Curmudgeon's Corner - All Comments

re: Village Buzz - June 29th

Charlie Hargan — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:54:59 GMT

The Village code state that the Planner has jurisdiction over the trees in Germantown, planting & removal. He found out about them being removed only after it was done.

re: MATC...Rubbing Our Noses In It!

Charlie Hargan — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:51:07 GMT

As I've said before, it would be best for the school district to request the Morraine Park Tech. College because it is in Washington County and it has more classes than either of the other two that would fit into the work force in Germantown. The State School Board that will make the decision won't make it because the cost is less. They will make it because it is the best fit for the residents & businesses in the Industrial Park and the business district in Germantown. If we ask for the cheapest, they'll say, "No" and there will be no chance to reapply for a long time. MATC is being greedy and if we appear to the State that we are, also, forget it.

re: Village Buzz - June 29th

Al Campbell — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:25:43 GMT

Am email from Trustee Wolter advised that Administrator Schornack indicated that the village is able to act upon such things without committee input and without board action. Schornack said he thought there was a possibility that something (that would be lower once it matures) might be re-planted in the Sendik's sign location. Apparently the signage is larger than allowed but the board is able to make exceptions.

re: Village Buzz - June 29th

Germantown Taxpayer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:04:59 GMT

Congratulations, you solved the mystery of the missing trees (all three of them). Surely this decision required a lengthy debate before the Village Board before any action could be taken. I glad immediate action was taken so the Village Board can focus on REAL issues that face Germantown.

re: Assembly 'Debate'...Chapter Two

Randy Melchert — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:04:47 GMT

If I may clarify my comments - I do support cutting wasteful programs. But, if we start with an across the board one-year spending freeze that would save the average family of four in Wisconsin $400 a year. On top of that we could cut additional waste to further increase the savings.

2008 tax rebate payments

2008 tax rebate payments — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:16:16 GMT

Pingback from 2008 tax rebate payments

re: Village Buzz - June 29th

Recalcitrant — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:09:36 GMT

I agree that Presidente Kepimpski has made himself an Army of One. It is particularly disturbing that the public process of elected representation of a nine person body, which theoretically seeks out the positions of their constituencies and votes upon a question as a reflection of their people, is so easily countermanded by one single vote. If Charlie Hargan's account of the events in question is accurate, then Schornack is just as guilty as Kepimpski. Schornack should show the backbone that's needed to say "sorry, but I need that direction from at least 5 people at a Public Meeting and with a Public Vote." The other trustees are equally at fault, for allowing this sort of monarchy to exist and apparently thrive. Those other 8 guys need to publicly take their leader to task, or be willing to get painted with the same paintball guns. By their silence, however, they're certainly showing that they condone the behavior, and quite probably are willing participants but are just too meek to take the public stand. Overall, we deserve better.

re: Direct Legislation?

Charlie Hargan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:29:29 GMT

Allowing paid sick leave would kill companies that depend on employees to run their equipment, day in and day out. Sick days without pay is better because they usually have to pay someone else overtime to do the work of the sick person. It also cheapens the benefits of vacation. Too many people that do have paid sick days use them as just time off. It's very hard for an employer to determine which it was. There are so many different kinds of companies in business and industry that it would be totally unfair for a municipality to get involved in how they allow sick leave. Some businesses can let paper work go for a few days with no real lost efficiency while production companies need the production daily to stay in business. Who's going to determine what is fair for all?

re: Germantown Exit Interviews...

Charlie Hargan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:15:24 GMT

The idea of exit interviews is not new. The problem Germantown ran into is the departing employee said, "No thank you". You can't force them to give one. What are you going to do? Fire them? They're already leaving. The main reason for not giving one was that they didn't want to appear as a complaining type employee to the new employer. The retiring ones just wanted to get away, not interested in saying why. Perhaps the feeling has changed. It would really be a good thing if exit interviews became a normal procedure so people didn't feel it would come back to haunt them.

re: Village Buzz - June 27th

Charlie Hargan — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:29:06 GMT

I'm also happy to know that the Barley Pop Pub will continue to be open. It has been a favorite of mine in the past & stiil is.

The trees on Mequon road in front of Pick 'n Save were diseased and will be replaced in the same locations. The trees in front of Sendik's were healthy ash trees that, as you indicated, had the misfortune to be in front of Sendik's oversized sign. Sendik's asked Pres. Kempinski to have them removed, who told Adm. Schornack to have them removed, who told the Village Parks & Grounds Sup. to remove them. These were planted in accordance with the Village Street Tree Program, part of the reason we were voted as a Tree City USA community, and the only authorization for this had to come from the Village Board, after a recommendation from the Public Works Committee. It was never brought in front of either of them. They should be replaced in the same location. I think Sendik's will be a great asset to the Village but the trees were also and they were "grandfathered in" (here first).

re: Village Buzz - June 27th

BigTimeBad — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:09:14 GMT

Great idea for a blog. I'm happy to hear about the Barley Pop Pub. I took my wife there for her 21st birthday many years ago and have had some great times there.

Keep up the good work!!

re: MATC...Iceberg In Search Of A Ship

Concerned GT Resident — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:14:29 GMT

Keep in mind they have one of the highest paid post-secondary teaching staff's in the State, even though, most of them only teach what amounts to a "part-time" schedule each semester.

Of course, they have to come up with the unbudgeted amount to pay for those computers they bribed....., I mean donated, to the Germantown Library.

Maybe they still owe Dr. Rossetti a little something for trying to help them avert...., I mean for agreeing to be on their Board.

Don't you think, based on their recent actions, they deserve our trust? Me either.

re: Direct Legislation?

taxedtothemax — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:38:50 GMT

I find it interesting that the "bill" is sponsored by a woman's "business" organization since this action would put my wife's small business - out of business.

re: Say It Ain't So...Updated Edition

Germantown Taxpayer — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:12:27 GMT

Yes indeed, if the Barley Pop closes it will be a sad occassion. Just as sad is the fact that you, once again, decided to write on your blog before getting all the facts. Just a continuing example of you posting misinformation or incomplete information first and getting the facts second.

re: Generic 'Mission Statement'...

Irwin Fletcher — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:52:45 GMT

Public School teachers

re: State Global Warming Task Force?

Charlie Hargan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:11:35 GMT

It's great that you have done so much research on the subject and speak so well about it. Global warming will go down as one of the biggest cons in the history of mankind.

re: Assembly 'Debate'...Chapter Two

Charlie Hargan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:59:42 GMT

I would say that LaSage's comment about running government is the way to go. Melchert's idea of a tax freeze is poor because, as he says, it leaves current programs in place but eliminates new spending. That means current spending that has no business being in the budget would stay but any possible needed spending would be cut out. The big point is that LaSage says he wants to cut State spending and State Government and put more control back into the hands of local Boards & Councils, while Melchert wants to put a tax freeze. Freezing the State Budget would not be a bad idea but to say that the current programs would all be safe is a bad idea. Many of those programs are unneeded now and others are needed. As long as he stays away from local freezes.

re: Obama The Inevitable?

joe_liberal — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:09:19 GMT

Are you willing to endure 4 or 8 more years of terrible domestic policies? To have our national debt continue to swell out of control by another so called "Conservative" candidate? Are you willing to continue to have more of your tax dollars being spent/sent overseas then using it to protect people both physically and financially in your own country?

Think about it. What has McCain offered to the American public that makes him sound different then our current President? People are tired of the rhetoric the Republican party has been spewing since 9/11: "Democrats are weak, unpatriotic, and will not protect Americans from Terrorists". It's old news, boring, and people, especially young people, are getting sick of it.

You may be right when you say, "Is it really time for undefined change simply for the sake of change?". But please elaborate on what is so undefined about Obama's ideas? Ethics, Health Care, Economy, Iraq, etc.; has all been laid out. Do you really want to see any candidate give an 8 hour speech about what they plan to do? Come on, read their mission statements. And to point out that he has had to "restate previous statements, sometimes more than once, to 'clarify' what he originally meant to say" is unfair. Tell me one candidate who hasn't ever been caught in that game. The media wants to get down to the bottom of everything the candidate says, and Republicans have dealt with this too.

Bottom line is "Conservatives" had their chance with G.W. Bush who also had "limited experience in politics, let alone on the national scene" to lead our country when he first ran. This experience shined through in his first term, and is probably a good reason why the county is where it is today: divided and pissed off. His term as President will go down in history as one of the greatest missed opportunities to unite a county, and it will serve as a Republican blue print about what not to do.

re: State Global Warming Task Force?

taxedtothemax — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:30:56 GMT

Global warming is joke. I'm keeping this article to trot out at the next budget when the legislature tells me the budget is cut to the bone...

What a huge waste of time and money!

re: State Global Warming Task Force?

Concerned GT Resident — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:07:24 GMT

The concept of "man made global warming" is probably the biggest con ever attempted on the human race. Whenever I'm on an airplane (contributing to our demise), I look out over the vastness of the horizon, and just laugh at the thought that us little humans could be bringing our planet to its knees.

Global Warming, or "climate change", which is the term they use when its not warm, is another Liberal attempt at social engineering. Why we waste tax dollars on this farce is just disgusting.