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Curmudgeon's Corner

cur-mud-geon: anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner

Village Buzz - September 11th...

By Al Campbell
Thursday, Sep 11 2008, 03:32 PM

Bridges To Somewhere...

I asked Dave Schornack, Village Administrator, where we stood on the bridge completion dates for both the Lilac Lane bridge and the Freistadt Road bridge near Hwy 145/Fond du Lac Avenue.

I had noticed some concrete being poured in the Lilac Lane site and it seemed as though that project had been ongoing for some time since I use that route often.  I hadn't the same feelings about Freistadt since I don't frequent that route as often.

Nothing like being selfish, is there?

Dave wrote back promptly to advise that both projects "are on track to be completed by the first week of October".

So, in about a month, we'll all be ooh-ing and ahh-ing over our new bridges.

Police Station Building Delays...

I understand that there is only so much money to go around within the Village of Germantown.  I understand that I'm a bit of a 'scold' so far as spending goes, too.

But, I have had the opportunity to tour the Police Department facilities and know that there is a very real need.

I also know that the chief, the officers and the staff will make do with whatever they have, but it is going to be very much like a group of sardines minus the oil going forward.  New radio/computer equipment is being forced on the department and there is virtually no room to accommodate that equipment and the people who operate it.  I'm sure the Public Safety Committee is cognizant of this, as well, but my fear is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease...and the chief and his department aren't known for being whiners.

They'll get the job done no matter what, but it sure would be nice if they had a little larger facility.  There is no opulence involved here.  It is a relatively spartan environment without frills.  Even with that, room to operate is critical.  If 2009's budget can't accommodate this need, then let's be very certain that it gets done in 2010...and that it doesn't get short shrift over and over again.

Comments

taxedtothemax   

I see on this web site that the new school referendum will now be $22.5 million PLUS another referendum for an additional $750,000 per year into infinity.

All I want to know is what are they drinking at those school board meetings?

September 11, 2008 7:01 PM

Irwin Fletcher   

While it would be "nice" to have an updated police station, we must first address the road situation. If you have driven down Hawthorne or Juniper Drives, Carrington Circle or many of the roads in the village you will see that the roads are in terrible shape. As the brain trust that runs our village has not budgeted anything for roads in the last few years they now need attention. The Police dept will have to make due until the roads are done.

Note to School Board: If a $16M referendum wont pass, I can guarantee you that a $22M referendum wont either.

September 12, 2008 7:44 AM

What is the problem   

I feel that if we are going to continue to put the police department off, lets give them $1.5 million to play with and see what they can do with it.  Heck, the Senior Center now has an awesome excercise room, flat screen tvs, WII systems, new vehicles (not what they wanted), vending machines, a new huge kitchen fully loaded, and now a new security system.  Well, does every Village Building have a security system outside of it???

The school - we honestly should be building a new high school, with a pool, music facility, and what our high school is lacking!!!  We can move the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th to the now high school.  But again, I think it's time to look at jobs, descriptions based on the school board, not reports from principals.

Open our eyes!!!

September 12, 2008 12:12 PM

Gtown Rez32   

If you look back at the history of the Police Dept. you will know that the Village Board asks for a plan ever few years as to what it would cost to get this project done, and every few years they push it off.  This has been going on for 7+ years.  I think they have waited long enough and the longer the Village Board waits to get this taken care of, the more it will cost.  These are the men and women who protect our community, the least we can do is protect them!!!!!

September 12, 2008 12:41 PM

Irwin Fletcher   

the police dept. issue is not a safety issue it is more of a cosmetic issue. The police officers are not in peril doing their jobs, but simply want to convert the old library space to accomodate future needs. A nice thing but not a necessity.

The roads are a necessity. When you have residents picking up sections of road as wide as their driveways and throwing the chunks of broken asphalt into the garbage or taking orange cones and marking the dangerous potholes on their street then that takes a priority. Drive down Hawthorne drive and watch for the orange cones that residents have marked the dangerous holes in the road and you will see what I mean.

Unlike most residents, the Village Board had tunnel vision. They spent money first on the senior center, then the fire dept, then adding staff to many depts. In the mean time the roads went ignored. Now they must be addressed. Maybe in the future we can elect Board members who have a clue on how to properly budget and prioritize .

September 13, 2008 8:44 AM

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