Curmudgeon's Corner - All Comments

re: Village Buzz - August 27th...

Al Campbell — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:53:48 GMT

Village President Tom Kempinski called me to clarify his position so far as the Waste Management contract with the village was concerned and his indication that he was looking into termination of the current contract.

He indicated that he did intend to put pressure on Waste Management with that statement but insisted that this was due solely to complaints that were being received by the village over poor service. He indicated that whatever the result of the current work stoppage, it didn't concern him and that it had nothing to do with the coincidental occurence of the two things. He went on to add that he was not involved with agreements with waste companies, but instead was involved with freight companies.

I indicated that I would try to properly paraphrase our discussion in a 'comment' to my original posting.

re: Village Buzz - August 21st...

numo — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:48:14 GMT

Another interesting point is at one of the earlier summer school board meetings it was said the annual meeting may be later than "the norm" due to what??? The mass confusion at the budget level.

re: Village Buzz - August 21st...

numo — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:23:00 GMT

Good Day,

We always pride ourselves on the fact we lower taxes however I have lived in this village for 30+ years and it goes from see what we (the school board) did to keep taxes low to OMG we screwed up and must raise taxes a huge amount. We need to focus on what can be done to give the kids a GREAT education and if taxes need to go up within reason then so be it. I am for building a new school but I don't think Germantown is in a position to handle the costs of doing business after it is built.

re: Village Buzz - August 19th...

firefighter20299 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:53:12 GMT

WOW. Really. Who are you? Don't take this as a disagreement or an agreement. If you feel so strongly about this, or anything then step up and announce who you are and why you like or dislike something. This hiding behind a curmudgeon isn't going to change anything. Make how you feel known remember we are supposed to be a FAMILY! I'd put my life on the line for you (with or without "perfect" equipment) and I don't even know your name.

Signed,

Mike Perkins

re: Village Buzz - August 19th...

concernedGFDmember — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:17:09 GMT

As an active member of the Germantown Fire Dept. I could not agree more that there should be some concern as to why the fire chief would so easily back down on such an important investment in myself and fellow fire fighters' protective gear and safety equipment. We have consistently dealt with poor management and this is yet another example of how the actual fire fighters and their safety is on the bottom of the list.

Some of our equipment is decrepit and an accident is near imminent. It's only a matter of time before one of our outdated and mismatched breathing apparatus falls. Hopefully this will not occur while a firefighter is attempting a rescue of a local resident.... Unfortunately - this is usually the only time action is taken - when it's already too late!

If the public only knew the internal issues affecting our department and the low morale our members experience... We need the entire community involved in getting this issue resolved! People need to know. Yes we put on great parades with beautiful shiny equipment BUT what goes on behind the scenes would frighten most anyone working or residing in Germantown as well as the people volunteering to protect it.

PLEASE speak up at the next board meeting and make it known that the safety of those men and women protecting YOUR life and property should be the TOP PRIORITY over any new piece of apparatus that may look great in a parade but will do little to keep us safe or improve our ability to help the public.

Any CHIEF with respect and understanding for his firefighters would agree and fight for the funds necessary to keep us safe.

It's time for major changes in the way GFD is managed starting with finding a NEW FIRE CHIEF that cares about the safety and morale of the most important element in a fire department - the FIREFIGHTERS!!

On a side note - we as members of the GFD - both firefighter and EMT's care about helping the public and giving back to our community. That is the ONLY reason we are here. All members have full time careers or other day jobs and our financial compensation is minimal for the job requirements and risks involved. We ask very little in return for the service we provide. Please help keep us safe by setting the wheels in motion for improving our safety and morale. Get involved and learn what's going on. We have lost more than HALF of our well trained / qualified and experienced members - many due to fear for their safety or unresolved issues with management (the fire chief). As a whole - we can make changes that will benefit the entire community and keep everyone in the village safe.

Signed,

A VERY concerned GFD member

re: Village Buzz - August 17th...

taxedtothemax — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:50:35 GMT

I'm not much for increased taxes - but I am definitely willing to pay a little more for some extra police presence. I think our police force does a good job for the number of people they have. I'd like to see some additional presence in the evenings - especially weekends.

re: Village Buzz - August 12th...

GTT — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:07:57 GMT

Isn't this called taxation witout representation???

What a bunch of Snakes!!!

re: Village Buzz - August 12th...

taxedtothemax — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:26:25 GMT

In other words - MATC doesn't WANT to know that the good Dr. has moved. Any guesses as to why - sorry you only get one.

Keep up the good work Al!

re: Village Buzz - August 1st...

Concerned GT Resident — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:41:11 GMT

oops, I meant "superintendent".

re: Village Buzz - August 1st...

Concerned GT Resident — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:39:07 GMT

Al, I did a little research on the MATC website and found the video of the MATC Board's July 14, 2008 Annual Organizationl Meeting, and was surprised to discover that Dr. Rossetti apparently is still on the Board.

Board members can participate in the meeting by telephone, and Dr. Rossetti was doing just that. Strikes me as odd that he is no longer a supertindent nor does he live in the District. When you find the link to that meeting, it is part 1 of 2. I confess that I did have the stomach to sit and listen to the entire meeting.

re: Lest We Forget...

Irwin Fletcher — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:40:31 GMT

Leave it to Mayor Barrett to remind us all how lucky we are to live in Germantown. Now, our little slice of heaven has its share of issues , but no where near the mess that is in the City of Milwaukee. So when the problems of the city become "regional problems" then I get more than a little upset.

It doesn't take a long memory to look at some of these issues.

1) Sewer Wars: The village was mandated to update its sewer system. We did it and were recently awarded the "tighest pipes" in the district by MMSD. Our water utility did what it was supposed to do and is doing a good job. Milwaukee on the other hand hoped and prayed by making the

suburbs pay for the Deep Tunnel it would not have to spend the money to fix its sewers. It did not work. Now it is a regional problem again. Hey Mayor, disconnect your storm sewers from your sanitary sewers and your problems are solved. You made us do it. But that would cause a massive tax hike and you cant do that now can you.

2) Business creation: Germantown has the largest % of business acreage as a % of total acreage in SE WI. We built industrial parks, sold our village to businesses and are now seeing the positive results. The largest employer of Milwaukee is Milwaukee Public Schools, a governmental body. We have done what is needed to attract and retain business, you havent. Not my problem.

3) Schools While we do have issues, our children are getting an education and they are doing it in a safe enviroment. MPS continues to waste millions upon millions of tax payer funds on every notion imaginable and still cannot figure out how to get the job done. Dont even get me started on MATC.

So Mayor, its time to show some leadership and quit trying to blame everyone else for the failures of your administration and dont even think about knocking on our doors for more funds to bail you out.

re: Village Buzz - July 30th...

Concerned GT Resident — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:09:06 GMT

There's little doubt that MATC's selection of Rossetti to its board was an attempt to appease Germantown. It was not a wise move on his part to capitulate to such an obvious attempt to divert the secession movement by Germantown. Finally, it seems to be moving, now that he is retired.

re: Village Buzz - July 30th...

Al Campbell — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:50:26 GMT

Chief Pete Hoell has responded regarding Lilac Road:

There was a delay the reason for which he is unaware but he has been advised by the Village Administrator that work is supposed to start tomorrow or the next day.

So, follow the signs and avoid Lilac Lane now that I've gotten you all excited :)

re: Village Buzz - July 29th

GTT — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:56:11 GMT

CGR,

I don't believe that i ever said that it was on the ballot twice, but it is nice to know that you are willing to spin my comment in a way that suites your argumennt!

Let me explain to you what I said so you might understand. The new school was on the ballot once and was voted down, then a few months later a survey was sent out and again the majority said they did not support a new school. This feedback from the survey is a direct reflection of how another referendum would most likely end.

So again I ask you the question, why can you and the board not accept the fact that there is a lack of support from the majority at this time.

It is clearly evedint at this time the majority doesn't want to pay for a new school.

re: Village Buzz - July 29th

Concerned GT Resident — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:16:18 GMT

Correction GTT, the new school was only on the ballot one time, not twice. Where did you read that it is going back on the November ballot? And with the same proposal?

Oh, facts probably don't matter.

re: Village Buzz - July 29th

GTT — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:06:14 GMT

CGR, once again you jump to the defense of this school board! I am not going to rehash how they have shown their arrogance you can go back a reread my other posts, I have spoken to a few of them in person and the condescending attitude that they answered my questions with was enough. But just the fact that they want to put the exact same referendum on the November ballot without trying to change what they are asking for shows just some of their arrogance. Tell me why they/you cannot accept the fact that the majority of this community has shown in black and white that they do not want to build a new school not once but twice?!

As far as MATC goes I am absolutly against the fat tax increases they continue to pass without any taxpayer input or ramifications! Hopefully, if our school board doesn't continue to drag their feet they can get the paperwork filed as soon as possible and maybe we will be able to remove ourselves from the MATC tax hell district.(I have my doubts though).

As far as the village goes I have already voiced my opposition to one of our trustees about increasing taxes, there are many areas that could be looked at for budget cuts/freezes to prevent a substantial tax increase!

re: Village Buzz - July 29th

Irwin Fletcher — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:24:36 GMT

Well the School Board finally decided to act on this issue, It's about time. What the School Board doesn't seem to get is that by dragging thir feet they may have pushed the actual change date back to 2010. If the

technical college board does not act until after January 1st the change wont take affect until 2010. That is why they should have acted earlier to avoid the posiibility that the state wont act on it in time to affect the 2009 tax bills.

Also as our students can attend any Technical School in the state, why are school board members arguing over which district to join? It does not seem to matter. So if the firefighters want to got to MPTC let them go there, its not like it will cost us more to send them to classes there. So the board will argue and fight about this and drag this on farther than it needs to. Lets hope that they dont miss the Sept 15th deadline.

In regards to the referendum, if it didnt pass at $16M how does the board think it will pass at a 20% higher cost? According to RWB that is what the new cost might be with increased construction and materials costs. Not going to happen.

It seems that the Village Board is also getting a cold dose of reality that they cannot continue to spend like drunk sailors either. It amazes me that the board had no funds for three years in the budget for road repairs. What were they thinking? Freeze your spending, reduce your budgets and fix the roads and maybe the Villages portion of the tax bill will be the lowest for once.

re: Village Buzz - July 29th

Concerned GT Resident — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:38:36 GMT

Arrogance how? By consistently delivering lower tax bills for the past several years, while the Village and MATC continue to compete for largest annual increase?

GTT, please provide another alternative to the very real space problem.

re: Village Buzz - July 29th

GTT — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:21:25 GMT

Al,

With the arrogance that this school board has shown in the past it would not shock me in the least if they tried to put another school referendum on the ballot this November. I believe they will keep trying to wear down the taxpayers untill they get what they want, even though both the questionnaire and last falls vote results show that the majority of this community does not want to build a new school. I am not sure how many different ways you can tell this board no before they understand!

re: MATC: "We Haven't Had Any Standards..."

Concerned GT Resident — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:55:14 GMT

Do any of you actually read what I wrote? I never once said or implied that MATC is doing a decent job. I merely stated the obvious fact that the District can't use taxes or wasteful spending as a reason to move to another school.

Those alone are great reasons to switch, but they need to focus on the performance issues of MATC. With all of the issues that have been raised on this forum, there surely will be enough to mount a decent effort to secede.

Have any of you contacted the School Board President or any other members with your concerns?