Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
During this evening's Common Council meeting Frank Tower stated that, based on financial information councilors received in their packets, it did not seem that a facility charge at the Leach Amphitheater was necessary - at least not at this time.
When Councilor Shirley Mattox talked about how the fee is to help the city plan for the future of the facility and pay for maintaining/improving it in the future, Tower responded by posing a somewhat rhetorical question, asking if it was right that the patrons using the facility be responsible for paying for something they may not be using; things that may be there in the future.
Unbelievable! While Frank Tower is busy protecting the users of the Leach under that misguided premise, he has no problem whatsoever asking the citizens of this community - every property owner there is - to pay for something, whether we use it or not. Let’s remember, we taxpayers have paid more than $3 million for this facility, but apparently that does not matter to Frank Tower, who voted in favor last year to put this on our backs. Nor does it seem to matter to the other “nay” voters on this issue: William Castle and Burk Tower.
And regardless of the fact that Frank said a charge can always be put in place in the future, he seems to be more concerned about acquiescing to his buddies at the Chamber of Commerce (who have fought against this charge from the very beginning) than protecting the taxpayers he was elected to serve. His misplaced allegiance needs to be remembered at election time – no matter what elected position he may run for in the future.
VOTED FOR A FACILITY CHARGE:
Paul Esslinger
Shirley Mattox
Bryan Bain
VOTED AGAINST A FACILITY CHARGE (and the taxpayers):
William Castle
Frank Tower
Burk Tower
These three "no" votes are shameful.
(Meredith Scheuerman cited a conflict of interest and, therefore, abstained from the vote but said she opposed it at this time, anyway.)
- Cheryl
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: DP on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 07:14 PM MDT
I agree Cheryl...shameful for those council members to not vote for the surcharge. At a time when fees are about to be dumped on the taxpayer, it is disturbing that this would happen. Fees should be imposed on voluntary users.
Even more disturbing to me was Frank Tower's suggestion that surplus revenue be given to the Oshkosh Foundation. Why not use the surplus revenues to pay down the debt?? I argued against the Foundation being involved with taxpayers money...primarily because of the potential for "the slippery slope". Well, now it's not just fees going to the foundation, it's also any surplus revenues. What's next?? They are NOT the city's personal money manager. Poor Policy.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 07:47 PM MDT
I agree with you. Not to mention that if the Foundation really felt strongly about something, they could nix a request for money given them for a specific cause. They are in total control and the entity for whom dollars are donated is at their mercy. Not necessarily the best vehicle in the world for donations.
There should be a clause in any agreement an organization or community makes with them that says the Foundation will not deny, but rather honor all requests made for donated money to that specific entity.
- Cheryl
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: Jim B. on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 07:58 PM MDT
What inkling have you ever had that the twin towers and the castle have the best interest of the citizens in their thought process? This charge is a no-brainer! Have you ever bought tickets from Ticketmaster? Do you not buy tickets to see a favorite act because of an additional charge? Probably not.........so why would The Leach be any different? Regardless of your position on The Leach, this is another example of certain council members taking the common sense out of the common council.
Jim B.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:21 PM MDT
Absolutely true! Their decision completely defies logic. The "twin Towers" need to be toppled come spring '06. Rumor has it F. Tower will be seeking a higher elected office and not seeking Common Council re-election. If that proves true, his Common Council votes need to be considered - and remembered - in any other election.
- Cheryl
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: Jim B. on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:40 PM MDT
In my opinion Frank Tower has done absolutely nothing to to deserve or be thought of for higher office.
Jim B.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: Mike on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:53 PM MDT
It is a shame that the .50 cent surcharge didn't at least get passed. I feel it is wrong to always rely on donations or tax dollars to further this project when something so simple could have been done to finance further improvements and maintenance. This sure could have helped with the storage shed that is in the plans.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: L Schaffer on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:55 PM MDT
Frank Tower and many of the other council members from time to time need to be reminded just who pays the bills. What happened tonight at the council meeting just goes to prove that the city of Oshkosh needs to change the form of gov. from a manager type to a mayor type with veto powers and to finally get rid of the mismanagement that has been going on for so long.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 09:04 PM MDT
They certainly do need to be reminded of who pays the bills. But as long as people continue re-electing these political misfits, we will continue to pay the bills while their business buddies skate by free and easy.
- Cheryl
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: DP on Wednesday, October 26 2005 @ 11:59 AM MDT
Regarding your comment about a clause with the foundation. I don't believe that could be done as it may put their tax-exempt status at risk. There is quite a gray area regarding control and donor advised funds.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, October 26 2005 @ 12:17 PM MDT
Perhaps that may be the case. I was merely trying to think of ways that donations could be made to the Foundation but the entities for whom they are made could be assured that their future requests for money would always be granted rather than being left to the possible subjective whims of the Foundation's board - whose complexion can change at any time.
- Cheryl
When Councilor Shirley Mattox talked about how the fee is to help the city plan for the future of the facility and pay for maintaining/improving it in the future, Tower responded by posing a somewhat rhetorical question, asking if it was right that the patrons using the facility be responsible for paying for something they may not be using; things that may be there in the future.
Unbelievable! While Frank Tower is busy protecting the users of the Leach under that misguided premise, he has no problem whatsoever asking the citizens of this community - every property owner there is - to pay for something, whether we use it or not. Let’s remember, we taxpayers have paid more than $3 million for this facility, but apparently that does not matter to Frank Tower, who voted in favor last year to put this on our backs. Nor does it seem to matter to the other “nay” voters on this issue: William Castle and Burk Tower.
And regardless of the fact that Frank said a charge can always be put in place in the future, he seems to be more concerned about acquiescing to his buddies at the Chamber of Commerce (who have fought against this charge from the very beginning) than protecting the taxpayers he was elected to serve. His misplaced allegiance needs to be remembered at election time – no matter what elected position he may run for in the future.
VOTED FOR A FACILITY CHARGE:
Paul Esslinger
Shirley Mattox
Bryan Bain
VOTED AGAINST A FACILITY CHARGE (and the taxpayers):
William Castle
Frank Tower
Burk Tower
These three "no" votes are shameful.
(Meredith Scheuerman cited a conflict of interest and, therefore, abstained from the vote but said she opposed it at this time, anyway.)
- Cheryl
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: DP on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 07:14 PM MDT
I agree Cheryl...shameful for those council members to not vote for the surcharge. At a time when fees are about to be dumped on the taxpayer, it is disturbing that this would happen. Fees should be imposed on voluntary users.
Even more disturbing to me was Frank Tower's suggestion that surplus revenue be given to the Oshkosh Foundation. Why not use the surplus revenues to pay down the debt?? I argued against the Foundation being involved with taxpayers money...primarily because of the potential for "the slippery slope". Well, now it's not just fees going to the foundation, it's also any surplus revenues. What's next?? They are NOT the city's personal money manager. Poor Policy.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 07:47 PM MDT
I agree with you. Not to mention that if the Foundation really felt strongly about something, they could nix a request for money given them for a specific cause. They are in total control and the entity for whom dollars are donated is at their mercy. Not necessarily the best vehicle in the world for donations.
There should be a clause in any agreement an organization or community makes with them that says the Foundation will not deny, but rather honor all requests made for donated money to that specific entity.
- Cheryl
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: Jim B. on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 07:58 PM MDT
What inkling have you ever had that the twin towers and the castle have the best interest of the citizens in their thought process? This charge is a no-brainer! Have you ever bought tickets from Ticketmaster? Do you not buy tickets to see a favorite act because of an additional charge? Probably not.........so why would The Leach be any different? Regardless of your position on The Leach, this is another example of certain council members taking the common sense out of the common council.
Jim B.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:21 PM MDT
Absolutely true! Their decision completely defies logic. The "twin Towers" need to be toppled come spring '06. Rumor has it F. Tower will be seeking a higher elected office and not seeking Common Council re-election. If that proves true, his Common Council votes need to be considered - and remembered - in any other election.
- Cheryl
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: Jim B. on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:40 PM MDT
In my opinion Frank Tower has done absolutely nothing to to deserve or be thought of for higher office.
Jim B.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: Mike on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:53 PM MDT
It is a shame that the .50 cent surcharge didn't at least get passed. I feel it is wrong to always rely on donations or tax dollars to further this project when something so simple could have been done to finance further improvements and maintenance. This sure could have helped with the storage shed that is in the plans.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: L Schaffer on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 08:55 PM MDT
Frank Tower and many of the other council members from time to time need to be reminded just who pays the bills. What happened tonight at the council meeting just goes to prove that the city of Oshkosh needs to change the form of gov. from a manager type to a mayor type with veto powers and to finally get rid of the mismanagement that has been going on for so long.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, October 25 2005 @ 09:04 PM MDT
They certainly do need to be reminded of who pays the bills. But as long as people continue re-electing these political misfits, we will continue to pay the bills while their business buddies skate by free and easy.
- Cheryl
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: DP on Wednesday, October 26 2005 @ 11:59 AM MDT
Regarding your comment about a clause with the foundation. I don't believe that could be done as it may put their tax-exempt status at risk. There is quite a gray area regarding control and donor advised funds.
Councilman Frank Tower sticks it to the citizens again
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, October 26 2005 @ 12:17 PM MDT
Perhaps that may be the case. I was merely trying to think of ways that donations could be made to the Foundation but the entities for whom they are made could be assured that their future requests for money would always be granted rather than being left to the possible subjective whims of the Foundation's board - whose complexion can change at any time.
- Cheryl
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 6:51 PM
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