So, Sheboygan has all the answers?!?

Surfing the web this evening, I couldn't help but notice one of the new posts on the commons. It had a misspelling that caught my attention and the article really peaked my interest.

The biggest argument during the last contract negotiations was the fact that Sheboygan pays 100% of the health insurance for their Police officers. Funny that now they are looking at exactly the same way to REDUCE their budget that Oshkosh did last year with garbage. Only now they are taking it further by offering a early retirement to several employees in order to hire more for less AND looking at changing the health care to save up to $400,000 per year.

So, here we are. I stated plainly that we SHOULDN'T make comparisons to other communities because we don't know what their budget looks like. Now we are beginning to see.

I used to live in Sheboygan. Grew up there in fact. I have no desire to move back there. Perhaps a nice place to visit, just not to live.

100 Block Belly Up?

Well, there goes the neighborhood... The cornerstone of the "new downtown Oshkosh" is now in foreclosure to the same bank that owns the adjacent property (Park Plaza). Hell, if we keep going, BB will own the entire downtown. What do you think that they will do with it? Do you think that they will keep those projects as is? Or will they raze them and start over with projects that are viable for a city of this size.

I vote for the the second choice. There isn't much doubt that these properties weren't going to do well in the first place. There is too much competition and when the market is flooded, something has to give.

Heaven help those that speak against a project when it is proposed. That is considered anti-progress. All I can say now is, we told you so.

With the downtown, we need to think smart. Time to do what is REALISTIC with the downtown and quit throwing good money over bad at it just to watch the loans default. Who is going to pay the TIF now?

Time to rethink that downtown plan. And quit following the "progressives" lead. Time to take a realistic, manageable approach to improving the downtown.

Any ideas?

Going 'round with Roundabouts

Well, after reading the commotion over the proposed roundabout for the Murdock/Jackson Street intersection, I decided to do some research myself. I have not been a big supporter for these designs. I don't like negotiating them and would have thought that the accidents would increase if they are built.

My goal was to prove it. However, when I went to Google and typed in the search, the first article that came up did the opposite. It actually convinced me that this type of intersection SHOULD be done if logistically and financially possible. It seems that they will improve traffic flow and prevent some types of accidents. Sure, there will be the occasional "fender bender" but high speed running the red light will not happen anymore. The accidents that happen at roundabouts rarely have injuries and almost never have serious injuries.

I would like to suggest that everyone read up on these intersections. Perhaps you can start in the same place that I did. Take a look at what Kansas State University reports. One example included Madison.

Is it the answer for us in Oshkosh? Tell us what you think.

Council Member Esslinger Media Rants

Well, so much for a hiatus. But I think that there is a subject that needs to be discussed further.

First, on Jef Halls blog you will see a post that tells us about Paul Esslinger contradicting himself by writing a letter to the editor regarding the loss of manufacturing jobs in Oshkosh and then the next day being seen in a "Toyota"... Well, I don't know where Jef gets his information from, but he is really off base with this one.

During the Forth of July parade, Paul was driving a PONTIAC G6 Convertible provided by Bergstrom Automotive. Any implication that Paul is supporting an overseas manufacturer is incorrect and untrue. Besides, most Toyotas that are sold here in the U.S. are built here in the U.S.

Next, on a similar issue, this mornings opinion poll on the ONW website is a question that asks if Paul "acts in the best interest of the city". What kind of question is that? And why are they singling out just one council member? Talk about poor taste, they have really sunk to a new level this time.

I know that the ONW doesn't like Paul and they have made that perfectly clear in the past. They are the biggest reason for the conspiracy theory over the River Mill sidewalks started. There isn't a big political conspiracy folks. Paul was simply acting on a statement made at an earlier meeting by a resident of a different neighborhood that brought up River Mill trying to avoid getting walks in front of his house. He was quoted as saying that "we are trying to avoid the PERCEPTION that the 'richer' neighborhoods can avoid sidewalks". The key word is PERCEPTION. There are too many "us vs. them" arguements in this city. The sooner that we realize that this city is equal the better we will all be.

In the meantime, we should probably THANK him for his public service. A service that he doesn't take a dime to do. All of his salary from the City goes right back to the city through donations to the Senior Center. This isn't an ego trip for him and his intentions are pure. Perhaps people should look beyond their opinion and see what is plain as black and white.

Enough venting for now, Stay cool everyone.

K. Monte