work remotely if needed for flexibility. However, many of the services we offer the residents and visitors of St. Croix County are best served or can only be served in-person by having a physical presence in the Government Center Building.

8. What was the process for approval and timeline of this project?

Updated: 3-3-22

A Government Center Building Subcommittee was formed in March of 2021 to discuss and review the need for an expansion of the St. Croix County Government Center in Hudson. The committee reviewed previous studies, toured County facilities, met with County employees to learn more about the space needs of the Government Center. After seven months of discussion, the subcommittee voted to recommend the project move forward to the Administration Committee meeting in January 2022 for consideration. Below is a timeline of this project:

November – December 2021: Held public open houses for residents of the County to learn more about this project from County employees and representatives.
November 10, 2021 Open House
December 8, 2021 Open House
December 2021: The plan was presented at the County Board of Supervisors Meeting on December 7.
January 2022: The proposal was brought in front of the Administration Committee. The Committee recommended the County Board review the proposal for consideration.
February 2022: Although the majority of the County Board voted in favor of the Government Center Expansion Project at the February County Board Meeting, the bond issue for the project did not receive the required three quarters vote to pass. This project has been modified to address the feedback from the County Board. The modified project will be reviewed at the February Administration Committee meeting.
March 2022: The County Board voted to approve funding for this project.
After March 2022: We will share regular updates about the progress of the project.

9. Will this impact the surrounding environment?

(updated: 7/18/22)

The expansion will not have negative environmental impacts. All the land is currently owned by the County and is properly zoned for public use. The expansion will not be directly visible to most homes in the area. Trees will be replanted throughout the property including the area on the north end of the property near the paved walking trail.

We are focused on responsible consumption of energy for the future of this building. During our strategic planning process, residents expressed a great interest in the use of alternative energies. Our plan considers the use of solar energy to be mindful of our environment and offset our future energy consumption and cost.

10. Will this impact traffic or noise in the area?

Updated 3-3-22

Slight increases in traffic and noise would happen during the construction. A traffic study may be conducted to determine future impact to traffic in the area.

11. Where can I find more information?

You can find more information on the Government Center Expansion web page. If you have questions that are not answered on this page or in these FAQs, email St. Croix County's Public Information Officer.

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Highway Department

3. What is the County doing about the weeds?

1. How do I report a dead deer?: To report a dead deer please call the St. Croix County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 715-386-4701.

2. How do I apply for a position at the Highway Department?: Please visit the Employment Opportunities section on the St. Croix County website.

Noxious Weeds

The Department strives to kill all noxious weeds within the County ROW upon discovery. Under Wisconsin §66.0407 - Noxious weeds are defined as Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed, any weed designated as a noxious weed by the department of natural resources by rule, and any other weed the governing body of any municipality or the county board of any county by ordinance or resolution declares to be noxious within its respective boundaries.

Invasive Species

Various groups (WisDOT, WCHA, DNR, etc.) are developing “Best Management Practices” to guide local units of government in Wisconsin with identifying and controlling invasive plant species in the right-of-way as well as to educate and inform land owners. These practices will appear odd to the traveling public as there will be areas of the ROW that will be treated differently than the surrounding ROW with regard to mowing, cutting, and height of vegetation due to the preventative measures needed to accomplish these BMP goals.

Herbicide Spraying

St. Croix County has acknowledged a need to initiate a higher level of maintenance regarding rural roadside vegetation management, primarily the eradication of noxious invasive plant species.

Invasive species within the road right-of-way and adjacent properties can pose significant health risks to highway workers, utility workers, emergency responders, and anyone else utilizing the right-of-way. Staff has been trained and certified in applying EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) certified herbicides. Crews spray these areas to help control and eradicate Wild Parsnip and other harmful invasive weed species in late April or early May. The window of opportunity will be dictated by weather. These herbicides are plant specific and will not hurt native plants. This means that grasses, milkweed, and other native plants will flourish, helping our wildlife and pollinators. Our intention is to spray all County roads and State roads from State Highway 65 to the east. St. Croix County will also spray invasive vegetation at the request of the Towns.

Organic growers are encouraged to contact the St. Croix County Highway office with concerns and questions regarding this program.

If you have any questions, please contact the Highway Department at (715) 245-4200.

Herbicide formula to be used:

Herbicide	EPA Reg #	Active Ingredient	Application Rate
Plateau	241-365	Imazapic	4 Oz/Acre
Terravue	62719-738	Aminopyralid-potassium	2.5 Oz/Acre
MSO	Exempt	(Surfactant)	1.5 Pt/Acre
Reign	228-386	(Drift Control)	3.5 Oz/Acre

4. Who do I contact if a rock hits my windshield?

The St. Croix County Highway Department is not responsible for damage to vehicles caused by loose gravel or shoulder material kicked up by motorists. These are categorized as typical road hazards and are not reimbursable. Motorists that receive damage to vehicles while traveling need to report their loss to their insurance companies. Insurance is a requirement to drive on Wisconsin highways.

Temporary Signs

The Department erects temporary signs when normal or routine maintenance activities are occurring to warn motorists to take appropriate caution/action.

If you have any questions, please contact the St. Croix County Highway Department at 715-245-4200.

5. Is there County Tourist Orientated Directional Sign program?

The St. Croix County Highway Department adopted a County Tourist Directional Sign program in September, 2017. Please click on the link for more information.

County TODS Program

6. May I plant in the County Highway Right of Way?

Landowners need to be aware of the dangers that highway encroachments may present. An encroachment is any prohibited use or activity by property owners within the highway ROW restricting the full use or purpose for which the ROW was established. Encroachments may include, but are not limited to, improperly located mailboxes, trees, signs, crops, fences, driveway headwalls, etc. within highway ROW. Dangerous situations arise from signs and objects placed in vision triangles and along highways and may add unnecessary liability to the landowner. Decorative rocks and modifications to driveways also present a hazard in the clear zone and ditches of highways. Any excavation or activity within the ROW of any highway requires a permit from the agency that has jurisdiction of that highway.

Most recent is the encroachment of corn planted in the road Right-of-way. The height of the corn has caused the restriction of vision especially at intersections.

7. Where do I place my refuse (garbage and recycle) container on pick up day?: Refuse containers (including garbage and recycle containers) are not to be placed on the shoulder of roadways. They are best placed in the driveway to which they serve, off the shoulder line of the highway. Any encroachment should be brought to the attention of the local unit of government for corrective action. St. Croix County Highway Department does not issue written permits for the placement of containers within the public right-of-way.

8. What happens if agricultural equipment damages a road?

Equipment operators are encouraged to drive in a courteous, law-abiding manner and respect local weight limits whenever possible. Non-agricultural vehicle operators are encouraged to respect agriculture’s right to utilize roadways, follow safe passing signs and drive in a courteous and law-abiding manner. Farm-equipment signage for areas with the greatest use would be helpful in warning vehicles of possible slow-moving or parked equipment on highways.

Farmers are not exempt from highway weight restrictions except under certain circumstances during harvest time. In reference to Wisconsin §348.17(5) annually lifts weight limits on Class A highways from September 1 to November 30 to harvest corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables or cranberries. The law allows weight limits to be exceeded by up to 15 percent for transport from farm field to initial storage or initial processing point. Farmers must meet all other vehicle requirements for size, operation and driver qualifications, and cannot travel on roadways or bridges with special weight restrictions or on most interstates.

In reference to Wisconsin §86, also keep in mind, any person who injures/damages any highway shall be liable in triple damages, to be recovered by the political division in charge of the maintenance on said highway, and the amount recovered shall be credited to the highway maintenance fund.

From September 1 to December 31 of each year, no permit shall be required for the transportation of corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables, or cranberries from the field to storage on the grower's owned or leased land, from the field to initial storage at a location not owned or leased by the grower, or from the field to initial processing in a vehicle or combination of vehicles having a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more or described in s. 340.01 (24) (b) that exceeds the weight limitations under s. 348.15 by not more than 15 percent. This subsection does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for that portion of I 39 between USH 51 and I 90/94.

9. Who do I call if the snowplow hits my mailbox?

Mailboxes are the only structure that private owners are allowed to install within the right-of-way without a permit as a matter of convenience to the landowners and are not as a matter of right. Neither the St. Croix County Highway Department nor U.S Postal Service issue written permits for the placement of mailboxes within the public right-of-way. Rural mailboxes are allowed on highway right-of-way as a matter of convenience to the landowners or occupants and not as a matter of right. Encroachments of any kind on the highway are strictly forbidden by Wisconsin Statue which governs encroachments on highway right-of-way.

Standards

Mailboxes must meet minimum/maximum standards of support, setting and size. The issue of public safety will be the basis of the Department taking any action to have individuals repair, replace or relocate mailboxes.

Reimbursement

Reimbursement may be considered if it is determined by the supervisor that Highway Department equipment came into direct contact with the property. Although the mailbox owner may have invested considerable time and material in the mailbox installation, including a special box, support or landscaping, any reimbursement will be limited to the “standard” post and/or box found at most home stores as well as possibly up to the Department’s current manual labor rate for one (1) hour of time.

Helpful Resources

Please call 715-245-4200 if you have any questions or concerns.

10. What are the guidelines for temporary signs along a roadway?

St. Croix County Highway Department works to mirror the guidelines noted for State highways in regards to the placement of signs. Any signs along roadways, including political/campaign signs, garage sale, for sale, etc. pose potential hazards.

Improperly placed signs can:

Obstruct a motorist’s view
Distract a driver’s attention
Compound damages or injuries in the event of a crash
Endanger the safety of individuals who are erecting signs along busy highways
Present obstacles to crews who maintain (mow) roadways
Political/campaign signs, especially larger billboard-type signs, are particularly dangerous when placed in vision areas at intersections.

11. May I push snow over the road?

Pushing snow or other materials onto or across highways from private driveways can cause accidents and injury, and is prohibited by Wisconsin §86.01, §86.07, §346.94(5), and/or §346.95.

Doing so may create potential safety concerns for the traveling public and may impede the snow and ice removal process. Snow shall not be stored in any manner, which will obstruct or limit vehicular or pedestrian vision, movement or access. Sections 17.60 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances and Wisconsin §86.191 prohibit obstruction of vision clearance triangles at intersections.

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Jail

1. Who is held in the St Croix County Jail?

The jail holds people arrested or charged with any level of offense from a misdemeanor driving offense to a serious felony as well as people convicted of a crime and serving time on a sentence. Intoxicated persons who may be a danger to themselves or others are occasionally held in the jail temporarily until transportation to a detoxification center is available. The Sheriff's Office follows an inmate classification process to determine which housing unit would be the best place to house a particular inmate to best maintain the safety and security of the facility.

You can find a current list of people in our custody on our Inmate Roster and Public Safety Portal.

2. When will an inmate go to court?: The initial court appearance is typically at 1 p.m. the following business day after arrest. It can take 2 to 3 hours for an inmate to be released.

3. How can I post bond for an inmate?

You must have the exact amount of money needed as officer's can not give out change. Credit cards can be used on a limited basis. Call the jail at 715-386-4752 for information.

You can find instructions on how to post bond for someone here on the Paying Bonds page.

4. Can I call an inmate?: You can find information on how contact an inmate on our Contacting and Visiting page.

5. How does an inmate pick up personal belongings that have been left at the jail?

If an inmate has left the St Croix County Jail and was either required to leave behind their personal belongings or did not get back all their property at release, the inmate must pick up the property themselves or designate someone else to pick up the property within 30 days of their release date. The designee must bring identification.

If the property was confiscated at the time of arrest, you will have to contact the Police Department that arrested the inmate.
If a vehicle was impounded or towed, you will have to contact the arresting agency and/or impound lot to determine what is needed to retrieve the vehicle.

6. What items can an inmate have while in custody?

No items can be dropped off for inmates, except prescription medications, eyeglasses, or other medical equipment which must be approved by the jail nurse. The following items can be kept by inmates:

Books, hygiene items, writing material, uniforms and shoes are provided to the inmate while in custody. Inmates may purchase stamps, snacks, soft drinks and other necessities through canteen with their own funds.
You can drop off prescription medication in clean appropriately marked prescription containers. The information on the containers will be used to help verify the inmate's doctor, pharmacy, and dosage amounts.
Photographs must be appropriate in nature. Please use the United States Postal Service (USPS) to mail all photos and letters. We will not accept any notes, letters, cards, or photos unless they arrive through the post office.

7. Where do I get my fingerprints taken?: You can find information about fingerprinting services here.

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Jury Service Information

5. How will I know if I must report for jury service?

1. How am I compensated?: St. Croix County will pay you $20.00 for each half-day and $40.00 for each full day that you serve as a juror. You will also receive compensation for your travel to and from the court house at the rate of .51 cents per mile. When a trial is in progress, meals will be provided for you. Compensation checks are disbursed on a monthly basis.

2. How are cases tried?

The trial is composed of a series of events in a specific order that is determined by state law.

The Series of Events:

Opening statements: Each attorney will discuss the merits of the case pertaining to his/her client. The attorneys will outline what they will attempt to show during the trial.
Evidence: The plaintiff will present its evidence in the form of testimony, called direct examination and may introduce evidence in the form of exhibits. The defendant will also present evidence in a similar manner.
Argument to the jury: After all evidence has been presented, the parties will present arguments or closing statements to the jury.
Instruction to the jury: After arguments have been completed, the Judge will instruct you on the questions to be answered and the laws that pertain. The Judge may give his/her instructions before final arguments.
Deliberations: The jury will then be given an oath and taken to the jury room where you will then discuss the case until you have reached a verdict. After delivering the verdict to the Court, you will be dismissed from the courtroom.

3. How long am I on call for jury service?: Your jury term will continue for one month as indicated on your jury summons. You need only report for jury service 5 times during the length of your term. However, if a particular case requires more time to conclude, your service may be more than 5 days. You are exempt from jury duty for four (4) years after your month of service.

4. How was I selected for jury service?: Before the start of each jury year, the Clerk of Circuit Court draws the names of a sufficient number of eligible jurors from the master list of jurors. This selection is a random process, whereby names of potential jurors were drawn from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Driver's License and Personal Identification Cardholder list.

A summons will be mailed to you approximately three weeks prior to your month of service. This notice will advise you of the dates for which you have been selected to serve. Please be sure to retain the summons and attachments as it contains important information that you will need during your month of service, including your panel member number. St. Croix County uses a mass notification system to provide jurors with up-to-date information regarding the status of jury trials. You will receive a phone call, voice mail message and/or e-mail from the court. If you do not receive an updated notification, you must call the Juror Information Line at 800-640-8524 or 715-386-4629 after 5 p.m. the evening before each scheduled trial. If you report for jury service after the message indicated it was not necessary to do so, you will not receive compensation or credit toward your service for that day.

Juror Information Line: 800-640-8524 or 715-386-4629

6. May I be excused from jury service?: By law, no qualified juror is exempt or may be excused from jury service, except by order of the Court, based on a finding that jury service would entail undue hardship. Any such request must be done in writing and addressed to the attention of the jury clerk. A request for exclusion due to vacation must be made in writing, addressed to the attention of the jury clerk, well in advance of your scheduled vacation date. If you find you are ill on a day you’ve been summoned to report for jury service, you must call the office at 715-386-4629 as soon after 8 a.m. as possible.

7. What if my address changes?: If your residence should change during your term of jury service, we ask that you notify the Clerk of Courts office immediately.

8. What is my duty as a juror?

As a juror you are in the position of responsibility and are expected to conduct yourself in such a way that no one may question your impartiality and integrity.

Some Simple Rules to Follow:

Be prompt: Tardiness causes delay and wastes the time of all involved.
Listen Carefully: You will base your decision on the evidence presented to you.
Keep an open mind: Do not form hasty conclusions or opinions.
Do not discuss the case: During the trial, you should not talk about the case to anyone, including other jurors.
Do not read or listen to outside newspaper or radio accounts: Newspaper and radio accounts may present a biased or unbalanced evaluation of the case.
Control your emotions: You may be confronted with exhibits or testimony which make you uncomfortable. Be prepared. You should not show any visual expression or make any audible sound that can indicate you have been affected.
Do not inspect the scene of a case on your own: If the Judge determines that an inspection of the scene or premises involved in a case is appropriate, the Judge will arrange for the jury as a whole to make this inspection, accompanied by the court officials, attorneys, and the parties involved.
Report any violations of these rules to the bailiff: If you have become aware of anything outside the courtroom that causes you concern, inform the bailiff.

The most important qualifications of a juror are fairness and impartiality. You must lay aside all bias and prejudice. You are the foundation of our Judicial system, and your actions and decision should reflect this important rule.

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Land Use & Zoning

1. What is the purpose of the Zoning Code?

A Zoning Code is a set of regulations that determine how land can be used in a specific area. Zoning Codes are typically established by county or local governments and are used to control the development and use of land within their jurisdiction. These codes can include provisions for things like the types of buildings and uses that are allowed, the density of development, the height of buildings, and the size of lots. They are designed to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community by regulating the use of land in ways that are consistent with the community's vision for its future.

For St. Croix County, the main purpose of the Zoning Code is to implement the County’s long-term planning policies. These are found in our Comprehensive Plan. As part of the plan, the land use chapter, and Generalized Future Local Land Use Map (vol. 1-11) establishes long-term policies for land use. The Zoning Code establishes development and land use metrics that implement the comprehensive plan, and zoning districts that align with the Generalized Future Local Land Use Map. The Zoning Code provides clear rules about what is expected of applicants in order to gain approval to develop land in the County.

2. Does St. Croix County zoning apply to my property?

St. Croix County General Zoning applies to all towns and unincorporated areas, except the towns of Forest, Hudson, St. Joseph, and Troy. Incorporated territories (cities and villages), such as the city of New Richmond and the village of Baldwin, implement and enforce their own Zoning Codes.

Shoreland, Floodplain, Land Division, Lower St. Croix Riverway Overlay Districts, and Sanitary apply to all townships.

3. What is my property zoning classification? Where can I find a zoning map?

You can find your property zoning on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map. Under the Layer List menu, check the box for the “Zoning Chapter 15” layer. In the search box you can enter your property address or parcel ID number (without dashes) to find your property (Example parcel ID: 236-1974-50-003, enter 236197450003 into the search box). You will find your parcel ID on your tax bill.

Additionally, your property may be subject to Shoreland, Floodplain, or Lower St. Croix Riverway Overlay zoning regulations. Those layers can also be found on the interactive map under the Layer List menu.

4. Where can I find the County’s Zoning Code?

The County’s Zoning Code is available online. Read our Zoning Code.

5. What are the structure setbacks for my property?

A structure setback is a requirement in a Zoning Code that specifies the minimum distance that a building/structure must be set back from the property lines, structures, and natural features. Setback requirements are intended to provide space to ensure that structures are located in a way that is safe and visually appealing. They can also help to preserve natural features of the land, such as bodies of water, vegetation, slopes or wetlands, and to provide adequate light and air circulation around buildings. Setback requirements vary depending on the zoning district and the type of structure being constructed.

Once you have located your property on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map and identified the zoning classification, you can find the general building setbacks under the corresponding Zoning District in Chapter 15 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances. Setbacks may also be different if there are any other overlay zoning districts, such as Shoreland, Floodplain, or the Lower St. Croix Riverway. In addition, depending on the use of the proposed building, setback may also vary. Setback may also be recorded on the plat or certified survey map of the property.

Contact our Land Use Team with questions you have on setbacks for your property. If you have a question about zoning or setbacks email us at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question. We will contact you regarding your question.

6. Where can I find my property documents, plat maps, certified survey maps, easements, deeds, and affidavits?

You can find your property documents using the links provided on the Register of Deeds webpage or go into the Register of Deeds Office at the St. Croix County Government Center.

7. What can I build? What use is allowed in my zoning?

The Section 15.285 Use Table of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances provides a table of listed uses that are permitted within each zoning district. This table provides how each use is permitted in the different zoning districts, either Permitted by Right, requires a Land Use Permit, or Conditional Use Permit.

Not all uses may be permitted or may require additional permitting if the subject property is in an overlay zoning district, such as Shoreland, Floodplain, or Lower St. Croix Riverway.

8. Do I need a permit for the use or development of my property?

You are encouraged to contact our Land Use Team if you have questions about whether a permit is needed for the use and/or development of your property, as there may be many factors that require a permit.

Email us at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question. We will contact you regarding your question.

9. How do I apply for a Land Use Permit, Conditional Use Permit, Variance, Rezoning, Setback Waiver, and Land Division?

To apply for a permit, variance, rezoning, waiver, or land division, please fill out and complete the appropriate application for your request. Once you have completed the application, contact CDD@sccwi.gov to schedule a pre-application meeting with our Land Use Team.

If you have any questions about what application is required for your proposed project, contact us at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question. We will contact you regarding your question.

Applications

10. Is my property within a Shoreland, Riverway, or Floodplain Overlay District? What is the purpose of these Overlay Districts?

Shoreland Overlay District

Your property is within the Shoreland Overlay district if it is within the following distances from the ordinary high water mark of navigable waters (whichever distance is greater):

One thousand (1,000) feet from a lake, pond, or flowage; and
Three hundred (300) feet from a river or stream or to the landward side of the floodplain.

To determine if your property is within a Shoreland Overlay District contact the us by email at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and question. We will contact you regarding your question.

The purpose of the Shoreland Overlay District is to promote the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare, and promote and protect the public trust in navigable waters by:

Further the maintenance of safe and healthy conditions and preventing and controlling water pollution.
Protecting spawning grounds, fish, aquatic life, and wildlife habitat.
Controlling development, placement of structures, and land uses.
Preserving and restoring shoreland vegetation and natural scenic beauty.
Preventing flood damage.

Riverway Overlay District

You can find if your property is within the Riverway District on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map. Under the Layer List menu, check the box for the “Riverway Zoning” layer.

The purpose of the Riverway Overlay District is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare by:

Reducing the adverse effects of overcrowding and poorly planned shoreline and bluff area development.
Preventing soil erosion and pollution and contamination of surface water and groundwater.
Providing sufficient space on lots for sanitary facilities.
Minimizing flood damage.
Maintaining property values.
Preserving and maintaining the exceptional scenic, cultural, and natural characteristics of the water and related land of the Lower St. Croix Riverway in a manner consistent with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (P.L. 90-542), the Federal Lower St. Croix River Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-560) and the Wisconsin Lower St. Croix River Act (Wisconsin Statute § 30.27).

Floodplain Overlay District

You can find if your property is within the Floodplain District on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map. Under the Layer List menu, check the box for the “Flood Plain & Base Flood Elevation” layer.

This ordinance is intended to regulate floodplain development to:

Protect life, health, and property.
Minimize expenditures of public funds for flood control projects.
Minimize development in a floodplain which would obstruct flood flows and decrease the storage capacity of the floodplain.
Minimize rescue and relief efforts undertaken at the expense of the taxpayers.
Minimize business interruptions and other economic disruptions.
Minimize damage to public facilities in the floodplain.
Broaden the property tax base of the County by enhancing property values.
Discourage the victimization of unwary home and land buyers.
Minimize the occurrence of future flood blight areas in the floodplain.
Prevent increases in flood heights that could increase flood damage and result in conflicts between property owners.
Discourage development in a floodplain if there is any practicable alternative to locate the activity, use, or structure outside of the floodplain.

11. I want to build/develop on my property and it’s within a Shoreland, Riverway, and/or Floodplain Overlay District, who should I contact?

Overlay districts have additional regulations that are likely to apply. If your property is within a Shoreland, Riverway, and/or Floodplain Overlay District, please contact our Land Use Team at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question.

12. Where can I find my sanitation records? Has there been a soil test already been done on the property?

Scanned Property Files are available online. Select the records that you are searching (Example: Sanitary permits, or Soil Reports), select the Town, City, or Village where the property is located, select the Section (1-36) in which the property is located within the Town, finally select the Parcel ID Number of the property that is of interest to view the recorded files.

You can also view sanitary system maintenance records online. Enter your address and click “Find Now”, click on the Permit number (Example SAN- 1234). Then click the tab labeled “Maintenance” to view records.

Public Land Survey System

13. My sanitary system is failing, who should I contact?

If your sanitary system is believed to be failing, please contact a licensed plumber to evaluate the system. The plumber will work with the County to acquire any permits that may be required.

14. Why am I getting this postcard to have my septic pumped?

You are receiving a card because the Community Development Department has been given a mandate (June 2005) by the state of Wisconsin to accurately keep a record of the maintenance on all private wastewater treatment systems (septic systems) in St. Croix County. Before the 2005 mandate, the property owner(s) were responsible to keep the system maintained. The State law has been in effect since 1981.

15. How many animals can I have on my property?

The number of animals you are allowed to have on your property varies by the type of animal, size, and location of your property. Each type of animal is assigned an Animal Unit (AU) (example: a horse is 2 AU’s). Please use the Animal Unit Calculation Worksheet to calculate the total number of AU’s.

No AU’s may be kept on lots or parcels less than 3 acres, nor on lots or parcels in a major subdivision unless provided for in the plat.
For Chickens and Ducks, you are required to follow the standards in Section 15.335 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances.
One AU per acre of land suitable for animal waste utilization is allowed without a permit on lots or parcels of 3 acres or more in size.
1. Land suitable for animal waste utilization excludes:
  - Wetlands or lands below the OHWM
  - Closed depressions
  - Slopes in excess of 25%
  - Other areas that may be determined as sensitive and adversely affecting surface water or groundwater quality

16. Does St. Croix County issue Building Permits?

No, each Town contracts their own Building Inspector that issues building permits. Please contact your Town to find the contact information for the Building Inspector.

17. My question wasn’t answered. Who can I ask?

If you still have questions, please contact the Community Development Department through email at CDD@sccwi.gov. Your email shall include the following:

Your Name
Contact information
Property address and/or parcel ID Number
Your specific question

We will contact you regarding your question. Once you have submitted your question to the above email address, please do not call any individual staff member, as this may create confusion and/or delay in the response to your initial question.

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Lottery & Gaming Credit

5. What happens if I sell my home?

1. Who qualifies?: Owners of a home in Wisconsin who use the home as their primary residence on January 1 (certification date) of the year in which property taxes are levied. Primary residence is defined as the home where an individual lives more than six months of the year. If they are temporarily absent, it is the home to which the owner returns. Only one primary residence may be claimed. Renters do not qualify.

2. Must I apply for the Lottery and Gaming Credit?: In 1999 property owners filed an application for Lottery and Gaming Credit with the County Treasurer in order to have the Lottery and Gaming Credit applied to reduce the property tax bills produced in December 1999. The Lottery and Gaming Credit remains on the property tax bill unless the property no longer qualifies due to a change in use or ownership. You may have to apply for Lottery and Gaming Credit if you have purchased a home since 1999 or you now use your property as your primary residence. The Lottery and Gaming Credit appears as a credit that reduces the property taxes due on your property tax bill.

3. What if my tax bill does not have the Lottery and Gaming Credit listed?: An owner who qualifies for the credit, but whose tax bill does not reflect the credit, may claim the credit until January 31 following the issuance of the tax bill with the treasurer responsible for collecting the property taxes. [s. 79.10(10)(bm) Wis Stats] You can file a late claim with the Department of Revenue from February 1 until October 1 of the year following the issuance of the tax bill.

4. What if a home was purchased after the January 1 date?: A new owner must attest that to the best of their knowledge the previous owner owned and used the home as their primary residence as of January 1. Only in this limited circumstance may a new homeowner sign an application to receive the lottery and gaming credit. The application can be obtained from the County Treasurer. [s. 79.10(10)(bn) Wis Stats]

Seller

The Lottery and Gaming Credit stays with the property and will be deducted from the next tax payable on the next tax bill. When a property is sold the Lottery and Gaming Credit is "sold" with it. Ideally, the amount of the credit should be considered when pro-rating the property taxes between buyer and seller.

Buyer

The Lottery and Gaming Credit stays with the property and will be deducted from the net tax payable on the next tax bill. Ideally, the amount of the credit should be considered when pro-rating the property taxes between buyer and seller. [s. 79.10(10)(bn) Wis Stats]

6. What if I build a new home?: The property tax bill printed in December is based on the assessment of the property as of January 1. The taxes will be based on that assessed value. The Lottery and Gaming Credit will be deducted from the net tax payable on the next year's tax bill. Lottery and Gaming Credit will be applied only if the home is completed and occupied on January 1 of the qualification year. [ss.79.10(1)(db), (9)(bm), (10)(b) Wis Stats]

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Medical Examiner

1. Why is the Medical Examiner's office involved?: Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 979.01, the Medical Examiner's Office is required to investigate deaths that fall into the noted categories on our Medical Examiner page.

2. Will an autopsy be performed?: An autopsy will be performed when there is a need to establish or confirm a cause and manner of death for the purpose of issuing a death certificate, in cases involving criminal or suspected criminal wrongdoing, and in any case in which an autopsy is considered to be prudent at the Medical Examiner's discretion.

3. Will I be able to view the body at the Medical Examiner's Office?: The Medical Examiner's Office is not designed to accommodate viewing. Arrangements can be made at the funeral home for viewing.

4. Will I be charged for Medical Examiner services or reports?: There is no fee for the autopsy. One copy of the investigator's report, autopsy report, and toxicology report ( when applicable) will be made available to the nearest next-of-kin at no cost, once the case is closed. There is a per page charge for all subsequent requests.

5. What should I do after being made aware of the death, and the involvement of the Medical Examiner?: Select a funeral home and advise the funeral director of the involvement of the Medical Examiner's Office. Funeral directors are familiar with the operation of our office, and will assist you in making all arrangements for final disposition, including obtaining the death certificate. The funeral director will also pick up the decedent's personal property that is not being held as evidence. Often the deceased will be released the next day from our facility.

6. When will I be able to obtain a death certificate?: The death certificate should be completed within five to six days of notification of the death. The death certification is given to the Medical Examiner's Office by the funeral home for completion so it is important that a funeral home be selected. Arrangements to obtain certified copies of the death certificate are handled for the family by the funeral home.

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Outdoor Warning Sirens

3. Who activates outdoor warning sirens?

1. How many outdoor warning sirens are in St. Croix County?: There are currently 25 sirens in St. Croix County.

2. Whose responsibility is it to maintain these sirens?: Warning sirens are maintained by each City, Village or Township.

Outdoor Warning sirens are activated by the St. Croix County Emergency Communications Center for the following reasons:

A notice of severe weather
Toxic chemical spill or hazardous materials alert
Counter-terrorist information

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Public Health

2. What is the role and function of the Public Health Officer?

1. Does St. Croix County have a Public Health Officer?: Yes, St. Croix County has a Public Health Officer that leads the Public Health Department. St. Croix County Public Health is a level III health department. This is the highest level defined by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Level designation of the health department is determined by a review of operational services by the state DHS-Division of Public Health every 5 years. The department is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

The Public Health Officer leads the St. Croix County Public Health Department. Together they work to ensure the areas where you live, work, and play are safe and protect the health and wellbeing of the people in St. Croix County.

The St. Croix County Public Health Department was established in 1936. St. Croix County Public Health is a level III health department and is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

You can learn more about the St. Croix County Public Health Department and the services they provide in the Public Health section of our website.

Additionally, you can learn more about the role of Public Health Officials by reading Wisconsin State Statute 251.

3. What are the qualifications of the Public Health Officer?: St. Croix County employs a Public Health Officer that leads a level III health department. This is the highest level defined by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Our current Public Health Officer has a master’s degree in public health and 14 years experience in the field, exceeding all requirements of a Public Health Officer in a level III Public Health Department required under Wisconsin State Statute 251.06.

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Public Health - Blastomycosis

1. I go to the Willow River near Boardman frequently; do I need to get tested?

Testing is recommended for symptomatic persons or pets only. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

2. Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of infection?

You can contract Blastomycosis when the soil is disturbed, and you breathe in the fungal spores. Approximately 50% of people who inhale the spores either don’t become ill or develop a mild, self-resolving respiratory illness.

You can reduce your risk of exposure by limiting activities that may disrupt the soil and vegetative matter in the area mentioned on St. Croix County’s Blastomycosis page. Higher risk scenarios for spread occur when the soil is near a water source and has been disturbed, when soil is moved by gardening, camping, hunting, hiking, riding all-terrain vehicles, clearing brush, or excavation and construction projects. You may consider avoiding high-risk activities in wooded areas or at the water’s edge, particularly if you have a compromised immune system. For pets, avoiding activities such as sniffing or digging in the soil at the water’s edge, landscaped area, or wooded terrain could help prevent infection.

There are diagnostic tests and treatments available for both humans and pets. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

3. Can I test the soil at my home?

No environmental testing is available to identify the Blastomyces species. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

4. How is Blastomycosis treated?

Blastomycosis is treated with anti-fungal medications. The course of treatment can range from 6 months to a year depending on the severity of the infection and the person’s immune status. Local healthcare facilities and veterinary clinics will be notified of the presence of Blastomycosis in the area mentioned on St. Croix County's Blastomycosis page. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

5. How many cases have been detected?

Throughout the course of the investigation, there were 4 people and 5 dogs diagnosed with blastomycosis. Blastomycosis infections are rare, finding a small cluster like this is rarer still. With 1 to 5 reported cases annually, St. Croix County is not considered an area with hyperendemic transmission.

6. How did Public Health respond during the slastomycosis investigation?

Early in 2022, St. Croix County Public Health began working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate cases of blastomycosis in people and dogs in an area adjacent to the Willow River near Boardman, Wisconsin. The investigation ended in late 2022. Although this investigation has closed, outreach and education about blastomycosis is ongoing.

Early in the response notifications were sent to local physicians and veterinarians to inform them of blastomycosis infections in the area and the symptoms to look for. Information about the investigation and fact sheets on blastomycosis were sent to residents in the area of the investigation. Additionally a web page was created on the St. Croix County website with more information and resources on Blastomycosis.

Public Health continues to share to information about blastomycosis. Due to the nature of their work, Public Health is currently communicating with contractors and construction workers in the area about blastomycosis, the symptoms, and how to protect themselves.

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Public Health Department

1. Who has a stake in Public Health?: The community, health care delivery systems, employers and businesses, the media, academia and the governmental Public Health Infrastructure are all stakeholders in Public Health.

2. What is the Wisconsin County Health Rankings report?: The Wisconsin County Health Rankings take a broad perspective of community health, including health behaviors, health care, the physical environment, and socioeconomic factors. To compile the Rankings, the Wisconsin Population Health Institute selected a number of health determinants based on the priorities of the Wisconsin State Health Plan, scientific relevance, importance and availability of data at the county and city level. It is one tool for communities to examine community health.

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Public Safety Referendum

1. What is the proposed public safety referendum on the ballot?

The referendum will ask voters to decide whether or not to support an increase in the County’s annual tax levy, beginning in 2024, to cover the cost of 24 additional public safety positions.

This question asks voters of St. Croix County whether or not to support an increase in the county annual tax levy to cover the public safety costs for:

8 - Sheriff Deputies
4 - Correction Deputies
3 - Investigators
2 - Pre-Trial Case Managers
2 - Support Staff
2 - Deputy Clerk of Courts
1 - CHIPS Attorney
2 - Co-Responders

2. What will appear on the ballot?

The language used in the referendum question is required by the state of Wisconsin. To summarize the question, if approved, there will be a one-time permanent increase of $3,536,507 to our annual tax levy. This increase is spread out throughout the entire County. Property taxes would increase by $24.97 per $100,000 of your equalized value.

The following question will be on the April 4, 2023 spring ballot:

“Under state law, the increase in the levy for St. Croix County for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2024, is limited to 2%, based on St. Croix County’s best estimate, which results in a levy of $44,319,159. Shall St. Croix County be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2024, for the purpose of Public Safety, by a total of 7.98%, which results in a levy of $47,855,666, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $3,536,507 each fiscal year going forward?”

YES

NO

A “yes” vote for the referendum means that you support an increase in the tax levy for funding additional public safety personnel in St. Croix County.

A “no” vote for the referendum means that you don’t support an increase in the tax levy for funding additional public safety personnel in St. Croix County.

3. What will it mean if a majority of voters vote “yes”?

If the referendum is approved by a majority of voters on April 4, St. Croix County will be able to fund 24 additional public safety positions. This will increase staffing levels to ensure that there are adequate resources to sufficiently respond to calls for service from residents of our County.

4. What does it mean if a majority vote “no” and the referendum fails?

If the referendum is rejected by a majority of voters, the County will be faced with difficult decisions about how to address the growing need for public safety services. A rejection of the referendum would have a negative impact on our public safety and emergency service capacity.

5. What is the cost per household?

To pay for the additional 24 public safety positions, property taxes would increase based off your equalized property value. The proposed levy increase is $3,536,507 each fiscal year going forward. The increase per $100,000 of equalized value is $24.97. It is important to note that this does not factor in growth to our County. We are currently the fastest growing county in Wisconsin. As our population grows and more people are paying taxes, the cost is spread out.

Equalized Property Value	Property Tax Increase
$100,000	$24.97
$200,000	$49.94
$300,000	$74.91
$400,000	$99.88

Our property taxes are determined by the County’s Mill Rate. The Mill Rate for St. Croix County has decreased every year since 2013.

Chart showing the County mill rate.

We know that no one likes seeing their property taxes increase, but did you know that County taxes account for 21%* of the average property tax bill? That's means less than 20 cents on every dollar you pay in property taxes goes to fund important services like 9-1-1 dispatch and our Sheriff’s Department, Court Services, and keeping our roads clear in the winter. The expansion will help ensure our services keep up with the growing needs of our County.

Chart showing average tax bill distribution.

*Percentage updated the most recent data from 2022 taxes.

6. Would this increase be permanent?

Yes. If approved, the 24 public safety positions spread across the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Circuit Courts, and the Health and Human Services Department addressed by the referendum would result in a one-time permanent increase of $3,536,507 to our annual tax levy. This increase is spread out throughout the entire County. Property taxes would increase by $24.97 per $100,000 of your equalized value. Because this would go toward paying people's salaries, this would be a one-time permanent increase.

7. Why do we need a referendum to raise the tax levy limit?

The state of Wisconsin limits the amount of property taxes counties and other local municipalities can collect each year. In order to exceed the levy limit to help fund important services, local governments need voter approval through a referendum.

County levy limits in Wisconsin went into effect in 2005. This is the first time in 18 years that the County has gone to referendum to ask for an increase to the tax levy.

Each year the County’s budget increases based off the net new construction. With our current growth this has allowed our budget to increase on average 2-3% each year. While this has allowed us to add address some priorities and offset some inflationary pressures, it has not been enough to keep up with the demand for our public safety services.

Net new construction refers to the increase in the assessed value of only new or improved property. When new buildings are constructed or existing buildings are improved, the assessed value of the property usually increases. It's important to note that not all new construction counts towards net new construction. For example, construction of exempt properties such as churches, schools, and government buildings are not included in the calculation of net new construction.

8. If approved, when will the tax levy increase go into effect and how soon will these positions be available?

If approved, the levy would go into effect beginning in 2024. We would be looking to add positions at that time. One of the concerns we hear is that, our Sheriff’s Office needs help now. If the referendum passes, there are options to add some of the highest priority positions earlier because we know the funding will be there in the years to come.

9. What other alternatives were considered to fund public safety?

Our public safety staff have adapted to address our growing needs by working smarter, creating efficiencies, collaborating with stakeholders and community members, utilizing special funding sources, and prioritizing what types of service we provide. Despite our best efforts, it is increasingly difficult to meet the growing demands for service without additional personnel.

Every year we have requests for additional positions. With the current funding, we prioritize the addition of a few positions where we can. For example, 9-1-1 dispatchers aren’t on the list because we've added some positions in the Dispatch Center over the last few years. Ultimately, the number of needs we have is just too great for the annual amount that we're allowed to allocate. We are at a point where we either continue the process of prioritizing and just adding a few positions or through this referendum we provide the funding needed to keep up with the demand for our public safety services.

We’ve also heard questions about why we are not advocating for the use of ARPA Funds or pulling from other one-time funding sources. The problem is that these funding resources are not sustainable for long-term ongoing expenses like paying the salaries of these needed positions. The last thing we want to do is to hire great people to fill these positions in the short term and have to let them go a year or two down the road when the funding is gone. We have identified a long-term issue that requires a long-term solution.

10. If we have a growing population adding more taxpayers, why do we need to increase the tax levy through referendum?

Each year the County’s budget increases based off the net new construction. With our current growth this has allowed our operating levy to increase by 2-3%. This has allowed us to address some priorities and offset some inflationary pressures. However, the amount received from net new construction alone is not enough to keep up with the demand for our public safety services.

11. Where do I find voting information?

You can find information on where and when to vote on our Voting and Elections page.

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Register of Deeds

1. What help can the Register of Deeds office provide for drafting my own real estate documents?

The Register of Deeds office is charged with the duty of being an independent custodian of records relating to real estate. As such, the only area we can assist you in is general process questions. We cannot assist you in the actual drafting of documents. We highly recommend that you obtain legal counsel for these transactions.

Although several legal documents have been developed into “fill-in-the-blank” style forms and appear to be very easily completed, it is the answers to those fill-in-the-blank questions that are critically important. Those answers can vary widely from person to person. Determining the correct answer for your situation constitutes “legal advice” we are not licensed to practice real estate law. Even if we were, our role as custodian of the records would still prevent us from assisting in the creation of the records.

2. I am considering buying a parcel of real estate. How can I find out what liens, if any have been filed against it?: If you are borrowing money from a financial institution in order to make the purchase, a title search will be ordered by that financial institution well in advance of the closing. This search will reveal any outstanding liens.

3. Can I do my own title search?

Strictly speaking, the answer is “yes”. Practically speaking, however, the answer is probably “no”. The real estate records in the Register of Deeds office are open for public inspection. However, unless you are familiar with how real estate records are organized and how to perform a “Grantor/Grantee” and a “Tract Index” search, it will be difficult for you to find the information you want. Additionally, there may be documents on file with other county offices that may impact the property you are interested in.

It is our experience that the expertise a professional title searcher offers is well worth the money you will spend – especially when you compare it to the value of the transaction you are about to enter.

4. Can the Register of Deeds tell me if I have good and clear title?: No. The Register of Deeds office is not authorized to render opinions regarding the status of title. Professional title examiners or abstractors use the records in our office as well as searching records in other county offices to determine if the title is good and clear.

5. How do I change my deed so that it reflects my married name?: Visit our How to Change Your Deed to Reflect Your New Name page for more information about this.

6. If one trustee of a trust dies, is it necessary to take any immediate action?: According to a member of the Probate and Real Property Section of the Wisconsin State Bar Association that we conferred with, the answer is “No.” The trust remains in effect. However, it is prudent to review the trust with your attorney periodically to determine if modifications to the trust would be advisable.

7. We recently paid off our home mortgage. When will we get a new deed showing that we no longer owe the bank anything?

Under Wisconsin law, you only ever receive one deed to your property and you should have received it shortly after you closed on your property. If you take a look at your deed, you will notice that your name appears as a “grantee” but the bank is never mentioned. So, when you pay your mortgage in full, it is not necessary to update your deed.

What does need to be done is to have a “Satisfaction of Mortgage” document recorded with the Register of Deeds office. Financial institutions are required to record such a document within a specified timeframe. If you received a “Satisfaction of Mortgage” endorsed with a time, date and document number from a Register of Deeds office, nothing further needs to be done. If you have not received the endorsed satisfaction, you should check with your lender to be certain they processed the appropriate paperwork.

8. I paid off a Federal Income Tax Lien but it is still showing on my credit report. Why?: Find more information about Federal Income Tax Liens on our Federal Income Tax Lien page.

9. I have been told I need to get a “legal description” of my property. Where do I get that?: See information about legal descriptions on the Legal Description of Property page.

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SCC-Alert and Smart911

8. Is my personal information secure?

1. Can I call the number back that sent the alert?: No, the displayed caller ID is provided solely to let the recipient know the call is from St. Croix County.

2. Can you guarantee that I will receive notification if I register?: While the SCC-Alert provides all the necessary technology to send the information out we can not guarantee you will receive notification in all cases. Disasters and emergencies are chaotic and unpredictable, notification is dependent on external providers such as your wireless carrier or email delivery service outside the county's control. The alert notification system uses several means of communications to try to ensure that should any one communication method, technology, or delivery option be unavailable to reach residents, other methods will be used to improve the likelihood that citizens will receive the message.

3. How do I change my contact information after initial registration?: To update your existing information visit the smart911 website.

4. How do I sign up for alert notification?: Go to the smart911 website and register your contact information.

5. How does it work?: When a serious incident occurs that meets the criteria for sending out an alert to the public, emergency dispatchers will gather the necessary information and push out an alert to the affected area. Alerts can be sent out county-wide to everyone who has opted-in to the system, or to a specific area or neighborhood for more localized events.

6. How often will I receive alerts?: SCC-Alerts will be sent only sparingly. The number of alerts you receive will depend on the frequency of critical incidents in your neighborhood. Emergency alerts will only be sent when there is a potential threat to life and/or property or local authorities determine circumstances warrant notification. This system is not intended to bombard you with information.

7. I signed up in the past. Do I need to sign up again?: Yes. The information you provided in the past is no longer available. We are asking all residents to sign up with current information.

The personal information you provide is used only to notify you for official communications and to support St. Croix County's emergency services.

Opting In

Your information is not used for marketing purposes and will not be sold to telemarketers or data-mining organizations. A variety of "opt-in" mechanisms are available to ensure you are getting just the messages you want to receive, delivered via the devices and communication modes that you chose.

Privacy & Security

The system utilizes the highest standards in physical and computer security technologies and conducts regular audits to ensure all information is kept secure. Privacy policies are also outlined in the Terms and Conditions you review when you sign up to receive notifications.

9. What is the emergency preparedness portion of the registration?: If you choose to provide the additional information in the Emergency Preparedness section, authorities may use this information during 911 calls, Emergency Planning, and to provide statistics for planning purposes.

10. What type of alerts will I receive?: Emergency alerts are sent 24/7 when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. The alerts may include information for your area concerning flooding events, lost or missing people, public safety risks and other emergency notifications from your public safety officials.

11. When will I start receiving alerts?: Once you have signed up online and confirmed your contact information within the system, you are ready to receive alerts.

12. Why should I sign up for alerts?

When emergencies happen, be the first to know. St. Croix County uses SCC-Alerts to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions they may need to take to keep themselves and their families safe or information from local authorities about a critical situation.

13. Will I receive alerts if I don't sign up?: Residents who have a landline phone may receive alerts. However, there are strict rules governing when St. Croix County can use this contact information to send out an alert. Extremely critical alerts containing potentially life-saving information will be sent, as well as information that local authorities have deemed necessary. In order to ensure that you are able to get all emergency alerts we recommend that you sign up. If you do not register your contact information you will not receive alerts on your preferred devices and may miss out on receiving important information.

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Sheriff's Office

1. Where or how can I obtain more information on WI conceal-carry?: Visit the Wisconsin Department of Justice Concealed Carry page for more information.

2. Where or how can I obtain my drivers record?: Find information about obtaining a drivers record on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Obtaining Driver Record Information page.

3. How can I obtain a crash report?: You can find your crash report on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Crash Reporting page.

4. Where do I obtain information regarding child safety seats?: See information about child safety seats on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Child Safety Seats page.

5. How do I register my ATV, snowmobile or boat?: Register your ATV, snowmobile or boat on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.

6. Where can I obtain a vehicle title?: The St. Croix County Government Center NO LONGER services vehicle licensing, titling or registration. The Hudson DMV is now a full service location, and parties can now get all requested applications and / or items at the Hudson DMV Counter, located at 2100 O’Neil Road, Hudson, WI 54016. Please visit the DMV Website or call the Automated help line: 608-266-1466 if you have further questions.

7. Where do I go to get fingerprinted for my job?: Find information about being fingerprinted on our Getting Fingerprinted for Your Job page.

8. How can I file a late accident report with the State?: Find information about how to file a late accident report on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Crash Reporting page.

9. How can I check to see if I have an active warrant against me?: Use the Wisconsin Court System Circuit Court Access website to check if you have an active warrant against you.

10. How do I get my property returned that was taken for evidence?: If the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office is holding found or seized property, contact the evidence custodian to ensure that certain requirements have been met for release or call 715-381-4354.

11. What are my rights as a tenant - landlord?: Find the rights of a tenant and a landlord on the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Landlord / Tenant Guide page.

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Special Event Recycling Bins

1. How do I reserve the event recycling bins for my event?

Call 715-531-1930 or 715-531-1907 to reserve bins over the phone. You can also stop into the Resource Management office at the Ag Service Center in Baldwin to reserve bins in person.
Be prepared to provide your name, phone number, dates bins will be picked up and returned, # of bins you would like and if you would like to purchase any additional bags (2 are provided per bin, additional bags can be purchased in packs of 10 for $5).
A $50 deposit for each bin rented will be collected at the time of pick up. Please pay with a check. We will hold the check until you return the bins. If everything is returned in good condition, the check will be returned to you.

2. How many event recycling bins do I need for my event and where should I place them at my event?: The most effective recycling occurs when there is a recycling bin right next to a trash bin. This provides convenience for guests to recycle and makes them think twice before throwing something in the trash. So, estimate how many trash bins you have and rent the same number of event recycling bins!

3. What comes with the rental of the event recycling bins?: The event recycling bins come with the main x-frame base, a lid, 2 bags per bin, and stakes (upon request).

4. What types of events can the event recycling bins be rented out for?

The event recycling bins can be rented out for any event, indoor or outdoor. Some common events include:

Family Reunions
Graduation Parties
Sporting Events
Town Festivals
Weddings

5. When do I need to reserve the event recycling bins?: Event recycling bins are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. We recommend calling us at least a few days ahead of your event if you only need a few and ideally a month ahead of time if you need more than 10 bins. Just a reminder that the bins can only be picked up and dropped off Monday - Friday, so keep that in mind when calling us to reserve the bins.

6. Where do I pick up and drop off the event recycling bins?: Event recycling bins can be picked up and dropped off at the Ag Service Center in the Resource Management Division office in Baldwin. The address for the Ag Service Center is 1960 8th Avenue, Baldwin and the office is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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Temporary Restraining Orders

1. Is a restraining order for me?

As a member of society you and/or your family have the right to feel safe at home, work, and in the community. If someone is violating these rights, you need to take appropriate actions to protect yourself and/or your family.

Types of Restraining Orders

Depending upon your personal situation there are three types of restraining orders that can help protect you:

Domestic Abuse
Child Abuse
Harassment

2. Where do I start?

You will need to contact an Advocate at the District Attorney's Office in the St. Croix County Government Center located in Hudson, Wisconsin. You may also contact a victim advocate by phone at 715-386-4666. By speaking with an advocate, you will be able to decide the type of petition that fits your situation.
You will need to come to the Government center to file your petition. At this time the advocate will help answer any questions you may have and help you in completing the petition. The victim advocate's office is located on the main level, Room 1259, of the Government Center, which is located at:
1101 Carmichael Road
Hudson, WI 54016
After completing the petition, the advocate will bring the petition to the Judge for review. During this time, the Judge will decide whether to grant a Temporary Restraining Order.

3. What comes after the Temporary Restraining Order?: If a Temporary Restraining Order is ordered by the court, a court date will be set for an injunction hearing. The petitioner should then contact law enforcement to have them serve the papers on the respondent. Never give the respondent the legal papers yourself. At the Injunction hearing, as the petitioner, you must appear in court and may bring others/advocates for moral support. Both the petitioner and the respondent have the opportunity to be heard at the injunction hearing. If the facts show domestic abuse, harassment, or child abuse has occurred, the court may issue an injunction for a period of not more than two years. The respondent may or may not be present at the hearing but must be served notification of the hearing.

4. Do I need an attorney?: No. But, you may wish to hire an attorney or speak to an attorney prior to the hearing.

5. Does the respondent need an attorney?: No, however, the respondent may hire an attorney to represent him/her. If so, you may wish to reconsider obtaining legal counsel. A free attorney will not be appointed for the respondent. This is not a criminal proceeding.

6. Are there penalties for respondents who break the temporary restraining order or injunction?

Yes. If the respondent violates the order, once it is in effect, report it to law enforcement immediately and every time. Then the respondent may be arrested for breaking the order and may face criminal charges.

Penalties

The penalties for the violation of domestic abuse and child abuse are imprisonment not to exceed nine months, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both. The penalties for the violation of harassment orders are imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.

7. If I file a restraining order petition, will my abuser know what I said in the petition?: Yes. Before a hearing can be held, at which time the temporary restraining order can be replaced with an injunction which can be in effect for up to two years, the abuser must be served with a copy of the temporary restraining order/injunction petition. The respondent has the right to attend the hearing.

8. Does getting a restraining order mean I have custody of the kids?: No. If you are seeking a domestic abuse restraining order, the court is prohibited from ordering any custody, physical placement or child support orders. A separate action may need to be filed in Family Court. You may need an attorney to assist with issues about custody/physical placement.

9. Does having a temporary restraining order or injunction mean my abuser has to stay away from the kids also?

The temporary restraining order/injunction only restricts the respondent for making contact with you and does not include the children, unless a separate child abuse temporary restraining order/injunction order has been filed on behalf of the child(ren). At the injunction heating, custody or physical placement issues may come up. By law, when issuing a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or injunction, the court may not address these issues. It is possible for a court to address issues regarding the children at a harassment injunction hearing because the law does not say the court is prohibited from doing so.

Exchange of the Child(ren)

It is preferable to arrange any exchange of the child(ren) through the party so that there is no direct contact between the two of you. Many abusers use child exchange contacts as an opportunity to abuse the victim. Third party exchanges in public places help to eliminate this.

10. Can I get a restraining order for psychological/emotional abuse?

If the emotional abuse includes threats, you may be able to get a domestic abuse restraining order. In addition, the domestic abuse restraining order law says if the person may engage in domestic abuse, you can obtain a restraining order. The laws are extremely specific about the types of abuse a person must have been subjected to in order to obtain an injunction. For a person living with someone who is psychologically or emotionally abusive, the mental abuse can be equally, if not more painful, then physical abuse. The domestic abuse restraining order law says the respondent must have engaged in certain physical abuse or the threat of any behavior.

Harassment Restraining Order

If your abuser engages in a course of action, which harasses and intimidates and serves no legitimate purpose, you may be able to get a harassment restraining order.

11. Will I be able to return to my home immediately after I file a temporary restraining order?: Sometimes. You will want to make sure the respondent has been served and you would not be in any danger in going home. You can ask for police assistance in doing this, but often the police cannot immediately get to the task of serving the respondent with the restraining order and placing you in possession of your home. You may need to stay someplace else until the police can help you.

12. How can I make sure that the temporary restraining order/injunction will be enforced?: You are the best enforcer of this order. Every time the abuser makes contact with you, 911 should be called immediately. Not calling the police or only occasionally, gives the abuser confusing messages about the validity of the temporary restraining order/injunction. The abuser will begin to believe it is all right to have contact sometimes. Also, sometimes officers do not know about or ignore the provisions of the domestic abuse law, which says the order is not void if the petitioner allows contact.

13. If we live or work in the same place, how can I be assured of no contact with my abuser?: At the injunction hearing when you are giving testimony, you will want to include any special requests, such as him/her staying away from you at your place of residence or work. If you happen to see each other at either of these places and your abuser does make contact with you, call the police immediately because it would be a violation of the temporary restraining order/injunction.

14. How do I determine which county I should file in?: A petitioner can file a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or injunction in the county she or he is temporarily residing in or in the county where the respondent lives or in the county in the county where the incident occurred. A petitioner can file a harassment temporary restraining order or injunction in the county where the petitioner lives or in the county where the respondent lives or in the county in which the incident occurred.

15. Will I void or violate my restraining order by having contact with the respondent?: The law says the respondent is prohibited from initiating direct contact with the petitioner. If the petitioner of a domestic abuse restraining order allows the respondent admittance into her or his home, the restraining order does not become null and void. The police are to enforce any violations of that order. However, if the petitioner continues to initiate contact, the police may believe that she or he is not serious about the injunction. The police can then arrest the petitioner and the prosecutor can charge the petitioner with aiding and abetting the violation of the restraining order.

16. Is it possible to get my restraining order extended?: If the injunction is for less than 4 years, the petitioner can get it extended for up to two years from the date it is first entered. The respondent must be notified once the extension is granted.

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