"CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG?"

The last couple of postings have resulted in some interesting remarks representing clearly both sides of the DO YOU LOVE OUR VILLAGE LEADERS or NOT factions. There clearly is no love lost between these 2 camps.

Instead of taking shots at eachother, lets try some constructive criticism? The goal of the YOUTUBE website and this BLOG is to create a 'conversation room' for those that like and don't like whats going on - this is in tandem with a CHANCE (FINALLY) for those that don't or can't come to meetings to have a source to see what is going on. Village leaders have a simple, available, and nearly cost free fix to solve this problem and they know it.

Political leaders are in a different position than John Q Public. They have positioned themselves (via elections) to sit as representatives of the jurisdiction they are elected from. As a result, they need to be willing and accepting of differing viewpoints and YES criticism. If they are not able to deal with this, then perhaps they are in the wrong place and should returned to private citizenry. The problem is that our array of leaders at Village Hall expect to be loved and above reproach.

This is criticism. If you 'conspiracy critics' can take a step backwards and deal with facts, you will see that the criticism that you so hate are really just viewpoints on how to make things better. The government of Pleasant Prairie belongs to ALL the citizens not just the 53% or so that support the current board this past Spring.

If you have been paying attention, you will know exactly who is managing the co-efforts of the YOUTUBE site and this BLOG. Please keep the content of your postings to village matters -- citizens AGAIN have the right to criticize their government and/or how it functions (it happens all the time at all levels of government - Pleasant Prairie is NO exception).

If an elected member acts like a rubber stamping follower then they will be criticized.

If an elected board cedes its authority to a hired hand then they will be criticized.

If an elected member has little to say except how great things are and how great of a job everybody is doing they should expect to be criticized.

What this has to do with anybodies garbage is irrelevant. If they can't stand the heat they should get out of the kitchen.

NOW, who is running against Kumorkiewicz and Serpe in April ??????????

What MORE DO WE NEED?? -- we already have the VILLAGE MINUTES.

WHY ALL THE HUB-BUB? After all, we have "VERBATIM" village minutes, right? According to Webster's: Verbatim -- "in EXACT words", "word for word".

Well besides "NO COMPRENDE" being edited out of the 11/5/2007 meeting minutes, I have here for your listening and reading pleasure an audio clip from the 2/19/2007 Village Board meeting.

Comrade Kumorkiewicz is heard here speaking for almost 6 full minutes - this is a privilege the Village President would not allow anyone else to have unless he WANTED to.

My suggestion:

Open the MINUTES PDF at --

http://www.pleasantprairieonline.com/boardsandcommissions/villageboard/2-19-07%20VB%20Minutes.pdf

scroll to page 4

and then listen to the video clip (no video/only audio) and see if you agree that the frequently 6+week old VERBATIM minutes are really that reliable.

Video clip is right here:

WE WILL NEVER GO TO REFERENDUM AGAIN!!!!!!

I don't know if you find this ironic, but last year the village went to the PEOPLE in a referendum to buy what basically could be described as public safety items (ambulance, plow, emergency equipment). The voters KILLED the referendum by a devastating NO vote (around 70% opposed).

In the 2008 BUDGET and meetings, the "leaders" of our village vowed never to go to referendum again, and instead of giving the voters another chance to chime in on this, they have elected to simply bulldoze their plans through and increase the former HOLY GRAIL of measurements (our MILL RATE) by 5.8% and ON TOP OF THAT they are doing $2.2 million dollars of BORROWING to make ends meet in 2008. They vowed not to go to referendum again, because they don't want another public trouncing--not because they are worried about you.

Now wait a second, we were supposedly in great financial condition just last year when for political expediency it was necessary to keep the mill rate flat. Then voters rejected a voluntary tax (the referendum). AND NOW they justify sticking it to you twice with a mill rate increase and a new $2.2million DEBT all in 1 year? A comment was made that with this adjustment hopefully no increase would be needed next year. Yes, that is probably right in the mill rate, as they will likely stick you with an assessment increase which will result in MORE OF YOUR MONEY going out of your pocket.

Trustee Clyde "on whose side" Allen made a closing comment in his Dr. Strangelove-esque video that challenged viewers if they could keep their lifestyle and standard of living intact without a "pay increase". This is how these guys view more taxes as a "pay increase" for them. HMMM? Boy oh boy, all that government employment experience sure is paying off.

Isn't new development supposed to take the burden of growth off the shoulders of existing taxpayers? That is what SUPER TRUSTEE Mike Pollocoff keeps telling us when he wants to get a development approved. But when asked why this is not happening he just kind of shrugs his shoulders and says things are not quite happening like expected...

Government like business should get more EFFICIENT as it grows, but this government seems to keep needing more from the existing taxpayers to keep things floating.

Is the super trustee label troubing for some of you -- I am sure it is really frosting some of you. Well take a look at my perspective. We have 5 elected board members (1 President and 4 at-large trustees). We have an nearly bulletproof 3 year golden-parachute-protected appointed Village Administrator (Mike Pollocoff). At meetings, Citizen Comments are followed by a chance for BOARD OF TRUSTEE members to comment. Mike Pollocoff is routinely given a nod and the wink to have a round at responding to comments.

On the 2008 Budget hearing he spoke for something in the range of 15+ minutes before we heard from any other board member (the elected ones). Then in almost now routine fashion, the elected trustees and village president followed Pollocoff's comments by considered additions such as "I really have nothing left to say because it was already said", "I just want to thank everyone who was involved with this great experience", "I am so proud to be in this village and on this board", and "I have to stand in line to talk with Mike Pollocoff these days since everything around here is so harmonious these days". Lets face it - a bunch of fluff, but no real answers about debt, repayment plans, tax philosophy, or "how dare the Kenosha Water Utility treat its largest customer (us) at an unpreferred rate!" No they talk about how nice it is now.

Finally, thank the WI ASSEMBLY for keeping a cap on your increase. The current law allows for a maximum increase of either 2% or growth (whichever is greater). In the 2008 Budget discussions, it was revealed in many instances that this cap is a real pain for folks like Mike Pollocoff and John Steinbrink. They and apparently many more decision makers at village hall would be much happier if no cap existed so that they would have the ability to REALLY get at your money. 5.8% this year. How many of you existing taxpayers had a 5.8% increase in your household incomes this year. This is just a fine example of not being to worried with OPM (other people's money). BUT, IT'S ALL OUR FAIR SHARE, right?

They forced us to do this............

Who forced us?

Well, after a couple of years as asking for the village leaders to do the right thing and make village meetings viewable on CH25, they have refused. Citing that meetings are too boring or too complex to broadcast. The REAL TRUTH is that they do not want you to be able to SEE what is going on, and if you spend anytime watching CH25 you will have to agree that recording meetings CANNOT in anyway be too complex.

So here you have it -- the ability to see what is going on (when you want it) combined with the ability to comment on what you have seen.

This is in its infancy, and ALL constructive advice is welcomed......