By: Tom Hermann (Egg Harbor)
June  24, 2008

While I don't necessarily share Mr. Utnehmer's optimism in regard to Democrats regaining control of State Government I do agree that job one should be reforming how we fund education. It has been a festering issue since the early years of the Thompson administration(s) and continues to this day. While I could go on at length as to the failings of the Thompson years, and the debt it left us saddled with, I will stick to the topic at hand.
One thing I never hear mentioned in regard to school funding is the Uniformity Clause of the Wisconsin State Constitution. That says, in brief, that all properties shall be taxed at the same rate. In my considered opinion this clause should be revoked. It has been breached numerous times by special incentives to business, TIF schemes, etc. It also means that some person of wealth can come to Wisconsin and build a second home and have that home taxed at the same rate as some working family who is just scraping by. Adding insult to injury these second homes often drive up the property values in a given area and work as a negative towards year round residents. In certain areas these second home values skew the tax value of a district and have an effect on state aids to education. It should be noted that Gibraltar district gets no, zero, state aids.
Minnesota does not have a Uniformity Clause. If you build a vacation home in Minnesota it is taxed at a different rate than your primary residence. That is one reason why the Wisconsin side of the St.Croix valley has seen a building boom fed by residents of the Twin Cities. Perhaps it is time for Wisconsin to get rid of the clause since it has been effectively breached any way.
While this is no panacea it might go some way towards tax fairness. I see no reason why a school district such as Gibraltar should be in any jeopardy in regard to funding given that it is so property rich. Yet this is what has happened. The fact that any referenda ever pass is a statement in regard to how dedicated the local parents are toward their school.
No one likes taxes. We all like tax fairness. But, the uniformity clause was enacted at a time when people were actually building and developing an essentially unsettled territory. No author of that clause could have envisioned multi-million dollar second homes. It is also doubtful that any of them would have thought it "fair" to tax those luxury homes at the same rate as a settlers homestead. Yet the system survives and it is one important aspect of this whole funding problem.
Our Republican "friends" have shown themselves amenable to constitutional changes in regard to issues that go from the navel to the knees. Now maybe it is time to consider a constitutional change on an issue that really matters.

By: Susan Kohout
May 2, 2008

The League of Women Voters believes that every child should have an equal opportunity for a quality education. Our county’s schools have worked very hard over the years to accomplish that goal, whether times were lean or prosperous, through hard work and innovative programming. One such highly successful program, created jointly by the county government and the various school systems to serve the needs of a unique group of students, is in jeopardy. This is the Challenge Program.

The Challenge Program was established in March 1992 after two years of interagency problem-solving and was designed to serve youth identified both as emotionally disturbed by county schools and delinquent by the court. Its students were young people who had traditionally been placed out-of-district because they required intense and isolated programming not available except in an institutional environment. In 1991 treatment centers cost $4,250 a month per child. In that year eleven Door County youths were in out-of-county placement with an average stay of six to nine months at a cost of $255,000 to $420,750 a year paid for by tax dollars.

Money was not the only problem. Families were separated; parents had difficulty participating in counseling provided because of the distances to these facilities; social workers had to travel full days to attend perhaps an hour-long meeting; communication between agencies, schools, and parents was difficult or non-existent; and the students sometimes returned with no change in behavior or new negative ideas and attitudes learned from their peers at the institution. Not only was such a system tremendously expensive, but it didn’t work.

Challenge provided an entirely new approach, joining the services and expertise of a full-time social worker with a full-time ED teacher. It provided not only an academic program with an 88% graduation rate, but the built-in consequences and instruction to teach the students to take responsibility for their own lives by addressing their “Errors in Thinking,” a strong emphasis on community service, and strong support for the entire family unit by accessing the community’s resources. It worked! It has been and continues to be very successful in helping a group of students with truly severe and exceptional needs and their families.

It has also been successful in saving the county a great deal of money. The cost of placement in the Challenge Program, reported at the last three-year review in 2005, was $13,500 per student annually. This means the county’s investment was $1,125 per student per month.

The public is aware that the county board has a difficult task ahead to create a budget that fits under the 2% cap mandated by state law. We applaud their search for ways to accomplish that daunting task, but we ask that they winnow programs and services carefully and wisely. Recently the Department of Social Services announced that funding for Challenge would be cancelled. This solution to the county’s budget woes is “Penny-wise and pound-foolish.”

Students with severe needs in the area of emotional disturbance will not go away because the program disappears. A band aid approach to housing these young people without providing a model that works and the resources to run it does not serve the schools and community and certainly not the students and their families. Placements in out-of-county centers will be the only alternative, and when mandated by the courts, will cost the county money – dollars which they will have no choice but to provide using tax dollars. The 2008 institutional placement cost is approximately $7,000 a month per child, not double the 1991 cost, but almost. Compare that to the $1,125 a month per student that Challenge costs. Compare the eleven students placed out-of -county before Challenge with the current placement of one student on a short term basis.

It simply makes no sense to cancel or phase out a program that would save the county money, allow the families to stay intact, and use available community programs to address the severe needs of these children. The Challenge Program must be saved. It is not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing.

Sincerely,

Susan Kohout - President, LWV of Door County
2099 Sunrise Shore Road, Sturgeon Bay - (920)743-1527

By: Angela E. VanHorn
April 24, 2008

Dear Principal Robert Nickel, and Mrs. Nicole Herbst, Sturgeon Bay High
School.

As parent, we are extremely thankful for your support, your hard works,
your nurture which our Sturgeon Bay High School teachers, and principal
have provided the ongoing encouragement of learning to our every child and
parent for great opportunity have resulted and created from many talented
Art works have dedicated from our own children dedication have now
displayed their own exhibitions at Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay City,
dated to Monday, April 21, 2008.

My heartfelt appreciation goes to all teachers, principal, quests and
sponsor's whose generosity to a worthy cause had made the Art Show
displayed at Miller ART Museum Foundation all possible, because of great
leaders, and role model teachers from Sturgeon Bay High School.

My utmost appreciation may always non-stopped thanking you every day (
even in my dreams and hope) , especially, my wonderful and friend,
Principal Mr. Nickel, Robert, the nurturing and loving Art teacher, Mrs.
Nicole Herbts, the Miller Art Center Foundation Art Museum, the Artists
Guild LLC, the Door County Art League, Ltd,

Without your support, your concern and your nurturing to our children
every day in your classroom, there will be no hope, and no spirit of
inspiration we as parent can repay back to your hard works, and many
dedication to do your job, and have never given up hope for our children's
learning for higher goals in education.

Thank you so much.

Angela E. VanHorn/Parent
123 N 17^th Dr.
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

By: Betty Parsons
March 20, 2008

March 19th the Plan Commission responded to a request filed by Walt and Linda Georgenson for annexation with rezoning to C-1, commercial.  The land would be used for the potential Wal-Mart expansion.  Following lengthy discussion, which included many questions, the Commission voted to ask for impact studies, as specified in the Big Box Ordinance, prior to annexation.

Commission members wanted information from these studies before making a recommendation for annexation, while Wal-Mart argued they didn’t want to spend money to do studies before annexation and rezoning.  Since impact studies are mandated, the money will be spent.  It is only a matter of when. 

The Commission’s approach is wise and is one that good businesses, including government, routinely implement.  Do careful, thoughtful planning by gathering all the information, then make a decision based on the data.  This is the smart approach to planning and puts the horse before the cart. 

During the public comment segment, a resident quoted former city administrator, Kevin O’Donnell  (November 10, 2007 Advocate), which stated, “From the Plan Commission’s perspective, how would you properly vote on annexation when you’re not sure what the impact will be on the city?”

The next step is for City Council to vote on the Plan Commission’s recommendation.  On a number of occasions, the council has voted apart from the Commission’s recommendations.  One example is the recent vote for rezoning on Duluth Avenue; a vote which was also contrary to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. 

One fervently hopes the City Council will understand the good business principles and wisdom of the forthcoming recommendation, as well as Kevin O’Donnell’s statement, and will, therefore, choose to support the Commission.   Sturgeon Bay would be well served by such a vote, which embraces cautious, smart development.

Betty Parsons

Sevastopol

I believe the YMCA is one of the cornerstones of Door County. The YMCA provides opportunities for everyone in the community. It is at the Y where our children learn to swim, play sports, and be fit. The Y provides for family entertainment and education. As adults, we not only use the YMCA to stay fit and healthy, but it is also a place to grow friendships. I know when my family and I moved to Door County, the YMCA was a huge selling point for us.
I am not only a member of the YMCA, but I have the privilege to be on the board of directors. Being a board member has provided me with a better understanding of the YMCA and the importance of the Y in our community. The Y touches many people’s lives. I see young children, who gain self confidence from being involved in activities. I watch elderly people gain mobility from injuries requiring rehabilitation.  I see adults have their health improve by getting in shape. I witness families spending quality time together through their involvement with the YMCA. In my mind, the YMCA is for everyone.  Our YMCA is what it is because of everyone.
The YMCA is no different than every other nonprofit organization. The Y struggles to keep up with the needs of the community. Therefore, the Strong Kids Campaign is important. The money raised during the campaign allows the YMCA to be affordable to everyone in Door County. The scholarship program opens the doors to families and individuals, who would not be able to afford a YMCA membership. The Strong Kids Campaign needs to raise the funds needed to keep the YMCA a strong organization.
I support the YMCA, because there are many benefits for our community.  I not only encourage you to support the Strong Kids Campaign, but if you are not a member I encourage you to join. Be part of the Y and make it a better organization and a more solid cornerstone for Door County.

Joe Stutting
Sturgeon Bay Resident

By: Joseph Binard

Voting is not only a privilege of US Citizenship, I find it to be a duty!
And as with any important duty one needs to be prepared and well informed;
before voting for Hillary Clinton and facilitating her and Bill's return to the White House I recommend every voter read "Unlimited Access" by Gary Aldrich: a #1 New York Times bestseller.
The authors' full time presence at the Clinton White House alllows him to give the reader an unbiased and factual report of what we can expect if the Clintons manage to return to our White House!
This book is a ""must read"" for all voters: it makes Senator Obama an obvious alternative for those who expect and desire a change!

By: Saleh A. Mubarak

Every year I hear the same questions: How politically correct is it to celebrate Christmas or have Christmas tree in public? Is it ok to send a Christmas greetings to your coworkers and colleagues? As an American Muslim, I’ve always made it clear to everyone: Go ahead, celebrate Christmas, decorate the place as you like, and please; send Christmas cards. Give this season a Christmas flavor. Not only it does not offend me, it brings joy to me too. Many send me “Happy Holidays” cards, other send me Christmas card. All bring joy to me and I thank them equally. I also appreciate those who send me Eid cards or greetings in Muslims’ occasions.

When I came to this country, more than a quarter of a century ago, I realized and accepted the fact that this is a country with a Christian majority. I also embraced the fact that it has freedom of religion and speech, and that is the greatest asset we enjoy here. I raised my five kids to be respectful and accommodating to all. I taught them that diversity is a beautiful thing and that you can always learn from others.

Many don’t realize that Muslims believe in Jesus Christ as the word, spirit, and prophet of God (although not as the son of God). Muslims also believe in the virgin birth and in Jesus’ come back to earth:

“Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God; “He shall speak to the people in his cradle and in his manhood,. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous” She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!”And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel” (The Holy Quran, 3:45-48)

As these words are written, millions of Muslims are performing their pilgrimage to Mecca; visiting landmarks that go back in history to Prophet Abraham; the father of Arabs and Jews; including Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). As I sat and discussed these three divine religions with my Christian and Jewish friends, we realize we share a lot. So... to all of you, have a merry Christmas. To my fellow Muslims: Happy Eid. To my Jewish friends: Happy Hanukkah. And to all: Happy holidays.

Saleh A. Mubarak, Ph.D.
10228 Bloomfield Hills Dr.
Seffner, FL 33584

It must be that our Democratic and Republican House members have solved ALL our domestic problems (health care delivery, immigration legislation, electoral reform, deteriorating infrastructure, a declining value of our dollar, environmental issues, energy legislation…..just to cite a few) as well as our foreign “”adventures”” and really feel they have nothing at all to do that they thought up another way to alienate and irritate millions of Turks ( a NATO ally by the way) by drafting a resolution that labels the killings of Armenians in 1915 genocide!
I really don’t see the need for our “”leaders”” to waste their time on matters that happened almost 100 years ago by working on resolutions that are ultimately not our business and can only aggravate and alienate more people abroad.
Or maybe, having run out of important business to tend will our Congress now become the world authority and judge of world events; I would then recommend they look at Israel s treatment of Palestinians and our own ancestors’ treatment of the Native Americans.
That should keep them occupied for a while!

Joseph E Binard MD FRCSC

Once again I disagree with my very good friend Roger;
I vehemently oppose a State wide ban on smoking;
I even oppose a local smoking ban!
Individual business owners should have the right to determine if they want to ban smoking from their business or not and leave it to the customer to pick and chose which place of business they like to go to or not!
There are other factors that do affect our health; do we want Government to prescribe what we can eat? Will we accept soon that Government ban eggs, butter and red meat because they might clog up our arteries? Alcohol because it might cause cirrhosis?
Big Government already gets involved too much in our daily lives. We got to stop it somewhere, sometime!
Better would be to ban “”big Government””……..it affects our health in creating increasingly severe headaches!

Joe Binard MD FRCSC
Capt MC US Navy ( ret )

Big-Box Ordinance

Dear Editor                                                                             August 21, 2007

 The current debate on Sturgeon Bay’s “big-box” ordinance calls attention to a major opportunity for the city, townships and county governments.  Several of the contentious issues raised during this debate; e.g., city well water protection, community economic health, speak to the inadequacy of the current framework of governance to deal with these issues effectively. They deal with these issues ineffectively because governance doesn’t match the scale at which these issues operate.  For example the zones of contribution for the city wells (i.e., those areas on the landscape where water is infiltrating into the soil to recharge the aquifers the wells draw upon) lie outside the city in the towns of Sevastopol and Nasewaupee.  To protect the city well water, the city needs to work with these townships, and this work is especially urgent since the proposed Wal-Mart expansion into Sevastopol would lie in one of the zones of contribution. 

 Likewise, the economic structure of the city and county will be affected by the operation of a super-sized retail store regardless of whether it is located in Sturgeon Bay or an outlying township.  Boundaries of governmental units have little impact on the sprawling affects of such developments in small communities.  Perhaps this realization prompted one of the city council members at the last meeting to astutely ask “isn’t this a county issue?”  It is a city issue, but yes, it is also a county (and township) issue. 

 Sturgeon Bay, the townships and the county must begin not only a dialog, but also collaborative planning and ultimately collaborative governance. There are models of collaborative governance that are being developed across the country in response to cross boundary issues that impact environmental, economic and social health.  Sturgeon Bay has a great opportunity to learn from communities elsewhere and lead this region into a more effective framework of governance.    

Mike Grimm
30 North 7^th Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI  54235
920-743-3325

Question For Mayor Voegele

Dear Mayor Voegele:

I'd like to ask a question. Respectfully, although this may sound sarcastic. I believe that you will understand the origins of this question and appreciate my reasoning in asking it.

If our town has a Plan Commission (and other commissions) - staffed  with qualified personnel, who are presumably educated, capable of  higher-level thinking, capable of understanding the bigger picture,  who do their due diligence in making the best fully-informed  decisions and recommendations for the well-being of our community...  Why then does the majority of our Council seem to totally disregard  the recommendations of said Commission?

Why do we have commissions if our Council pays no heed to their  studies,  nor their recommendations? This may seem a rhetorical  question. But I'm quite serious, and would like an answer. I'm  bewildered, dismayed and disappointed.

The process is not being allowed to work. From my observations,  certain Council members are obviously uninformed. Obviously have not  done the study required to make intelligent decisions for our  community, and, frankly, should recuse themselves from votes on  issues which they obviously have no understanding and no clue of the  long-term ramifications of their vote.

Our city is on a collision course with the well-documented disaster  that  has fallen on similar-sized communities across the nation. Why is no one putting their foot down and saying, "This is simply not permissible?"

Certainly this is NOT about another beauty shop, NOR is it about  cheap diapers. This is NOT about kowtowing to the world's largest,  most powerful retail corporation in hopes of inconsequential short- lived gain for our tax coffers. This IS about the cautious, studied,  and loving care of the fragile economy of a truly unique and  wonderful community and the  well-being of its residents and the value  of their properties in the years to come.

Thank you for your time, your efforts, your understanding, and your concern.

Tim Nyberg
732 Memorial Drive
Sturgeon Bay

Salute Tom Voegele

More Wal-Mart Opinion

By: Jeraldene Bloom

Wal-Mart Expansion

By: Ellen Witteborg

Large Retail Size Cap Is Appropriate

By: Tim Nyberg

To the Sturgeon Bay City Council Members:

You are about to vote on establishing and enforcing a large retail
size cap. This size cap is not meant to limit free enterprise in any
way. Neither is it an attempt to punish one of our city's most
popular retailers (the largest retailer in the world). Rather, the
size cap and collateral considerations being presented are for the
sole purpose of protecting the economy of this city and the financial
welfare of its citizens.

The retail businesses in Door County serve a fixed customer base.
Unlike larger metropolitan areas which can draw from a border-less
geographic area, Door County is landlocked. There is no hope that
large chain retailers, allowed to expand to the massive proportions
of their metropolitan stores, will draw one more customer to our
community. Instead, they will draw from the existing population thus
eroding the customer base of our small, privately-owned retailers -
forcing many out of business. Once the competition is gone, prices go
up and property values go down. Hundreds of nation-wide studies will
back this up.

This is not, as it has been described in the Council Chambers, an
issue of survival of the fittest ("businesses come and go"). This is
the modus operandi of preditorial corporate giants who exist for
profits on the bottom line, not the interests of the communities that
support them. That said, please realize that no one is telling anyone
where to and where not to shop. That's not the issue. The issue is
carefully controlling growth by keeping a close eye on the fragile
economic structure of our wonderful unique community.

Certainly, you may choose to ignore the warnings, ignore the studies,
and vote against size caps. But, our fear, validated by hundreds of
similar situations across the country, is that the legacy of such a
vote will result in catastrophic consequences for Sturgeon Bay, Door
County, and the hard working people who live here.

Don't be fooled by slick, corporate sales pitches. Your due diligence
is required to fully understand why these caps are important for our
community. Please vote to establish and enforce reasonable
safeguards. Our community will thank you.

Respectfully submitted.

Tim Nyberg
Sturgeon Bay

Wholesale Death Penalty

By: Joseph E Binard

Roger, Roger, Roger,
I know you are a ""bleeding heart liberal""
well I am a bleeding heart too....but I bleed for the victims of violent crime who see the perpetrators of the crimes go free on parole go free to commit more crimes: just yesterday 2 criminals on parole murdered the family of a Connecticut physician.
I am for wholesale death penalty!
I agree that all those appeals postpone the right treatment of those criminals for too long and are expensive...so rather than abolish the ultimate and irreversible cleansing of our society from these murderers and rapists, let s expedite their execution and limit their appeal process!
Our Justice system is too lenient as it is, parole, presidential pardons, extensive appeal processes all favor the criminal and forget the suffering of the victims or their families.
I am just as concerned as you are by the fact that in the past innocent people have been convicted but ,as science has progressed and still progresses these occurences are history and should not occur anymore.
That is my opinion Roger!

Joseph E Binard MD FRCSC
****Capt US NAVY (ret)****
V.I.W.Representative for FL and WI

“Q & A with Chad Fradette,” July 8, 2007

By: Steve Herro

“Q & A with Chad Fradette,” July 8, 2007 helped area residents better understand the Green Bay City Council President. A number of his comments deserve further attention:

“We also need to raise the income levels of families in Green Bay. I don’t know how we’re going to do yet, it’s a work in progress, but that has to be done. There’s just too many poor people in Green Bay that need to have a better option than they do now.”

Is Council President Fradette aware of the nation’s universal living wage campaign? The concept of a universal living wage is simple: if a person works 40 hours a week, he or she should be able to afford basic housing in that locality. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a person would have to earn $16.44 an hour in Green Bay in order to afford the average rent for a 3 bedroom dwelling, if that person paid 30% or less of his or her income for rent (which is a standard for calculating universal living wage). This is 256% of minimum wage. I encourage Mr. Fradette to also consult the Bay Area Community Council’s Report, “Poverty in Brown County” (see http://www.titletown.org/resources/povertyinbrowncounty508.doc). The BACC and others are interested in attacking this issue and I am sure would welcome a conversation with the Green Bay City Council President.

“Places like the NEW Community Shelter and Freedom House give people the tools that they need, some structure to get back on their feet. If they refuse help, do we owe them anything?...I don’t know that it is our place to do so…”

One must consider the distinction between the chronically homeless and those not chronically homeless. I suspect that Mr. Fradette is referring to the former as those who “…refuse help.” Research indicates that a high percentage of chronically homeless people are military veterans and those who are chronically mentally ill. Do people who have laid down there lives for our country, but perhaps contracted any number of mental disorders as a result of overseas service, deserve to be neglected by our population? Furthermore, as we understandably attempt to rehabilitate persons with other illnesses, such as cancer, drug addiction, diabetes, dementia, etc., are not those with mental illness just as deserving of assistance?

On the subject of immigration, he offers the following federal solutions to the problem:

“…secure your borders; secondly, enforce the laws that you have on the books.”

Never once does he acknowledge the impact of international policy on immigration. Why would a native born person choose to leave one’s homeland (including one’s family, climate, language, and form of religious expression) unless local job opportunities were so poor? When our trade policies and Farm Bill drive small farmers from their livelihood in Mexico, South Korea, Nicaragua, El Salvador, etc., as multinational agricultural giants increase their profits by overproducing in the United States and dumping excess products in the developing world, is there any wonder why small farmers must leave their native land and seek a livelihood for them and their families in countries like the United States? I encourage Mr. Fradette and all persons concerned with spikes in immigration to the United States to request that Congress examine the North American Free Trade Agreement and other international trade acts (and Congressional approval of a trade act with South Korea is pending) and pass a 2007 Farm Bill that stops rewarding megafarms for overproducing and dumping on foreign markets.

Also on the subject of immigration,

“…My initial response three years ago was, ‘Well, no, I really can’t [rectify problems with the country’s immigration system]. It’s a federal issue.’ …I found out we can do something.”

I question whether the Green Bay City Council “…can do something.” Federal judges in Pennsylvania and Texas have already ruled that local officials in Hazelton, Pennsylvania and Farmer’s Branch, Texas have overstepped their bounds by trying to implement immigration laws on those seeking business licenses and rental leases.

Furthermore, the recently passed ordinance “City of Green Bay Citizen and Legal Immigrant Protection Act” states, “No license shall be revoked under this ordinance until after a federal determination of an alien’s unlawful status is received.” The City of Green Bay still requires that federal authorities determine an immigrant’s unlawful status. The City still puts the ball in the federal authorities’ court. For city officials to claim that they have successfully addressed immigration issues with this ordinance is deceptive to the public.

Sincerely,

Steve Herro

Wal-Mart Issue Rises To The Top Again

By: Tim Nyberg
                                                                                                                                             

I'm sick of the uninformed Wal-Mart supporters - especially those sitting on our Council - this is downright dangerous....
What do you think of something like this as a letter to the editor...
I would also like to send a hard copy to each of the Council (since they don't have email address listed... yet?).
===
At the last Sturgeon Bay Council meeting - the discussion went to the Big Box issue again. A couple of Aldermen made the comment that this IS about Wal-Mart - so why don't we just come out and say it...
Well, YES It is about Wal-Mart - because Wal-Mart is unique in the world. To compare Wal-Mart's impact to the impact of the Ladder House, as one of our Alderman did, is ludicrous! If Wal-mart was a country, it would be the 19TH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD! And for good reason. There is no other retailer as aggressive, as continually destructive to local economies, nor as predatorial as Wal-Mart. And that's precisely WHY we HAVE to talk about it . As Alderman Meyer noted, it's GOOD that we are continuing to question.
Everyone that speaks up about "holding back free enterprise" and "holding back progress" when we continue to question Wal-Mart's expansion obviously has never read the numerous studies from many diverse sources that speak to ramifications of Wal-Mart's tactics - especially on communities JUST LIKE STURGEON BAY. Many of these studies have been posted at www.fairenterprise.org <http://www.fairenterprise.org> and are available to the citizens of Sturgeon Bay, our Aldermen and Plan Commission members alike. From the sounds of the comments made at council meetings, many STILL have not taken the notion to become fully informed about this issue.
Relative to this issue - a sign that our economy is already suffering - even with our current retail mix - is the presence of two "pay day" loan businesses in town. This type of business generally reflects economic trouble in a community. Anyone who thinks that an unbridled Wal-Mart will not further damage Sturgeon Bay's already fragile economy is foolhardy and ill-informed.
Please, learn to read the danger signs. Read the studies that have been provided for you. Understand the potential ramifications of the decisions you are being asked to make. And THEN move on accordingly. Your community will thank you for doing your due diligence. And our Wal-Mart store, through the process, can continue to serve our residents in a manner that is respectful and sensitive to OUR community and its businesses.
Sincerely, Tim Nyberg
Sturgeon Bay
651-493-0694

Voegele Thankful

By: Tom Voegele
                                                                                                                                             

Friends, Citizens, and Family:
 
I would like to personally thank all of my supporters who helped with my campaign—from everyone who encouraged me to run, to those who helped with literature drops, placed signs in their yards and offered positive support and encouragement along the way.  But most of all, I would like to thank the citizens of Sturgeon Bay who put their trust in me to be their Mayor.  I will do everything I can to make the citizens of Sturgeon Bay proud of their city.
 
Sincerely,
 
Tom Voegele
Your Elected Mayor

Charlie Most Extends A Big Thank You

By: Charlie Most, Jr
                                                                                                                                             

Dear Citizens of Liberty Grove,

I am writing this letter to express my thanks and gratitude for the faith and trust you placed in me the past ten years by electing me to represent you on the Town Board of Liberty Grove. My service to the Town has been a wonderful experience full of much personal growth and has opened doors in my life that I could not have imagined ten years ago. I am especially thankful for all the wonderful relationships that I formed with citizens, Town Board and committee/commission members past and present, Town Officers, the Town Crew and other Elected Officials, you are and were all so dedicated to making Liberty Grove and Door County a better community that you made my job easy.

As I reflect on the past ten years we have accomplished many things in Liberty Grove; a new fire station, a new joint library with Sister Bay, improved Town Shop facilities, purchased a quarry for Town Road operations, the design and paving of Mossy Cliff Trail, the relocation of Old Stage Road, the Adoption of the Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan and many other projects. I want to recognize all the citizens that participated in the formation and drafting of the Smart Growth Plan, especially those dedicated citizens that saw the project through from start to finish, a three year period. Then there are the issues we discussed and debated ranging in subject matter from trimming/removing trees, mowing road shoulders, locating power poles, solid piers, private air strips and land purchases etc... at times I think the board covered the gamut of the human existence. One truth that I have learned during my service is that there is going to be no shortage projects to accomplish and issues to be solved and they will continue to be dealt with by the Town Board long after my term of office has ended.

I have watched the Town’s population grow along with the demand for services; I remember when our Clerk Bud Kalms was in the office for only two days a week, now he is the full time Clerk/Administrator and has an assistant administrator. When I am in the Town Office the phone never stops ringing with inquiries from the public at time I wonder how he and Janet manage to get anything done. When I started the Town was valued at about $440,000,000.00; today the Town’s Equalized Assessed Value stands at $884,540,700.00 talk about appreciation! The road I that live on Cottage Road, was never plowed before noon after a snow storm today if a town road is not plowed before 8:00 AM the pone starts ringing at the Town Office. The Town Board has worked hard the past Ten Years to keep our budget in check while providing the service we as a community now demand, I am grateful for all their hard work.

People have inquired as to whether my choice not to run for another term as Town Chairman is a signal that I am going to end my public service, I can tell you that it is not. My intention is to continue to run for office as the representative of District 21 on the Door County Board of Supervisors. My decision to call it a career at the Town level is a function of the demand on my time exercising the duties of both the Office of Town Chairman of Liberty Grove and the Office of County Board Chairman for the past five years. I have reached a point in my life where I’d like to spend some time at home and tackle the multitude of the personal projects I have pushed to the side the past 5 years.

Last I am writing this because I am positive I could not get through reading a statement such as this at a public meeting, representing you all on the Town Board of Liberty Grove has been a huge part of my life for ten years and saying goodbye is going too hard for me to say the least. I have many wonderful memories from my years of service and I am very proud to have been given the opportunity to represent you. So many of you have touched my life in a positive way, I hope that in my tenure of service I have been able to return the favor.

Thank you,

Charlie

Charlie Most, Jr
1048 Cottage Lane
Ellison Bay, WI 54210