Muskego Petition Drive Hopes to Reach Goal Soon
Despite some logistical snags, group is confident they will get enough signatures to turn into clerk's office.
Lorie Oliver, spokesperson for Muskego for Ethical Government, has been a busy lady.
With phones ringing and the challenge of putting signature collectors where those who want to sign a petition to halt the purchase process of land along Janesville Road on Little Muskego Lake, Oliver said she's been putting in long hours.
Unless Muskegoans have been living under a rock, it's no news that the drive has been centered on preventing a final sale of the Dilworth and Cherek properties for $3.55 million by the city. The Common Council voted 4-3 in favor of the purchase Tuesday night.
The split vote was indicative as well of the residents who came to speak that night. While a vocal majority against the vote was noted, residents who spoke in favor of the project were equally as passionate. They felt the group's fears over taxes was unfounded, and that it represented a great opportunity for the city to capitalize on its greatest asset, the lake.
The trick for the opposition has now been to put homeowners who want to sign together with signature collectors. The group has resisted the idea of setting up in front of a public place, fearing negative reaction. However, Oliver said there will be someone manning a table with a sheet that residents can sign on Saturday, Jan. 28, in front of the old Spitzner's Floral on Janesville (S76 W17822) from 9am to about 6pm.
She also offered an information line for people who may not be able to make it, but who would like to sign. The phone number for that is 262-679-2540.
Organizers would not say how many signatures they have currently, but are confident that they would be able to turn in enough signatures very soon.
Bryan K.
4:51 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
What does the group have to fear? That there may be many residents who are for the park and would make the group look like fools, just like they did to the people who are in favor of the park at the meeting? That the people who attended the Common Council meeting did not represent the views of everyone in the community? That there are more people living in Muskego than just around the lake? It seems as if she and others of this group want to keep "their" lake to themselves because other people are not "worthy" enough to use it.
Alderman Snead was right in the fact that many, many people who are in support of this project were too afraid to speak because of the potential backlash and overall rudeness that the naysayers might give them. I remember the Walmart meetings, where "Muskego First" seemed to want us all to believe that almost everyone in Muskego was against the project, when instead, most were for it. Or the fact that this editorial at JSOnline today (http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/muskego-residents-were-ignored-bc3v4j3-138165294.html) about the lake park has a extremely prevalent "no-park" bias (I'm sorry, but it's definitely not 90% to 10% against the park).
Did anyone else notice a trend in the addresses at the meeting Tuesday night... Kingston Drive, Harbor Circle, Lake Drive, etc? You guessed it, all streets on the lake. Seems kind of "fishy" to me...
Bryan
Christine
5:40 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Become informed before signing what someone says to be true. Do you really know the facts? Have your local librarian help you find these peer reviewed articles and documents. Become knowledgeable about the impact of parks.
The impact of parks on property values: empirical evidence from the past two decades in the United States by: John L.Crompton
Title: TO KEEP THE TAX BILLS DOWN...SHOULD THE COMMUNITY BUILD HOMES OR PARKS. By: Crompton, John L., Parks & Recreation, 00312215, Jun2001, Vol. 36, Issue 6
http://www.tpl.org/publications/books-reports/park-benefits/the-economic-benefits-of-parks.html
http://www.hlplanning.com/hlablog/2010/02/the-importance-of-unique-park-and-recreation-standards.html
"Why Small Parks Matter,' by Ann Forsyth (December 2005)
THE BUSINESS PSYCHE: EXPLORING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND CITY IMAGE
By: MARK GLASER Wichita State University
I urge you to become informed activists.
Simple Bacon
6:53 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Christine, you are correct that we all must be informed before supporting any position. I appreciate your citations I will look them up.
What has the community rankled is that none of this research was done prior to the vote. You're right, to do this project justice a full analysis should be done to understand the economic impact, environmental impact, the basic ROI. To do that all costs must be known in advance or at least estimated.
Unfortantely due diligence was not done and now people feel that their only recourse is to stop it. I tried calling my Alderman, Keith Werner, and he never returned calls. If my elected official doesn't respond to my questions what am I left to do? I didn't speak up at the prior Council meetings because I was led to believe that items under closed session are not open to public input. Those are Council rules.
So, in the real world, we do the research you describe up front. Unfortunatly,it's a little late to go out looking for documentation to support a decision already made. I don't favor direct legislation, I really don't support recalls but I also expect the respect of my elected officials that once I do voice an opinion that they won't ignore it. I'll bet nearly all of the opopstition to this action would have been avoided (you'll always have a few miscontents) by the Mayor and Council working up a project plan with the Parks Board, maybe a few scenarios, and presenting that at a public hearing. Tragic mistake by the Council....
Robert M. Lucas
6:25 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Some of these studies were supplied to all the alderman. Thank you Christine for finding even more independent evidence. Alderman were informed prior to voting.
Simple Bacon
6:03 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Bryan, I am trying to see though the tears to type this. My heart bleeds for you and the others who only want out of life a glimpse of the lake they have heard so much about. My advice:
1) Visit one of the 16 public access points with direct access to the lake. Lots of people do.
2) Visit Idle Isle - that 7 acre park already on the lake. Check it out some summer day. Lot's of "off-lake" families there. Lot's of fisherman from other communities out there.
3) Suck it up and buy a house on the lake and quit whining. Lot's of people have. Most of the homeowners on the lake (450+ homes are on the lake) are just regular people trying to pay their bills and worried about their inflated tax bills. Many are on fixed incomes and may lose their homes to pay for your shining park on the lake once the real cost become known. Why do their opinoins not count? Why do you and Muskego Proud single them out? For what it's worth I think people living on the lake have a unique perspective that you evidently don't understand or care to listen to.
If Muskego Proud (all 15 of you) really wants to make this into an Occupy Little Muskego Lake then you are a sorry bunch of class warriors. Who's really trying to intimidate the discussion? Anyone single out your address? Has the Patch published your phone number?
I'll keep an eye out for your tents but in the meantime I need to go get a kleenex to wipe away the tears.
Denise Konkol
6:36 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
We've published phone numbers at the request of the group collecting signatures Bryan, as they are trying to allow people to reach them. A couple of other points to clarify: access points are not parks, and for the most part don't allow for much parking. They are required by DNR regs as the lake is truly the state's jurisdiction. If you go to Door County, do you swim at the boat launch?
Second, Idle Isle on a summer day requires parking about 1/4 mile away, on College Avenue, as I have experienced first hand. Kind of dangerous if you've got small kids who want to swim, and as you said it draws people from everywhere, which seems to defeat the argument that "no one uses that park, so why do we need another?"
Also, "suck it up and buy a house on the lake" sounds a lot like "let them eat cake." The discussion on this issue has been good at sticking to issues and not stooping to extreme sarcasm and sneering comments. Let's keep it that way, please?
Simple Bacon
7:03 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Ms. Konkel, I would appreciate if you would address all of the posters the same way you jumped on my comments. You don't have a problem with a deliberate attempt to divide our community however you take issue with saracsm? Commentary that directly calls into question the character of my neighbors will be met with the same. You stick up for your friends and I'll do the same.
I sense the intimidation coming from your bias and will refrain from any further posts on the Patch. This has become rather circular and unproductive. But I guess that's what you prefer...Where do I sign?
Denise Konkol
8:06 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Bias shouldn't be confused with opinion. This is the comment section, where people offer their opinions. Articles not labeled as opinion are not biased. You may note that we have not only highlighted Muskego Proud when it emerged, but also provided information that will assist the efforts to collect signatures for the opposing group.
You are correct....people who use personal attacks should be called out. In looking at this string of comments, I'm pressed to see where a similar response has occurred. We've had a dozen stories on this and more than 100 comments, so it's hard to keep up, especially as I still have about a dozen or so other issues to cover. If I've missed a few, I apologize. I'm not sure where you're being intimidated, and the division comes from two sides having opposite but equally passionate arguments, each compelling. No one side has done all the work to create that division on its own. Truthfully, the discussion has been interesting to read through and it's important to have.
Suzi Link
9:37 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Denise,
Sorry, but you have your facts "twisted" regarding DNR requirements. There are "Public Launches", "Lake Access Lots", "City Parks" and the "City-Owned Access" shared with Tres Locos Restaurant on Little Muskego Lake (LML). All "Lake Access Lots" on LML ARE CITY PARKS, controlled by the City's Parks and Recreation Department (Park & Rec).
The DNR DOES NOT REQUIRE "Lake Access Lots". These are, for the most part, non-conforming lots which gradually reverted to the City for unpaid taxes. "Lake Access Lots" are operated and maintained (or not maintained) by Park & Rec. I agree that there is not enough off-road parking at these lots: LML residents and others have asked Park & Rec to provide off-road parking with no results.
"Public Launches" ARE required by the DNR. They can be private-for-profit or City-owned. LML has far more "Public Launches", including parking facilities, than required by the DNR, All "Public Launches" on LML are owned/operated by Park & Rec, including Idle Isle Park and the over-flow parking 1 block away at Park Arthur. (Incidentally, not $1 the City earns at "Public Launches" comes back to LML)
The hybrid "City-Owned Access" subidized byTres Locos Restaurant on Lake Drive is unique as it is the only City-owned lake lot NOT under control of Parks & Rec.
Gregory Kluck
10:11 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
When I first started working in Muskego, I really liked the drive in looking at the lake as I went. Slowly the view was eliminated when the condos were built and the two residences in question were built. Not that a "view" is all that important, but I enjoyed it and was the impetus of my moving to Muskego. It's an expensive bit of property for the city to purchase, but I favor it. Could it maybe be brought up to the property owners to donate part of the value to lower the cost to the city? Hence, they could name the park after one or both of the families that own the property. I knew Mr Cherek through his dealership when I was restoring an older Mercury, and through his frequent attendance of car shows in the Metro Milwaukee area and even my little cruise night. RIP Dewey.
Muskego Mike
8:27 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Great to see the residents of Muskego come together in a postivie cause. Plenty of business in front of the old Spitzner's Floral on Janesville (S76 W17822) from 9am to about 6pm. Business was brisk!!!
Simple Bacon
10:20 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
It is amazing to see the level of support for transparent, ethical, and accountable government (underline accountable). It seems that the energy transcends this one issue. Let's hope this is just the begining of a new era in Muskego!