Feider seeks re-election to Sheboygan County Board

Peggy Feider, Sheboygan Falls, was elected to the Sheboygan County Board in April 2008 and she has announced her intentions of placing her name on the ballot again. Along with completing her current projects, she has new ideas and endeavors that she wants to help implement.

Feider enjoys representing District 25, which is Wards 3 and 4 in the town of Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls where her current assignment is on the Health and Human Services Committee. Because of her last term, she has “met a lot of nice people, knows more about her neighbors and the issues they think about.”

“My being in public service may be genetically predisposed,” Feider said. “My mom was an alderperson and my dad was a city attorney in Rice Lake, where I grew up, so I’ve always been interested in local issues and politics.

“I felt that as long as I do a good job, why not serve?” Feider continued. “I’m a quick learner and I think it takes a year to learn how things work; and it’s intriguing how the state, county and local governments work together. That’s very satisfying.

“Some of the programs that we manage are mandated to have federal, state and county components and without all of those three, some of them couldn’t survive.

“Other projects I would like to follow up on are the Morgan Aircraft project,” Feider said. “This is huge for the entire county if it all goes according to plan.

“It’s estimated that if it all goes to plan, it will be completed in 2014 and could employ 1,500-2,000 people,” Feider pointed out. “I understand the concerns with road use, and traffic, but this is huge for the area in a positive way.

“We really need to be watchful of the State 23 corridor project,” Feider said. “The decision of the DOT (Department of Transportation) will impact the town of Sheboygan Falls regarding farms on both sides.

“Access will be comprised and this will especially impact the town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department,” Feider continued. “There is a new Web site for the State 23 project, and public input is accepted until March.

“I have a lot of personal thoughts on this, and my heart goes out to the farmers and the Fire Department,” Feider said, “but we can’t deny the crash analysis which was done by the DOT. There is no happy ending to this.

“I would also like to see that farmers get more help regarding Farmland Preservation and do more subdivision control.

“On a larger scale, I would like to see more shared services between municipalities and the county,” Feider said. “We have done some and they have all been successful where the county and the city of Sheboygan have joined forces; and where they have worked, it’s been cheaper and more efficient.

Feider noted that the proposed .5 percent sales tax is permitted by state statute and this is a very delicate area.

“I’m also proud of the fact that I was on the peripheral edge to re-establish the railway spur between Plymouth and Sheboygan Falls,” Feider said, “and that means a lot of upside potential for business such as Bemis, the Sheboygan Falls Co-op and Richardson’s.

“I also hope that this could reduce truck traffic on County TT and County C and reduce accidents,” Feider added.

Feider also had the privilege to serve on the PEPC Committee, which is the Program Evaluation and Prioritization of County-run discretionary programs.

“The purpose of that committee is to take all the programs we own and operate but are not mandated to provide or fund,” Feider said. “We then rank them in terms of their importance, and the ranking committee involves the chairpersons of each of the committees in our county government which is nine.

“A place was made for a first-term County Board supervisor and of the eight first-termers, I was chosen to serve on that committee and it was a privilege,” Feider stated.

“I would encourage all residents to vote,” Feider said. “I feel that unless you vote, you don’t have the right to complain. That doesn’t mean just for the County Board; that applies to all positions.

“It’s been a privilege and honor to serve on the County Board. Unlike some groups, we respect each other as individuals. We may not always agree on issues, but we can work together.”