EAGLE FORUM hosting candidate forum for City Mayor/Alderman

Eagle Forum of Wisconsin - Washington County will be hosting a candidate forum on Friday, February 4, at the West Bend City Council Chambers, 1115 S. Main Street.  The moderator will be Randy Melchert, political analyst, grassroots coordinator and new media specialist for conservative organizations. This forum is designed to be an opportunity for candidates to share their views with the West Bend community, and will provide a brief meet and greet time following the forum.

Agenda:

6:30 PM - District 4 Alderman candidates

7:15 PM - Mayoral candidates

According to Washington County Chapter president, Ginny Maziarka, Eagle Forum is offering this event as a community service to the greater Washington County area.  The forum will be aired multiple times on the West Bend Community Cable channel, reaching West Bend on Charter channel 99,  Washington County / Dodge County / Sheboygan on Charter channel 987, throughout Milwaukee on AT&T uVerse channel 99, as well as online for later viewing.

West Bend Mayor BREAKS TIE vote AGAIN - River Bluffs coming SOON to a downtown near YOU

With a tie 4-4 vote on the City Council, West Bend Mayor Kris Deiss stated she was in an elected position because she "knows more about these things than the people," then cast her vote to approve the River Bluffs housing project for the downtown area.

Believe it.

UPDATED NOTE:  Ed DuQuaine gave a stellar speech indicating that he was not going to be held hostage by threats from the REE of being sued.  He was more concerned about representing those who voted for him and would prefer not to be sued by the people in the city he represents.  Steve Hutchins, as well, stated that the answer in this situation was "easy" and that he would not back down from representing his constituents wishes saying "it's that simple."  Roger Kist said little, but when it came time to vote had the ability to end the vote FOR the project and chose instead to vote against it stating "I'm going to put this in the Mayor's hands."  

VOTING TO RESCIND:
Alan Carter
Ed DuQuaine
Roger Kist
Steve Hutchins

VOTING TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT:
Tony Turner (who maintained his support though admitted his constituents were vehemently against it - remember that on election day, folks...)
Deb Anderson (who also stated that her constituents were strongly opposed until she sold it to them)
Nick Dobberstein 
Mike Schlotfeldt


TIEBREAKER - MAYOR DEISS

West Bend City Council Considers Rescind on River Bluffs Project

Kudos to our City Council.....

The West Bend Common Council will consider rescinding its previous vote approving the River Bluffs Townhomes developer’s agreement at its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 13. 

    Monday night, Alderman Ed Duquaine asked for that after listening to city staff reports on the status of the controversial project. 

    He said the developer, Real Estate Equities Development of St. Paul, Minn., was not meeting the construction costs it promised when it first pitched the project to the city. 

    “That’s a huge concern of mine,” he said. 

    Aldermen who voted for the developer’s agreement in June are now openly wondering if Real Estate Equities hadn’t oversold its project to them. 

The Full Scoop on RDA/River Bluffs

CONCERNED CITIZENS AD ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT  By JUDY STEFFES

 

Last Saturday a half-page-advertisement directed at ‘Fellow residents of West Bend’ ran in the West Bend Daily News. The ad focused on the proposed River Bluffs downtown housing development and outlined a series of landscape upgrades made over the past year in the TIF-5 district.

 

Mike Husar and Mary Martin Husar are part of a group of concerned citizens and business people that financed the ad.

 

“We feel the property has way more value and potential than the city is giving it credit for,” said Mike Husar noting the additions of the art gallery, train depot, The Binkery and upgrades to Veterans Avenue.

 

“We have the mayor telling us it’s blighted and low income and that’s not what we stand for,” he said.

 

The property in question is off Veterans Ave. near Wisconsin St.

Real Estate Equities from Minnesota is a private firm that has been working with the Redevelopment Authority and the city to construct townhomes on that parcel of vacant land.

The Husar’s, owners of Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds located on Main St., are across the river from the proposed housing project.

 

They, along with about 80 concerned citizens, said the ad was designed to drum up attention and prompt discussion on the true potential of the property.

 

“We want the community and the aldermen to be brought up to speed on what’s going on with the project and hopefully better understand our concerns,” said Husar.

 

“This is not like saying we’re putting the Farmer’s Market back there and if it doesn’t work we can move it. Once this project is built, it’s done, it’s over; there’s nothing we can do to change it.”

Some of the group’s concerns include the financial feasibility of the housing project and the long-term income value of the property. “I question the occupancy levels, the rental amount of $650 to $950 a month – there are too many ‘what ifs’ and speculation,” said Husar. 

 

“That housing project belongs some place in the city, but not there,” he said.

 

Mary Martin Husar said their ultimate goal is “what is going to be best for this community and that is to bring in something that is going to bring more tax increment.”

 

“This group has offered to the community and to every one of the powers that be that we are willing to help find the right mix over there,” she said.

 

The newspaper ad concluded with a statement – ‘Give the Downtown a chance to develop its real potential.’ Taxpayers were also encouraged to call city officials and offer their input.

 

The Husars have held one-on-one meetings with Mayor Kris Deiss, city administrator Dennis Melvin, community development director John Cappelle, police chief Ken Meuler, a handful of alderman and representatives from the Redevelopment Authority.

 

On Monday the West Bend Common Council will receive an update on TIF#5 and the River Bluffs development.

 

Melvin confirms there have been items of concern about the project. He said new findings regarding pro forma and tax increment will be discussed Monday.

 

Police chief Ken Meuler met with Real Estate Equities this week and also expressed concerns regarding traffic and parking issues and other potential disorder.

 

As of Wednesday, council members confirmed they received feedback from the ad.

Mayor Deiss received five calls, all against pursuing the housing development. 

 

District 4 alderman Nick Dobberstein fielded 11 e-mails and six phone calls – three favored the development and 14 spoke against pursuing the housing option. 

 

District 7 alderman Deb Anderson received 17 calls and emails with two in favor and the rest either against the housing or looking for clarification on the development.  

 

District 8 alderman Roger Kist received three responses and two were against the proposed housing.

 

District 6 alderman Mike Schlotfeldt received five responses with one in favor of the housing and four against.

 

District 1 alderman Tony Turner said he received a handful of calls with a majority against the housing proposal.

 

Calls from aldermen Steve Hutchins or Ed Duquaine were not received by deadline.

 

*NOTE:   

- District 1 West Bend alderman Tony Turner has changed his phone number. Turner said he dropped his land line for a cell phone. His new number is 262-366-5374. Turner’s information has been updated on the city’s Web site.

Half-page Ad Taken Out Protesting Low-Income Housing in Downtown West Bend

Read it HERE.

Do your part: Say NO to low-income housing in WEST BEND'S DOWNTOWN district

NEXT MONDAY, 8/16/10, there will be a City Council meeting (6:30-8:00 p.m.) in which the aldermen will discuss the River Bluffs housing projectdestined to be placed in the middle of the downtown area next to the new Art Museum.  The location of this low-income housing project is inappropriate for the downtown location; small business owners are begging for local residents to stand by them in asking the aldermen and Mayor Deiss to overturn this decision for an already-suffering downtown community.

Do your part.

Make phone calls, write letters and send email in opposition to theRiver Bluffs project.  ATTEND THE MONDAY, 8/16, MEETING, 6:30-8 p.m., Council Chambers.

Phone numbers and e-mail's)            District Aldermen

District 1:  Tony Turner                      Call 334-3658 or email him at: district1@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted for the project

District 2:  Steve Hutchins                 Call 388-4501 or email him at: district2@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted against the project

District 3:  Ed Duquaine                      Call 305-1170 or email him at: district3@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted against the project

District 4:  Nick Dobberstein             Call 306-9925 or email him at: district4@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted for the project

District 5:  Allen Carter                      Call 334-5532 or email him at: district5@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted against the project

District 6:  Michael Schlotfeldt          Call 689-0681 or email him at: district6@ci.west-bend.wi.us                  Voted for the project

District 7:  Deb Anderson                  Call 334-7095 or email her at: district7@ci.west-bend.wi.us                   Voted for the project

District 8:  Roger Kist                          Call 338-9913 or email him at district8@ci.west-bend.wi.us                    Voted against the project

City Officials

Dennis Melvin, City Administrator                   Call 335-5123 or email him at cityadmin@ci.west-bend.wi.us

John Capelle, Community Development        Call 335-5122 or email him at citydcd@ci.west-bend.wi.us

Kristine Deiss, City of West Bend MAYOR      Call 335-5111 or email her at mayor@ci.west-bend.wi.us         Voted for the project 

Mark Belling Lends Commentary to West Bend City Censorship

Mark Belling puts the nail in the coffin of West Bend's liberal leadership.  He's spot on.  Listen HERE.

West Bend Leadership Wants Citizens to Shut Up

It appears that certain liberal business people and leadership in West Bend do not like being challenged in the public arena.  It's "uncivil."  Seemingly, one must simply state their business kindly and go home.  For years the West Bend School Board was quite content with citizen (and board) compliance to this rule.  Head-nodding was the norm.  Kum.Ba.Ya. Local committees ran the liberal race behind the smoky curtain of citizen dominance.  The citizen became weary of the micromanaging, the controlling nature of West Bend leadership, and the covert mask of the radical left leaving it's trail all over our city.  Area citizens have become vocal, albeit via the internet, the only place where one can exercise First Amendment rights without a committee or a board shutting them down.  Ah, the glory of our forefather's insight into future leftist tactics.  Could it be true....???  The very same people who screamed about "censorship" and "freedom of speech" are now telling West Bend citizens to shut up?  Methinksso.  

The answer?  Um.  No.

A plea for a more civil dialogue within this community was woven throughout Tuesday’s business forum at the West Bend Mutual Insurance Co.’s Prairie Center. 

    Intended as an open discussion of issues facing the West Bend School District and the city of West Bend, several times speakers returned to the theme that honest disagreements over policies are buried under vehement, hostile criticism, which is harming the community’s image. 

    “ D i s a g re e - ment is healthy,” said Dennis Melvin, West Bend city administrator. “The lack of civility is unhealthy.” 

    The perception is that West Bend as a community is polarized by contentious issues, he said, and a more civil discussion about local issues is needed. 

    In recent years, factions have argued over such politically hot topics as school district finances, building referendums, the district’s harassment policy, removing books from the local library’s young adult section and an affordable housing project, often drawing state and national attention. 

    Organized by the West Bend School District, about 30 people attended the forum, consisting of business people and representatives from the school district, city, village of Jackson and Moraine Park Technical College. 

    The group did manage to discuss school district and city issues. 

......

 John Duwell pointed to “anonymous electronic communications” as a source for the lose of civility in debates over local policy issues. He called it insidious. 

    “What you read in the blogs, what you dial up on the Internet, does not match what is happening here in the (school) district,” said Duwell, a former West Bend School Board member. He is executive vice president and chief legal officer at West Bend Mutual. 

.......

Hillman said the business community should be telling conservative commentators to “lay off on the harping criticism.” 

West Bend Mayor BREAKS TIE vote - Low Income Housing Coming to Downtown Area Despite Protest

On the City Council agenda for tonight was a decision regarding the Developer’s Agreement for River Bluff Townhomes. (TIF #5).


Seems Alderman Duquaine opened the can of worms and revealed that West Bend's RDA had a binding contract since 2009.  The formalities of listening to the local business owners and general public was nothing but smoke and mirrors.  

The scoop:

Real Estate Equities Development LLC of St. Paul, Minn. is set to sell federal tax credits offered through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to raise capital for construction of the apartment buildings. 

    Because of that, Real Estate Equities will be required to hold its rental prices at a level affordable to families with annual incomes 50 percent to 60 percent of Washington County’s median figure, which is around $64,733, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. 

and this:

 At that time, Alderman Steve Hutchins, whose district includes Wisconsin Street, and Mayor Kristine Deiss said neighbors and businesses did not want a subsidized housing project downtown. 

    “They don’t want any WHEDA housing. ... They don’t want low-income, subsidized, affordable-living, whatever you want to call it,” Hutchins said at that April meeting. 

    “I think we can do better for our community than additional low-income housing and by utilizing local businesses to do so,” Hutchins has said, most recently on his Web site, www.wbdistrict2.com. 

When all was said and done, the vote was tied:


VOTING YEAH-
ALD. TURNER
ALD. SCHLOTFELDT
ALD. ANDERSON
ALD. DOBBERSTEIN


VOTING NAY:
ALD. HUTCHINS
ALD. DUQUAINE
ALD. KIST
ALD. CARTER

Mayor Kristine Deiss cast the deciding vote FOR the subsidized housing, stating that this was never a project that was kept hidden, and that everyone has had a voice in the matter, which is why we are able to go to the polls on election day.


Indeed, Mayor Deiss.  Indeed.


Hats off to Ald. Duquaine.

West Bend Mayor Puts Opposition to City Council up for Library Board Appointment

On May 3rd, THIS MONDAY NIGHT, the Common Council will be asked to vote "yes" to Mayor Kris Diess' appointment of liberal Molly Zuehlke to the library board.  Please read the excerpts below from Ms. Zuehlke's own blog.  Is this the best that Mayor Diess can do?  Is this appropriate?  Or is it assurance that the library board will continue to stay filled up with the same-old/same-old?  We all know the answer to that one.  Contact your alderman.  Tell him to vote NO.  We already know that Deb Anderson will rubber-stamp this one:

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009

Just venting.

Last night the common council of west bend voted to not approve the mayor's appointments to the library board in direct compliance with few loud, opinionated and censorship minded individuals. They say it only takes about twelve contacts to the alderman in a city to sway them one way or another (and the Maziarka's have shown us maybe it is even less), so let's let them know that we are disappointed in those who voted with Maziarka's and the small minority who think it's the city's job to legislate morality.

Here is the article in the WB News.

Here is what the Maziarkas had to say about last night. (what are these people really asking for anyway? and keep in mind they choose not to follow through with any formal complaint, so what action is the library supposed to take?)

So contact your alderman (you can find them here) or for that matter all five who voted against these appointments, and let them know that we have voices too.

Thanks,

Molly Zuehlke

Ticked-off West Bend Citizen.

and this:

GRATEFUL
John and I feel like we live in a REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLY conservative area, and sometimes get a little disheartened about the atmosphere of judgment that surrounds us. But we were pleasantly surprised by the turnout at the the Democrats of Washington County Headquarters opening. Lots of people. A little diversity. And lots of, that's right I'm going to say it, hope. I think we've caught a little of it. The kids made a great little sign for their window that says "Kids for Obama" We're contemplating knocking on doors here, but I'm slightly nervous about literally getting a shot gun pulled on me. Anyway, I'm sure we'll get to it. Make ourselves useful. At least when the bigots win, we can say we tried. (Could I be more blunt? I know, you're used to it. It's Molly.)

Kewaskum Trustee "shocked" with West Bend Library Director

Received this email/blog comment today from Kevin Scheunemann, owner of Kewaskum DQ and Village of Kewaskum Trustee.

_______________________________________________________

As a Village Trustee in Kewaskum who asked for a courtesy copy of the open records West Bend for Safe Libraries requested, I am very proud of two things in Kewaskum Village government:

1.) Our village staff immediately worked diligently on complying with the Wisconsin Open Records Law on this request!Unlike West Bend, there was never a talk of lawyers, or the need to hire a lawyer to stall or block open records of this nature. I find West Bend's position of stalling and delaying release of open records unacceptable. This is NOT good government.This is a clear sign West Bend is ashamed of its mature material labeling and locating policies in its library.

2.) After reviewing the open records produced in the Village of Kewaskum I am very proud of our Librarian! He treats constituents and library patrons with courtesy and respect. By comparison, in the Kewaskum open records request, emails from the West Bend librarian are rude, discourteous, and demean the very public constituents the director is supposed to serve! I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED BY THE WEST BEND LIBRARIAN COMMENTS! If any member of village government staff acted this way toward constituents, I would push to have that person removed.

The Library Director's behavior in West Bend fails the most basic standards of public service.

West Bend's problem is lack of good government and city officials willing to tolerate bad government. Clean, honest, and open government is essential. I wish and hope West Bend would start down that path.

Kevin Scheunemann
Kewaskum Village Trustee
______________________________________________________________

I will agree that my interaction with the Village of Kewaskum was pleasant and respectful. All was in order and turned over in a timely fashion by personnel that ensured they were doing their best to fulfill our request.

I met with Steev Baker and found him to be honest, personable, a good listener, a proud dad (smile!), extremely likeable, and cares very much for the community he serves. He is not afraid to do what he feels meets the needs of the Kewaskum taxpayers, patrons and children, regardless of the fiasco our West Bend Library put taxpayers through when parents asked for this same courtesy. Baker recognizes that even though the Kewaskum Library is part of the SHARE library system, he is under no obligation to bow to the American Library Association and its' persistent misleading harangue concerning censorship. He also recognizes that the ALA does nothing for the public library financially or legally; therefore, no loss here. His top priority is to serve his patrons according to their community standards. What a novel idea.

The fact that our mayor rejected our request from the very onset of the library issue to openly dialogue with the city attorney on our behalf is evidence we need CHANGE (not the Obama kind) in West Bend.

Methinks change is a-comin'........

Thanks for the honest commentary, Kevin.

Library upset about giving over public records

As we continue to see and hear from the media that parents asking for assistance from their local library are:

• book burners
• book banners
• censors
• bigots
• giving the city a black eye

...we should also take note that the library board brought the attention to the City of West Bend on their own volition by:

• refusing to respond to it's own policies
• putting off public meetings
• ignoring citizen requests to dialogue

Interesting how:

• The library board loves the city attorney's advice when it can be used as an excuse to get rid of citizens, but...
• hate the city attorney's advice when a citizen calls for compliance with open records requests, then...
• calling an emergency meeting on short notice (Where is the public notification? On a city hall or library bulletin board? Nice.) and stating they will hire (taxpayer dollars flying out the window) outside counsel to....what?

1. Try to hide open public records from the public?
2. Keep the public from learning something?

This is the same public library that follows the standard of "all things for all people."

Think about it.