UP: Middleton. The burb is declared the best place to live in America by Money magazine. The editors, which this year looked at towns with populations between 7,500 and 50,000, cited Middleton's strong economy, numerous parks and bike trails and, oh yeah, its proximity to the booming metropolis of Madison .
DOWN: David Denig-Chakroff. The head of Madison 's water utility is rapped by the Madison Common Council for spending $140,000 on a consultant without authorization. Denig-Chakroff says he couldn't immediately present the contract to the council for approval because of other pressing matters, including the utility's failure to add chlorine to several city wells. George Meyer, a member of the Madison Water Commission, plans to seek disciplinary action against him.
