City council “politics,” change of government hot topics in Oshkosh
Folks, the city of Oshkosh is heading for big financial trouble if we stay our present course. A majority of our city council continues to spend, spend, spend as if there is an unlimited amount of funds in our city coffers – something we all know is simply not the case.
They continue to add fees for things that, in many cases, fall under the heading of essential services or are other services that a city would normally provide. They forgo getting competitive bids on certain projects, simply because the parks director has a company he is familiar with and enjoys doing business with. They defer work or ignore problems on many city streets that are in poor shape, and they continue to put off building a new municipal garage. They close our municipal pool – something that has been enjoyed by generations of children in the city. And despite all these things being done (or not done) because of a lack of money, this same city council – or a majority of it – continues to indebt this city’s residents - not just up to our own eyeballs, but those of our children, as well.
The most recent expense came at the May 26, 2004 council meeting when these so-called “good stewards” of our money, approved spending over $1 million for the redevelopment of Riverside Park, and there will have to be a minimum of an additional $3 million to $4 million spent before the project is completed. In addition, the previous workshop and private meetings that spoke of additional private donations and fundraising efforts being made to help offset the project were somewhat misleading.
It was stated at the May 25 Common Council meeting that any additional funds that come in will NOT be going to offset the public’s portion of this project, as was somewhat alluded to previously. Once the city borrows the money, we, the taxpayers, are on the hook PERMANENTLY! Unless we own a business in the downtown area we will not reap the financial benefits of this project. No business or organization that does directly benefit from this project will contribute any monies to help offset John and Jane Doe’s tax dollars. And while this project may ultimately increase the tax base, rarely if ever, do citizens’ tax dollars go down simply because the tax base increased. Our taxes will always continue to climb; and one of the most shameful parts of this is that huge chunks of the public’s money are being spent, yet the public was completely shut out of and circumvented by this very one-sided process.
In addition to being pressured by the Elmer Leach Foundation to do this extravagant and silly park project, the city council also got “squeezed” and pressured by certain business people in the community – some who don’t live here and won’t have to pay for any of this stuff and yet they’re the same people who are always pulling strings and pushing the council from behind the scenes to spend taxpayers’ money.
And finally, we have our newest city council member, B. Tower, who apparently doesn’t understand the proper reasons to vote or not vote for certain things, but then becomes somewhat testy when criticized for such wayward voting.
After you’ve read these opinion pieces – though, as always, they're based on factual accounts and events – feel free to share your views with us.
We are also anxious to hear from you about the kind of government you want and how you feel about the recent activities by our current city council. Send us an email; give us a call; or send us a surface mail. If we decide to do another online poll about it, you may certainly share your views with us there. Either way, we look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.
They continue to add fees for things that, in many cases, fall under the heading of essential services or are other services that a city would normally provide. They forgo getting competitive bids on certain projects, simply because the parks director has a company he is familiar with and enjoys doing business with. They defer work or ignore problems on many city streets that are in poor shape, and they continue to put off building a new municipal garage. They close our municipal pool – something that has been enjoyed by generations of children in the city. And despite all these things being done (or not done) because of a lack of money, this same city council – or a majority of it – continues to indebt this city’s residents - not just up to our own eyeballs, but those of our children, as well.
The most recent expense came at the May 26, 2004 council meeting when these so-called “good stewards” of our money, approved spending over $1 million for the redevelopment of Riverside Park, and there will have to be a minimum of an additional $3 million to $4 million spent before the project is completed. In addition, the previous workshop and private meetings that spoke of additional private donations and fundraising efforts being made to help offset the project were somewhat misleading.
It was stated at the May 25 Common Council meeting that any additional funds that come in will NOT be going to offset the public’s portion of this project, as was somewhat alluded to previously. Once the city borrows the money, we, the taxpayers, are on the hook PERMANENTLY! Unless we own a business in the downtown area we will not reap the financial benefits of this project. No business or organization that does directly benefit from this project will contribute any monies to help offset John and Jane Doe’s tax dollars. And while this project may ultimately increase the tax base, rarely if ever, do citizens’ tax dollars go down simply because the tax base increased. Our taxes will always continue to climb; and one of the most shameful parts of this is that huge chunks of the public’s money are being spent, yet the public was completely shut out of and circumvented by this very one-sided process.
In addition to being pressured by the Elmer Leach Foundation to do this extravagant and silly park project, the city council also got “squeezed” and pressured by certain business people in the community – some who don’t live here and won’t have to pay for any of this stuff and yet they’re the same people who are always pulling strings and pushing the council from behind the scenes to spend taxpayers’ money.
And finally, we have our newest city council member, B. Tower, who apparently doesn’t understand the proper reasons to vote or not vote for certain things, but then becomes somewhat testy when criticized for such wayward voting.
After you’ve read these opinion pieces – though, as always, they're based on factual accounts and events – feel free to share your views with us.
We are also anxious to hear from you about the kind of government you want and how you feel about the recent activities by our current city council. Send us an email; give us a call; or send us a surface mail. If we decide to do another online poll about it, you may certainly share your views with us there. Either way, we look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 7:08 PM
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