To the editor: As a Lake Country resident and Waukesha county school and district administrator since the late 1990’s, I am writing to share my feelings about the voucher expansion highlighted in Governor Walker’s 2013-15 budget.  Voucher expansion is misguided public policy for many reasons: 1)    Vouchers do not improve student achievement.  These are the findings of numerous studies over the years, including the most recent five-year longitudinal study conducted by the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau. 2)    Vouchers eliminate public accountability.  And this stands in stark contrast …

To the Editor: Stand Up Muskego would like to recognize and thank the aldermen who have so far voiced their support for the continued funding of the Community Festival Parade, Muskego Senior Taxi and the Jammin on Janesville events.  These community-oriented activities and events offer a great service to Muskego’s senior citizens, families and businesses.  Without the continued support from the city, the services provided would be reduced and those who benefit from them would be negatively impacted. As we have followed the 2013 city budget process there are a few things that concern us and …

Dear Editor, I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, who lost her 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She had an inspiring, accomplished career and is an icon in our nation’s history. Tragically, for those who have been touched by pancreatic cancer, 17-months is an exception, as 74 percent of patients die within the first year of diagnosis. Perhaps what is worse is that pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which the relative five year survival rate, of just six percent, has not improved substantially in over 40 years …

To the editor: Although disappointed in the decision by the Common Council regarding the recent denial of a rezoning for DJ's Pub & Grill, I am hopeful there will be reconsideration at the next meeting. With some of the descending voters being newer to the council it appears that better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Plan Commission may be responsible for the vote that occurred. The pub has been in place for more than 90 years and grandfathered under an old residential zoning hence the need for a new zoning. The business owner is being displaced by the County for the …

An open letter to our elected officials and To the editor: A few members of the current council promised more openness and better communication.  After last Tuesday’s vote on the rezoning for DJ’s Pub and Grile, I have to question if this promise is being kept.  It appears to me some of you are playing the same games my Dad and other past council members were accused of in the past (much of this coming from a few current aldermen during the recent election). Yes, you are all elected officials and answer to your constituents.  However, you are expected to lead and real leaders always lead from…

Recently, while collecting recall signatures, I have been asked “why we have not dropped the recalls now that we (MEG) killed the lake park?” Put simply, as far as I am concerned, the lake park was only the final straw that broke the camel’s back. The recalls were initiated in response to a pattern of voting and manner of conducting City business which bypasses legal processes when it suits them, minimizes citizen input and which is detrimental to the long term interests of the citizens of Muskego. As an example, Mayor Chiaverotti, Ald. Schaumberg and Ald. Werner voted to spend $2.6 Million …

To the Editor from Kathy Chiaverotti, City of Muskego Mayor Dear Fellow Muskego Residents: There’s a great deal of misinformation going around town and here is some clarification. The lake park issue is over. The property owners have backed out and requested their properties be removed from the City’s master plan. I will be asking the Council to honor their request. You should also know that the City did not bring this proposal forward. The Council merely reacted to a proposal by the property owners based on the City’s existing master plan. Many residents based their opinion of the lake …

To the editor: We reached out to Muskego for Ethical Government (MEG) asking for a moratorium on recall signature gathering for this weekend due to the spiritual nature of the weekend.  This is Holy Week and of course tomorrow is Holy Saturday and Sunday is Easter, the pinnacle of the Christian Church's calendar.  We should be honoring our faith, the ultimate sacrifice God's Son, Jesus Christ, made to save us from sin and our families and loved ones.  WE SHOULD NOT be focused on gathering signatures or protesting against it. Chuck Wichgers was called upon to act as a go between and did call …

Dear citizens of Muskego, You may not know me because I am new to the politics scene, having just turned 18 last December. However, I have been a resident of Muskego since I was two years old and have kept on top of all of the city’s events and news since I was a young child. I believe that today is a sad day in our city. Mr. Dilworth and the Gardettos officially pulled the plug for the city to purchase their properties and turn it into a lake park in the new downtown district. This ultimately ends the vision of creating a lake park that would have put Muskego “one wave above” our surrounding…

To the Editor: My fellow constituents of the 5th District of the City of Muskego, I have found that Dan Soltysiak is one of the most conscientious aldermen that I have the pleasure of knowing.  Dan Soltysiak is the best alderman that I have ever had. With Dan Soltysiak, I can email him and he returns my emails with all of the information that I have requested.  I even hear from Dan once a week as he sends out the weekly police report through the emails.  (This way I can keep track of the types of misdemeanors and crimes that are happening in my neighborhood.)  He will come over to my home …

To the Editor/District 5 Residents, We are writing you to give our strong support to John Engelhardt for District 5 Alderman. John Engelhardt possesses the maturity, ethics, fiscal restraint and has the leadership qualities to represent District 5 on the common council. For the past 23 years John Engelhardt has made Muskego his home. He has raised a family here, built a church and devoted his life to serving our community. As a fiscal conservative, John knows the value of a dollar and will make sure that each taxpayer dollar is spent wisely. More importantly, John Engelhardt will not simply …

I strongly support Alderman Dan Soltysiak for reelection this coming April 3rd in District 5. I believe Alderman Soltysiak has a passion to do what is right for his district and the community of Muskego based on the needs of the people. My personal experience with Dan has been fantastic.  He played an instrumental role in helping my family and other residents of our area in persuading the school district and bus company to add a route on our street.  Our previous bus stop was at a tavern, which obviously wasn’t the most appropriate place for children.  He supported our previously denied …

To the editor: I am privileged to live in a country where each person's views - especially political ones -  and their right to lawfully act on them are protected by law. To me that means that each of us can vote for the candidate who most closely matches our own philosophy and, when an elected official steps over the line, we can petition to have that official recalled. For most of us these processes are personal and separate from our employment. That is as it should be. Doing a great job at work and exercising our rights to participate in the political conversation and our governmental …

To the Editor/Voters in District #5, Just wanted to share my enthusiasm for the great job that Dan Soltysiak has done for our district and also for the City of Muskego. I appreciate and admire his work ethic, great communication to his constituents, and follow up and follow through on issues that impact each and every one of us. I condone his fiscally conservative mindset as the “right approach” for Muskego at this time. We know that Dan has a watchful eye on how we as a great community are spending our money. Our family appreciates the fair, ethical, responsible, and decent approach he has …

Tracy Snead deserves your vote on April 3. As your Mayor for 4 1/2 years I have had the pleasure to work with Alderman Snead and can state without hesitation that she has worked in your interest for the past 6 years. Her leadership on the council and ability to work through issues to conclusion is a skill most politicians do not have. Her time on the Common Council resulted a better and more efficient government we all benefit from. Her opponent is a one-issue candidate and would not be able to fill her shoes. District one voters have a choice: a proven representative who has consistently …

Field Trips, runny noses, dirty diapers, silly songs, lots of questions are all elements of a daycare.  As a busy mother of 3 children ages 1, 3 and 5, I wanted to shed light on a daycare facility that has truly gone above and beyond my expectations.  This facility is Kids Kampus, nestled in the Muskego Industrial Park, owned and operated by, the Lopez Family.   They provide balanced home cooked meals for the children, they are courteous, flexible, honest and involved in our community by making it a better place through the hearts of our children.  Many of us often get caught up in the hustle…

Our names are Fred and Pat Korth and we are the very proud parents of 1st District Alderwoman Tracy Snead. We attended the open meeting at Stoney Creek Adult Community a Christian retirement resident, (not an old age home) to listen to Wolfe who is opposing Tracy for the 1st District Alderman on 2/12/2012 . We did this after calling the facility to see if this meeting was open to the public. The response was yes it was open to the public. We attended this meeting to see what his outlook was for Muskego? My husband and I asked questions that we felt the people attending should be aware of. …

To the Editor: No More Recalls RECALL!  RECALL!  RECALL!  We have heard these shouts for about a year now and they begin anew every time an elected official does something that a vocal segment of society heartily objects to.  Recalls were traditionally (and rarely) used to remove someone from office for criminal or highly unethical practices.  Today, however, recall proponents wish to undue elections simply because the people that they (as a citizenry) elected are not acting as they hope they would have.  Just because recalls are allowed in these circumstances doesn’t make it right. Now the …

As a longtime resident of Muskego I strongly support the Lake Park project and hope the Common Council stays with the decision they made to go ahead with it.  They were elected with the understanding they have the power to vote on projects like this, so now that petitions were submitted, their houses picketed, and even the ridiculous threat of recall, we hear (the aldermen) may change their vote.  Were the facts used to secure the signatures on the petitions, or were questionable facts, figures, and scare tactics used to secure the signatures for the petitions?  We have a Muskego resident …

All elected and public officials know the single biggest challenge they face is getting input from the people they represent. Right now, according to Mayor Chiaverotti, that input, in the form of over 3,400 signatures on “Direct Legislation Petitions, is going to be ignored by the City of Muskego (stated on 620 AM Talk Radio 1/31/2012).   This is not the Mayor's decision to make. It is up to Tracy Snead, Neome Schaumberg, Keith Werner and Noah Fiedler. I must point out one thing. The Common Council, at the request of any of these 4 Aldermen, could have a "FREE DO OVER" of this decision to …