Sunday, May 29, 2005

Amphitheater Bathrooms

Contributed by: Anonymous
Wow...the Leach Amphitheater is truly a beautiful place. That being said, it still frosts me about the arrogant and flippant attitude of some council members and the city attorney regarding the "no-bid" situation. Yes, they are nice bathrooms, with sinks and mirrors and all, but the price tag still puts questions in my head. I hope the council will call Mr. Martini back up and have him review all of the sub-contracts that he promised would save the city money on the building of those bathrooms. Did that ever happen? If so, how much did those bathrooms actually end up costing the taxpayers? Everything about that seemed wrong, from the no-bid, to the "conceptual plans", right through to the parading of Mr. Martini up in front of the council to explain how he could do us a favor and try to get the cost down by using some sub-contractors. I'd like to see one of the new council members who ran on the promise of "accountability" bring this matter up...IF Progress Oshkosh lets them!

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Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 29 2005 @ 10:04 PM MDT
Should Bush go back on Clinton for his decisions ? ?

Whats done is done....Do you think you will get a rebate back on your taxes if something is found out ? ?

Stop attacking these new people. So far they are asking all the right questions and getting to the bottom of things !!

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 29 2005 @ 10:22 PM MDT
No they're not. Scheuerman is the only one asking questions and is not just accepting what's told to her. Bain continues to believe everything is hunky-dory. Too bad. But really what difference does any of it make? Asking questions will only be successful if these councilors use the information derived from their tough questions to stop some of the insanity and put taxpayer needs first. I would encourage people to read the article on this web site about how Neenah continues to put its taxpayers first instead of developers. This is what we need more of here. Only then do you get development that is worth a damn and truly benefits the city.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 30 2005 @ 05:01 PM MDT
The bathroom issue is not over yet. The DA may have the final say in determining if the law was broken.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 30 2005 @ 09:09 PM MDT
As well he should. However if there is a conflict of interest then he will have to refer it to another county DA or to the Attorney General. What needs to happen, especially since someone with the AG's office has already given an opinion on this, is someone file (free of charge) a formal complaint with the AG's office and let's let them decide for real once and for all. That should teach Warren Kraft and the city council members who voted for the bid-waiving.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 31 2005 @ 10:06 PM MDT
Kind of off the subject, but if anyone who is responsible for the Esslinger/Porta-pottie flyer is reading this...if pursued and proved, it could cost you up to $500 in fines and up to 60 days in jail. It is a violation of the municipal code to post notices or advertisements on public property. It will never happen, but wouldn't it be ironic??

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, June 01 2005 @ 05:20 AM MDT
This is certainly useful information to have. It seems pretty clear to those close to the situation who the culprit was, especially since he pretty much gave himself away when confronted. This leader wannabe is not nearly as clever as he thinks he is. Nor are his friends and "partners in crime." Instead of putting him in any elected position, let's crown him King of the Golden Commodes so he can monitor all activity in the amphitheater bathrooms. Maybe he could even oversee any possible investigation of those cans.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, June 01 2005 @ 12:42 PM MDT
Sounds like the culprit could be Jeff Hal or Gordon Hintz. They each ran for office recently and neither seems to have lost any love for Paul Esslinger. They both were at Waterfest on opening night too. Did any one see them in or near the bathrooms? If so they should report that to the police.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, June 06 2005 @ 10:32 PM MDT
Maybe it was Paul Esslinger himself- I saw him with a handfull of flyers.

Maybe he is trying to get some publicity while puting the blame on others.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, June 06 2005 @ 11:08 PM MDT
Don't be so ridiculous. Esslinger had not even been in the restroom when the fliers were discovered in there. Jef Hall had been though. The fliers were given to Esslinger after being discovered. But since you seem to know that Esslinger had fliers in his hand it suggests perhaps YOU are Jef Hall. Silly transparent man.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, June 07 2005 @ 04:29 AM MDT
Touche! Jef Hall and his merry band of troublemakers are doing nothing but giving themselves a lousy name. They better hope none of them ever runs for office again because they have left themselves open to all kinds of political and character assasination. Even some of the local organized labor is not impressed, in particular with Hall. But speaking of labor has anyone seen Hall and Gordon Hintz on the labor show with Steve Dedow? Yowzah, what a trio. Dedow has gone over the edge since losing his election last year; Hintz seems to make a little sense; and Hall just takes up space on the stage like a big blob. But none of them has any enthusiasm. They just seem like they're there to hold each other's hand, prop each other up and commiserate over their election losses. There is nothing interesting about their conversation in any shape, form or fashion. Hey guys, try a little caffeine next time. Your audience won't fall asleep if they don't think you're going to.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, June 09 2005 @ 10:16 PM MDT
When will anonymous stop bieng anonymous.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 31 2005 @ 07:33 PM MDT
For what Oshkosh paid for these restrooms is a reasonable price. If the bid process would have been used it would have delayed the project a few months, I like to see the council think like a real business, get the project done before the season opens, how much would have been lost of it sat empty this summe?( Sorry for the run on sentence, I was educated by Oshkosh Public Schools) Sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 31 2005 @ 07:58 PM MDT
What a stupid attitude. Buy something first, then figure out if you need it and if you got the best deal.

You should be glad you don't run a business... you'd be out of business in no time!

Imagine this:

How about having........... port-a-potties for a few months while the bidding process was allowed to go on? If we could have saved $100,000+ it would have been worth it!

Or would you still like the golden commodes at $675,000??

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 31 2005 @ 09:00 PM MDT
Nice attitude, just get it done, never mind if we break the law.

Amphitheater Bathrooms
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, June 08 2005 @ 10:15 AM MDT
Your attitude is not only apathetic but pathetic. You care not the manner in which things are done, only that they get done right? At any cost? Never mind if the law is being broken and the process is just plain unfair. We need a nice place to pee. Well, pee on THAT!

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!! School district continues trying to slam-dunk the early release/calendar for 2005-06 school year

In an effort to resolve the ongoing frustration between parents in the Oshkosh Area School District and the Board of Education over the early release/calendar for the upcoming school year, school board member Dan Becker drafted the following Calendar Survey and requested that the administration copy it and send it home with children last week so their parents could have a chance to response prior to the May 25 school board meeting.

Following is what Mr. Becker said he was told by the administration about his request:

“I was informed by administration that any input at this point was best used
in working on future calendars and not making alterations to any existing
calendar. In addition, I was told that some concern was expressed by Tom
McDermott that since the full BOE has not approved this survey it was not
appropriate to utilize School District resources to distribute it,” Becker told Eye on Oshkosh.

The interesting thing about this last part of the comment is that the original calendar survey was sent out by the school district, presumably with school district resources (i.e. our tax dollars). More importantly, Becker says he poured through minutes from past school board meetings and could find nothing where a vote was ever taken by the school board to approve the original survey. If that is the case, then it would seem our school administration is trying to stack the deck in their favor and they have some questions to answer to Mr. Becker and parents in the entire Oshkosh Area School District.

We realize that time before tonight’s school board meeting is short, but Dan Becker would like whatever input from the community he can get between now and then concerning his survey and the administration’s most recent response to him. Feel free to call your school board members and/or attend tonight’s school board meeting beginning at 7 p.m. at the administration office on So. Eagle Street next to Tipler Middle School. If you cannot act before tonight’s meeting, your voice still needs to be heard and you are encouraged to call or write your school board members.

- Cheryl Hentz

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!! School district continues trying to slam-dunk the early release/calendar for 2005-06 school year
Authored by: tthiel on Wednesday, May 25 2005 @ 04:59 PM MDT
What Mr. Becker fails to realize, is that as a single board member he does not have the authority to direct the administration to do anything. Only the Board, acting by resolution can direct administration to act. I'm not sure what "original survey" is being referred to. If it is the letter that went home asking people to call if they had problems, that was not something an individual board member directed the administration to do so there would not be a need for the board to approve it. The board has been dicussing the calendar for some time (I would guess it started in Jan. if not sooner) so why didn't Mr. Schneider or Mr. Becker ask that a survey be distributed while the board and union were negotiating this issue rather than at the 11th hour?

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!! School district continues trying to slam-dunk the early release/calendar for 2005-06 school year
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 25 2005 @ 07:12 PM MDT
Because it was in the "11th hour" that more than 600 parents expressed concern about the calendar and were summarily dismissed by our school board. That's why it was brought forward.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!! School district continues trying to slam-dunk the early release/calendar for 2005-06 school year
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 26 2005 @ 09:06 AM MDT
While discussions with Admin, and teachers union may have been taking place in Jan if not earlier, when were the parents told, or even asked for their input to this calendar? We are the parents after all, we do pay for the services rendered correct?

Was it not the 11th hour Ms. Thiel?

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!! School district continues trying to slam-dunk the early release/calendar for 2005-06 school year
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 26 2005 @ 12:40 PM MDT
Actually the changes to the early release days in the calendar were partially in response to concerns expressed by parents last year that the release days be the same for all grade levels.

My point was that neither Mr. Becker or Mr. Schneider asked that parent input be sought before the calendar was approved during negotiations nor did they ask the board for such a survey after the first vote or even after the second vote and waiting till one week before the third vote on the calendar to send out a survey, and again not asking the board to direct the administration to distribute the survey but trying to direct administration as an INDIVIDUAL board member, this is not appropriate one board member has no such authority, only the board acting by resolution has such power. At some point as a board member you need to move on and not keep bringing back the same issue over and over again.

tthiel

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!! School district continues trying to slam-dunk the early release/calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 26 2005 @ 12:53 PM MDT
Mrs. Thiel is false when she indicates I didn't ask for parent input...(Were you in the closed door meeting?).....In fact, there were specific comments in response to my asking for public input PRIOR to vote of "we are elected to make decisions" along lines of we don't need to ask......If you wish to go there, I will elaborate more and people will only become more upset with the Yes voters as they will realize how truly poor this whole process was!...I specifically did and asked for time to allow public to express input.....But it doesn't matter, does it Mrs. Thiel, as your definition of compromise is for us to see your point of view?.........A point of view, I might add, that resulted in your being voted off the Board........

Ben Schneider II

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!! School district continues trying to slam-dunk the early release/calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 26 2005 @ 07:19 PM MDT
Way to go Ben! I think that this situation has gotten way out of control. The calendar seems to be set, much to our dismay. I still think that collaboration is a good thing if the appropriate format is developed and followed. Rather than 75 minutes per session, wouldn't a Friday afternoon (2-3 hours), once a month be much more productive? I applaud your effort in bringing this matter up, meeting after meeting, despite the criticism. I hope that our persistance in this matter can make a difference for the next calendar. Or, even better, April is just around the corner!

Kent Monte

Monday, May 23, 2005

Open letter to the Oshkosh Northwestern editorial writer, John Archibald

[The following letter was written to John Archibald, editorial writer at the Oshkosh Northwestern on Sunday, May 22, 2005 by Miles Maguire of the Oshkosh Community News Network and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. It is published here with his permission and we thank him for his generosity in allowing us to do so.]

Dear Mr. Archibald:
This is an open letter to the editorial writer at the Northwestern.

I’m assuming you’re the one who wrote this morning’s editorial in the Northwestern. If not, please pass these comments on to the responsible party.

First of all, I think you can rest assured that everyone I know who is employed at UW Oshkosh, from the chancellor on down to the lowliest classroom instructor, would gladly add an extra three hours on to our workweek if we thought that would solve the university’s budget problem.

Unfortunately, and contrary to your paper’s analysis, adding three hours to our workweek wouldn’t allow us to teach a three-hour class.

Let me see if I can explain this to you by offering an analogy. How long do you think it took the average reader to get through this morning’s editorial? Do you think it was 30 seconds, 90? Well let’s say it was a whole five minutes.

Should we conclude that since it only took five minutes to read the editorial that it took only five minutes to write it? If that’s the case, in the course of an eight-hour day, you should be able to write close to 100 editorials. In less than a week, you should be able to write an editorial for every day of the year. Following your logic, you should be paid for only one week’s worth of work each year, and Gannett’s shareholders should receive the balance of your salary in the form of higher dividends.

But, of course, that’s not right.

Teaching works similarly. What the students may experience for three hours a week actually takes a whole lot more time to prepare for and follow up on. A rule of thumb that I give to students is that I expect them to spend two hours out of class for every hour they spend in class: reading, working on assignments, preparing for tests and quizzes, etc. For myself, I would estimate that I spend about four hours a week for every hour of classroom time: preparing lectures and classroom exercises, primarily, but also responding to student inquiries and evaluating their work.

I know there are teachers who put in more hours on campus than I do, and there may be some who work less. But if you do the math, you’ll notice that most of us who are teaching three courses a semester are already working more than a standard 40-hour workweek even before we take into account the fact that teaching is only one phase of our job responsibilities.

Like the news business, teaching is a dynamic field, where knowledge and practice are changing constantly. As a result, good teachers don’t have the ability to perform their jobs in assembly line fashion, repeating over and over again the same motions that they went through before.

As you well know, newspapers are having a hard time holding on to their readers these days. There are numerous, and sometimes competing, explanations, but a key problem is that the contemporary audience is inundated with media—TV, music, video games, the Internet—and as result is easily distracted.

Like journalists, teachers have to work harder these days to keep the attention of those we are trying to affect. That means that every semester we have to try to develop new ways of connecting with students. Standing in front of a classroom for three hours just won’t cut it.

One of the things I’ve heard about the mainstream media is that they are more credible because they have editors and check facts. But your paper’s editorial does not seem to reflect a thorough effort to collect facts.

For example, you suggest that K-12 teachers and college professors are working under similar conditions and requirements. While both groups are viewed primarily as teachers, both groups also engage in a great deal of community service. Beyond that college professors are required by the terms of their employment to engage in research or other professional activity. If we fail to conduct and publish research, we are at risk of losing our jobs. Even tenured professors, whose jobs are theoretically most secure, must continue to do research if they wish to advance.

You didn’t name him (and I don’t understand why not since your paper seems to have a big problem with anonymity), but your editorial seems to refer to an individual professor, Tony Palmeri. It’s true that he does have a high profile in our community, but I think you should recognize that what he is doing is in keeping with the Wisconsin Idea—that the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state. You may also recall that UW Oshkosh’s current chancellor has worked tirelessly on his vision of the university being of service to the whole community.

The official language goes like this: “The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be a national model as a responsive, progressive, and scholarly public service community known for its accomplished record of engaging people and ideas for common good.”

Speaking of Chancellor Wells, he is a tenured member of the sociology department. I am certain, given his obvious commitment to the school and the community, that he would be the first to take on additional teaching duties if he could accomplish that successfully in three hours a week.

Unfortunately, it just cannot be done.

One good thing about your editorial this morning is that it underscored the need for alternative news outlets in Oshkosh. Your paper clearly is the dominant news gathering operation in town with the greatest ability to influence public opinion. But you seem to have very little understanding about the operations of the university, which is one of the largest and oldest institutions in the city.

That seems to be something you should work on. Even if you just devoted three hours a week to the task, it might make a big difference.

Miles Maguire
Assistant Professor
Department of Journalism
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Open letter to the Oshkosh Northwestern editorial writer, John Archibald
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 23 2005 @ 04:12 PM MDT
So, Eye On Oshkosh believes that Public School teachers need to give more concessions, but not University Professors?

You can't stand on both sides of this issue.

Open letter to the Oshkosh Northwestern editorial writer, John Archibald
Authored by: admin on Monday, May 23 2005 @ 04:29 PM MDT
To Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous,

Apparently you have not taken the time to read this piece very carefully. If you did you would have seen that I did not write it. Nor did I ever say that public school teachers needed to make more concessions. I think there may be better ways for them to do some of the things they do. In addition, I do happen to agree that Ben Schneider's compromise was reasonable and I also think the school board members who voted against reconsidering the calendar and early release were derelict in their duty by not considering the needs and will of those they are to serve. How you got anything more out of a piece someone else wrote is beyond me.

For the record, I have long been a champion of teachers and their causes, but I don't think they should necessarily automatically get everything their union always demands either.

In any event, your misjudgment or misunderstanding has also apparently given you the belief that you can put words in my mouth about other issues. Please stick to the facts of what I have said, not what you believe I have said or want others to believe I have said. Hopefully now you know where I stand.

Cheryl Hentz

Open letter to the Oshkosh Northwestern editorial writer, John Archibald
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 24 2005 @ 07:28 AM MDT
At least Cheryl Hentz has the courage to take a stand and sign her name to it! Agree with her or not.........

Open letter to the Oshkosh Northwestern editorial writer, John Archibald
Authored by: Jim B. on Tuesday, May 24 2005 @ 07:42 AM MDT
Cheryl,

I know this was an issue when you first started this site, but maybe it is time to start requiring everyone to log in with a name. It is too easy to be anonymous and spew negative non-productive crap.

Jim B.

Open letter to the Oshkosh Northwestern editorial writer, John Archibald
Authored by: admin on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 @ 8:28 AM MDT
Jim B.,

I agree that some people have a tendency to be anything but polite; in fact, they are down-right ugly and mean-spirited. I think that when people behave that way it is usually because they are immature and can't make a strong enough argument without insulting others or trying to intimidate them. I am not quite at the point yet where I want to require everyone to register, but I am starting to think there will come a time when it is necessary. Thanks for your suggestion.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

There's a lesson to be learned here

Time after time many of us have been critical of the City of Oshkosh automatically doling out TIF districts whenever a developer comes 'a-calling. And we have seen at least one case in recent memory where a developer has not made good on his promises to the city in delivering what he claimed he would after getting property for a steal AND having a TIF created for him.

If and when TIF districts fail it is the taxpayers in that community who are left holding the bag, which is exactly why I have maintained for years that cities must be more judicious in creating TIF districts.

Some communities actually care about the taxpayers who foot the bill and they work hard to ensure that developers hold up their end of the bargain. I would encourage people, including our city staff and council members to visit this link and see what the City of Neenah is doing to make developers more accountable. Other communities, including Oshkosh, could learn a valuable lesson from this action.

Here's the link to an article in the Post Crescent that helps point out what I'm talking about.

- Cheryl Hentz

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

There's a lesson to be learned here
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 21 2005 @ 12:10 PM MDT
I agree with Cheryl and the Neenah policy of a pre-sell requirement for city investment. That is good policy and better than what we do now. However, I disagree that cities lose money when TIF's fail. The same tax revenue is still collected if any new value created is slow in developing. The issue of the 100 block and back taxes is separate and not related to a TIF's success.

Thanks for highlighting this article.

There's a lesson to be learned here
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 21 2005 @ 02:04 PM MDT
I agree with Cheryl also, but tell me, if cities don't lose when TIF's fail, then why do cities like Neenah care if the TIF is successful or not and why do some communities exercise even stricter requirements for TIF development? If there's nothing to lose then eected officials shouldn't care, right? They care because the taxpayers do lose and are on the hook when TIF's fail. But rather than debate this issue as we saw during the most recent election, maybe Cheryl has a point that we need to get our leaders to be tougher with developers before giving them the keys to a TIF or any other city money for a development that promises the sun, moon and stars.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Repercussions of the School Calendar

Contributed by: Michelle Monte
Have you noticed that some speakers at School Board meetings say, "this was on the DPI website." Have you ever checked to see what is on the Wisconsin DPI website? I have and I found that in the last several years, since 2002, while our calendar gets shorter and shorter, serious negative issues in our schools are rising. Since 2002-2003 school year (when our calendar was cut yet again) to this day, truancies, suspensions, expulsions, weapons and drug incidences in the schools (including elementary), drop outs, and non-graduates have gone up each year. The average ACT score and the number of students taking it has gone down. With the average ACT score being 22.5 in Oshkosh, the 60% of students wanting to go to college or tech/voc school will not get in ANY of them in this area.
The reason behind cutting classroom time was to save operating costs in the budget. How about freezing administrative salaries and auditing the number of staff assistants? How about standing up to the Teachers Union? How about allowing open bidding for health insurance (yes, insurance companies will do that)? How about putting the present and future of the students first?
I'm ready to walk the walk.

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 01:22 PM MDT
Boy, this lady should run for school board! She would have my vote!!!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 01:26 PM MDT
Yea - rather than working with the teachers, we should fight with them.

She sure will get alot done.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 01:34 PM MDT
We shouldn't fight them as you implied.....And no one is.....I don't see any black eyes while I am at the bar on Friday and the teachers are there "collaberating".......

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 01:37 PM MDT
I sure hope you've reported those teachers at the bar who should be collaborating...

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 01:44 PM MDT
Maybe the teachers should stop worrying about dollars collaborating in their wallets/purses, and start worrying about educating children.

I hope anyone that runs for School Board will stop this runaway train (the teachers at the money/benefits trough.)

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:23 PM MDT
For the recoerd, if you compare teacher wages to any other profession requiring a similar level of education - you will find teachers make much less.

Also, name another profession where you use your own money to buy supplies for work.

Our teachers are underappreciated, underpaid and under attack.

We need better pay for our teachers. You need to appreciate more the things that they do for your children.

Everyone here should take a deep look into themselves and figure out if they really mean the attacks on dedicated teachers we keep hearing.

They are not the villians here.

Whoever this lady is needs to stay far away from education - unless it is to get some for herself.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:53 PM MDT
Are you forgetting to add the health insurance and retirement benefits into the total compensation package. There is more than just wages!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:54 PM MDT
Here we go again with attacks on people who are running for political office. Sounds to me like those already in office and under attack (and those who support them) don't want the competition. Get real folks. Challengers are coming and your time is UP! This woman has my vote.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Michelle Monte on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 07:02 AM MDT
I am a licensed teacher in the state of Wisconsin. I worked my first teaching job for free because any salary I made went back into my classroom.
I agree that teachers are underpaid and underappreciated. However, it is the ridiculously expensive benefit packages and ridiculously high salaries of administrators, assistant administrators, and assistant to the assistant administrators I have a hard time swallowing. I think we can all do better for our children since they are the ones who will be wiping our drool in the future.

---
Thanks for reading.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 09:06 AM MDT
Michelle,

You had me until, you stated you were a teacher! There are those of us that supported Don Sween a retired teacher, because he said he could be FAIR and look at the issues facing our district. He has shown us that he lied. Once a teacher always a teacher. This has had little to do with the students EVER...if it had all teachers would want to be in front of "their" kids educating them for a demanding future. So from now on when we speak of what is best for the children can we be honest?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Michelle Monte on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:55 PM MDT
In a past career, I also sold insurance. Are you going to tell me that that will sway how I would vote on benefits issues? (FYI I hate the BS insurance companies hand out.)
I also sold radio advertising. Am I in cahoots with the FCC? NO!
I sold shoes at Walmart. Does that mean I am going to vote for school uniforms with Gucci shoes? NO!
I was a hospital housekeeping aide at a Christian Hospital. Does that mean I will violate separation of church and state and push for prayer in the schools? I prayed every day when the bell rang, but I would never force my beliefs on anyone else.
I am sorry you feel the way you do. I would have liked everyone's support, but I can't please everyone all the time. I can only do what is best for my four children, my neighbor's children, and all their friends. For their future.
Us against them is not what I am about. I am about doing what is right and I do not agree with the teachers union. Thanks to the State teachers union, I had my first teaching job for six months, performed miracles with those kids and was laid off because of budget cuts. Cuts that came primarily from older teachers demanding more money than they deserved. BTW my contract was for $26,000, I got $13,000 minus taxes, minus partial insurance, minus gas for the two hour drive there and two hour drive home, minus classroom supplies, minus daycare, etc.
Instead of assuming (we all know what that means), how about talking to me and asking my views on issues that concern you and not assuming (there's that word again) that I am like everyone else you distrust. My name is Monte, not Sween, not Bowen, not Kavanaugh nor McDermott, and certainly not Weinsheim.

---
Thanks for reading.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:40 PM MDT
So, you can't hold down a job?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: admin on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 02:22 PM MDT
Here we go again with people who view things differently apparently having to attack their "opponent." I think your response to this woman about her alleged inability to hold down a job is in extremely poor taste and ompletely uncalled for. Many people have done a lot of different things in their lifetime if they started working at age 15 or 16 like many of us did. Your attack on her and snide comment are exactly what's wrong with the political process. Why don't you try to not attack people just because they don't share your political beliefs? Presenting yourself as you just did does nothing but make you look foolish and uneducated.

Cheryl Hentz

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 03:22 PM MDT
Michelle:
I am a ""main stream" person and I can assure you, if you run, I will fully support you and get as many as I can to support you and get the "big spenders" off the board....Your background and the fact you have had more than a few jobs only broadens your appeal....Thanks for publicly taking on this challenge rather than hide behind an anonymous account and bomb throw like the person who is attempting to character assassinate.....Note, I am unnamed but I don't bomb throw!!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Michelle Monte on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 06:03 PM MDT
Thank you. I am running in April (or sooner). I hope I can shake your hand some day just for giving me a chance and not being quick to judge those whom you do not know. Thanks again.

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Thanks for reading.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 07:16 AM MDT
I heard in a school board meeting that Monte was a Veteran. Still think once a teacher, always a teacher. How about Semper Fi?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:15 AM MDT
Michelle,
You stated you feel teachers are underpaid. How do yuo feel about the benefits they receive?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Michelle Monte on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:10 PM MDT
I feel teachers are underpaid only in that most new teachers are forced to purchase supplies for their students and classrooms as there are not enough funds in their school's budget. The short period of time that I was a teacher, I wished I had made more ($26,000/yr), but wish in one hand and put manure in the other and see what fills up first. It sucked working eight hours or more, driving four hours, and spending another four or more hours a night correcting papers, writing lesson plans, preparing lesson books and materials just in case I need a sub, and lying awake wondering if the girl who came to school with the side of her face bruised is going to be in school tomorrow. I loved teaching and I knew that was the situation when I chose the career and I do not regret a second or a dollar spent.
As far as benefits? Fully paid insurance and retirement should not be a given (nor should raises). Benefits should be earned (retirement and raises) and insurance should be opened to bidding and should be paid the same way any other business does it. My husband pays a portion of his benefits in his job. I paid a portion of insurance premiums even in the Army. Teachers should be no different in regards to benefits.
I am sure teachers won't like what I am saying on this topic, but how many workers in this city work full time and still can't afford insurance? How many teachers carry insurance but use their spouses' for whatever reason?
Bottom line, open insurance up for bidding with the insurance companies, they would trip over each other for a large group policy the size of OASD. And don't give me "collective bargaining" as an excuse, I don't buy it.

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Thanks for reading.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:55 PM MDT
First, teachers do pay a portion of their health insurance, second, comparing equal plans WEA has the cheapest premiums... sorry the facts don't fit the rhetoric

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 02:16 PM MDT
What portion do they pay? What is the co-pay.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 02:52 PM MDT
Teachers pay $1.00 per month toward their co-pay. Do you really expect they should pay more?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:05 PM MDT
If you are unhappy with your pay & benefits, unionize and change them, or change careers.

Do not fault others.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:25 PM MDT
When I am paying for "others", I have a say in what they get. It should be in line with the private sector.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 03:12 PM MDT
So does that mean you are willing to bring teacher's pay up to what they would be making in the private sector?

Didn't think so, just a lot of uninformed rhetoric

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 03:32 PM MDT
When discussing pay we have to add in benefits. Factor in benefits and the 3 months off and you have a deal better than anything in the private sector. How many teachers do you see leaving for the private sector?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 03:47 PM MDT
Excellent point! Rarely do they. Despite their hard work they still have it pretty good and considering the way most of us have to work for a iving they probably shouldn't complain too much.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 06:51 PM MDT
I actually work with several formal teachers.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 09:04 PM MDT
What does this even mean? Working with formal teachers?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 09:57 PM MDT
I am confused also. Can someone explain what this means?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 21 2005 @ 02:47 PM MDT
It is not 3 months off if you work through the second week in June and then start back the last week in August, that's about 9 weeks or 2 months and a week... I know many people in the private sector who get 5 weeks vacation and if you look at benefits and pay in the private sector for comparable work teachers' pay and benefits doesn't come close to matching the private sector, even if you add the extra 4 weeks of vacation.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, May 21 2005 @ 07:12 PM MDT
If things are so good in the private sector that some teachers are apparently upset, why aren't more of them leaving for the private sector? Seems like there should be a mass exodus if that's the case.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 22 2005 @ 07:13 PM MDT
Clearly you don't get the point, the posters on this site want to compare what people in the private sector get with teachers but they only want to compare the benefits part... if you compare both salary and benefits teacher compensation is probably comparable to the private sector, if you only compare health care benefits, teachers probably have better health care benefits, if you only compare salary then the private sector has better pay than teachers get. So if you want things to be comparable to the private sector, in overall compensation it already is, however I'm guessing what a lot of the posters to this site really want is to take away benefits and pay them less too...well NO ONE in their right might would bargain for that....

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 08:22 AM MDT
Don't blme others for goreing the Golden Calf called taxpayers? How dare you, Change jobs, unionize...when I am working two jobs and going to school. The two jobs pays for the tax increase (ie: your salaries and benefits and oh let us not forget collaberation time) and the school is because my previous job that gave me minium benefits at 130.00 per month with a front end co-pay of 1,500.00 per family member. Closed it's doors for bigger, greener and more 3rd world pastures. GREED as I like to call it. By the way, we aere UNION where in the hell were you UNION teachers not supporting us or our jobs, so we could continue to pay you guys.

Now you have the nerve to throw terms like don't blame us, unionize change jobs. WHERE? HOW?
GET A REAL JOB IN THE REAL WORLD...JERK!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 01:48 PM MDT
$1 per month, where do you get your so-called facts? it is closer to $50 per month plus co-pays for certain services

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 03:24 PM MDT
Teachers pay more for union dues than for health insurance!!!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:12 PM MDT
This is the dumbest arguement I have ever heard.
If someone is doing something WRONG you shouldn't argue with them to possibly to get them to do the right thing. How else are you supposed to voice your opinion? Does the author think that everything that comes out of a teachers mouth is absolute truth? Of course we need to FIGHT THE TEACHERS UNION on this issue as they are the ones who are putting pressure on the school boards to get these changes made.
I would even suggest that there should be an open records request to get all the e-mails from all the board members who voted for this idioic school calendar to see who they have been corresponding with and who is putting these ideas into their heads.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:27 PM MDT
That is a great idea, to submit an open records request.....It is my understanding that members have to send or keep their records on their emails.....We will probably see Don Sweens emails to the heads of the teachers union as he is more representative to them than his few constituents--as your show pointed out yesterday also......

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:30 PM MDT
Teachers in Oshkosh earn almost $ 70,000 with benefits...And they retire, taxpayers pay what, 100% of their health insurance? Not bad for 9 months of the year and 30 hours per week!

And, did you see what they earn in summer school, up to $ 46 per hour! Sign me up!

But, hey, they are underpaid!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:36 PM MDT
So, you would rather have teachers make less?

How much less - why not drop your kids off at Wal-Mart and ask someone there to teach them.

Also, if you would like to become a teacher - go to school. Get a degree - and keep taking classes for the rest of your life. That is what teachers have to do.

I do not know a teacher that works under 50 hours a week. You are very mistaken. Teachers are dedicated professionals.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:51 PM MDT
Yes, teachers are very dedicated, and we appreciate their effort. We also compensate them very well for their work. 50 hours a week, I doubt it. Their work week is 35 hours. Your telling me they spend an extra 3 hours per work day, no way. Their benefit package is out of line with what taxpayers can afford. Corporations with those kinds of benefits are in financial ruin right now. Yet we just raise the taxes to keep the benefit levels up. We need to take a stand to get the teachers total compensation to a mangeable amount. And to top it all off they only work 9 months out of the year.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 03:58 PM MDT
$ 70,000 a year (including benefits)

9 months a year 35 hours a week (actually there is a 180 day school year)

180 days * 8 hours a day = 1440 hours (we will use a 40 hour work week not the contracted 35 hour work week)

$ 70,000.00 / 1440 (hours) = $ 48.61 Per Hour!!!

and they say teachers are underpaid...............

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 06:37 PM MDT
Lets not forget the insurance and retirement benefits.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:52 PM MDT
Actually teachers have a 190 day contract, but I can see that the facts mean very little on this website

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 06:06 PM MDT
We all wish we had 190 day contracts with 35 hour work weeks. Only in the world of government!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 02:06 PM MDT
why don't you try walking through any school in the district an hour after contract time and see how many teachers are still in their classrooms...most teachers work many more hours than the contracted 35...why it has become the fashion to bash teachers is beyond me, soon this district will no longer be able to attract quality teachers, why would anyone want to work in a community that shows so little respect... there are so many districts right here in the Fox Valley that value their teachers and pay them more too... but it is clear most of the posters on this site don't care about kids or education they just like to attack and complain... that will certainly help us maintain quality education

If you think it is so easy being a teacher why don't you get a teaching certificate and get a job instead of bash those people who have dedicated their lives to children. I realize I am wasting my time with those of you who have written such cruel and nasty things about people who devote many hours to trying to maintain a quality school system but I keep forgetting most of you don't know or care what that means

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 02:15 PM MDT
No one said it was an easy job. The fact that we feel their total compensation package is too high does not mean we do not appreciate the service they provide to our community. The fact is they are contracted to work 1330 hours per year while the rest of us work close to 2000 per year. Do you think that teachers are the only professionals who work extra hours? This is about compensation and what is reasonable to tax payers. We need to take a stand against the union. We can not afford the insurance and retirement benefits the teacher receive.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 03:36 PM MDT
As soon as you don't trip over yourself to pay teachers more, you are ANTI teacher......It is too bad so many have such a love for money that it always revolves around paying more for a service and increasing pay....Pay doesn't equate to success!

Look at districts to the south to validate this point!
And. did I hear the Board meeting correctly that Mr. Becker said some staff were making over $ 46.00 per hour to teacher summer school?......What a joke! And we wonder why there are budget deficits!!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 08:18 PM MDT
$46.00 an hour. Thats $93,000 a year if they worked 40 hours per week. How many people do you know that make $93,000 a year and have a full pension and great insurance ?

And we are cutting student programs like intramural sports ?

This assinine behavior has to stop !!!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 09:04 PM MDT
Becker was being loose with the numbers.

He was counting if they took their pay over a full year & then also got pay for summer school, then they would make that much for summer school.

It is irresponsible of him to misuse the numbers like that.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 07:09 AM MDT
Well loose with the numbers or not, you cannot deny the fact that teachers are being paid up to $40 some an hour to teach certain summer school classes. We should all be so lucky. One of them by the way is puppetry. That's really enhancing a child's education and will help pave the way to a college education.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 08:10 AM MDT
I can deny that - because it is not true.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 09:58 AM MDT
How can you prove it is not true? Do you know how much each idnividual teacher is making? Please show us the proof. At least wo other school board members, past and present, have confirmed it. That seems more believable than your claim.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 23 2005 @ 03:32 PM MDT
Dan Becker's numbers were from the resolution and indicated someone making 46 an hour for teaching.....Not including pension, etc....Nice gig!

I shuld go bak to schol to b a techr!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 24 2005 @ 05:40 AM MDT
What's your point?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, May 20 2005 @ 03:09 PM MDT
Do you even know what their total compensation package is?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 19 2005 @ 04:09 PM MDT
Perhaps during those hours of extra time the teachers are putting in they could carve out a little of it to do some collaborating with other teachers, especially since so many of them are still there. Teachers do work hard, no one is saying they don't. But this is about making lives easy for parents in an already difficult day and age, and keeping kids in the classroom for as many minutes as possible so they can get as good an education as possible. Surely these dedicated and devoted teachers want that for their students don't they? But when it becomes for the teachers more of a WE instead of the students issue, that's where we parents must draw the line. We are looking to our school board to make sure the line stays drawn. If they don't we will be forced to find someone who does.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 22 2005 @ 07:08 PM MDT
First, I would like to say I am disappointed in the amount of bickering between people on this site. Unfortunately, it is starting to resemble some school board meetings.

As for the current issues facing the school board, I have been fortunate enough to be able to see both sides of the issue. My mother was a teacher, my sister-in-law is a teacher, and I have many friends in the teaching profession. I have talked to trusted friends and relatives about this issue many times.

A School Board is an elected body of community representatives. They have a difficult, possibly thankless, job some of the time. Beyond these difficulties, they are supposed to represent the community and make the best decisions possible to benefit the education of our children. Our school board crossed the line when they failed to consider that the people of Oshkosh need a voice and have an opinion that is valuable. We too, want what is best for our children. The School Board has failed to be our voice on recent issues.

The Calendar is a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme of things. I realize that it makes life difficult for some people to find affordable after school care for their children. I realize that teachers need, and deserve, time for training and preparation to keep up with the No Child Left Behind Act. But the larger issue at hand is the lack of faith in the group of people that we all have to trust with the educational welfare of our children. If I can’t trust them to listen to the community on a relatively minor issue, what are the chances that they could listen to us if an even larger issue comes to the table. How can I trust them to inform the community far enough ahead of time to allow us to gather information and express our opinions prior to a vote?

I work in the research and development field. We create products that make people’s life easier. Therefore, I know for a fact that there is a creative solution to every issue. The trick is taking the time and effort to find that solution. If this were not the case, then items we take for granted every day would never have been invented. What would your life be like without cars, airplanes, disposable diapers, or soft toilet paper? Each example was a difficult issue that required creativity to invent. A big problem that I have with the school board is the unwillingness to look for these creative solutions. Every problem has a solution. Sometimes it does take time and compromise, but there is a creative solution somewhere. When the School Board members chose not to listen to Ben Schneider’s creative proposal, I found it completely unacceptable. I am not saying that he has the only creative solution, but at least he put forth the effort and took the feelings and needs of the entire community into consideration.

We need to show the school board that we do have a voice that needs to be heard. If we do nothing, then we are allowing history to repeat itself. Keep in mind that one of the largest issues in this community is not yet resolved – the school boundaries. If the school board does not feel the need to listen to us now, who is to say that they will listen to us when they discuss bussing our kids across town to elementary school? Who is to say that they will give us enough forewarning before voting on that issue? What if the board decides that extracurricular activities are hampering school performance? Would they vote to eliminate football? Basketball? Baseball? Would they tell us ahead of time?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 02:45 PM MDT
We dont nede no techers maken that much......I ain't got no edjucation and eye terned out ok!

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 03:21 PM MDT
There are many careers that will benefit from the changes proposed above...

"Welcome to Wal-Mart" and "Would you like fries with that" come to mind....

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 03:23 PM MDT
The original poster was questioning administrators salaries not teachers.

One area that chaps me that most people probably don't think twice about is the paper waste within the school system. My student brings home on average 25 pieces of paper weekly. Most of it is for announcement about special days at school or selling misc. stuff. It almost always comes in day-glo colors. What a colossal waste! If the school system is buying this paper I cannot even imagine the costs involved system wide. And someone is copying all this stuff, so there is more than just paper costs involved. How about starting an e-mail process where we get this information via e-mail. Those without e-mail can opt out and get theres on paper. Having been in the paper business for many years, I sure hope some company is donating this paper. Day-glo paper is expensive! They teach recycling in school, but hardly practice it!

Jim B.(Offering a solution to a wasteful problem)

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 03:27 PM MDT
JimB -

Great comment, you are always level-headed....

Now for my snarky retort - maybe one of those many papers that were sent home were the survey that noone turned back in....?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 03:32 PM MDT
Yes finally a little humor!!! Thanks!

I am pretty sure the calendar questionaire was sent regular mail. But good point, it would be easy to miss one piece of 25 every week. One nice thing about it is I have not had to buy paper for my printer since September!

Jim B.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17 2005 @ 07:46 PM MDT
And perhaps no one turned it in because it was written in such a way that is did not do much to encourage a response. Do we have the cracker-jack team of Blue Door Consulting to thank for that? Great PR work Oshkosh School Board of Education. Let's top playing games with our kids' education and future.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:58 PM MDT
gee, at my child's school paper is constantly recycled and envelopes are re-used until they fall apart, both sides of the paper are used and then it is cut up for scrap paper, how much time have you actually spent in our schools?

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, June 17 2005 @ 11:09 PM MDT
Having graduated from this district not more than a handful of years ago... I'd ask you all to take a step back and examine ANYTHING from the viewpoints of the people who are truly affected: the students.

After 13 years in the OASD, I can state without hesitation that these teachers are dedicated. As an involved student I saw many of my teachers burning the midnight oil on many occasions.

From art teachers opening their rooms on weekends for work time to yearbook and newspaper advisers staying until 1 or 2 in the morning regularly, not one single solitary person in this community should ever be able to question if these teachers deserve the comparitively small salaries they receive.

Just take a moment to talk to students and maybe you will start to understand these devoted people you are trashing left and right.

Repercussions of the School Calendar
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, June 18 2005 @ 07:46 AM MDT
No one is trashing these teachers and no one is saying they are not dedicated. The issues are of boundaries within the district and making sure that pay and benefits are equitable but not excessive.

Saturday, May 07, 2005

Open Letter to the Oshkosh Common Council

As a taxpayer I would encourage you to vote in favor of a $1 surcharge on the amphitheater tickets.

First, the Leaches fully support it and have asked for it. Second, the burden of upkeep and perpetual maintenance should be placed on those who use the facility, making this surcharge completely appropriate. Third, the arguments being made by Waterfest and PMI that the extra buck will potentially hurt ticket sales is ridiculous. Anyone can afford an extra dollar when they're buying a ticket, especially since it's only a periodic purchase. If PMI can't properly market this facility because of a $1 surcharge then perhaps they are not as great at their job as they professed to be and their contract should either be renegotiated or voided altogether and given to the Supples.

Please consider also that the city council did not have a concern about little kids and families paying more for the zoo; they did not have a problem making people pay to drop off their waste at the city garage; they did not have a problem making people pay to have certain trash items picked up from their curbs; they did not have a problem instituting a boat launch fee; nor should they have a problem adding a $1 surcharge onto the price of each ticket.

Moreover, if this is not passed, the upkeep will fall on the taxpayers and with so many budgetary uncertainties in our future - both for the city and her taxpayers - we cannot rely on that method, especially as the only method of maintenance and upkeep. Besides we wouldn't want to have happen to this gift what happened to the gift of Pollock Pool. That would be a slap in the face of the donor and taxpayers alike who are paying for it.

I also believe this ticket surcharge should be passed now for the start of this year's events rather than waiting. Everyone has been predicting a wonderful first season, so why not capitalize on it while we can? Besides the maintenance and upkeep are going to start immediately; so should the surcharge. It's easier to put it in place now than to try adding it on after the fact. There will be less opposition from users if it's done right now. There is no sense in waiting. The bids were waived for constructing bathrooms and the concession area because we were told time was of the essence. Such is the case with this situation, too.

Finally, I would remind council members that a $1 surcharge on a ticket that is, at least in most cases, an incidental purchase, is less than one soda will cost at the amphitheater. And it is certainly much less than a Butter Burger basket (which, by way of reminder, each property owner is paying about two Butter Burger baskets per year for the amphitheater project itself). I hope this puts things in a little more perspective. Let’s hope the council does the right thing on this issue.

- Cheryl

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?

Contributed by: Anonymous
Wasn't it a few weeks ago that the brilliant editors at the Oshkosh Northwestern (which Stu Rieckman is the ringleader of) chastised the Oshkosh Common Council for "waffling" on the issue of the $1.00 surcharge for tickets at the Leach Amphitheater?

Didn't they say that the surcharge was appropriate because the users of the amphitheater should pay for the maintenance, and not the taxpayers?

Well, in typical Stu hypocrisy fashion, in today's (5-5-05) Northwestern editorial, it seems he's done a 180. It now seems that it's a realistic approach to wait. Talk about waffling!!

What the hell are we going to wait for? If a $1.00 fee for a ticket is going to create problems for PMI or Waterfest, then we have bigger problems than some thought.

But I guess waiting and seeing is par for the course. After all we built this stupid thing without knowing how much it was going to cost the taxpayers (and we've still got phase II, III and God knows how many more phases at this taxpayer supported boondoggle.) We also didn't know at the conception who was going to run it, how much it is going to cost to maintain it, if we needed to hire more parks employees, etc., etc., etc.....

Well, now that the weather is better, maybe Bill Castle can get on the golf course with the "people in the know" and get some of these questions answered. When he gets the answers, I hope he calls Stu and lets him know which way the wind is blowing.

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 08 2005 @ 10:09 AM MDT
I think the charge should be $2.00. $1.00 to go for the maintenance, and $1.00 to go to pay off what the taxpayers had to pay for it to begin with.

Remember, we had some irresponsible Council members vote to take our tax dollars to build it!

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 07:52 AM MDT
That doesn't really sound like too bad of an idea. That way we could service the debt that much sooner and the people not using it could get off the hook sooner. The council will never go for it though. It's doubtful they have the collective courage to charge $1 much less $2.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 09:18 AM MDT
What a great idea, and concept!

This is where the rubber hits road with public/private partnerships. One of the problem with the private sector being able to decide in a vacum what projects
are "good" for the city and they have the dollars to make it happen. The concern is that there are never any long range plans, nor long range monetary plans to be set forth on how this projects are to be maintained or cared for. That is why the taxpayeyers are always on the hook long term and should have a greater say if or what should move forward as far as city projects.

Examples of what this is in practice and how it hasn't worked:1) Grand Opera House
2) the Zoo
3) The Market Square Fountain
please city council start being more demanding of full disclosure and if promises are made that they be kept. That full funding for project be made to include without taxpayers expense (ie maintance.)

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 10:36 AM MDT
Everyone here says that all of the taxpayers are against these items....

Then why did the people that are for these get elected April 5th, and those that were against them lose?

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: admin on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 10:53 AM MDT
Because many people did not go to the polls. They don't see the point and don't think it will make a difference in the long-run. Even though I think everyone needs to be responsible and vote, there are just some who won't. And while they then get the government they deserve, so do the rest of us who have voted and tried to make a difference. We have to find a way to make people see the light and make them more responsible.

- Cheryl Hentz

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 12:02 PM MDT
Or, maybe those that do not want to see progress are really in the monirity in Oshkosh.

Maybe most of Oshkosh sees the benifits to their city from these projects.

They are obvious, downtown is more welcoming than ever. The Leech Amphitheater will bring new people to do business downtown and see that Oshkosh is a town alive with progress.

And while at Leech - they will be able to spend all the money they want on concessions, knowing that there will be bathrooms to use - further relieving taxpayers of the burden of paying off these loans, when the city gets their cut.

It is a glorious day in a new Oshkosh - embrace it!

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 12:59 PM MDT
"Leech" is the operative word here. This thing is attaching itself to taxpayers and will only suck us dry. It is doubtful the people who are upset are not in the minority. All you have to do is look at the various opinion polls and that should tell you what you need to know. Ms Hentz has hit the nail on the head about why people don't vote. But it's not just here. It's the same all over the country. Perhaps apathy is not right but it is a reality. But just because someone doesn't vote doesn't mean they don't exist. Thanks for calling a spade a spade on what the bandshell really is. You've made the point for us without even trying to.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 01:07 PM MDT
What opinion polls? Surely you are not referring to the ones here? That would be a very bias poll.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 01:10 PM MDT
Sorry, but if you don't excercise your right to vote, you don't get a say in the making of public policy.

I would also love to see the "opinion polls" you are referring to- asking 8 guys on a saturday afternoon down at Evil Roy Slades doesn't count as a scientific data collection method. Besides, the only opinion poll that counts is the one that happens the first Tuesday of November and April every year. And we all saw the results of that pretty clearly.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 01:53 PM MDT
Any opinion poll. The one here is just as good as anywhere else. As you say, everyone has a chance to vote. Also, the Northwestern has run polls which have clearly shown how people feel too.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:13 PM MDT
Find me the dates those polls ran in the Northwestern and tell me what the results were. I may not have looked close enough and missed them, but if you plan on throwing opinion polls around as facts, you better be able to back them up. And you were kidding about the scientific validity of an Eye on Oshkosh poll, right? Who knows how many times the same people have voted in those biased things.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:18 PM MDT
Well the same could be true of any poll I suppose. But you can not vote repeatedly here, at least not more than something like once every 4 to 7 days. But if that's all people have to do is sit around and vote over and over again every several days then they have a problem.

Check with the newspaper on the dates of their online polls. The Northwestern is all for this development stuff yet their own polls showed people are opposed to it and the manner in which it is done.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:25 PM MDT
I, unlike you, don't trust any poll not conducted along strict guidelines, and the Northwestern's internet polls certainly are not in that category. If you would like, I can probably dig up an internet poll showing that 99% of Americans would like to see a monkey elected president in 2008, but that certainly doesn't make it so. Poorly conducted polls (such as Northwestern internet polls) are basically useless and reflect the sentiment of a slim, often biased, section of a population. Again, when it boils down to it, the only poll that matters happens on Election Day.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:42 PM MDT
If we really want to know what people think, the council members should ahve the guts to put these big spending projects on referendums. Then we'll really see what people want to spend their hard-earned money and and what they don't. They should also be easy to understand questions, not written in legalese.

For example: Do you want to spend $675,000 on bathrooms and a concessiona area at the Riverside Park ampthitheater? Yes or No? It's simple, to the point and gets to the heart of what the majority of people want.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 07:37 AM MDT
If you put spending issues on referendums in Oshkosh we would end up with nothing, and poor schools to boot. People rarely vote to increase their taxes.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:54 AM MDT
Not entirely true. People in this city hav already said they don't mind their taxes being increased for roads and basic things like that. They do ot want to have things that aren't necessary or that a good argument can't be made for. If you look at other communities you will see that people will give their support to things if a reasonable argument can be made about how they will benefit. If the people runnning the City of Oshkosh aren't as good of salespeople then perhaps they don't have a good enough reason for wanting the things they want. That's why the council is afraid to let the people have their say.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 11:07 AM MDT
Once again, the people had their say April 5th.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 12:47 PM MDT
Having one's say in an election of candidates is quite different from having one's say in a referendum about which projects we approve and don't approve. If your argument holds true the explain why there is so much support for and talk about a tacpayer bill of rights? It's because elections and candidates can be bought. You cannot buy a referendum which is exactly where we're going if TABOR passes. Thank God because it's long overdue that should stop the silliness and spending of taxpayer money like it is in a bottomless pit.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 01:06 PM MDT
If people are in such a hurry for better roads then why do we have so many poor roads when all it takes is a petition from the citizens on that street. Why, because they do not want their taxes to go up. Everyone wants better streets until it is theirs and they see the $$$$. We elect council people to make decisions. Referendums for everything? Where do yuo draw the line?

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 01:52 PM MDT
For your information, several petitions for streets to be done were filed and they have been sitting in city hall for years. The Northwestern did a story on this previously and it has been discussed at city council meetings. Apparently you do not follow city issues as closely as you think you do or you would know that. As for drawing the line, TABOR would cap the amount of money cities could spend without asking the people. That's where you draw the line.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 11:32 AM MDT
So the streets that have sewers from the 1800's have been on that list? Not! Yes there are some streets on the waiting list. But there are many streets with slum lords that do not want new streets. A few on a waiting list is just a small part of a huge problem. The current policy of petitioning is terrible. How about taking all streets to a referedum? They are large expenditures. Do you now see the stupidity of that argument?

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 01:41 PM MDT
What I see is the stupidity of your own argument. The city has the power, ability and responsibility to redo any street any time it is necessary, whether the slumlords you made reference to like it or not. So why haven't they? Instead they have been spending money left and right on other things that are not absolutely ncessary.

By the way, you reference slum lords being the cause of some of our streets being in such a state of disrepair because they won't sign petitions. I suppose you have first-hand knowledge of those landlords, eh? But you know what, even if you do, it doesn't matter because, again, the city can step in and require that a street be redone. they have chosen to ignore their responsiblity and focus instead on building an amphitheater and redoing a downtown whose future continue to remain questionable at best.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 03:52 PM MDT
How about the 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's. Was it the Leach Amp. fault then also? This problem did not start in the past few years. We are in the 21st century and still have many streets in the heart of the city without curb and gutter. And you want to pin this on the current regime because they want a few nice things to attract people to this city. You really do not have a clue do you. Hopefully this new regime can bring us out of the dark ages.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 04:37 PM MDT
Talk about not having a clue. It is this regime and the very kind before them all these years that has us in the mess we're in, including with our streets. Coincidentally you referenced decades going all the way back to the 50's. It was in the 50's that we changed to the form of government we curently have. I think your point is excellent: we need a change of government; a complete overhaul. Sounds like the best idea yet. You're a genius.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 12 2005 @ 07:04 AM MDT
You would think the Jungwiths and Bloechls could have done something about the problem when they were in office. The "Chamber People" have only had control of the council the past few years. That leaves decades when they were not in control. Finally we have some people with a vision for the city and we are headed in the right direction. PROGRESS!!!! Please keep voting to keep the "cobblestoners" on the sidelines where they belong. It sure is nice to not have to hear Mr. Bender embarrass our city every 2 weeks.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 12 2005 @ 01:26 PM MDT
The Jungwirths and Bloechls could not do anything, any more than Esslinger or Poeschl were able to. That is because the chamber has had its own contingent in there for YEARS. Take a look at who they associate with, the members of the councils who have been through the so-called Leadership Oshkosh program, etc. Furthermore, take a look at who they support. The answers are no further than the nose on your face. So stop your *censored*ing about people like Melanie Bloechl, Mr. Jungwirth and Ken Bender. These people have helped make Oshkosh what it is. They are her people. They are also tax payers and have probably done more for this city than you. But let's see you step up to the plate and give something to this community, except for your two cents worth that, along with your progressive visionary, is costing us millions.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 01:23 PM MDT
As I commented elsewhere - Do you know how much it costs to have an election?

Do you think referendums are free?

Not only is TABOR bad policy - but it will cost the taxpayer even more to get less service.

Think it through.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 01:48 PM MDT
TABOR may not be the best policy in the world. BUt something has got to be done to get these elected officials to stop spending money without thinking things through or taking taxpayers needs and opinions into consideration. Doing the things this city council has done in the last year or two is worse policy.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 07:36 AM MDT
If everything these people have done in the last few years has been such bad policy, how would you explain the fact they they have re-elected and elected candidates who see spending issues in a certain way and gotten rid of candidates who see spending issues the opposite way?

And please don't trot out the tired excuses of low voter turnout and election financials- neither of these things change the fact the a majority of the public (through the ballat box, which is the only way that matters) supported the spending decisions of the city council over the last few years. This was shown ABSOLUTELY across the board in the last April elections. I apologize if you were unhappy with the outcome of those elections, but this is your democratic process at work. If people were as unhappy as you believe they are, they have their chance every April to show it. We saw this last April, and more people were happy with the council's spending decisons than were unhappy. That's an undisputible fact.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 01:44 PM MDT
You made the point for me - that the people who showed up at the ballot box were more pleased with spending than those who didn't. Those people, while they may constitute a majority of those who voted, do not constitute a majority of the taxpayers. If you doubt this then go knock on a few hundred doors throughout various parts of the city, not just the nice areas. Then tell us what you find. Until then, you might want to keep your opinions somewhat in check because you don't have a good handle on what's going on in this community.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 02:58 PM MDT
These people you speak of have one opportunity to truly make their voices heard, other than complaining to their friends behind closed doors. That opportunity is on the first tuesday of April. I'm sorry if they don't believe in their convictions enough to go vote. All the council statements, letters to the editors and private conversations don't mean a thing if you don't vote. That is the bottom line issue here, and I don't see any way to defend those who talk the talk and then don't walk the walk when it comes time to shape the direction of this city. Keep trying to defend it though, I suppose.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 04:39 PM MDT
Again, whether they vote or not they still have a say in how their money is being spent and the council still needs to take their viewpoints into consideration. But they refuse to do so. they are worthless when it comes to public consideration.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 12 2005 @ 07:09 AM MDT
We have a city of 60,000 people. If a few hundred, or even thousand complain about an issue or decision that is not a majority, no matter how much noise they make. We elect the council to make decisions for the whole city. There will always be a minority and a majority. If 50 people come to a meeting we do not change a vote that impacts 60,000 citizens,

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 12 2005 @ 01:30 PM MDT
First we are a city of 63,000 people, not 60,000. Second, it doesn't matter that only a few hundred spoke out. The fact is they spoke out and the school board has no one who could really counter those hundreds of parents. Plus they not only disregarded the concerns of parents but they were rude and arrogant in the process. They deserve to be booted out of office. I don't care if its now or late. I just want them gone. They have used up their usefulness on the school board, if they ever had any, that is.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 12 2005 @ 02:31 PM MDT
One thing I would like the people who are against every other Wed. early release to address is why only 1% of the surveys were returned to the district. If the majority of parents are agianst it why did they not return the survey to voice their opinion? That was the oportunity to speak if you had a problem with child care.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, May 12 2005 @ 07:47 PM MDT
Excuse me, but as long as the taxpayers are footing the bill, ANYTIME is the time to speak and this school board had better understand that and start paying attention.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 03:55 PM MDT
I will stick to the "nice areas". I value my safety.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 01:56 PM MDT
Let's see if I have this right. I don't vote so I don't get a voice in public policy making. Can I then opt out of paying for the crap I don't want? Seems I ought to be able to.

Your comment about Evil Roy Slade's is a cheap-ass remark. I don't drink and I don't associate with people who do. But perhaps those who think it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood have not only been drinking in the neighborhood bar but are drunk to boot.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:15 PM MDT
If you don't vote, you have given up your voice.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:23 PM MDT
You did not answer the question. If I don't vote and then have no voice or say in the matter, can I opt out of paying for the crap I don't want? I will pick and choose which things I want to pay for, just as I pick and choose which elections I participate in. Sound fair? Even if I don't vote I am still a taxpayer and still have a voice and who the hell do you think you are to try muting it! Get off your pompous high horse and do a reality check. If you don't want to give me a voice even if I don't vote, then do without my tax dollars. You and those like-minded souls like you can fund these niceities yourselves.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:26 PM MDT
If you are concerned about your taxes - campain, contribute and vote for those you think will help you.

Life is an all or nothing game.

You get nothing if you are not involved.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:45 PM MDT
Life is an all or nothing game. Okay I get it. I won't vote and I don't want to pay.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 03:54 PM MDT
I sincerely wish you luck with that. I hear the IRS is a TON of fun to deal with. Especially when you don't pay your taxes. Or are you just going to skip out on local taxes so vital service providers like firemen and police officers have a harder time doing their jobs?

Either way, great attitude. Really mature.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 04:48 PM MDT
Just trying to get that "all or nothing" deal you talked about. Better yet I like the idea of a referendum for major undertakings. That would really be putting the decisions about government in the people's hands and we could get away from so much of the crookedness we have going on in this city and since everyone thinks people like me who are fed up with silly spending are in the minority, then there should be no problem putting these kinds of things on a referendum. What do you say? Do you have the guts to support something like that? If you really believe the majority of people want all this spending let's put our money where our mouths are and see exactly where the rubber hits the road.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 09:24 PM MDT
So, you'll vote for a referendum, but not a candidate?

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 11:12 PM MDT
I'm speaking in hypotheticals but yes, there are some people who will do exactly that. After all, a referendum vote gives the people a direct say in whether or not their money should be spent. What can be simpler than that (provided it's written in very clear, basic language and not screwed up like the smoking ban referendum was). I have answered your questions, now how about answering mine. Would you be in support of putting major spending measures before the pubic in a referendum form?

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 05:41 AM MDT
We elect people to make these decisions.

Also, if we referendum everything - you want to talk about a waste of taxpayer money - do you know how much an election costs the city?

Buying the ballots - paying the pollworkers - publishing the announcements... and on and on.

You will waste more money than the project you are voting on.

We elect councilors to make these decisions - if the decisions they make are not popular, they will be voted off (as happened this April).

I believe the April election was a referendum on the downtown projects.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:57 AM MDT
The April election was most assuredly not a referendum on downtown projects. Get real. We need TABOR and then the elected officials will have to be come to the people for big-ticket spending.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 11:09 AM MDT
You did not addrss the cost of having referendums for every spending project?

How does this make sense?

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 12:50 PM MDT
It would not be every spending project, just the major ones. If money can be saved by not passing some of the ridiculous spending then the cost of running such an election is well worth every penny.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 01:10 PM MDT
Who is to define what is ridiculous spending. So, everything you do not agree with is ridiculous spending? Many think the Ampitheatre is money well spent.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 01:49 PM MDT
A referendum will define what is ridiculous and not by virtue of what the people want.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 12:44 PM MDT
I tend to agree. I, as a well informed citizen, do not want to spend a great deal of my time pouring over details of proposals for projects presented to the city. I want to know the basics (costs, demographic use, pay off time frame, benefits - both quality of life and effect on tax basis). Let the elected officials pour over the details and vote after they have ALL the facts.

What we see/hear in the media is nothing more than a summary of the projects. There is not near enough detail for us to make informed decisions on the numerous referendums that would have to take place.

I voted. And I trust those I voted for. I also believe that those I didn't vote for will continue to look into the details and vote as they feel their constituents would vote.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 10:53 AM MDT
I am in absolute agreement with the last poster. April 5 2005, although not technically a referendum, in many ways was a chance for the majority of the public in this city to show how they felt about contentious spending issues. The majoity of that public voted in new and returning candidates who supported their view of city spending and voted out those who didn't. Plain and simple. Had all the taxpayers in this community been against the spending policies of the recent council, they had their opportunity to voice their opposition. Quite simply, it didn't happen.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 01:03 PM MDT
Why should people vote, nothing is going to change! When the Oshkosh Common Council votes illegally (waiving of the bids at the Amphitheater) and nothing is done about that, what makes you think the voters will be confident that their one vote is going to make a difference?!

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 01:11 PM MDT
If you think it was illegal, then file a law suit. While I agree with you it may very well have been illegal, if no one is going to step up and file a law suit then lets stop whining about it.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 01:30 PM MDT
Maybe you have the thousands of dollars it would take to file a lawsuit?

Please let me know.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:02 PM MDT
Good point about needing thousands of dollars to file a suit. I don't have it. I have to pay for an amphitheater and downtown redevelopment. Besides to file a lawsuit would only cost the plaintiff double money. Their own to file the suit and they'd be suing the city which is made up of citizens. We pay the isurance premiums through our taxes. Not only that but all that would probbaly happen is they'd have to stop construction and bid the work out. The way these people are so crooked they'd see to it that Bill Castle's frineds got the job again and we'd be right back where we are now.

Maybe someone shoud file a complaint with the DA's office though and let the process work that way. Perhaps there could be a little more action taken than just an opinion rendered. Interesting though how Warren Kraft picks and chooses what opinions from the attorney general's office he listens to. He is so full of it. Either the AG's office knows what they are talking about or they don't. It is as simple as that.

Hey Stu, which way is the wind blowing?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, May 09 2005 @ 02:11 PM MDT
Perhaps the "cobblestoners" should change their name to "naysayers". It seems they have nothing to offer but negativity. I couldnt agree more with the above sentiment that the voters have spoken. Maybe it is time for the "naysayers" to realize they are in the minority. I am glad Oshkosh is finally starting to realize the potential they have as a place for people to go. Do any of the "naysayers" realize that the new ampitheater could possbily be one of the best small venue outdoor ampitheater's in the state and possibly the Midwest? I will gladly pay an additional dollar for a concert. Have you ever experienced Ticketmasters service charges? Not a lot in the big scheme of things! Since we are always comparing ourselves to our neighbors, where does Appleton hold their outdoor concerts? Fox Cities Stadium, a baseball field! This facility could end up being the crown jewel of outdoor venues in the area. Once the reputation is established who knows what could happen.

As far as another supposed "boondoggle", the zoo at Menominee was packed this past
Mother's Day with people. The most people I have ever seen their at one time. We bought our season pass for $12.00. While picking it up there must have been 15- 20 other season passes sitting there waiting to be picked up. No it will never compete with bigger zoo's, but for $12 I can take my small children for a 15 minute visit once a week all summer! Maybe it is time to start appreciating some of the things that Oshkosh has to offer that many similar size cities don't have.

Flame away!

Jim B.