IT CAN BE DONE!!!

The audio tape of the April 7, 2008 meeting was sent, transcribed, sent back, copied for board members, reviewed by board members, and then put on the April 21 Agenda for board approval.

ALL IN TWO WEEKS!

IF the current Village Board continues to resist doing the right thing and making meetings available (gavel to gavel) on CH25, then the least they can do is make sure they keep this turn around going. I can find examples but for certain there are cases where minutes were not approved for as much as 8 weeks!

KUDOS for this performance, but it still DOES NOT give average Joe Q. Public a chance to see before the subsequent meeting. Perhaps the village website can post a 'provisional' version of the minutes ONLINE so that village activists can have a look to, and possibly comment prior to approval??

Once again, a move in the right direction, but still more can be done.

PLEASANT PRAIRIE COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR JOE CLARK elected BOARD CHAIRMAN

CONGRATULATIONS! to CB DIST 21 SUPERVISOR Joe Clark on his election by the COUNTY BOARD to be the next CHAIRMAN. Joe Clark succeeds CB Dist 3 Supervisor Terry Rose. This has been a tumultuous couple of months on 56th Street, and I personally welcome the level headed business minded approach that Joe Clark will bring to the chairmanship.
Also kudos to traiblazer CB Dist 11 Supervisor Anita Faraone on her election to the Vice-Chair. She succeeds Joe Clark in that spot, and if tradition holds she will also be the first female Chairman when Joe's term is over.
http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/cb/index.html

PLEASANT PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT???

The last comment on my post below asked that we change course and start a posting on PP schools.
Well, I was way ahead of your idea in late January. I have refreshed this posting and brought it to front burner.
So here you have it. At yesterday's village board meeting this topic was brought up again. What say YOU???????????????


Pleasant Prairie School District #1 -- has a nice ring to it??

Well, as you can imagine, I have a lot to say.

But, before tarnishing open discussion with my ideas, I would like to hear from you on the following:

1) Idea -- good or bad?
2) Financial implications (exit and start up costs)?
3) History of how and why the village joined Kenosha Unified?
4) Is Pleasant Prairie getting its FAIR SHARE based on taxes going to KUSD?

Ideas/thoughts????

Is PLEASANT PRAIRIE better off now?

2005 -- contested races (Tiahnybok beats Terwall, Lauer beats O'Toole, and Matson nearly beats Steinbrink). Debate is alive and well and people are talking.

2006 -- contested races (Matson and Hauck are defeated by Kumorkiewicz and Serpe). Debate is alive and well and people are talking.

2007 -- contested races (Tiahnybok nearly beats Steinbrink, Lauer defeated by Allen, and Matson defeated by Yuhas). Debate is alive and well, and people are still talking.

2008 -- no contested races (peace, silence, perfection?, not even a mention in the Kenosha News). Compared to the previous 3 years, one might wonder if Pleasant Prairie had any elections at all. Debate is all but gone. Maybe it's time to check for a pulse.

You probably know what I think, but what do YOU think? Is Pleasant Prairie better served by having issues debated in public, or by silence (with the hope that the fox is not guarding the henhouse)?

Maybe our experience here from the last couple of rounds inspired some people in Kenosha. They had a mayoral contest and MANY aldermanic races. Even the county board had more competition and turnover.

Anything is possible if you can imagine it. Kudos to all the candidates (incumbents and challengers in Kenosha), and a sad day in Pleasant Prairie.

Congratulations to the "WINNERS" at least from this member of the "WHINERS".

"VIDEO'S -- WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN VIDEO'S"

Folks, this is what IT is all about.

You are busy -- probably too busy.

You work, you take care of your family, you pay your bills, you exercise, you go shopping, etc, etc. You (most of the time) have little time for being a government watchdog. The beauty of our democratic process is that YOU have the choice to participate or not. I choose to participate, because, I really don't think many of our elected leaders (local, school, state, federal) have our best interests in mind. The "CHANGE" that they are concerned about is that 'change' that you have left in your pocket. So, what do you do, and what options do you have?

I suppose you can go to village hall, and the school board, and the state capitol, and Washington, or you can count on others to do some 'watch-dogging' for you. Plenty exists at federal and state levels, but gets awfully scarce locally like at municipal, county, and school levels. At village hall, you have about 4 people that regulary watch what is going on. 4 out of 19,000 people. Everyone else is there to either try to get something, or to protect what they've already got. YOU are not part of the equation except for the funding part.

YOUR village government has come up with every imaginable and contrived reason (like individual LCD screens in front of board members faces) not to put ITS board meetings on ITS government access channel 25. I find this sad, and unforgivable, since it IS possible currently and over time can be improved.

On this last Monday, March 17, citizen activists AGAIN rose up (on your behalf) and commented on why this is not being done. At the previous meeting (see posting below for detail), about an hour of everybodies time was used again to explain why this was not possible -- surprize, surprize again.

BUT, a new element by a board member was added -- POLICE OFFICER SAFETY. As a further excuse on why videotaping meetings was not going to happen, a sense of prioritization was thrown in to show how many other pressing things needed to be accounted for prior to meeting videotaping.

Comments on the penultimate posting to this one revealed (once again) the ability to occasionally find a 'pearl in pig slop'.

ORWELLIAN was the term used to describe recent activity at Village Hall. I am not going bother you with the definition of Orwellian here (you can do that yourself), but it kind of hit it on the head.

ORWELLIAN OBFUSCATION is the play du jour (or du month, or du year, or du permanance). Please review the video clip below. While at it, take a look at this link: http://www.pleasantprairieonline.com/assessmentsandtaxes/finance.asp -- it directs you to the FINANCE Dept at Village Hall. It shows the 2008 Budget Summary and Budget Presentation. Please review and see for yourself IF the POLICE CAMS were a considered budget item, and it was NOT RECOMMENDED.

(Page 27 of the PRESENTATION (below) and Page 71 of the SUMMARY).

By who it was not recomended is uncertain, but EVERY BOARD member had (or should have) reviewed every page of these documents along with the binders that showed detail. There IS NO EXCUSE for re-inventing historical fact or for denying doing one's HOMEWORK. Face it, lights at a ballfield were more important than squad car cams. Intent or neglect are the only explanations.

There it is -- 100% fact. What do you think?

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

This is a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT issued March 18, 2008 at 9:13am.

The Village of Pleasant Prairie Regular Board Meeting (March 17, 2008) will be posted on YOUTUBE ( http://www.youtube.com/PleasantPrairieWI ) by end of business today. That is of course if I can break away from the latest SpongeBob Squarepants episode.

This service was expedited so that ABSENT board member Steve Kumorkiewicz can actually see what happened last night at his Board Meeting. Note to Steve: We missed you, and I was even wearing your favorite Green Bay Packers hat. We hope you recover soon.

This service was also expedited so that ABSENT gadfly-identifier Asst. District Attorney Dick Ginkowski CAN have the option of watching the board activity in a taped video delayed format. Perhaps he could have watched the meeting live last night from wherever he was, but since that desirable (but technically not currently possible) option is not available, it is hoped that RAG DU JOUR will have the opportunity to see what happened anyway.

To all other viewers -- The meeting will be posted in it's entirety as normal. Now, what St. Patrick's party was that? Got into some bad cabbage, Dick, Steve?

NEWS FLASH: BOARD DISSENT EXISTS. Trustee #3 Clyde (On Your Side) Allen actually did. (Sorry Monica, you are no longer alone in this distinction). He voted against (3-1) a Zoning Text change that would have FORCED gas station convenient store operators to LOCK UP all outside ICE and LP GAS offerings. The original recommendation was changed 'wisely' to not include the LOCKING UP part, but he still voted against it. Does this mean he voted for it, before he voted against it?

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2010

The COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2010 is a document to serve as a guide for future development and how it relates to current in-place development.

It also serves as a guide for potential property owner's to properly assess neighborhood plans to better and reliably anticipate what the immediate environment will look like.

It also serves as a guide for property investor's (can be same or different from owner's) to understand the future development game plan and how it will impact said investment.

I think most will agree that this is how things are supposed to be, right?

Now, if it is supposed to be all that for all those involved, then how static or dynamic should it be?

• Is the 2010 part meant to mean that's when it will be complete?
• Is the 2010 part meant to suggest that at that point it is 'poured in concrete'?
• Is the 2010 part meant to suggest that after 2010 everything is subject to change again?

What does it mean if it can change?

I have heard a myriad of examples of how current property owners are surprized by changes in the Comprehensive Plan 2010 that in some way or another adversely effect them.

If it is subject to change, then what good is it? I personally do not intend to cite examples, but anybody in tune with the village over the years has witnessed this happening. Some will argue that it happened way to much for long term predictability, and others will argue that the changes better reflect the BEST usage for said lands changed.

Any comments? Or, do you think it's perfect the way it is?

If you think it should be changable, then under what set of requirements should it be allowed to change?

• Plan Commission vote?
• Village Board vote?
• As a referendum on future election ballots?
• It should never be changed?

A good resource for understanding this subject better from the village's perspective is located on the village's website http://www.pleasantprairieonline.com/services/communitydevelopment/comprehensiveplan.asp

I know some of the questions above are answered on the village website, but do you agree with the concept and the way it's handled?

CNN or CH25 Pleasant Prairie population approx 19,000?

Okay folks, here it is.

This last Monday, March 3, about 1 hour of Board Meeting time was taken up re-hashing the DEAD ON ARRIVAL "TO VIDEO or NOT TO VIDEO -- THAT IS THE QUESTION".

Before I share details of the meeting, I will restate the IDEA that I have had all along:

1) This CAN BE done rather simply -- ONE CAMCORDER on a rolling tripod can effectively capture the proceedings. This IS currently being done on YOUTUBE without the use of a tripod, and without the use of any assistance with audio. The current effort has been purposely AS LEAST OBTRUSIVE AS POSSIBLE in order not to enable anyone to claim that the effort is DISRUPTIVE. The current product is downgraded in quality in order to be YOUTUBE http://www.youtube.com/pleasantprairiewi compatible -- raw DV quality would keep video at desired level. Audio could easily and very inexpensively be improved by use of remote microphones.

2) This raw video can easily be uploaded from the ONE CAMCORDER to a PC with installed editing software. I use Pinnacle Studio 11. This software has capabilities that I haven't even explored yet. The enhanced video can then be BURNED TO A DVD for transportability and storage reasons, OR could be left in DV-AVI mode for insertion into the CH25 stream.

This is NOT a $26000 project.
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The following are 'scenes' from the debate on Monday night. FYI-EVERY BIT OF DISCUSSION ON this topic is INCLUDED. NOTHING IS LEFT OUT for any reason (except maybe 10 seconds lost when I was changing tapes).

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First clip:

--Citizen activist Bob Babcock is first seen as he AGAIN explains his desire to see this happen. He went as far as communicating with the LT GOV's office, and was told that the LT GOV highly supports transparency and is not opposed to videotaping. Bob also brought up for the second time his idea on how KUSD students could be involved in this for a whole bunch of reasons.

--Next came nay-sayer Dick Ginkowski who claims to be all for it, but gives every reason in the book as to why it's not a good idea.

--Next came Bob Babcock Jr. -- Bob has been watching his dad's involvement and if picking up his own set of expectations. He too asks for more openness.

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Next clip:

-- I spoke next about my perspective on this. Covered funding issues. Highlighted nature of CH25 today, etc. I took exception with nay-sayer Ginkowski's suggestion that this MUST be LIVE (and MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE). Why live? If someone is aware of an issue and can make the time to watch it LIVE, then why not just come to the meeting. Recording allows for a citizen that happens on Tuesday morning to read about the meeting to watch it lets say at 9pm on Wed and/or 10am on Friday. In plenty of time to react before the next meeting. The VERBATIM minutes as currently available essentially always come much too late to act on anything. I have nothing against LIVE, but to use it as an excuse not to do the right thing is shameful. See for yourself.

--Next the Board voted to move Agenda Item K up to in order to allow for IT Manager Ruth Otto to head home since she was ill.

--Next Mike Pollocoff begins his explanation on what is required to bring video to constituents.

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IS THIS CNN ATLANTA or CH25 PLEASANT PRAIRIE: Wait until you see what is estimated as being necessary in order to do this. I will agree 100% that my rather conservative method could be FANCIER with more hardware, etc, but first objection I have is that MOST OF EVERYTHING SHOWN is really NOT particularly required to make the video idea work -- its 'needed' to take VILLAGE HALL out of the stone age. Better microphones, a video screen, a ceiling mounted projector, a desk, trip hazard cabling picked up off the floor, and power upgrades are not REQUIRED in order to get the job done, NICE, but not required. These improvements make the whole environment more professional. Today, we get to see a video projector shine an image on concrete blocks painted white. Do we really need audio gates and compressors? Nice again, but not necessary. Wolf Blitzer might want to work here!

This next clip shows the explanation of what is NEEDED (described above):

--$3000 for microphones -- is this Rush Limbaugh's golden microphone?

--$1000 for audio gates and compressors - Wolf is that you?

--$750 for an MP3 recorder -- maybe a trip to the Sony Outlet is in order!

--Projector ($600)/Screen ($1600) and hardware ($150): Sound reasonable, but are these things necessary to record meetings?

--Video recording equipment ($11300): 3 cameras and remote control. Again, I am not saying this is BAD, but it is NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE JOB DONE -- they just don't want to do it.

--Storage: $130 not $1300, but still too much. These videos can be archived on DVD. Sony Outlet calling again. OR can be stored on some of that fancy hardware we keep spending thousands of dollars. Take a look at the budget and see how much IT spending is going on in this village of 19,000 people. Give me a break.

--Video (capture device $5600): Apparently the RecPlex already has a TRICASTER PRO ($8000) -- I wonder if dues paying members at RecPlex know that their money is being spent on Tricasters instead of buying new equipment like stationary bikes, elliptical machines, and new basketballs for the Michael R. Pollocoff Fieldhouse. So the recommendation stands at a meager $5600 as a replacement/addition to the TRICASTER PRO $8000 model. THESE ARE THINGS WE ALREADY OWN!!!!! Next time somebody says anything about my ideas being too expensive --- EXPLAIN THE $8000 TRICASTER PRO. Oh, by the way, another $480 is needed to buy a monitor so that the technician can see what he/she is doing.

--Furniture: $500 for a desk. What we don't already have a desk? I bet there is a storage room either in Village Hall or at RecPlex with desks piled high and deep.

--Monitors for the Village Board ($900): Well, since the new $1600 plus hardware 108" x 108" screen will be behind the backs of the board members, we wouldn't want them to have to turn around! Might get a kink in that neck? Don't the chairs swivel? I am not against $900 to improve the stone age facility, but DON'T claim it's the fault of trying to videotape these meetings for the public to see!

LIVE!!: Give me a break. $6-8000 estimated to get to Roger Prange center -- by the way that's where CH25 is 'produced'. I'm so glad to know that as I always thought it was at the RecPlex. The internet connection would cost $4200/month to get it on the website too. And the multimedia server would cost $15000!. When we become ATLANTA or Kenosha, we can consider this, but for now Dick Ginkowski let's forget LIVE. $4200/month for internet connection! Maybe we do need some cable competition.

Word has it that the IT department addressed HIGH DEFINITION, but wrote that off as beyond current capabilities even of Time Warner. Lets get past YOUTUBE first and then we can talk HD.

By the way, I am in favor of every commission and board that works for the citizens of Pleasant Prairie to be included in the videotaping effort. CH25 can finally be the source of info citizens deserve --frankly I am tired of snowplowing, sewer cams, village contact info, and Kenosha County Board meetings. I WANT MY VPPTV!

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Next clip:

--Mike Pollocoff puts things in 'perspective'. This clip shows the 2008 Budget expenditures and PROVES why CH25 enhancement is not in the budget. All I can say is look at the budget capital improvements on the village website. Interesting array of items recommended and not recommended. I keep hearing an argument about how many people get CH25? Well, how many people as a % of our population use the North Ball Field at Prairie Springs at $208,000 for power and lights.

--Second part of this clip is where Mike Pollocoff refutes Bob Babcocks suggestion that KUSD students be enlisted to assist with this effort. School Board Member Eric Olson according to Bob Babcock during citizen comments seems to think its a good idea. Middleton, WI does just that, but it's JUST NOT QUITE TIDY AND GOOD ENOUGH FOR PLEASANT PRAIRIE - is it?

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Next clip:

--Mike Pollocoff explains usage of CH25 resources and who and hows its used, AND who pays for it. Interesting that he brought up that over HALF of CH25 usage is for "EXTERNAL BILLABLE" uses such as "ads", etc. Where is the EXTERNAL BILLABLE REVENUE going? I sure hope that it is going to pay for the operations of our CH25 effort, and if it makes a profit, shouldn't it go to offset the taxpayer portion of the funding? Hmm?

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Next clip:

Trustee#1 Monica Yuhas chimes in and indicates that SHE asked Mike Pollocoff to review this. She indicates that the village is taking steps to get things moving. I appreciate her willingness to talk with citizens and reveal the board video is desired, but she stops short stating that budget constraints need to be recognized. I agree that they do and as presented at $26000+ this is NOT more important than most budget items, but in the form I am suggesting this can easily be done. AGAIN, THANK YOU MONICA FOR BEING OPEN-MINDED. YOU ARE ACTUALLY THE ONLY TRUSTEE THAT HAS SAID ANYTHING ABOUT TALKING WITH CONSTITUENTS (you are even willing to acknowledge the opinions of folks like Bob Babcock) -- ALL OTHERS DIVINE THEIR OPINIONS.

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Next clip:

--Trustee #4 Serpe first says he is not against being against -- sounds remotely familiar to anyone. I made a comment during citizens comments about a studio for CH25. He claims there is no studio except for a 'green board'. Well the current INSIGHTS show running on CH25 shows a Boy Scout pack being shown around the village and while at it they stopped in the Roger Prange building in which there is a room that sure looks like a studio with a 'green screen' background for super-imposing graphics -- so I guess were both right. He then brings up other budget items that were foregone in favor of existing approved budget items. He took time to explain how in the case of Kenosha County Sheriff's Dept and also in the Kenosha PD IN (squad) CAR CAMS are VERY IMPORTANT for "officer safety". So, why in all the budget discussions did this NOT get approved. As a taxpayer, I would be willing to pay the extra $10/year to provide for this. How did he rationalize this $55,925 item out? Are REPLACEMENT servers at $16000 more important? Is a mower at $42000 more important? Are lights at a BALLFIELD at $208,000 more important? I could name others, but I think you get the point. I think Serpe should be ashamed of continually using public safety as a tool when it serves his purpose. Getting the in car camera should have been priority #1, and not behind a mower.

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Next clip:

--Trustee#3 Allen chimes in. States taxes too high so raising taxes not a good idea. Cut services would be another idea. Or gut current budget to raise necessary funds like radios and squad cars -- not good ideas either. USES SQUAD CAR CAM argument like Serpe did. Did he also fight as hard for squad cams as Serpe did? Apparently he thinks replacing servers is more important. Agrees that residents deserve this. Finally criticizes why this is being brought up again. I suppose he didn't hear Trustee Yuhas state that SHE brought this up because she thought it was important. Trustee Allen are you saying Monica is wrong? I think his comments were directed at folks like the Babcocks and me, but we really didn't ask for this.

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Next clip:

-- Village Administrator Pollocoff apparently doesn't like what he is hearing so he jumps in front of elected Trustee Steve Kumorkiewicz. Robert's Rules of Order in practice? I thought the only individuals who had the right to the floor (except during citizens comments) were ELECTED TRUSTEES. He for some reason starts to justify the existence of CH25 and its technician. I don't think anyone was questioning that, but he still felt like he had to justfy it. I sure am glad those dollars that come from providing commercial advertising, and surveillance are going to offset those from the lost 1% franchise fee?

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Next clip:

--Monica Yuhas for VILLAGE PRESIDENT 2009. I would vote for her. She again states that SHE asked for this report, BECAUSE the citizens have the right to know. HOW REFRESHING! It is kind of unfortunate that she felt compelled to have to say anything, but the nature of previous comments made her FEEL like she had to defend her actions and explain that she is not in any way opposed to any public safety spending, but again that this topic needed to be heard.

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Next clip:

--After getting stepped on by Pollocoff (and by accident Yuhas also), Trustee #2 Steve Kumorkiewicz gets to TALK! Esteban, what did I ever do to you? You (and Howard Cooley) have been a guest in my home for the 2004 Presidential Debates. You offered your help when I ran for County Board in 2004. You vowed (but didn't) to stay neutral in my race against Tom Terwall in 2005. And then when I got on the board, and actually DID what I was saying I would do (look under every stone for tax savings), you turned vicious. What did I do???? Instead of saying anything actually applicable you AGAIN can ONLY ATTACK. Steve seems to suggest that I AM asking for $26k in spending for videotaping. HELLO OUT THERE -- I am not suggesting anything like that -- it's your LEADER that is doing that and using it as an excuse not to RECOMMEND moving forward. Your comment about you not having cable and therefore not getting CH25 is irrelevant -- IS THIS FOR YOU IN YOUR MIND - now I know why you are against it. Quit being so hostile, and then maybe you can start thinking straight again.

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Next clip:

--The Trustee#2 preamble got Trustee#4 going. Mike Serpe decides he is not done, so throws in a couple more gems. I thought because of the marvelous leadership of Pleasant Prairie that nothing can EVER go wrong. NO property sales shown this last week for Pleasant Prairie. Isn't this the place EVERYONE is coming. I sure hope not to be right, but is this kind of explanation the same thing we will be hearing if things elsewhere don't go right. Do I hear a bit of cautiousness? I think I have been talking about RISK MANAGEMENT since I have gotten involved in Pleasant Prairie. Developers asking for extensions on development plans! We shouldn't spend money on special interests? Let's take a look at that 2008 Village Budget again. AND THEN FINALLY HE SEES THE LIGHT -- he calls Mike Pollocoff the "SUPER TRUSTEE" -- smirks and giggles ensue. Kumorkiewicz at the end is heard "agree with you".

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Next clip:

--The honorable Village President (and State Assembly Representative) John Steinbrink FINALLY chimes in with his pearls of wisdom. He complains that this is being brought up OVER AND OVER. He exalts the time commitment of Mike Pollocoff and how he works with the utilities, and power plant, and revenue. Then he takes a direct shot at yours truly suggesting that I CAN WASTE my time watching CH25 and Cartoon Network. He then ties this time commitment somehow to his role in Madison suggesting that "working to 3:30/5:00 o'clock in the morning is not the most productive". But it's just a big love fest for John S and Mike P after all.

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FINAL clip:

--"Nice comments, John", Allen says. Having had enough of this Trustee-requested waste of time, Trustee Allen decides to add his last bits and motions for filing in the circular file cabinet.

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There you have it. DOA - DEAD ON ARRIVAL. SHAMEFUL. This is what happens when a government is monolithic in its majority. Your village government will put up whatever argument it sees fit to block this effort. Throwing video screens and NEW TEK TRICASTER PRO $8000 machines into the mix is just proof of how bad they don't want to do this.

Before it was BORING.

Now it is TOO EXPENSIVE, and NOT IN THE BUDGET.

What's next? "I won't be able to wear blue jeans to village meetings anymore -- those county board supervisors just don't look comfortable"?

I have proved that it can be done if WILLING PARTIES EXIST. Well, they don't exist. It's THEIR way or the HIGHWAY. I was hoping (how foolish!) that this group would see that it can be REASONABLY done, and that perhaps a side benefit of doing this would involve getting rid of me every meeting (negotiations still available!).

The KENOSHA NEWS should have a story on this matter in Thursday's paper (3/6). Should be interesting reading too.

I WAS elected to the board, but I am not today. I(We) will continue to do this upon review of agendas, and if the items seem BORING (as Trustee Serpe states), then I(we) may or may not come, but you can be sure that if controversial things do show up on agendas I(WE) WILL BE THERE with cameras and maybe better sound equipment too. Do you find this POSTING interesting and technically intriguing? Well, if you do, then please note that what you have seen here is far more involved than videotaping and playing the meetings 'gavel to gavel' on CH25.

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

I mentioned in the last post that Mr. Bob Babcock has done HIS homework. He apparently had some correspondence with the Lt. Governor's office (same political party as the gov and State Rep and non-partisan Village President John Steinbrink (DEM)).

The Lt. Gov suggested per Mr. Babcock that municipalities LIKE PLEASANT PRAIRIE take action to put videotaping of Board Meetings, etc, so that citizens have a source of news.

This is nothing new, and I have been preaching this idea for around 2 years now. In order to show that it is not a TECHNICALLY DIFFICULT effort, we have begun videotaping and putting unedited clips of board meetings since 11/19/2007 onto YOUTUBE at http://www.youtube.com/PleasantPrairieWI.

The village leaders such as Trustee Mike Serpe have justified NOT HAVING MEETINGS ON CH25 as being "BORING", and classified them as a good sedative if they were to make it onto CH25.

By the way, cable franchise agreements include having GOVERNMENT ACCESS channels available so that local governments can communicate with their public.

Well, what is wrong with giving citizens the opportunity to SEE their government in action? We get to see COUNTY BOARD MEETING videotapes. Is the county board more interesting than the village board?

We get to see wake board competitions. We get to see garbage getting picked up. We get to see snowplows plowing, etc, etc, etc......

As a citizen, you should be able (if you were not at the meeting for whatever reasons) to pick up the Kenosha News on Tuesday morning and read about (for example: Orchard subdivision access issues and whether a cul-de-sac can be temporarily used as a through street during construction) any issue and then be able to tune to CH25 (lets say Thursday evening at 8pm) to see what actually happened (issue presentation, effected citizen comments, staff comments and recommendations, board comments and recommendations and VOTE). I think the Kenosha News actually does a great job of coverage, but all of the above is IMPOSSIBLE to cover in a news article and/or the intermittent VILLAGE NEWSLETTER (which in my opinion is a propaganda sheet not an unbiased newsletter as it should be).

As I am videotaping all meetings, here is a clip of Mr. Babcocks comments and also mine that followed. YOU DECIDE, and by the way in usual style, the VILLAGE BOARD COMPLETELY IGNORED THESE COMMENTS -- YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT TOO.

Now that's more like it!! -- Village Board meeting 2/18 kind of looked like a real meeting

The Village Board meeting on Monday 2/18 actually looked like a real meeting. There was some disagreement, some disappointment, Trustee Allen was left out on a limb all by himself (feels good doesn't it, Clyde?), Trustee Kumorkiewicz seemed to be elsewhere, and the Village Administrator actually made village administrator comments WITHOUT taking a political pot-shot against me.

I must say that I was happy to see 'gadfly' Bob Babcock Sr. bring up the need for the village to take the right action and actually start videotaping the meetings. I took this opportunity to second his comments and implored the village board to do the right thing. Unfortunately, in fashion true to form, they TOTALLY and COMPLETELY ignored our request.

VILLAGING IN THE PRAIRIE has done a good review of last nights meeting, so please link to his BLOG at http://villagingintheprairie.blogspot.com for good detailed info.

The meeting did not appear rehearsed as usual. Although there was some disagreement, they managed to pull themselves together and keep the unanimous streak going (Allen sure is open-minded!).

Nice Job!

Cat got your tongue? OR Are you finally seeing the light?

Dear Anonymi,
Where are you?
I miss you.
Happy Valentine's Day
Alex

VILLAGE DEBT NOW OVER $100 Million!!

The village board on Monday, Feb 4 http://www.youtube.com/PleasantPrairieWI, voted in a combination of new financing and some re-financing for a series of bond issues that result in a new high of over $100 million in debt. Last year, when I was running for Village President the total amount was about $94 million.

Before all the 'the village can do no wrong' minions get in a lather, I will say what I said before. There is good debt and there is bad debt. Surprizingly to most for sure, I will say that most of our debt IS good debt. I define good versus bad as in good is debt that is used to secure an 'investment'. Bad is debt caused by living beyond means. The problem and the reason for writing this is because one can easily become the other.

For example: A family buys a home to live in and in order to do so the family gets a mortgage that by all counts is reasonable based on the family's income -- GOOD DEBT as the home is an investment that 'should' appreciate over time more rapidly than the cost of the mortgage. Over the following years the family decides to 'improve' their home via a home equity loan since 'their home is more valuable now anyway'. So they spend a lot of money for an addition, etc. Now they have a more valuable asset (the home), but they also have much more debt. So far so good as long as the family's income keeps pace, and the economy and local values remain solid. BUT, this entire scenario can easily become BAD if any of the above happen. Income drop could lead to inability to pay for the now bloated debt. Macro economic conditions could also lead to similar disconnects, and likewise national declines in real estate values could also lead to same. Any number of reasons could make that family's game plan financially fail.

My point: The village has debt I believe UNEQUALED in WI for a muni this size. $100MM in debt is about $5500 for every citizen of PP. This would be like Kenosha County being in debt to the tune of $825 million, or the city of Kenosha at $550 million, or the state at $32 BILLION!

IF ALL WORKS OUT, Abbott comes, Recplex gets paid off, etc, I will be the first to congratulate village leadership for the success and vision. $77 million of the $100 are related to TID#2 (Abbott effort) and the Recplex remaining debt. I believe it CAN happen, and I hope it will.

BUT, it is irresponsible not to consider the downside in any case like this. That is what I think the citizens need to be aware of, and possibly should be worried or at least concerned about. What I see is an absolute refusal to ponder (at least publicly) among our village leaders. I just keep hearing how everything is so great.....I hope it continues to be. If this was the case in life, why would anyone ever need insurance for anything????

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS says MIDWEST performed BEST with a 3.2% loss in homeprices for 4th Qt.

According to the National Association of Realtors http://finance.yahoo.com/marketupdate/overview, fourth quarter median home prices fell 5.8% compared to last year. The West was hit the hardest with a 8.7% slide, while the Midwest performed the best with a 3.2% loss. The median home price in Lansing, MI fell most, a 18.8% decline.

MAKE SURE YOUR local ASSESSOR'S OFFICE knows about this. KEEP REMINDING THEM THAT THE SAME JUSTIFICATION USED TO JACK UP YOUR ASSESSMENTS NOW MUST BE USED IN REVERSE DIRECTION!

For those of you who live in Pleasant Prairie:

Rocco Vita
Village Assessor
Village of Pleasant Prairie
9915 39th Avenue
Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158


262-925-6707

rvita@plprairiewi.com

DON'T BE HESITANT TO CALL. HE AND HIS TEAM ARE NOT AFRAID TO GO INTO YOUR HOME AND POKE AROUND, SO WHY SHOULD YOU HESITATE TO CALL HIM AT HIS WORKPLACE. AFTERALL, HE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT.

I AM TALKING ABOUT YOUR MONEY FROM YOUR POCKET -- DEMAND CHANGE!!!

POLAR PLUNGE at LAKE ANDREA FEB 23

Here's an effort that I hope some of you can support.

Special Olympics of Wisconsin is hosting Polar Plunge 2008.

Carrie Szulczewski is one of the jumpers and has an online pledge page at http://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/pp08/pledge.asp?id_p=735

If you are so moved, please consider clicking on this link and contributing to this honorable cause. Carrie is getting close to her $1000 total pledge goal, but could still use some help from you!

Thanks,
Alex

KENOSHA AND PLEASANT PRAIRIE NEED TO JOIN THE BORSCHT BELT

Heard this on WLIP this morning.

Apparently beet juice is being used as an additive in a concoction of aqueous sodium chloride and calcium chloride. This "BORSCHT" apparently drops the eutectic point below standard ice melt mixtures.

I truly expect John Steinbrink Jr (Village Superintendent of Streets) and Dick Ginkowski (Asst DA Kenosha to use his RAG platform of constant criticism of Kenosha Snow Ops -- Ron Bursek?) to study this further.

Another benefit of this might be more Borscht being served in Kenosha if surpluses occur. Try it!

ALEX 'MIS-UNDERSTANDS' THE VILLAGE FORM OF GOVERNMENT. SO THAT'S IT!

In my previous post, I commented that attendance seems to be down by village board members. I also 'hear' that attendance at other commission meetings is not 'what it used to be' also. One of the up-shots of my comments was that since opposition is gone, it really doesn't matter anymore since the results are pre-conceived. Well, that has brought the spears out again.

In one of the latest comments on that previous blog, RAG (Asst DA Dick Ginkowski) figured it out! He said that I apparently "MISUNDERSTAND" the villages form of government. Makes sense to me.

I guess just an example of my naive expectation that agenda items will be discussed openly and actively debated by elected officials at convenient times for citizens (and videotaped for others to see later). How dumb of me!

Dick explains that my past and current 'shortcoming' is that I don't understand how the Pleasant Prairie Village Government is supposed to work, and to what role the elected officials ('council') play in it. On his blog http://ragdujour.blogspot.com/, he actually states that if the Village Administrator is doing his job well, then the "there isn't really all that much for the council to do". Surely this was a mis-statement and an exaggeration to say the least, or maybe it was one of those un-guarded moments when reality slips free. Steve Kumorkiewicz -- do you think you don't have that much to do?

WAIT A SECOND HERE?! The citizens (voters) elect a village board so that they can have a manager reporting to them (and directing/advising/recommending them) on how to vote resulting in NOT MUCH TO DO?!

Maybe that's okay for some folks. It kind of makes the village board an HR OFFICE for hiring the Village Administrator. Not that it's the case currently, but this HR OFFICE has hamstrung itself because if it ever really wanted to make a change it would have to pay the outgoing administrator about $350,000 to go away (but I digress..)

FROM THE VILLAGE'S WEBSITE:
About the Village BoardThe Village of Pleasant Prairie has a Board-Administrator form of government. Under this form of government, the elected Village Board sets the policies for the operation of the Pleasant Prairie government. The administrative responsibility of the Village rests with the Village Administrator who is appointed by the Village Board. The Village Board consists of four Trustees and the Village President.

The VILLAGE BOARD SET THE POLICIES?-- When is the last time you saw the village board set any policy -- I see a LOT of ratification going on, but 'setting' and/or initiating? The village administrator and/or a commission makes a recommendation and the village board approves it. Maybe they don't have that much to do? I see, I was really trying to DO something while the rule was DON'T DO anything because it's already done. Hmmm? Ackward-kind of a square peg thing? It's all starting to make sense...thanks Dick!

So, just exactly when is the 'policy setting' being done? And where? And who is in the room?

All right, there you have it. All you anonymous mean-spirited commenters have at it. Aren't you just so happy to have me around to give you such fodder? (Gives you some focus and direction).

ATTENDANCE -- NO LONGER REQUIRED?

I know I might be sounding like a pain in the a--, but there has been a very real change in attendance for Pleasant Prairie Village Board members.

When I was on the board, I did not miss ONE board meeting until the 20 MONTH of my term. This occured only because my family was enjoying a well deserved vacation in FL in December, and the flight home for a Monday night meeting was a bit expensive.

AND that was the only meeting I missed in the entire 2 years I was on the board.

This past Monday Village Trustee Mike Serpe was absent AGAIN. Maybe buddy boy Village President deemed his absense "EXCUSED", but as a citizen and taxpayer I find the current trend "INEXCUSABLE"!

While I was not really counting anybodies attendance (except my own) during my 2 years, from a subjective perspective I would say that likely 1 or 2 maximum absenses by any board member for the ENTIRE 2 years, and we are only in the 10th month of the current term.

Status for far thru 2/5/2008:
----Village President John Steinbrink absent once, late once.
----Trustee Monica Yuhas - zero absenses! Way to go Monica.
----Trustee Steve Kumorkiewicz --zero absenses! Well at least he practices what he preaches. And he takes his hat off in buildings too.
----Trustee Clyde Allen -- THREE ABSENSES. Thats 12% absense rate of the 26 meetings so far in his term. Whose 'side' is that again, Clyde?
----Trustee Mike Serpe -- THREE ABSENSES. Same as Clyde, AND MUCH higher than before. Watch out Mike, anyday now Steve Kurmorkiewicz is going to give you a real chewing. How are you doing on Plan Commission meetings -- these REALLY bother SK.

So what does this mean? You tell me and the readers.

BUT, from where I stand, apparently its not as important to be at meetings anymore as it used to be when honest debate actually occured when I and Jeff Lauer (when necessary) questioned proceedings and potentially would vote in opposition (for those of you that forgot, OPPOSITION is when a trustee has the nerve and gall to vote opposite of what Super Trustee Mike Pollocoff 'recommends'.)

Just for information purposes: Since the current board took office on 5/7/2007, by my count, 277 votes have occured. The current board since that date have voted UNANIMOUSLY 275 times (or 99.3%)!

To her credit, Moncia Yuhas has been the only honest broker I have witnessed so far. She actually has some questions and has taken positions that has made others squirm. I compliment her for this, but also have noticed that others have taken pot-shots against her any time she deviates from the 'norm'. Key it up, Monica! And I will be happy to vote for you next year.

So there you have it? Is this okay with you? Or does it just suggest that the meetings themselves are pre-conceived, and the lack of dedication shown by certain board members only proves it??

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY!!!???!!!

Having been in the business world for over 2 decades (enhanced by formal training in my Master's degree in Business Administration), I have had many experiences with a concept called ECONOMIES OF SCALE (the concept that as something grows larger, the 'next' increment of production should cost slightly less than the last increment since fixed costs are being spread over a larger number of articles).

This economic principal should apply to all aspects of 'production' -- manufacturing, service, AND GOVERNMENT!

Take for example a company that makes 'widgets'. Before the company can start producing they need to 'buy' a place to produce and all the buildout necessary to do so, raw materials to make a widget, and the labor to produce a widget. If the company makes only one widget, then the COST is the place of production, plus the buildout, plus the raw material to make it, plus the labor to make it. If the company makes 2 widgets, the cost PER WIDGET is now 1/2 of the production place, plus the raw materials divided by 2, and then the labor divided by 2 (both material and labor could also be 'bought' at a discount since volume generally means lower pricing). I think you can see where this is going. After making 'many' widgets, the real driver becomes the raw material and labor costs (incremental cost) as the FIXED part is now spread over MANY widgets.

When I was on the village board in Pleasant Prairie, I often asked why is it that as the village grows the 'incremental cost' continues to rise rather than decline. If a new development adds 100 homes to the village, those additional 100 homes should benefit from the fact that infrastructure is ALREADY IN PLACE, and that only INCREMENTAL additions need to be made - therefore total spending per unit should decrease.

BUT, somehow our free-wheeling village administrative and financial gurus continue to believe that the revenue generated from the INCREMENTAL additions IS NOT enough to cover its costs and therefore more money is needed from elsewhere (EXISTING TAXPAYER BASE!!).

As we ALL know that members of the "THE VILLAGE IS GREAT AND DOES EVERYTHING PERFECTLY" crowd regularly visit this blog, I leave it up to them to tell us why this is the case in Pleasant Prairie. I can think of a couple of reasonable explanations, but will wait for the INSIDERS to comment first.

Thanks goodness that the WI Legislature has implemented a 2% or up to % growth cap on year over year tax levy increases. If it wasn't for this, (AND PLENTY OF WHINING AND MOANING EVIDENCE EXISTS TO PROVE THIS) YOUR village leaders would have a free for all with tax increases. HUG your local REPUBLICAN legislators as they are the only roadblock to more free-wheeling spending!

TRAFFIC CIRCLES from SPACE look like crop circles

Some comments were made on my other posting about traffic circles as part of the WISDOT impending improvement of WI RT 165.

I have heard good and bad about traffic circles, and will agree that if things are going smoothly then great, but if things go badly the they really go badly.

I have been stuck in major traffic tie-ups (in states like New Jersey) do to the occasional fender bender (and these do happen a lot since parallel vehicles are both following the same circular path at the same time -- easy to deviate).

On the bright side, they don't have traffic lights (no need for unnecessary stopping and waiting, AND no energy demands for the lighting itself).

New (no stopping) designs are supposedly better than old stop and proceed configurations. Remains to be seen. Any comments??

COME ON DOUG SNOW -- COUGH IT UP!!!!

Village insider and loyal supporter DOUG SNOW at a recent citizens comments suggested that he is very happy with the structure of the village's Clean Water Utility and to prove such he is PREPARED to have his bill doubled!!

Sounds noble doesn't it. While I don't know where Doug lives, or how much his CWU bill is, my guess is that it is probably less than $3/month, so doubling it would be less than $6/month. Wow Doug, you are a big spender.

Bet your wouldn't say that if YOU were a retired lady living on fixed income (mostly social security, I understand) whose bill was originally $28 and then was TRIPLED to $84/month BECAUSE she lives on a approximately 20acre parcel of mostly pastoral land.

Let's see Dougie, doubling that bill would be $168/month. Would you like that bill every month as penalty for not doing anything really attributable to any real action on your part as a landowner. It's not like she left her faucet on for 7 days on purpose and then complained about a high water bill!!

Dougie, please let us know when you are paying your double bill as offered and then maybe the village can see fit for that nice lady who has the $84/month bill to reduce hers to $81/month. Its the least you can do since you love the concept so much. Perhaps then things might be just a little closer to being the FAIR SHARE as folks like you like to use as an excuse all the time.

BEWARE THE ASSESSOR with the MACHETE..

Hey folks,

Been away for about a week on business, and found all sorts of interesting remarks on my NEW AND IMPROVED 2008 previous posting.

Per many requests, I will try to steer this blog into directions that will actually create a forum for discussion on areas of interest that I think we all can relate to.

I expect the same series of ANONYMOUS comments with their varying degrees of decency, but even in their venom-spitting a little truth can be learned. Maybe if they keep commenting we will finally find out who they really are. (Insiders for sure, but WHO????).

Well anyway here it goes.

Our friendly village assessing office regularly tells us that assessments HAVE TO ACCURATELY AND FREQUENTLY CAPTURE MARKET CONDITIONS by the re-evaluation process so everybody is paying their FAIR SHARE.

This happens more or less every 2 years, and based on real estate markets, economy, etc, the entire village's evaluation grows (or declines), AND on a more micro basis, individual neighborhoods experience more or less of that kind of fluctation based on specific very local conditions.

SO, where am I going with this?

Essentially every news organization (including local) have acknowledged a significant softening in the real estate market.

When markets were hot and either entire village or neighborhood conditions were changing, we got to SEE OUR MERRY BAND OF ASSESSING MEN with their clipboards and tape measures running around figuring out how much more taxpayers were going to get stuck with increases in their assessments.

If your specific increase was higher than average, YOU were going to pay a BIGGER part of the total village tax bill.

If your specific increase was lower than average, you were going to pay a smaller part of the total village tax bill.

Previous comments on this blog gleefully touched on how re-evaluations make sure that everyone pays their FAIR SHARE. WELL, if markets are down, and those disparities were taken into to account during upswings, shouldn't our MERRY BAND OF ASSESSING MEN be out their NOW with their MACHETES taking offsetting swipes at everyones evaluations so that everyone keeps paying their FAIR SHARE.

I think it was Trustee Mike Serpe who once told me that municipal government is the one you can touch and see everyday. (ie, fire trucks, snow plows, police cars, road crews...etc, and don't forget schools). Well if that is so, somebody please explain why there should be any difference at all in anyones local taxes?? Does one get more or less of anything if they pay more or less for it?

I know this is opening a can of worms, but that is exactly what this kind of forum is all about. Mudslingers, nay-sayers, and down-right-nasty-and-cowardly anonymous comments...have at it!!!!!!!!

2008 -- A NEW YEAR accompanied by A NEW TONE

One of the lastest anonymous commenters on my WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD posting commented that the "election is over", and we should "give it a rest and lets talk about something else". Okay.

I wonder if regular whiners such as a the VOP writer that appeared in the Kenosha News TUES 1/8 got that memo?

On Monday, Bob Babcock Jr assisted me in videotaping the regular Village Board meeting. I knew I was going to be late at a minimum, but was able to arrive at about 1/2hr into the meeting. To my amazement, the meeting was almost over. Actually it lasted a total of about 35min.

Some board members must REALLY have wanted to see the BCS Championship Game. Result was another pathetic year for the BIG TEN as compared to other college football conferences. 3 bowl wins and 5 losses. Perhaps we should have a Toilet Bowl for the Big Ten teams (in the goal of full disclosure -- I am an alum of Northwestern University).

I wonder if these are the kinds of conversations that occur in the Village Hall Board office room. Steve Kumorkiewicz once commented that they discuss 'sports' back there. I know that during the 2 years I had access to that boardroom, I never heard sports talk - ever! Actually whenever I entered that room conversation normally just stopped. Well, at least we weren't discussing village business.

Speaking of Kumorkiewicz, at the end of the 35min meeting, he came up to me, offered a handshake (which I reciprocated), and he wished me a "Happy New Year". I wonder if he would have done that if I had submitted campaign registration materials against him for this April's election. Mike Serpe still avoids me. And John Steinbrink I think will never talk to me again. Afterall, I had the nerve to challenge him for Village President, and he actually had to run a campaign. Several weeks ago, Monica Yuhas stopped and talked to me prior to a meeting. I think she is really a good person, and has exhibited some willingness to question the 'leadership' -- must be the Trustee #1 seat! Clyde Allen is still working on the budget, so I am not expecting anything from him soon either.

John Braig, who called my actions in campaign 2007 "asinine" because I thought the entire board should have input in the formation of commissions membership, was manning MY VIDEO CAMERA when I entered the board room near the end of the meeting on Monday. After the meeting, he came up to me and indicated that he wanted to add some panning and zooming to make the video more interesting. You can see the video on YOU TUBE (http://www.youtube.com/pleasantprairiewi). In a brief chat, he sort of indicated that he would like to help out again on the videotaping. I SAY "WELCOME" to anyone who wants to assist. The village has taken babysteps in getting the meetings audio onto the official village website, and for 2 months now, citizens can also see meeting video on YOUTUBE. Perhaps with support of influential citizens like John Braig, the village will officially video the meetings and put them on Channel 25. (NOTE: The Village of Gurnee has taped meetings shown on their Channel 17). We own the cameras and necessary equipment and the meetings don't have to be LIVE! Just do it!

Even RAG (http://ragdujour.blogspot.com) blog owner (Dick Ginkowksi), talked to me after all these months. Even at the meeting where everyone else could see! He even posted a blog having some fun with the Packers hat I was wearing.

I think 2008 is going to be a great year. I am not running for anything in April. No one is running against me either. I once again have rights to full use of the English language including the word "INFLUENCE" -- I don't even have to pay lawyers to use it either. Everyone except Steinbrink, Serpe, and Allen are being nice to me again. That's all it took.

Dear anonymous from the chicken posting, is this a good start?