Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Contributed by: Jim B.
What a great idea to show the masses the deadbeats in the state of Wisconsin. It is beyond me how anyone can owe the substantial amount of money on this site without some serious consequences. We have a couple of "All-Stars" right here in Oshkosh. Could a lot of these budget problems be solved with the money owed to the state? How does this happen?
I owed about $1200 in taxes when I was very young. At the time I did not have the money, but the State was extremely aggressive in setting up a payment plan. The interest was unbelievable.
How are these people getting away with this? I recognize one of the names on the Oshkosh list and know they live a lifestyle higher than most. Ironically, they owe more than most!!
Jim B.
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Friday, January 06 2006 @ 12:40 PM MST
Here is the link to the list which shows the delinquent taxpayers.
Delinquent taxpayers website
It is fascinating - and maddening - reading. By not paying their taxes, these people are stealing from all of us. I understand that sometimes people are listed by mistake and those mistakes should be corrected. But what about the others? I also understand people can and do run into financial binds. But are these folks at least on a payment plan? Is the state doing something to make them pay up? Or are they just left alone to pay at will in their own time frame?These are just a few of the unanswered questions.
Perhaps our legislators need to draft stricter legislation to force these folks to pay up, or face the state taking their property, much like the IRS does if you thumb your nose at them. We could then sell it and use the money to solve our own budget problems.
If this is already an option, let's get moving on it. This kind of thing cannot be allowed to continue to the degree it is.
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: DBCooper on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 10:50 AM MST
Here are the Oshkosh offenders, cut and pasted. The format looks OK in my preview, hope it works when I post it.
DADAS, EUGENE 404 N MAIN ST, #503 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh W,I $515,435
THILL, RUSSELL T PO BOX 617 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh S,CC,W,I $295,297
THILL, DANIELLE M 3031 FOND DU LAC RD #11 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh CC,I $294,027
LARSON, RODNEY ALLEN P.O. BOX 3310 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh S,I,W $229,382
CARDER, BRYON PO BOX 821 OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh S,W $163,655
JAEGER, ROGER G PO BOX 3384 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh I $142,218
WIATROWSKI, DENNIS 4009 APPLE LN OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh S,I $110,958
VIJAYARAGHAVAN, RENGACHARI 1397 MARICOPA DR OSHKOSH WI 54904-8071 Oshkosh W,S,I $89,695
PANSKE, GUY 129 GUENTHER ST APT B OSHKOSH WI 54902-5775 Oshkosh I $83,887
HUMMEL, MARK 5070 ISLAND VIEW DR OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I,B,W,S $80,478
BRAHMBHAT, MINESH 3060 WILDERNESS PL OSHKOSH WI 54904 Oshkosh W,S $74,170
HARGROVE, EDDIE 322 E MURDOCK AVE OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh S,I,W,IA,B,CC $69,555
ENLI, DARRYL 1715 TAFT AVE APT G3 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I $69,475
LONGSINE, JAMES 5973 GREEN VALLEY RD OSHKOSH WI 54904 Oshkosh I $67,899
CARLSON, KURT 905 S MAIN ST OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh S,I $50,855
CAIN, CHARLES 1207 N SAWYER ST OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I $49,795
MALNORY, TODD 1143 ARTHUR AVE OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh B,I $39,877
NELSEN, DOUGLAS 911 GREENWOOD CT APT 6 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I $39,799
THILL, NANCY PO BOX 1276 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh I $34,830
THILL, RUSSELL PO BOX 1276 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh I $34,830
BURDICK, GARY A 312 ROSALIA ST OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh S,W,I $34,523
FERREN JR, ERNEST 1728 GLENWOOD DR OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh W,S,I $34,142
TESCH, WALTER 1847 OREGON ST OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh W $29,790
WHITMAN, DAVID 1730 W SNELL RD PO BOX 3530 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh W,I $28,555
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 04:04 PM MST
I find it interesting that most of these people list PO boxes and are probably very difficult to reach. Anyone know what means the city can use to recoop these monies?
I laughed when I saw the last entry on the list. 1730 W Snell is the prison. I don't think we're ever going to see that money.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 05:17 PM MST
Try the city assessor's web site to see if these people own any property. The biggest deadbet on the list, Eugene Dadas, is a business owner in town I think. That address on Main may be his business address. Maybe a nice letter campaign to some of these losers from several of their neighbors in Oshkosh would inspire them to make good on their debts.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 06:52 PM MST
I notice the Thills are listed on here a few times. Are these the Thills from Thill & Co. down on Wisconsin Ave.? I see we also have people who live in pretty upscale areas. Island View Drive is out by Lake Winnebago. Maricopa Drive is out in Westhaven. Have these people no shame at all? How dare they continue to live high on the hog while hosing all of us with their tax delinquencies. It doesn't seem oike the state's method of exposing these people is achieving its goal of embarrassing them into paying. Maybe it's time the government start seizing property in order to satisfy the debts. Someone suggested a letter writing campaign to the debtors. Not a bad idea but a letter writing campaign to our legislators who make the laws that permit this kind of irresponsibility is probably also in order.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 05:36 PM MST
For everyone's information, the THILLS listed here are indeed one and the same as Thill & Co., from just over before the bridge on Wisconsin Street.
Here is what was provided by the Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions:
Chronology Effective Date Transaction Filed Date Description
8/25/1961 Incorporated / Qualified / Registered 8/25/1961
9/3/1964 Change Registered Agent/Office 9/3/1964
1/1/1974 In Bad Standing 1/1/1974
3/14/1974 Restored to Good Standing 3/14/1974
6/3/1974 Change Registered Agent/Office 6/3/1974
7/10/1981 Amendment 7/10/1981
7/1/1982 In Bad Standing 7/1/1982
12/16/1982 Restored to Good Standing 12/16/1982
5/3/1984 Merger (survivor) 5/3/1984 1R12587 (RONSCO HEALTH CARE, LTD.)
3/31/1986 Merged (nonsurvivor) 3/31/1986 2O15189 OMNI MANUFACTURING INC
It did not post as clearly as I'd hoped but you can go directly to the DFI web site and look up Thill & Co. and see for yourself. Funny how a big employer like this that does domestic and international trade is run by a family of deadbeats who screw the state out of taxes they owe. Why is the state allowing this company to continue operating without seizing assets? It is a slap in the face to those of who hardworking stiffs who pay what we owe. Russell baby has a pretty nice house out of Fond du Lac Road though. Maybe he should downsize and live a little more meager lifestyle so he can afford the taxes he owes. More corporate greed is what this is. No wonder people hate corporate leaders so much.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: DBCooper on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 08:44 PM MST
Hey, what happened to the thread telling me I needed a hobby? To that person I say this: In the early 1970's, my hobby was jumping out of airplanes over the Pacific Northwest. Now, my hobby is internet research...
To those not familiar with it, http://www.wdfi.org/ is the link, just click on "search business records" and put in the name of a company.
Your list indicates that Thill was a non-survivor in 1986? Somewhere, some sort of accounting game is being played as we know Thill & Co still exists.
There are, however, many many more Thill "entities" that exist, each one as corrupt as the one you've listed. On Oregon Street right now, there is a Thill backed company called JJT & Associates. There was a Thill backed company in the old Thill building on County A called AJ Metals, circa 2001-2003. Check out their string of bad debts on ccap. Anybody remember about 1990 or so, same location at 35 Wisconsin Street (?), a woman was murdered? Her husband walked into this company and shot her during a break? And maybe her boyfriend also? That was also a Thill company, but it had a different name. I think it has since moved to Fond du Lac, don't know if it still exists or not.
It's incredible how a group of people like this can just sleaze their way from one company to another, hiding behind different company names, never paying their taxes among other obligations. Yet, their personal incomes/property/etc are all conveniently unaffected. It's not surprising "like father like son". They will never be shamed into paying anything, as they have no shame.
What's even more incredible is that we have an entire class of people, the "deadbeats", who all know exactly how to manipulate the system to get around paying their obligations. "Paying taxes is for suckers". The rest of us are the suckers...
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: DBCooper on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 08:06 PM MST
Folks, let's not forget one thing: These are the names of people who owe MORE than $25000!!!
I don't think the lawmakers in Madison realized how badly this is going to blow up in their faces. Their idea was to "shame" these slackers into paying up. What they are doing is raising the ire of us honest people, who wonder why more isn't being done by the lawmakers in Madison in the first place, and why is it this out of hand?
The first thing that comes to my mind is, how many more people are there, what is the total amount owed, and how long have they not been paying, for all the people that owe LESS than 25000??? You know what? I don't think they'd be willing to tell us that, they are afraid of how outraged we would really be!
I did some looking around with these names, Carlson in particular, and came across something on the circuit court website. If anybody doesn't know what that is or how to access it, post here and I'm sure somebody will be able to help. Carlson comes back as being sued by some entity known as "City of Oshkosh Personal Property". The attorney listed is from Fond du Lac. One case in particular for several thousand dollars, several years old, is listed as "satisfaction: no", which to me means since 2003 this person has owed almost $5000 and has yet to pay.
If anybody from the city council is reading this, I have several questions:
1) What is the "City of Oshkosh Personal Property" entity?
2) If it is associated with the City of Oshkosh, why are we hiring attorneys from Fond du Lac and why not our own legal staff? If they are not capable, why do have them as employees?
3) How many other entities do we have that we the people don't know about? I know of one in particular that I found this afternoon, called "City of Oshkosh Ambulance". Run that one through the ccap website. Interestingly, same attorney from Fond du Lac. Some bizarre cases under that name, but again all involve money being owed. Is it being paid?
4) Would you be willing to bring forth this suggestion to the rest of the city council: The city producing a website similar to the one the state has, (separate from the assesors site) which simply shows the amount of back property taxes owed, and the address and the propery owners name? Or are you afraid of what we the people will find out? How about another website that shows the people who owe for ambulance services and whatever other monies are owed to the city?
DBCooper
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 09:54 AM MST
I found your post very interesting and I do hope that someone from the city or city council responds. I will also mention it to some of them and see if we can't get a reply.
In the meantime, I like your suggestion about a type of city taxpayers web site, but would offer one suggestion. I don't think I would like to see people listed on the site who (a) have disputed the charges for some reason, unless they have lost their dispute or (b) admit they owe the money but because of tough financial times can't pay, but are at least making payments toward the debt. Many times payment plans are agreed to and as long as someone is being true to their word and making those payments I don't think they should be made to feel worse than they probably already do.
There may be some other exceptions too, but these are just a couple ideas. I absolutely agree that at both the local and state level we need to do something to start collecting money owed to us, but we have to do so judiciously.
One other note about the city attorney, I can also tell you that I have seen plenty of cases in our circuit court where people are there disputing tickets issued by the police department or for other violations and neither city attorney Warren Kraft nor our assistant city attorney Lynn Lorenson are there representing the city. It's always somebody else, whose last name I think is Bush or something like that. They will probably have an explanation as to why that is but I would like to know also, why we have a legal staff who doesn't handle these more trivial matters. In fact, neither of them even represented the city in the big smoking ban debacle. They were both in court, along with city manager Dick Wollangk, but neither spoke to the judge on behalf of the city when I was there.
We also know by Mr. Kraft's own "admission" that he has hired an attorney to represent us in the Park Plaza Hotel bankruptcy proceedings so we can hopefully recover some money for, guess what, delinquent taxes, among other things. Can we perhaps save some money in legal expenses by changing the way we do business and are these extra layers of representation really necessary for some reason?
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 10:19 AM MST
As a follow-up to my own post I have just sent an email to our entire city council, except Mayor William Castle, who refuses to utilize the convenience of email for his constituents. Hopefully we will get some responses.
Incidentally Mr. Castle stopped using the city email address for communications purposes when it was told to city council members that their emails were subject to the open records law. I think it is a disservice to remove a convenient way for people to communicate with you, especially when your position deems you the top leader in the city.
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 11:05 AM MST
Does Paul Esslinger have a city e-mail account?
Call Castle if he doesn't have an e-mail account. I didn't know he was required to maintain one.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 11:56 AM MST
While I agree Paul Esslinger should probably utilize the city email address provided to him, he does have a different email address that I know many people have used. But Mr. Castle has never made any address available to citizens.
Also, I never said it was required, but it is provided free so why would he not want to make things as convenient as possible for people paying his salary? Besides that, people are not always available by phone and some do not have voice mail. By having the convenience of being able to send an email the person doing the sending can do it at any time and the person doing the responding can also reply at their convenience. There's no rocket science involved in understanding this concept. Maybe if we installed a computer somewhere on the back 9 it would make it easier and more palatable for Mr. Castle. Better yet, he works for us; so maybe it should be required that all elected officials maintain an email account.
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 12:23 PM MST
Is Mr. Esslinger's email acount public for all of us to access? I have wanted to email him on certain issues but do not have his email address.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 12:56 PM MST
Check with City Hall. I'm sure they'll be able to tell you. Or call him directly and ask for it. Bet you'll get a better response than you get from Castle.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 02:26 PM MST
It sure would be more convenient for citizens and more efficient for city staff if they just listed it on the city web site. If they are willing to give it out over the phone why not have it on the site?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 02:36 PM MST
I agree. Both Castle and Esslinger should offer up web site addresses. It should be a requirement as long as it's offered. Esslinger had his puled at the same time Castle pulled. Don't know if Esslinger has ever made another one public. What is the big deal about giving out the address anyhow?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Jim B. on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 02:59 PM MST
Castle doesnt use a computer! His assistant prints out all of his e-mails for him to read. I am not sure he cares what we think anyway!
Jim B.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 04:37 PM MST
Newsflash: BILL CASTLE HAS NEVER CARED WHAT WE THOUGHT. HE CARES ONLY ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS FRIENDS.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 07:25 PM MST
The back 9, Cheryl? That's stooping pretty low. Lower than I thought you would allow yourself to. Just because Bill Castle doesn't operate like you would want him to doesn't mean he doesn't care. His agenda is different than yours, obviously, but that doesn't require you to stoop to the level you have. I am disappointed in you.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 08:52 PM MST
I have a thought. Maybe when Bill Castle and the cast of characters like him on the city council stop doing stupid things Cheryl Hentz and the rest of us will stop criticizing them.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 11:09 PM MST
Dear Anonymous,
Sorry you failed to see the humor in the remark. But witicism aside, it's not stooping low at all; it's a statement of fact, the reality of which is perhaps what's really bothering you.
As to your disappointment in me, I accept the fact that I cannot please everyone all the time. I only hope you feel the same, if not greater, disappointment in a mayor who admittedly discusses business on the golf course, then agrees to waive bids to construct the very thing he's been out there discussing - especially when it was in violation of the law? And at the end of the day, my words or actions have not cost taxpayers any money. The same cannot be said for those of Mr. Castle.
Finally, whether Mr. Castle cares or not is not in question - at least not in my mind. I think we've seen the answer to that time and time again by the way he votes. What is a more appropriate question, though, is "Does Mr. Castle remember who he works for?"
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 08:45 AM MST
Cite some new arguments, Cheryl. The golf course argument and the bathroom issues are getting old. Start using some new arguments. You're getting to be old hat. If Bill and his group are so bad for Oshkosh, how come they keep getting re-elected?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 01:26 PM MST
Perhaps you missed it, but some new arguments HAVE been cited – arguments, for example, about garbage fees, floating docks and skateboard park repairs that have or will cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars above and beyond the bathrooms and amphitheater debacles.
I might also remind you that simply because you are tired of hearing about the "old hat" issues doesn’t mean those of outraged by them have forgotten about them, nor should we. After all, every time we pay a tax bill we are reminded of these things you consider outdated, untimely or old arguments. We’ll be paying on these things for many years to come, if not forever, so the arguments will never really be "old hat."
As to your question about council members who keep getting re-elected, I addressed this many times before but for those like yourself who evidently missed it, I will again state that many people have told me they are so fed up with things that they no longer go to the polls. I don't think that is the right approach to solving the problem, but it is undoubtedly one reason why some of these folks keep getting re-elected. As far as others on the council that many people are unhappy with, they are either still in their first term or are not running for re-election. Also please don’t forget, several things have happened this past year that may actually spur more people to go to the polls this February and April. So we’ll see at that time if your own old argument will stand up.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 02:24 PM MST
So fed up that they no longer go to the polls? That's a cop out. There is no other way to get their point across. If they are not willing to vote for whatever reason, they don't have the right to complain, and NO ONE should listen to them.
If you don't vote, you're part of the problem. Your first responsibility when it comes to using your right to free speech is using that freedom at the ballot box.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 03:42 PM MST
My previous post says I agree they should be going to the polls and I am not going to debate that issue with you. It is their duty and responsibility, not just a privilege, to vote in every election. But the harsh reality of it is many don't because they are fed up and I was using that as an example to answer a question. Asked and answered.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 05:07 PM MST
I was making a statement, not trying to start a debate with you. Do you always have to have the last word? Maybe if you would listen to what people on this site have to say, instead of always insisting that you are right, you might learn something about local government. As my mother used to say, "You have two ears and one mouth for a reason: You should listen twice as much as you talk."
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 05:35 PM MST
And I was agreeing with you but also letting you know I was not going to dispute the reason I'd given for why I believe many peole don't go to the polls, etc. Sorry you didn't seem to understand that.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 06:03 PM MST
Because someone doesn't vote they have no right to complain and no one should listen to them??? What a load of hooey. Like you and Cheryl I believe everyone should vote, but even if they don't they still pay taxes which still gives them the right to say how those tax dollars are spent and complain about it if they disagree. Your comments are smug and short-sighted.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, January 17 2006 @ 09:43 AM MST
I have heard from two city council people so far on these questions - Meredith Scheuermann and Bryan Bain. They are working on finding the answers to the questions and will get back to me as soon as they have them. They are welcome to post the answers here directly. Otherwise, if they send them to me by email, I will post them on their behalf. We thank both Meredith and Bryan for their prompt attention to these concerns.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 01:35 PM MST
[We received a reply earlier today from council member Burk Tower and we thank him for his reply. Item A refers to why the city attorney and his assistant do not handle all city legal issues. Item B refers to a tax debtors web site idea. Meanwhile Meredith Scheuermann responded to say she would look into this ASAP but that she was dealing with some personal issues and it might take a few days. We thank she, Bryan Bain and Burk Tower for each responding to the emailed request for information. Here is Burk Tower's response...]
Cheryl,
Sorry to be slow getting back to you but I have been out of town on business. A couple of quick responses. Response to (A): Issues of economics and expertise come into play here. Many of these matters require focused expertise in specific areas and our folks don't have that particular expertise. This area was discussed at the last Council meeting in response to a question by Paul. Related to that is the possible expense of having Full-time people with focused expertise. Also the approach taken now allows the City to hire when services are needed and not fund excess capacity.
(B) I have not been made aware of such a proposal, but believe it might be worth considering. As is true of most issues, it is probably more complicated than it seems at first glance so will take research to determine pros and cons.
Burk
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 03:36 PM MST
[We have also received an email from council member Bryan Bain who received the following emailed answers from city attorney Warren Kraft. We thank both of them for their replies also.]
Bryan:
Another Council member dropped by this morning with these same questions.
As I noted last Tuesday night in response to Council member Esslinger's questions, the city attorney's office retained the services of a specialized bankruptcy attorney in Eau Claire because of the complexity of the case. I am handling the civil court litigation, whenever the bankruptcy court permits. I liken our role to your family doctor: she/he is trained in basic care and to identify those areas where specialized examination and care is needed; as much as you respect your family doctor, you probably want a surgeon to perform the needed
operation.
The city's insurance carrier provides defense in many lawsuits, based on the League of Wisconsin Municipalities' umbrella contract. Many personal insurance policies will now provide "defense of action" even where dollar coverage for losses is not provided. Our office coordinates between defense counsel and whichever city administrators or
employees are needed to defend those cases. The successful defense of the smoking ordinance was one such cooperative effort. Unfortunately,
your correspondent is unaware of the hundreds of cases each year that the city attorney office handles away from the spotlight. On occasion, when judges book trials or other court proceedings at the same time, it is necessary for an outside attorney to help us. The district attorney has sufficient staff to appear in all six courtrooms at the same time.
The city attorney's office has consisted of 2.5 attorneys since the early 70s and is responsible for all legal affairs of the city of Oshkosh. At the county level, there is the district attorney office, charged with all the criminal prosecutions, plus the corporation counsel's office that handles all the civil matters.
I cannot address the second question, about website shaming, because that is a policy decision beyond my position of authority. As I explained to the Council member this morning, one need only recall last week's public unveiling of the state's website and the resultant publicity about its errors. While the state may have sovereign immunity from lawsuits concerning defamation, local governments do not enjoy such privilege.
TNX,
Warren P. Kraft
City Attorney Office
215 Church Ave | P. O. Box 1130 | Oshkosh WI 54903-1130
(920) 236-5115 | (920) 236-5090 fax
wkraft@ci.oshkosh.wi.us
IMLA Regional Vice President
Washington DC 20005
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 06:41 PM MST
[We have now received a response from council member Meredith Scheuermann and, as with the others, we thank her for her response below.]
My answer to the first question is my opinion only. A city attorney needs to have a wide vast knowledge of many things. However, like most laywers, they usually specialize in things, i.e. bankruptcy, divorce, criminal etc. You don't usually have a "one stop shop"with attorneys. Additionally, like a bank manager like myself, I have a global knowledge of many aspects of the bank, however, I get assistance often from our commercial lenders or mortgage lenders when I have questions that are in depth and that require more of their expertise. I am of the opinion that that is the case with Warren (Kraft). He handles what his capacity is, but if the issues become complex, he looks for expertise and assistance from others who specialize in that area.
Second, I would be in support of publishing names of delinquent tax payers. I feel like we did that last year and it got many people to pay up.......am I mistaken? How do we get that started? If it is public record, wouldn't a simple call to the Northwestern do it?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 25 2006 @ 01:30 PM MST
What's up with some of our city council representatives? The two new kids on the block, Scheuerman and Bain, took the time to answer questions we asked them along with Burk Tower, who is running for another term right now. But Mattox who is in the middle of her third term didn't bother and Frank Tower who isn't running again didn't bother (guess everyone was right when they said he doesn't give a damn and never did). But what about Esslinger? He is running for another term yet he does not seem to have answered the questions. Is he slacking now that he's got some seniority on the council? Or is he just getting tired?
What a great idea to show the masses the deadbeats in the state of Wisconsin. It is beyond me how anyone can owe the substantial amount of money on this site without some serious consequences. We have a couple of "All-Stars" right here in Oshkosh. Could a lot of these budget problems be solved with the money owed to the state? How does this happen?
I owed about $1200 in taxes when I was very young. At the time I did not have the money, but the State was extremely aggressive in setting up a payment plan. The interest was unbelievable.
How are these people getting away with this? I recognize one of the names on the Oshkosh list and know they live a lifestyle higher than most. Ironically, they owe more than most!!
Jim B.
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Friday, January 06 2006 @ 12:40 PM MST
Here is the link to the list which shows the delinquent taxpayers.
Delinquent taxpayers website
It is fascinating - and maddening - reading. By not paying their taxes, these people are stealing from all of us. I understand that sometimes people are listed by mistake and those mistakes should be corrected. But what about the others? I also understand people can and do run into financial binds. But are these folks at least on a payment plan? Is the state doing something to make them pay up? Or are they just left alone to pay at will in their own time frame?These are just a few of the unanswered questions.
Perhaps our legislators need to draft stricter legislation to force these folks to pay up, or face the state taking their property, much like the IRS does if you thumb your nose at them. We could then sell it and use the money to solve our own budget problems.
If this is already an option, let's get moving on it. This kind of thing cannot be allowed to continue to the degree it is.
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: DBCooper on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 10:50 AM MST
Here are the Oshkosh offenders, cut and pasted. The format looks OK in my preview, hope it works when I post it.
DADAS, EUGENE 404 N MAIN ST, #503 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh W,I $515,435
THILL, RUSSELL T PO BOX 617 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh S,CC,W,I $295,297
THILL, DANIELLE M 3031 FOND DU LAC RD #11 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh CC,I $294,027
LARSON, RODNEY ALLEN P.O. BOX 3310 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh S,I,W $229,382
CARDER, BRYON PO BOX 821 OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh S,W $163,655
JAEGER, ROGER G PO BOX 3384 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh I $142,218
WIATROWSKI, DENNIS 4009 APPLE LN OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh S,I $110,958
VIJAYARAGHAVAN, RENGACHARI 1397 MARICOPA DR OSHKOSH WI 54904-8071 Oshkosh W,S,I $89,695
PANSKE, GUY 129 GUENTHER ST APT B OSHKOSH WI 54902-5775 Oshkosh I $83,887
HUMMEL, MARK 5070 ISLAND VIEW DR OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I,B,W,S $80,478
BRAHMBHAT, MINESH 3060 WILDERNESS PL OSHKOSH WI 54904 Oshkosh W,S $74,170
HARGROVE, EDDIE 322 E MURDOCK AVE OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh S,I,W,IA,B,CC $69,555
ENLI, DARRYL 1715 TAFT AVE APT G3 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I $69,475
LONGSINE, JAMES 5973 GREEN VALLEY RD OSHKOSH WI 54904 Oshkosh I $67,899
CARLSON, KURT 905 S MAIN ST OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh S,I $50,855
CAIN, CHARLES 1207 N SAWYER ST OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I $49,795
MALNORY, TODD 1143 ARTHUR AVE OSHKOSH WI 54902 Oshkosh B,I $39,877
NELSEN, DOUGLAS 911 GREENWOOD CT APT 6 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh I $39,799
THILL, NANCY PO BOX 1276 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh I $34,830
THILL, RUSSELL PO BOX 1276 OSHKOSH WI 54903 Oshkosh I $34,830
BURDICK, GARY A 312 ROSALIA ST OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh S,W,I $34,523
FERREN JR, ERNEST 1728 GLENWOOD DR OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh W,S,I $34,142
TESCH, WALTER 1847 OREGON ST OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh W $29,790
WHITMAN, DAVID 1730 W SNELL RD PO BOX 3530 OSHKOSH WI 54901 Oshkosh W,I $28,555
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 04:04 PM MST
I find it interesting that most of these people list PO boxes and are probably very difficult to reach. Anyone know what means the city can use to recoop these monies?
I laughed when I saw the last entry on the list. 1730 W Snell is the prison. I don't think we're ever going to see that money.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 05:17 PM MST
Try the city assessor's web site to see if these people own any property. The biggest deadbet on the list, Eugene Dadas, is a business owner in town I think. That address on Main may be his business address. Maybe a nice letter campaign to some of these losers from several of their neighbors in Oshkosh would inspire them to make good on their debts.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 06:52 PM MST
I notice the Thills are listed on here a few times. Are these the Thills from Thill & Co. down on Wisconsin Ave.? I see we also have people who live in pretty upscale areas. Island View Drive is out by Lake Winnebago. Maricopa Drive is out in Westhaven. Have these people no shame at all? How dare they continue to live high on the hog while hosing all of us with their tax delinquencies. It doesn't seem oike the state's method of exposing these people is achieving its goal of embarrassing them into paying. Maybe it's time the government start seizing property in order to satisfy the debts. Someone suggested a letter writing campaign to the debtors. Not a bad idea but a letter writing campaign to our legislators who make the laws that permit this kind of irresponsibility is probably also in order.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 05:36 PM MST
For everyone's information, the THILLS listed here are indeed one and the same as Thill & Co., from just over before the bridge on Wisconsin Street.
Here is what was provided by the Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions:
Chronology Effective Date Transaction Filed Date Description
8/25/1961 Incorporated / Qualified / Registered 8/25/1961
9/3/1964 Change Registered Agent/Office 9/3/1964
1/1/1974 In Bad Standing 1/1/1974
3/14/1974 Restored to Good Standing 3/14/1974
6/3/1974 Change Registered Agent/Office 6/3/1974
7/10/1981 Amendment 7/10/1981
7/1/1982 In Bad Standing 7/1/1982
12/16/1982 Restored to Good Standing 12/16/1982
5/3/1984 Merger (survivor) 5/3/1984 1R12587 (RONSCO HEALTH CARE, LTD.)
3/31/1986 Merged (nonsurvivor) 3/31/1986 2O15189 OMNI MANUFACTURING INC
It did not post as clearly as I'd hoped but you can go directly to the DFI web site and look up Thill & Co. and see for yourself. Funny how a big employer like this that does domestic and international trade is run by a family of deadbeats who screw the state out of taxes they owe. Why is the state allowing this company to continue operating without seizing assets? It is a slap in the face to those of who hardworking stiffs who pay what we owe. Russell baby has a pretty nice house out of Fond du Lac Road though. Maybe he should downsize and live a little more meager lifestyle so he can afford the taxes he owes. More corporate greed is what this is. No wonder people hate corporate leaders so much.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: DBCooper on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 08:44 PM MST
Hey, what happened to the thread telling me I needed a hobby? To that person I say this: In the early 1970's, my hobby was jumping out of airplanes over the Pacific Northwest. Now, my hobby is internet research...
To those not familiar with it, http://www.wdfi.org/ is the link, just click on "search business records" and put in the name of a company.
Your list indicates that Thill was a non-survivor in 1986? Somewhere, some sort of accounting game is being played as we know Thill & Co still exists.
There are, however, many many more Thill "entities" that exist, each one as corrupt as the one you've listed. On Oregon Street right now, there is a Thill backed company called JJT & Associates. There was a Thill backed company in the old Thill building on County A called AJ Metals, circa 2001-2003. Check out their string of bad debts on ccap. Anybody remember about 1990 or so, same location at 35 Wisconsin Street (?), a woman was murdered? Her husband walked into this company and shot her during a break? And maybe her boyfriend also? That was also a Thill company, but it had a different name. I think it has since moved to Fond du Lac, don't know if it still exists or not.
It's incredible how a group of people like this can just sleaze their way from one company to another, hiding behind different company names, never paying their taxes among other obligations. Yet, their personal incomes/property/etc are all conveniently unaffected. It's not surprising "like father like son". They will never be shamed into paying anything, as they have no shame.
What's even more incredible is that we have an entire class of people, the "deadbeats", who all know exactly how to manipulate the system to get around paying their obligations. "Paying taxes is for suckers". The rest of us are the suckers...
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: DBCooper on Sunday, January 15 2006 @ 08:06 PM MST
Folks, let's not forget one thing: These are the names of people who owe MORE than $25000!!!
I don't think the lawmakers in Madison realized how badly this is going to blow up in their faces. Their idea was to "shame" these slackers into paying up. What they are doing is raising the ire of us honest people, who wonder why more isn't being done by the lawmakers in Madison in the first place, and why is it this out of hand?
The first thing that comes to my mind is, how many more people are there, what is the total amount owed, and how long have they not been paying, for all the people that owe LESS than 25000??? You know what? I don't think they'd be willing to tell us that, they are afraid of how outraged we would really be!
I did some looking around with these names, Carlson in particular, and came across something on the circuit court website. If anybody doesn't know what that is or how to access it, post here and I'm sure somebody will be able to help. Carlson comes back as being sued by some entity known as "City of Oshkosh Personal Property". The attorney listed is from Fond du Lac. One case in particular for several thousand dollars, several years old, is listed as "satisfaction: no", which to me means since 2003 this person has owed almost $5000 and has yet to pay.
If anybody from the city council is reading this, I have several questions:
1) What is the "City of Oshkosh Personal Property" entity?
2) If it is associated with the City of Oshkosh, why are we hiring attorneys from Fond du Lac and why not our own legal staff? If they are not capable, why do have them as employees?
3) How many other entities do we have that we the people don't know about? I know of one in particular that I found this afternoon, called "City of Oshkosh Ambulance". Run that one through the ccap website. Interestingly, same attorney from Fond du Lac. Some bizarre cases under that name, but again all involve money being owed. Is it being paid?
4) Would you be willing to bring forth this suggestion to the rest of the city council: The city producing a website similar to the one the state has, (separate from the assesors site) which simply shows the amount of back property taxes owed, and the address and the propery owners name? Or are you afraid of what we the people will find out? How about another website that shows the people who owe for ambulance services and whatever other monies are owed to the city?
DBCooper
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 09:54 AM MST
I found your post very interesting and I do hope that someone from the city or city council responds. I will also mention it to some of them and see if we can't get a reply.
In the meantime, I like your suggestion about a type of city taxpayers web site, but would offer one suggestion. I don't think I would like to see people listed on the site who (a) have disputed the charges for some reason, unless they have lost their dispute or (b) admit they owe the money but because of tough financial times can't pay, but are at least making payments toward the debt. Many times payment plans are agreed to and as long as someone is being true to their word and making those payments I don't think they should be made to feel worse than they probably already do.
There may be some other exceptions too, but these are just a couple ideas. I absolutely agree that at both the local and state level we need to do something to start collecting money owed to us, but we have to do so judiciously.
One other note about the city attorney, I can also tell you that I have seen plenty of cases in our circuit court where people are there disputing tickets issued by the police department or for other violations and neither city attorney Warren Kraft nor our assistant city attorney Lynn Lorenson are there representing the city. It's always somebody else, whose last name I think is Bush or something like that. They will probably have an explanation as to why that is but I would like to know also, why we have a legal staff who doesn't handle these more trivial matters. In fact, neither of them even represented the city in the big smoking ban debacle. They were both in court, along with city manager Dick Wollangk, but neither spoke to the judge on behalf of the city when I was there.
We also know by Mr. Kraft's own "admission" that he has hired an attorney to represent us in the Park Plaza Hotel bankruptcy proceedings so we can hopefully recover some money for, guess what, delinquent taxes, among other things. Can we perhaps save some money in legal expenses by changing the way we do business and are these extra layers of representation really necessary for some reason?
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 10:19 AM MST
As a follow-up to my own post I have just sent an email to our entire city council, except Mayor William Castle, who refuses to utilize the convenience of email for his constituents. Hopefully we will get some responses.
Incidentally Mr. Castle stopped using the city email address for communications purposes when it was told to city council members that their emails were subject to the open records law. I think it is a disservice to remove a convenient way for people to communicate with you, especially when your position deems you the top leader in the city.
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 11:05 AM MST
Does Paul Esslinger have a city e-mail account?
Call Castle if he doesn't have an e-mail account. I didn't know he was required to maintain one.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 11:56 AM MST
While I agree Paul Esslinger should probably utilize the city email address provided to him, he does have a different email address that I know many people have used. But Mr. Castle has never made any address available to citizens.
Also, I never said it was required, but it is provided free so why would he not want to make things as convenient as possible for people paying his salary? Besides that, people are not always available by phone and some do not have voice mail. By having the convenience of being able to send an email the person doing the sending can do it at any time and the person doing the responding can also reply at their convenience. There's no rocket science involved in understanding this concept. Maybe if we installed a computer somewhere on the back 9 it would make it easier and more palatable for Mr. Castle. Better yet, he works for us; so maybe it should be required that all elected officials maintain an email account.
- Cheryl Hentz
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 12:23 PM MST
Is Mr. Esslinger's email acount public for all of us to access? I have wanted to email him on certain issues but do not have his email address.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 12:56 PM MST
Check with City Hall. I'm sure they'll be able to tell you. Or call him directly and ask for it. Bet you'll get a better response than you get from Castle.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 02:26 PM MST
It sure would be more convenient for citizens and more efficient for city staff if they just listed it on the city web site. If they are willing to give it out over the phone why not have it on the site?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 02:36 PM MST
I agree. Both Castle and Esslinger should offer up web site addresses. It should be a requirement as long as it's offered. Esslinger had his puled at the same time Castle pulled. Don't know if Esslinger has ever made another one public. What is the big deal about giving out the address anyhow?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Jim B. on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 02:59 PM MST
Castle doesnt use a computer! His assistant prints out all of his e-mails for him to read. I am not sure he cares what we think anyway!
Jim B.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 04:37 PM MST
Newsflash: BILL CASTLE HAS NEVER CARED WHAT WE THOUGHT. HE CARES ONLY ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS FRIENDS.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 07:25 PM MST
The back 9, Cheryl? That's stooping pretty low. Lower than I thought you would allow yourself to. Just because Bill Castle doesn't operate like you would want him to doesn't mean he doesn't care. His agenda is different than yours, obviously, but that doesn't require you to stoop to the level you have. I am disappointed in you.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 08:52 PM MST
I have a thought. Maybe when Bill Castle and the cast of characters like him on the city council stop doing stupid things Cheryl Hentz and the rest of us will stop criticizing them.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Monday, January 16 2006 @ 11:09 PM MST
Dear Anonymous,
Sorry you failed to see the humor in the remark. But witicism aside, it's not stooping low at all; it's a statement of fact, the reality of which is perhaps what's really bothering you.
As to your disappointment in me, I accept the fact that I cannot please everyone all the time. I only hope you feel the same, if not greater, disappointment in a mayor who admittedly discusses business on the golf course, then agrees to waive bids to construct the very thing he's been out there discussing - especially when it was in violation of the law? And at the end of the day, my words or actions have not cost taxpayers any money. The same cannot be said for those of Mr. Castle.
Finally, whether Mr. Castle cares or not is not in question - at least not in my mind. I think we've seen the answer to that time and time again by the way he votes. What is a more appropriate question, though, is "Does Mr. Castle remember who he works for?"
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 08:45 AM MST
Cite some new arguments, Cheryl. The golf course argument and the bathroom issues are getting old. Start using some new arguments. You're getting to be old hat. If Bill and his group are so bad for Oshkosh, how come they keep getting re-elected?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 01:26 PM MST
Perhaps you missed it, but some new arguments HAVE been cited – arguments, for example, about garbage fees, floating docks and skateboard park repairs that have or will cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars above and beyond the bathrooms and amphitheater debacles.
I might also remind you that simply because you are tired of hearing about the "old hat" issues doesn’t mean those of outraged by them have forgotten about them, nor should we. After all, every time we pay a tax bill we are reminded of these things you consider outdated, untimely or old arguments. We’ll be paying on these things for many years to come, if not forever, so the arguments will never really be "old hat."
As to your question about council members who keep getting re-elected, I addressed this many times before but for those like yourself who evidently missed it, I will again state that many people have told me they are so fed up with things that they no longer go to the polls. I don't think that is the right approach to solving the problem, but it is undoubtedly one reason why some of these folks keep getting re-elected. As far as others on the council that many people are unhappy with, they are either still in their first term or are not running for re-election. Also please don’t forget, several things have happened this past year that may actually spur more people to go to the polls this February and April. So we’ll see at that time if your own old argument will stand up.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 02:24 PM MST
So fed up that they no longer go to the polls? That's a cop out. There is no other way to get their point across. If they are not willing to vote for whatever reason, they don't have the right to complain, and NO ONE should listen to them.
If you don't vote, you're part of the problem. Your first responsibility when it comes to using your right to free speech is using that freedom at the ballot box.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 03:42 PM MST
My previous post says I agree they should be going to the polls and I am not going to debate that issue with you. It is their duty and responsibility, not just a privilege, to vote in every election. But the harsh reality of it is many don't because they are fed up and I was using that as an example to answer a question. Asked and answered.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 05:07 PM MST
I was making a statement, not trying to start a debate with you. Do you always have to have the last word? Maybe if you would listen to what people on this site have to say, instead of always insisting that you are right, you might learn something about local government. As my mother used to say, "You have two ears and one mouth for a reason: You should listen twice as much as you talk."
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 05:35 PM MST
And I was agreeing with you but also letting you know I was not going to dispute the reason I'd given for why I believe many peole don't go to the polls, etc. Sorry you didn't seem to understand that.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 06:03 PM MST
Because someone doesn't vote they have no right to complain and no one should listen to them??? What a load of hooey. Like you and Cheryl I believe everyone should vote, but even if they don't they still pay taxes which still gives them the right to say how those tax dollars are spent and complain about it if they disagree. Your comments are smug and short-sighted.
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, January 17 2006 @ 09:43 AM MST
I have heard from two city council people so far on these questions - Meredith Scheuermann and Bryan Bain. They are working on finding the answers to the questions and will get back to me as soon as they have them. They are welcome to post the answers here directly. Otherwise, if they send them to me by email, I will post them on their behalf. We thank both Meredith and Bryan for their prompt attention to these concerns.
- Cheryl
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 01:35 PM MST
[We received a reply earlier today from council member Burk Tower and we thank him for his reply. Item A refers to why the city attorney and his assistant do not handle all city legal issues. Item B refers to a tax debtors web site idea. Meanwhile Meredith Scheuermann responded to say she would look into this ASAP but that she was dealing with some personal issues and it might take a few days. We thank she, Bryan Bain and Burk Tower for each responding to the emailed request for information. Here is Burk Tower's response...]
Cheryl,
Sorry to be slow getting back to you but I have been out of town on business. A couple of quick responses. Response to (A): Issues of economics and expertise come into play here. Many of these matters require focused expertise in specific areas and our folks don't have that particular expertise. This area was discussed at the last Council meeting in response to a question by Paul. Related to that is the possible expense of having Full-time people with focused expertise. Also the approach taken now allows the City to hire when services are needed and not fund excess capacity.
(B) I have not been made aware of such a proposal, but believe it might be worth considering. As is true of most issues, it is probably more complicated than it seems at first glance so will take research to determine pros and cons.
Burk
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 03:36 PM MST
[We have also received an email from council member Bryan Bain who received the following emailed answers from city attorney Warren Kraft. We thank both of them for their replies also.]
Bryan:
Another Council member dropped by this morning with these same questions.
As I noted last Tuesday night in response to Council member Esslinger's questions, the city attorney's office retained the services of a specialized bankruptcy attorney in Eau Claire because of the complexity of the case. I am handling the civil court litigation, whenever the bankruptcy court permits. I liken our role to your family doctor: she/he is trained in basic care and to identify those areas where specialized examination and care is needed; as much as you respect your family doctor, you probably want a surgeon to perform the needed
operation.
The city's insurance carrier provides defense in many lawsuits, based on the League of Wisconsin Municipalities' umbrella contract. Many personal insurance policies will now provide "defense of action" even where dollar coverage for losses is not provided. Our office coordinates between defense counsel and whichever city administrators or
employees are needed to defend those cases. The successful defense of the smoking ordinance was one such cooperative effort. Unfortunately,
your correspondent is unaware of the hundreds of cases each year that the city attorney office handles away from the spotlight. On occasion, when judges book trials or other court proceedings at the same time, it is necessary for an outside attorney to help us. The district attorney has sufficient staff to appear in all six courtrooms at the same time.
The city attorney's office has consisted of 2.5 attorneys since the early 70s and is responsible for all legal affairs of the city of Oshkosh. At the county level, there is the district attorney office, charged with all the criminal prosecutions, plus the corporation counsel's office that handles all the civil matters.
I cannot address the second question, about website shaming, because that is a policy decision beyond my position of authority. As I explained to the Council member this morning, one need only recall last week's public unveiling of the state's website and the resultant publicity about its errors. While the state may have sovereign immunity from lawsuits concerning defamation, local governments do not enjoy such privilege.
TNX,
Warren P. Kraft
City Attorney Office
215 Church Ave | P. O. Box 1130 | Oshkosh WI 54903-1130
(920) 236-5115 | (920) 236-5090 fax
wkraft@ci.oshkosh.wi.us
IMLA Regional Vice President
Washington DC 20005
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, January 18 2006 @ 06:41 PM MST
[We have now received a response from council member Meredith Scheuermann and, as with the others, we thank her for her response below.]
My answer to the first question is my opinion only. A city attorney needs to have a wide vast knowledge of many things. However, like most laywers, they usually specialize in things, i.e. bankruptcy, divorce, criminal etc. You don't usually have a "one stop shop"with attorneys. Additionally, like a bank manager like myself, I have a global knowledge of many aspects of the bank, however, I get assistance often from our commercial lenders or mortgage lenders when I have questions that are in depth and that require more of their expertise. I am of the opinion that that is the case with Warren (Kraft). He handles what his capacity is, but if the issues become complex, he looks for expertise and assistance from others who specialize in that area.
Second, I would be in support of publishing names of delinquent tax payers. I feel like we did that last year and it got many people to pay up.......am I mistaken? How do we get that started? If it is public record, wouldn't a simple call to the Northwestern do it?
Delinquent Taxpayers Website
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 25 2006 @ 01:30 PM MST
What's up with some of our city council representatives? The two new kids on the block, Scheuerman and Bain, took the time to answer questions we asked them along with Burk Tower, who is running for another term right now. But Mattox who is in the middle of her third term didn't bother and Frank Tower who isn't running again didn't bother (guess everyone was right when they said he doesn't give a damn and never did). But what about Esslinger? He is running for another term yet he does not seem to have answered the questions. Is he slacking now that he's got some seniority on the council? Or is he just getting tired?
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 10:34 AM
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