Magazine rankings give a "thumbs down" to Wisconsin business

Magazines and think-tanks are busy with their annual summer ritual — their “best places” rankings — and their ratings of Wisconsin's business climate are mostly negative, according to Inside Wisconsin columnist Tom Still. The mediocre-to- poor business rankings are a cause for concern, especially because such perceptions are hard to live down — even as they are gradually changing. You can read the latest by going here.

Oshkosh Book Collective Event! You are Invited on August 9th

Hi everyone!

This is going out to catch everyone up on the status of the lending library and invite you all to the next event.

COME TO THE BOOK TRADE!
We're meeting again next month to swap our old books and share ideas for the library. Bring a snack, tea or coffee if you want and a few books to trade. This will be really informal and while Bob might try and talk you into becoming a member, there is of course, no pressure.

Thursday August 9th, 7pm
321 Market St downtown Oshkosh

We have set a tentative plan to operate for 20 hours a week, from the Peace and Justice Center Space, starting in September. Folks are out there poking around for more sources for books (we have a few!) and shelving. Other than that, we need more people that want this to happen to get involved.

MORE SPECIFICS ON MEMBERSHIP
What does it mean to be a Collective Member? Is it like being a Communist Party member? No... but you might get to carry a card. Operating collectively means that in all our interactions but especially in decisions regarding the Library we make the effort to respect each other and keep an equal balance of power, with each giving what they can and taking only what they need. This might mean listening when we might otherwise talk, or speaking up when we might otherwise be silent. Letting
someone else arrange the shelves or doing the dishes for once. It might be
strange for anyone not used to it, but it's worth it in the long run!

Being a Collective Member also means having a spot in the meetings and a say on the direction of the Library, what books we want in, hours, etc. How long and how much you want to be involved is ultimately up to you, just keep us in the know. Beyond that there's the financial nitty gritty: because monthly rent is $275, each member would contribute $10 a month, ($120 dollars for the year,) OR 10 hours pf "librarian" time a month, or any combination of the
two (like 5 hours and $5 a month.) Of course more time and dough is welcome if you want. There's still free bagels involved. (Be grateful I spared you the dough/bagel pun.)

COME TO THE BOOK TRADE!
We're meeting again next month to swap our old books and share ideas for the library. Bring a snack, tea or coffee if you want and a few books to trade. This will be really informal and while Bob might try and talk you into becoming a member, there is of course, no pressure.

Thursday August 9th, 7pm
321 Market St downtown Oshkosh

Yours Truly,
OSHKOSH BOOK COLLECTIVE

New Study: Tobacco Tax Saves Thousands of Lives, Billions of Dollars

MADISON – A new report by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids states that a $1.25 increase in Wisconsin’s cigarette tax would prevent 84,000 kids from becoming addicted adult smokers, save more than 38,500 from premature smoking-related deaths, and create long-term health care savings of nearly $2 billion dollars. Governor Doyle urged the Legislature to approve the $1.25 increase as part of his broad proposal to ensure affordable health care access for 98 percent of Wisconsin citizens.

“It’s a fact: raising the cost of cigarettes will save lives,” Governor Doyle said. We can prevent kids from starting to smoke, motivate others to quit, save billions in health are costs, and ensure affordable health care coverage to more citizens if the Legislature acts now.”

According to the report, each year, 7,300 adults in Wisconsin die from their own smoking, and 8,200 more kids become addicted daily smokers, totaling more than $2 billion in smoking-caused health costs.

Additionally, $1.25 increase in Wisconsin’s cigarette tax will cause 42,500 current adult smokers to quit, save 26,900 kids alive today from premature smoking-caused deaths and avoid 11,700 smoking-affected births in the next 5 years.

The tax will also generate $252.8 million in new state cigarette tax revenues each year which the Governor plans to dedicate to fund the cost of tobacco-related illness, expand health care overage to every child in the state, and make health care more affordable for hardworking people.

The $1.25 cigarette tax is a part of the Governor’s larger campaign to help people quit smoking and live healthier lives. To address public health and the hazards of second-hand smoke, Governor Doyle has called upon the legislature to ban smoking in all public buildings, workplaces, restaurants and taverns. He has also proposed tripling the states smoking cessation and prevention programs.

The report was sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free-Kids, American Lung Association of Wisconsin, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, and Smokefree Wisconsin.

To view the full report, visit: http://www.smokefreewi.org/priorities/IncrTobPrices/resources.html

Is Councilman Esslinger concerned about safety or not? It seems to depend...TAKE TWO

Councilman Paul Esslinger suggested at tonight’s Common Council meeting that safety is a relative term and open to interpretation. That is perhaps one thing I agree with him on. It’s the rest of his so-called “logic” that I find curious, disturbing and just downright questionable.

In discussing the proposed roundabout at the intersection of Murdock and Jackson –which passed by a vote of 6-1, Esslinger being the lone dissenter – he badgered a representative from the DOT with traffic data he’d obtained from the city. It should be noted that, like any data, these traffic records can be interpreted in different ways, as councilor Jess King pointed out. Besides the condescending attitude – which, by the way, bordered on rudeness – that Esslinger displayed to this DOT representative, he made some very odd statements about safety which once again demonstrate how he flip-flops on issues to suit the project or his particular position.

Esslinger stated that for the three year period he had traffic data for, there were 29,000 cars a day which passed through the Jackson Street/Murdock Avenue intersection. He multiplied that out and came to the conclusion that in those three years some 4.5 million cars had gone through the intersection compared to only 30 accidents during that same time period. “Relatively speaking,” he said, he didn’t feel that qualified as an unsafe intersection.

But in the decade or two that the River Mill subdivision has been in existence, residents there can’t recall a single accident. Despite that, councilman Esslinger brought forward a resolution ordering in sidewalks in this neighborhood because of safety issues. This is just more hypocrisy from a man who claims to represent the common man. The more I see and hear, the more I think the only man he really represents is the one named Paul Esslinger.

Thanks to the majority of the Oshkosh Common Council for some of their votes earlier this evening

Those votes included:

Leaving the smoking ban as is instead of revising it: 5-2 (Esslinger, Mayor Tower minority votes)

Voting in favor of a roundabout intersection at Jackson/Murdock: 6-1 (Esslinger minority vote)

Acquiring the Chamber of Commerce building: 0-7 (majority vote to NOT purchase it)

Voting against a ban on new cottonwood tree plantings: 6-1 (McHugh minority vote)

The council did not vote to reconsider the developer term sheet on the Akcess waterfront proposal. I did not see that part of the meeting but understand the motion to reconsider failed 3-4. Since I did not see it I can only suspect that the three voting for reconsideration were McHugh, Palmeri and Esslinger. But to whoever tried, thanks for the effort. Hopefully in the future the secrecy at City Hall will stop and motions like this will not even be necessary.

Is Councilman Esslinger concerned about safety or not? It seems to depend...

On Tuesday the Oshkosh Common Council will consider what to do with the proposed reconstruction of the intersection at Jackson Street and Murdock Avenue. It will also learn at that time if the state DOT is willing to consider a less expensive alternative to a roundabout in redoing the intersection. This particular intersection needs to be redone, we’re told, because it is unsafe. According to public works director David Patek at the last council meeting, the intersection ranks as one of the worst in the city for accidents – ranking in the top 10, possibly the top five, for accidents each year in recent years.

This article from the Oshkosh Northwestern lays out the specifics of what’s being proposed by the DOT, but some councilors would prefer to see something different to save money. If it can be done for less money, great, as long as safety is improved. But it sounds like property will have to be acquired regardless of whether the intersection is done in a traditional way or with a roundabout; and that will drive up the cost regardless.

The article also includes comments from councilor Paul Esslinger, which are, without question, some of the silliest, most hypocritical I’ve heard in some time. In the piece, Esslinger questions whether the number of accidents at the intersection are really a result of its design. He is quoted as saying "Accidents are not caused because of design… it's due to inattentive drivers."

I guess not only is Mr. Esslinger an expert in economic development (based on previous comments about whether an office building will be successful along the riverfront), but in traffic design and safety, as well. His comment clearly goes against what the DOT has said and I bet if he talked to people in law enforcement or accident reconstruction he’d find road design is most definitely a cause of accidents. Is it always the culprit? No, but it’s not always just inattentive drivers either. If that were the case then Mr. Esslinger must expect us to believe that drivers are only inattentive at this and a few other select intersections in town and that they pay much closer attention at all others. Esslinger's argument doesn’t make sense.

Mr. Esslinger is also quoted in this article as saying this about the proposal of a roundabout at Jackson and Murdock: "I can't understand why we'd pay more for an intersection for people who don't want roundabouts to begin with."

I know councilman Esslinger professes to always do his homework, but the dog must have eaten his homework this time around. After all, data clearly shows that roundabouts are safer than traditional intersections. That should put this project in the positive column on Esslinger’s ledger. He’s the same guy, after all, who shoved sidewalks down the throats of River Mill Road residents in the name of safety only a month or so ago.

It’s also interesting that Mr. Esslinger claims people “don’t want roundabouts to begin with.” Many people didn’t want or think sidewalks were necessary at this time on River Mill Road, but he turned a deaf ear to them. Now in this case he's listening to people.

Most people in the city don’t yet know enough about roundabouts to know if they want them or not. What is probably more the case here is people naturally resist change and in Oshkosh, progress usually seems to be met with resistance more often than not by some. They seem to have the attitude that just because we’ve always done something one way, it should always be done that way. That is, to coin a phrase, pedestrian.

But, if Paul Esslinger is right and it’s only inattentiveness that causes accidents, then I would submit we really didn’t need sidewalks on River Mill. He could have saved himself a lot of political hell, and instead of the hoopla and divisiveness he created just given motorists a lecture about being more attentive when they drive. Thank you, councilor Esslinger. I'm sure we all feel much safer knowing you're "leading" the charge for safety - at least when you want to.

City manager performance: a public issue or private one

I was speaking with a friend earlier today who is very unhappy that councilman Bryan Bain has brought the most recent problems with Oshkosh city manager Richard Wollangk to the attention of the media. In all honesty, I don’t think Bryan Bain can be faulted for bringing problems at 215 Church Street to the attention of the media. The media, at least some of us, have known for a long time, about the “secrecy games” played by city administration – for whatever reason. But this friend sees it differently and believes the entire discussion and handling of Mr. Wollangk should be done behind closed doors because it is a personnel issue. That may work in the private sector business world, but not public sector ones. Therein lies the difference.

Mr. Wollangk’s salary and benefits are paid by “we the people;” the building in which his office and the rest of city hall is housed is paid for by “we the people;” he serves at the pleasure of a common council elected by “we the people;” and every thing he does while on the job, directly or indirectly, affects “we the people.” That means that, while some aspects of this situation should perhaps remain private – depending on what they are – “we the people” have a right to make certain demands of our common council members and to expect that they not only take appropriate action, but that they let us know what they’ve done to repair the damage and to begin restoring some level of confidence, even if a small amount, in city hall once again.

If ever there was a time for openness, it is now. Had there been more openness about everything all along “we the people,” and Mr. Wollangk himself, likely would not be in this position today.

Oshkosh not the only city to violate open meetings law; city attorney takes proper approach

The City of Oshkosh has been dinged in recent history for violations of open meetings laws, including meeting notices that were improperly written and meetings or portions thereof that were just simply illegally convened. The usual response from our city attorney has been that it’s just “one attorney’s position.” There’s been a real reluctance (i.e., refusal) on the part of Warren Kraft and his office to admit they were wrong or at the very least should have erred on the side of caution.

On the complete opposite side of the coin comes the attorney for the City of Stevens Point. It has been reported in the Stevens Point Journal that the city, under the direction of its mayor, was in violation of Wisconsin’s Open Meeting laws. But according to the article, the Stevens Point city attorney told the mayor that a recently-held meeting of the city’s Eco-municipality Task Force was in violation of state law and, though the mayor seems to think there is some ambiguity in the law, the city attorney simply said that’s not so and changes will be forthcoming in the future.

City staff chose not to tell Common Council about Ganther foreclosure, lawsuit

Despite some past and present Oshkosh Common Council members’ head-in-the-sand belief that Ben Ganther would make good on his property tax debt to the city, he has consistently been late with his tax payments. Yesterday we learned as noted in this article that Ganther and his partners have defaulted on some $6 million in debt to their lender for the development and construction of the 100 N. Main St. project and that foreclosure proceedings have begun. The city has been named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

In this morning’s Oshkosh Northwestern we learned that not only did city manager Richard Wollangk and most likely community development director Jackson Kinney know about the foreclosure proceedings and the city being named in the suit on Monday of this week, a decision was made not to tell the Common Council until yesterday (Friday) when councilors received their weekly packets.

Wollangk admits the decision to not share the information with the council was deliberate but, according to the Oshkosh Northwestern, says it was made not to derail “the council's consideration on Tuesday of a developer's agreement for the Waterfront redevelopment project along Marion Road and Pearl Avenue or the renovation of the Oshkosh Convention Center” but rather because staff was still gathering information to include in the council’s Friday packets. That doesn’t wash in my book. Staff could easily have told the council what was going on, but told them they were still gathering all the information.

When a crime is committed, for example, authorities provide what information they can to the media, but tell them the investigation is ongoing. While not a crime per se, at least not in the literal sense, this situation is really no different. The Common Council, and public, had a right to know as soon as city staff found out – not only because of being named in the suit but also because of the property being in a TIF that, for all intents and purposes, is failing.

At the end of the day it really doesn’t matter what the reasoning was for not telling the council until five days after staff knew; the fact is council members should have been told and weren’t. And this is certainly not the first time something like this has happened.

In recent months alone we’ve seen two other instances where city staff made an arbitrary decision not to inform the Common Council of pertinent information. They did not tell council members that the then-proposed developers of the old Mercy Hospital project had a several year-old history with Ben Ganther, who’d been in default on taxes for that property as well. Nor did city staff tell the council that a lawsuit involving the Hilton Garden Inns had been settled and that, as a result, it had been granted a permanent exemption from the city’s smoking ban.

Keeping the Common Council in the dark is becoming an habitual thing at 215 Church St. it seems. Past councils apparently did not do enough to ensure that city administration understand who the bosses in this city are: the Oshkosh Common Council and, ultimately, the taxpayers. It is time this council sends that message loudly, clearly and once and for all. And if the staff still doesn’t get it after that, perhaps it is time we find some staff members who will.

Rep. Hintz to hold Office Hours

OSHKOSH– Representative Gordon Hintz will be holding office hours at the Oshkosh Senior Center to listen to concerns facing Oshkosh residents as well as answer any questions on the current state of the 2007-2009 State Budget. The event is open to the public and questions on all topics related to state government are encouraged and welcome.

Anyone with questions or comments is encouraged to contact the office of Representative Hintz toll-free at 1-888-534-0054 or via e-mail at rep.hintz@legis.state.wi.us.

Who: Representative Gordon Hintz
What: Office Hours
When: Friday, July 20 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Oshkosh Area Senior Center, 200 North Campbell Road

Suit filed against Ganther for failure to pay debts

It seems unpaid property taxes to the City of Oshkosh are not the only thing Ben Ganther and his business partners owe. According to this story in the Oshkosh Northwestern Ganther and his partners in the 100 N. Main St. project have defaulted on the $6.1 million loan taken out four and a half years ago to pay for the construction and development of the building, which includes ground floor commercial space and 62 individual apartments. A lawsuit against them has been filed. Unfortunately, the City of Oshkosh has been named as a defendant in the litigation, as well.

With a history of also not paying property taxes in a timely manner on properties other than 100 N. Main St., it may be time for Mr. Ganther to acknowledge that being a developer may not be his forte; instead he might want to stick to that which he apparently is successful at: Constructing buildings for others.

That being said, my position on Ganther being involved in government construction projects remains the same. No governmental body should do business with Ben Ganther until he can clean up his debts to them. The days of taking from cities and their taxpayers, especial in tax-incremental financing districts, while at the same time not paying what's rightfully and legally owed those communities should be deemed over, once and for all.

Free Movies in the Park schedule released

In what has become an annual summer event, "Free Movies in the Park" will kick off with its first movie on Friday, July 20. For those new to Oshkosh or unfamiliar with this event, interGen, along with the Grand Opera House and the Oshkosh Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), sponsor free movies and popcorn each Friday night in the Opera House Square, beginning at 9 p.m.

Following is the schedule for this year's movies:

• July 20th: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone


• July 27th: Ferris Bueller's Day Off


• August 3rd: Shrek 2


• August 10th: Ever After


• August 17th: The Wedding Singer


• August 24th: The Wizard of Oz (an all-time classic and a personal favorite of mine)

So bring your blanket and get ready to enjoy "Free Movies in the Park," courtesy of these organizations.

For more information, you can visit interGen's web site at www.intergen.org or call (920) 379-9802. The web site is not updated as of this writing, but no doubt will be soon.

Update on program about sidewalks with Miles Maguire and Mayor Tower

When we taped a recent show with Miles Maguire and Mayor Frank Tower, one of the questions asked by Miles was why the city crews were out in his neighborhood doing survey work the day after a preliminary vote was taken instead of waiting until the formal vote was taken at a subsequent meeting. That this happened suggested to some that the sidewalk vote was already a "done deal" before the formal vote approving the sidewalk installation.

During that taping we said we'd ask Mayor Tower why the crews were out there as early as they were. But as is the case when you're taping a program such as ours, one thing leads to another and you sometimes either forget or get off track, then eventually run out of time. Unfortunately that was the case during this show.

When I realized we had overlooked this matter, I did ask the question of both Mayor Tower and City Manager Richard Wollangk; here is what I learned.

Mr. Wollangk said that because the original vote was 5-2, it was a pretty strong indication to them that the Common Council wanted sidewalks installed on River Mill Road. The city had not done any surveying in that neighborhood for sidewalks previously and needed to. So, given that, and the 5-2 vote, they went ahead and began surveying right away. He indicated to me that even if the sidewalks had not been formally approved at the later meeting for immediate installation, they eventually would have been approved and the surveying would need to be done; therefore, it was not a waste of city resources to do it.

According to Mayor Tower, public works director Dave Patek said essentially the same thing. He also told Mayor Tower that since the neighborhood needed to be surveyed and because the workload was a little lighter for his crews then as opposed to later in the summer, they decided to act as efficiently as possible and do the survey work immediately rather than wait.

I'm sorry this issue didn't get addressed at the time of the taping, but at least we were able to get the information to viewers and readers now.

Councilor McHugh proposes ban on cottonwood trees

As if the real problems in the city of Oshkosh and the complaints about some councilors who want to micromanage every aspect of City Hall weren’t enough for the Oshkosh Common Council to worry about, now comes councilor Dennis McHugh with a proposed ordinance to ban the new planting of cottonwood trees.

According to this story in the Oshkosh Northwestern McHugh’s ordinance stems from “a citizen’s complaint and his (McHugh’s) own experience with cottonwood tree seeds blowing into his yard from a neighbor’s tree.” So while he was unmoved by the dozens of complaints about sidewalks being installed immediately on River Mill Road and he is quick to disregard traffic studies pointing out serious problems with a dangerous intersection that needs fixing, he IS willing to go out on a cottonwood tree limb by proposing silly legislation based on a single complaint and his own bad experience? His proposal gives new meaning, literally, to the “not in my backyard” mentality. And it's not just the backyard; he doesn’t want these trees planted in the front yard either. He just doesn’t want ‘em period because he finds them distasteful. How about those who like cottonwood trees, Mr. McHugh? Do their opinions count or will you disregard them as you do so much else that comes before you?

For a man who seems to want less government, this proposal would accomplish just the opposite. We can't properly enforce the regs already on the books, including a smoking ban ordinance; now he expects the city to enforce this, if passed? Give us a break. The common council needs to vote this proposal down. Two people complaining about cottonwood seeds is not a mandate for a city ordinance and it’s not what Mr. McHugh, or anyone else sitting on that dais, was elected to do.

Councilor McHugh proposes ban on cottonwood trees

As if the real problems in the city of Oshkosh and the complaints about some councilors who want to micromanage every aspect of City Hall weren’t enough for the Oshkosh Common Council to worry about, now comes councilor Dennis McHugh with a proposed ordinance to ban the new planting of cottonwood trees.

According to this story in the Oshkosh Northwestern McHugh’s ordinance stems from “a citizen’s complaint and his (McHugh’s) own experience with cottonwood tree seeds blowing into his yard from a neighbor’s tree.” So while he was unmoved by the dozens of complaints about sidewalks being installed immediately on River Mill Road and he is quick to disregard traffic studies pointing out serious problems with a dangerous intersection that needs fixing, he IS willing to go out on a cottonwood tree limb by proposing silly legislation based on a single complaint and his own bad experience? His proposal gives new meaning, literally, to the “not in my backyard” mentality. Forget the backyard; he doesn’t want these trees planted in the front yard either. He just doesn’t want ‘em period because he finds them distasteful. How about those who like cottonwood trees, Mr. McHugh? Do their opinions count or will you disregard them as you do so much else that comes before you?

For a man who seems to want less government, this proposal would accomplish just the opposite. We can't properly enforce the regs already on the books, including a smoking ban ordinance; now he expects the city to enforce this, if passed? Give us a break. The common council needs to vote this proposal down. Two people complaining about cottonwood seeds is not a mandate for a city ordinance and it’s not what Mr. McHugh, or anyone else sitting on that dais, was elected to do.

Book Collective endeavor moves forward, July meeting set

Winnebago Peace and Justice Center, 321 Market Street, Oshkosh
Hi all!

This is again going out to those who may be interested in facilitating a lending library/book collective in Oshkosh. A few of us met up on June 21st to knock around ideas and this is what we came up with.

Because this is just starting up we have decided that its a good idea to work within the frame of a "collective" as opposed to being a cooperatively owned business. There is more flexibility and room for growth here, and the financial aspects are more simple and don't involve such a large investment.

Basically we could lend out books to the community, barter with books, And carry a few select new items for sale. The lending books could be of the sort holding progressive ideas, mystic musings, and obscure histories that maybe hard to come by at the public library as well as favorite novels and useful manuals and such collected by staff. We can scour thrift stores, request copies from favorite authors, or contribute from our own Libraries if we want. A simple logbook can keep track of items and we will otherwise rely on trust and mutual aid to keep things in order.

We could continue to rent the WPJC space on the corner of Market and Algoma for $275, with each member contributing something like $10 a month, depending on how many members and donations received. There could be free bagels.

The first task at hand is to get enough people together that want to do this. Out goal is have 20+ collective members to get things off the ground. After that we can start getting books, fixing up the space and raising money. The next meeting is at 6pm on July 12th at 321 Market St., downtown Oshkosh. Please feel free to pass this invitation onto anyone that may have an interest and reply to it with any questions.

All the best,
Oshkosh Book Collective

New life for the old Wal-Mart site?

We read in this morning’s Oshkosh Northwestern that the former Wal-Mart will soon be demolished, as may the adjacent strip mall because, according to the article, “the Oshkosh market has a glut of small retail space.” It is the hope of those working closely with the impending demolition and marketing the site, that restoring it to a green site will attract more commercial interest than has been shown in the four years or so that the site has sat vacant. We hope so, too.

There are far too empty boxes in the city, including, besides this area, the one on Witzel Avenue at the site of the former Cub Foods across from the city garage. The university has taken over the parking lot for student parking. How does that affect the possibility of any commercial tenant moving into or even being interested in the space? At least someone is making some good use from at least part of the land, but since there doesn’t seem to be a commercial tenant in the building’s future, why doesn’t the university buy the building as well? Then it can either demolish it and use it for even more parking or find another use for the building altogether. In a perfect world, we’d have nothing but taxable entities at all of our now vacant sites. But if that’s not possible, we at least need to find some use for them, rather than letting them languish as is the case in far too many places.

Bottom line: We need to start cleaning up the empty boxes in town and putting something useful – and ideally, taxable - in the place of these eyesores. Maybe razing the old buildings and going back to square one as will soon be done in Aviation Plaza is a start.