Hello Neighbors and Friends,
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to everyone and your families.
It is that time of year again when we all need to focus and unite as a group to review our Town elected officials, the current local issues and the future of our lives in this Township.
In priority, please be aware that the Spring Green Town 2009 Election Caucus will be held at the Town Hall Thursday, January 15th at 7:00 PM. This will be an important meeting for all to attend.
A meeting is scheduled for all of the River Valley Concerned Citizens and residents of our Township at the Spring Green library at 7:00 PM Tuesday, January 6th to discuss potential candidates for the April 2009 elections of our Town Board. Your attendance is vitally needed at both this and the caucus meeting.
Today, the issues are “truth, trust and leadership”, all of which are not part in the mindset of our existing Town Board officials. The Town Board belongs to we the resident taxpayers, they spend our tax dollars, they are elected to represent us as residents, and they should be accountable to all of we the residents. But, they feel if it is good for them, than we should accept it.
Have they done anything to exhibit they are up-front with the “truth” of what is being done in our Township? Have they generated a “trust” in the minds of we the residents with their work and communications over the past years? Have they shown any form of “leadership” in their actions and involvement with the Federal, State, County and Village or more so for we the residents?
How the Town Board officials spend our tax dollars tells a lot about what these officials value and their individual abilities to perform the elected responsibilities of the positions they hold. There is always enough money for what they value and none for what the residents would seek.
The 2009 Town Budget and Tax Levy is a prime example of their values for our money. For the year 2009 the Town Board approved an increase in fees for the Town Assessor of 20% vs. 1.8% in 2008 and for themselves 27% vs. 5.8% in 2008.
Yes, if you believe, we residents all received a 20% plus increase in wages this year also and should accept our Town Board’s ability to vote to give themselves the same. Trust?
They have included $10,000.00 in legal fees for someone to check their wording and spelling of new or revised ordinances. A bargain, seeing they spent $23,340.00 over the last two years for this service.
The Town Board has failed the residents in the current flood issues and resorted to expensive long-term studies to better understand what indeed the local farmers have known and understood for years.
The voices of the farmers and residents have fallen on the deaf ears of these officials. The farmers and residents efforts to resolve the issue by initiating a Sauk County Court approved Water District has been opposed by the Town Board to “save face” as they have failed to respond to the needs of the residents in a timely fashion. “Leadership”?
The Water District was formed by a committee of Township farmers and residents being self funded with legal representation in effort to support and benefit the short and long-term requirements of all residents at this urgent time of need. A failure by the Town Board to lead and implement programs for the good of the residents they represent.
Our Town Board refused to allow this committee the use of our town hall, as they did not want to support the efforts of the local residents. However, the Town Board members attended the committee’s public meeting in Lone Rock, whose officials support the Water District Program. They attended this meeting at the cost of we the taxpayers. “Leadership”?
In September we requested information from the Town Board as to the breakdown of the $200,000.00 flood damaged Road Program. No response. “Trust”?
In September it was requested to provide a detailed financial plan identifying the terms of the FEMA residence Buyout Program and the Town’s cost. No response. “Trust”?
In December it was requested to identify the accomplishments of Jewell and their contract with the Township floodwater issues. Greg Jewell stated they have spent over 1000 hours, $20,000.00 on the study to date; yet their presentation in December was the same materials furnished two months ago.
The feasibility study is scheduled to be completed in April of 2009 at a cost of $150,000.00. The Town Budget allocated only a $54,0000 loan for this study. The $54,000.00 is assumed here to be only the expenses of Jewell in 2008. Is the Town Board supervising this $150,000.00 expense or just spending our tax dollars, as they have no clue as what floodwater control is all about? “Leadership”?
The leadership of our Town Board has been an important part of decision-making in the loss of industry, jobs and retail business in the Town and neighboring Villages. “Leadership”?
They have increased the 2009 Town Budget by over 27%, which includes the $200,000.00 FEMA loan for roadwork, $63,000.00 for the Fire Station loan and the $54,000.00 Flood Feasibility Study loan.
If indeed the Town Board accepts the suggestions from Jewell to implement a drainage system for the Township, this could amount to an additional tax burden of up to the estimated $5,000,000.00 requiring a long-term loan to finance the project. Yes, there are dreams and talk of probable FEMA, State, County or the Village of Spring Green for financial support, but none of these programs has been confirmed to date.
There is little question this year has challenged our Town Board and the Plan Commission with difficult situations. However, these difficult situations are the reasons they were elected to lead and protect the Township as knowledgeable, dedicated leaders. There should be a warranty for the residents that come with all the election promises.
So today, for the Year of 2009, we residents are going to pay the Town Board a fee of $53,000.00 for what they have outlined as “what to expect in 2009”:
Ø Working on the Flood Control Project
Ø Completing the $150,000.00 Feasibility Flood Drainage Study
Ø Proceed with a Road Maintenance Program
Ø Adopt a new Land Development Program
Ø Work with the Plan Commission to modify the Town Comprehensive Plan. (Does this include mineral extraction and re-zoning the Forest area?)
Ø Snow plowing with two trucks
The Spring Green Township needs to move forward with strong aggressive plans with committed implementation of programs that provides all of our residents with the success in their investments in the community and dreams for the future of themselves and their families.
Plan to attend the RVCC meeting Tuesday, January 6 at the library and the Town Caucus meeting Thursday January 15. Please encourage your friends and neighbors also.
Regards,
Mike Birr
River
Valley Concerned Citizens
Preserving The Quality Of Life
E6060 State Road 60
Spring Green, WI 53588
Phone: 608-588-7844
Web Page:
http://www.highway60.com/rvcc/
PS. I have attached a WORD document of this message for you to print out and distribute to encourage your friends and neighbors to join.