Main Street Oshkosh

You Think Our Common Council Meetings Are A Joke?

2009-07-15T13:55:00.003-05:00

In Minneapolis, the Committee on Public Safety and Regulatory Services had on their agenda last week an ordinance change regarding what venues comedians could perform at within the city. Currently stand-up (solo) comedians are only permitted to perform at venues that have a Class A liquor license, which apparently costs much more than most small clubs can afford. The item before the Committee was to change the ordinance to permit comedians to perform in Class D and above venues.

Given that this ordinance change was brought about by comedians, a good handful appeared at the hearing to make their case. Like our own meetings, you can watch the streaming video, and the hearing on the comedians begins around the 22:00 mark. Its about 15 minutes long.

Okay, some aren't nearly as funny as our our own public comments, but still, a little sense of humor is always appreciated.

Don't Worry, I'm a Carnie

2009-07-08T23:01:00.005-05:00

Carnie - of course referring to anyone associated with Sawdust Days. You know, those folks from out of town who have complete freedom to do whatever they want wherever they want within Menominee Park - freedoms that no owners of the park (Oshkosh residents) have.

You know, the folks who can freely have their pets wander around - pets that all Oshkosh residents are prohibited from having in the park.

And the folks who never seem to notice that there are driveways and parking spaces in the park, or people who have reserved shelters with the intention of actually utilizing the grounds adjacent to the shelter, or viewing the water through the small land area between the shelter and the lake.

Or the folks who continually believe that your family reunion that is taking place, following proper reservations and dues payment, is open to all, including wandering into the kitchen, sitting down with others at reserved tables, stealing electricity, stealing water, just loitering around outside of your party staring in for well over an hour, etc.

The carnies also are able to spend the night in the park - presumably for free (although I haven't actually looked into this and would hope that I'm wrong).

So, MainStreetOshkosh is in the process of printing official Carnie badges for free distribution to anyone in Oshkosh that wants to have free reign to the park - no more needing to follow hour restrictions. Drive wherever you want, camp out, steal electricity, bring your pets, use the shelters, whatever. And if anyone asks, just say you're a carnie and invite them into your new camp site.

And of course there are no carnie badges being printed, and this whole issue in this post is just the frustration of having only one weekend that works for the whole extended family, and the notion that Menominee Park in centralized Oshkosh is a beautiful setting for a family reunion - a park that my immediate family utilizes 4-5 days per week during the Spring through Fall, and a park that genuinely sucks when the carnies take over. Thankfully Sawdust Days is a big money maker for the city... that doesn't take a lot of staff time and resources... and is transparently coordinated with full collaboration of neighbors and concerned citizens...

3rd Annual Oshkosh Night Out

2009-07-08T08:36:00.004-05:00

3rd Annual Oshkosh Night Out, Tuesday August 4th, 2009, 4-8 pm, at South Park - Celebrate our Neighborhoods! Build Crime Prevention Awareness!
Music starring Sons of John
o Forensic Demo
o Hot dogs, brats, and hamburgers
o Squad cars & fire trucks
o Children’s activities and family games
o Dunk Tank – Pie Throwing – Jail & Bail
o Face painting & hair coloring
o 3 on 3 Basketball – show up & play
o Fishing – children & youth
o Community Resource Fair
o Community for Hope
o Fox Valley Streetsmarts
o Community Blood Center
o Christine Ann Center
o Oshkosh Public Library
o AmeriCorps Connects
o Oshkosh Area Humane Society
o And more…
o American Black Belt Academy Demonstrations
o Door prizes – chance to win a Wii
o Meet Miss Oshkosh – Chelsea Hammett

FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

Here is a brochure for the event.

Tuesday Night Community Forum on Deer Culling

2009-06-29T13:11:00.001-05:00

Modified from an e-mail announcement:

Just a reminder that on Tuesday night (6/30) there will be a forum at City Hall on the topic of deer management. If you want to see changes in the city's deer culling policy, it is important that you come to the meeting and make your voice heard. A brief review of how we got to this point:

*Beginning around early 2008, citizens in the Vulcan Quarry/National Guard Armory area approached the City Council and City Administration about their frustration with damages to their property caused by urban deer.
*The police department surveyed residents in the area and found that a large majority preferred nonlethal solutions to problems caused by deer.
*In May of 2008 the City Council passed a "deer management plan" that included a mix of nonlethal and lethal solutions. The nonlethal solutions, which included a ban on deer feeding and education on how to "deer proof" your garden, were supposed to be given time to work before lethal means would be used.
*In early June of 2008 a speaker from the Humane Society of the United States came to Oshkosh to talk about how to deer proof a garden. Her workshops were poorly promoted and not well attended.
*In December the City Council approved the deer culling procedure, which led to a wave of protests. Sharpshooters were brought to Oshkosh and killed around 6 deer in three attempts. At least one other deer was killed by overfeeding.
*During the spring campaign season, mayoral candidate Paul Esslinger said that he supported the creation of a deer management committee that would be charged with examining a range of options.
*Mayor Esslinger now claims that he wants to have a community forum before creating any committee--thus tomorrow night's meeting.

Oshkosh Citizen Survey - UWO Public Policy

2009-06-25T13:01:00.002-05:00

Several weeks ago, a report complied by a UW Oshkosh Public Policy Analysis class was released which detailed the results of a citizen survey completed by 255 randomly selected Oshkosh households. The Report can be found HERE. Note that this report is a seperate report from the recently released "A Vision of Oshkosh" survey of the community that was conducted by A. Nelessen Associates (we'll add this study if a copy becomes available).

This report, the effort put in by the students, and the collaborative feel of this project is a great example of a way in which city and university can partner to serve the goals of both institutions. While providing students with valuable hands-on learning, our community significantly benefits by utilizing the resources, knowledge, and professionalism of the campus to review and improve our services.

I look forward to hearing about additional projects such as this study.

Money in State Courts Oshkosh Forum

2009-06-24T12:07:00.002-05:00

Public Forum to Address Money in State Courts - a public forum in Oshkosh on two bills in front of the Wisconsin legislature dealing with special interest groups and fund raising in state Supreme Court elections.

The event, “Money in Our Courts: An Oshkosh Public Forum,” will be Monday, June 29 at 6:30 p.m. at South Park in Oshkosh (700 South Park Avenue). Guests include Rep Gordon Hintz, Beverly Speer of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and David Keck, a Winnebago County Court Commissioner.

The forum is part of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign’s Judicial Independence Project, an effort to better inform the public on the role campaign donations play in the state court system. Members of the community will be free to ask questions regarding the bills and the issue in general.

The UW-Oshkosh chapter of Democracy Matters, a national student-based non-profit organization, is also co-sponsoring the event.

The Democracy Campaign launched the Judicial Independence Project in February to help prevent third-party interest groups from dominating campaign advertisements that often result in negative attacks on both candidates. The group is concerned primarily about money and fund raising trumping an impartial court system.

For more information, contact Steve Bailey at (715) 570-2942, steve_bailey@live.com.

Oshkosh Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report

2009-06-23T21:57:00.001-05:00

Future posts will most certainly discuss this report, but for now, the 2009 Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Municipal Operations report is available HERE.

Oshkosh Drinking Water Quality Report

2009-06-23T21:55:00.002-05:00

The report is available HERE.

Fox Valley Tech Free Employment Workshops

2009-06-22T09:32:00.001-05:00

To better meet the needs of the rising numbers of local dislocated workers, Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) has developed 3 sets of free workshops: Career Development, Life Management, and Information Sessions. All are offered at FVTC Appleton and a person can attend as few or many as he or she wishes (note: attendance at all 3 sessions of the career development workshop is expected).

FVTC Information Sessions: Provides information about FVTC and funding resources for dislocated workers. Upcoming sessions are June 25 (1-2 p.m.); July 9 (10:30-11:30 a.m.); July 16 (1-2 p.m.); and July 29 (10-11 a.m.). Call 735-5696 to register and find out room number.

Career Development Series: Review your skills, interests, values and learn how they transfer into a new occupation; explore occupations/career paths, educational options, and goal setting. Upcoming sessions (attend all 3 dates) are: July 8, 15 and 22 from 1:30-4 p.m.; July 8, 15, and 22 from 9-11 a.m.; July 14, 21, and 28 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.; and July 30, August 6, and August 13 from 9-11 a.m. Call 735-5696 to register and find out room number.

Life Management Series. This includes5 different workshops and you can attend as many as you want. Call 735-5696 to register and find out room number.

· Life Happens: What to do when you are thrown a curve ball. July 6 from 8:30-10:25 a.m. or July 21 from 12-1:55 p.m.

· Life Wellness: Look at wellness in various parts of life, including mind, body, relationships, assertiveness, and more. July 6 from 10:30-11:25 a.m. or July 21 from 2-2:55 p.m.

· Fun & Games: Become familiar with personal computers in a relaxed environment. July 6 from 11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.; July 21 from 3-3:55 p.m.

· How to be a good classroom citizen: Listening and communication skills, classroom etiquette, and ethics. July 8 from 12-1:55 p.m.; July 23 from 8:30-10:25 a.m.Academic Toolbox: Skills you need to be a good student including time and stress management and understanding your learning style. July 8 from 2-3:55 p.m.; July 23 from 10:30 a.m.–12:25 p.m.

80s Dance Night

2009-06-17T07:57:00.002-05:00

Come dancing at the Time! They will be playing 80s music, so wear your spandex and leg warmers, and pop that collar. Cover will be $5, and as always, we graciously accept additional donations. All proceeds go toward renovating the Time Theater. All ages. Refreshments will be available.

Host: Time Community Theater

Date: Friday, June 26, 2009

Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm

Location: Time Theater, 445 N. Main St, Oshkosh, WI

Asylum Bay

2009-06-14T12:48:00.003-05:00

I had not heard of Asylum Bay during the first 5 years I resided in Oshkosh. I had considered a significant downside of the Oshkosh area to be the lack of any quality natural areas nearby. When I heard that county / state land exceeding 56 acres was located just North of Oshkosh along the water, I was eager to check it out.

This past weekend, I was able to take advantage of the fine weather and take my girls out to Asylum Bay. While the accessible area isn't extremely large, I was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful area along Lake Winnebago complete with a large diversity of birds, large waterfowl (I don't know Storks from Herons, etc, and Sabai isn't answering), beautifully large Oaks, natural shorelines, and several hiking trails through a state wildlife area.

One of the more interesting things I found was a large section of woods that seemed to be glowing white, covered with soft white tree seeds. It really seemed mystical, until my kids starting crying at the biting mosquitoes.

Other great things available include: picnic tables, lots of fishing spots, a lighthouse, and a fine open field for playing disc. Here are some pics from the visit:

Public Forum With Bob Poeschl

2009-06-13T13:49:00.002-05:00

Oshkosh Common Councilor Bob Poeschl is holding a Public Forum Tuesday June 16. 6 - 7:30 p.m., at Firestation 17, 1813 Algoma Blvd. (enter through the back).

The public is invited to meet and discuss community issues with Councilman Poeschl. If you have any questions, please call him at 920-312-0529 or email at bpoeschl@ci.oshkosh.wi.us

Art Fair at South Park June 14

2009-06-13T13:40:00.002-05:00

This Sunday, the Oshkosh Fine Arts Association is hosting the 52nd annual Winnebagoland Art Fair at South Park in Oshkosh. Admission is free, and hours are from 10am - 4pm.

Race Unity Social This Weekend

2009-06-11T10:50:00.001-05:00

This Sunday, June 14th from noon - 5:00 P. M., the 16th Annual Race Unity Social will be held at Abe Rochlin Park, located on the west bank of the Fox River and the south side of the Congress St. (Highway 21) bridge. Turn left off of Algoma Boulevard at the Oshkosh Public Museum to access the bridge. The park entrance is on Sawyer Street. This is a rain or shine event, with FREE food and music; feel free to bring an ethnic dish to pass if you choose. There will be pinatas and other activities for children. Meet, eat, dance, listen, play, sing, learn and have fun! "Let's all make new friends." Sponsored by:

Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
Oshkosh Baha'i Community
Campus Center for Equity and Diversity UW Oshkosh
Multicultural Education Center

For more information call: 920-233-3918

New Oshkosh leaders group to hold community meeting on state budget impact

2009-06-11T10:33:00.000-05:00

Citizens for a Strong Oshkosh (CSO) will hold a public meeting on June 15 to examine the proposed state budget and how it will affect the Oshkosh community. The meeting will take place Monday at 6:00 pm at the Oshkosh Convention Center, 2 North Main St, Oshkosh.

Diverse community leaders formed CSO to preserve quality services and infrastructure that Oshkosh residents rely on every day. CSO includes business owners and union leaders, elected officials from all branches of local government and interested citizens. Although members have different roles in the community and reflect different political persuasions, all care deeply about Oshkosh. Steering committee members include John Nichols, Frank Tower, Mark Harris, Tom McDermott, Steve Hintz, Jessica King, Paulette Feld, Dennis Schwab, Kathleen Propp, Joan Wade, Ashley Hesse, Sean Fitzgerald, Vue Thao, Tom Willadsen, and Steven Powers.

CSO has been looking at the large role that state revenue decisions play in our community. The budget proposed by the Governor and amended by the Joint Finance Committee is being debated now by the entire legislature in Madison.

According to Mark Harris, Winnebago County Executive, “At this community meeting, we will discuss the growing state budget deficit and how it may affect Oshkosh. We want to inform and involve citizens so state legislators hear their opinions before the budget is finalized. The decisions our state legislators make may raise our property taxes and jeopardize local services for years to come.”

CSO has met at least monthly since November to discuss the role that state revenue and decisions play in local public structures from law enforcement to schools to human services and economic development. They have been studying reforms at the state level that could make Oshkosh stronger.

Interested members of the community are encouraged to attend the meeting on June 15 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Call 231-4770 for more information

Common Council Live Chat

2009-06-09T18:07:00.001-05:00

Thanks to The Chief for turning us on to this.

(Pardon while we work out the bugs)

Common Council 6/9/09

Common Council Meeting June 9 Preview

2009-06-09T11:42:00.002-05:00

Tonight's Common Council meeting should prove to be as interesting as always. Unfortunately I will likely miss the beginning if not all of it.

Some highlights:

Harold Buchholz - Welcome the seventh member, but everyone wants to know what kind of tie he will be wearing...
Liquor Licenses - I think this council is done pussyfooting around with unused licenses. The Granary may make a good case but HoJos is out.
Res 09-209 is the Parking Lot Resolution. Mayor Esslinger's public opposition has made this a higher profile issue than it needs to be. This will pass 5-2, as Palmeri, Poeschl and Buchholz will join King and Tower in voting for the Parking Lot.
Wastewater Treatment Plant (09-211 and 09-212) - the DNR gave the city wastewater treatment plant good marks (straight A's! but is there "grade inflation" occuring???). 212 calls for an end to the "emergency" that permitted the city to replace some equipment waiving the bid process. I know this "emergency" irritated Palmeri when it happened, will he take to the pulpit?
Board Appointments - Oh no! Will the appointments be politicized??? What? Mayor Esslinger is appointing Polly Briley and Tina Haffeman to the Landmarks Commission? I thought he only appointed political allies... Stop the presses, "Esslinger Appoints Qualified Citizens to City Board." And the Chief was convinced he would appoint Michelle Monte? Even the best can be wrong sometimes I guess.
City Manager Goals - Yawn. Will this just get finalized and put to bed?
Recycling Bins - This one could be interesting. The Northwestern is backing the City Manager's suggestion that they just buy the bins with a one time charge rather than take out a million dollar loan. They compare it to charging a pack of gum and paying interest on it for years. I think they are right - buy the bins, no more debt.
Poeschl and the Bike Plan - Poeschl has noticed a discussion on the Bike & Pedestrian Plan as part of Council Member Statements. It seems as if the public will be able to weigh in, at least the VP of the Oshkosh Cycling Club plans to do so. The City has just put together a 15 member committee that is charged with overseeing the development of an updated Bike and Pedestrian plan, but their job should be easy since the plan development has been outsourced to a third party. The President of the Cycling Club is on the Committee, as is a member of the Sustainability Advisory Board. Commuter biking in Oshkosh is a huge problem and will likely be a continuing topic of conversation as the new plan is developed and as major arterial roads are rebuilt with (or more likely without) bike lanes.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory of City Operations - part of the City Manager's report, this is an undertaking of the Sustainability Advisory Board and the first step towards the development of a Sustainability Action Plan to reduce GHG emissions in Oshkosh. You can read the report yourself online here.

Enjoy the meeting! I hope the Chief puts up another live chat thing...

Leach Amphitheater Summer 2009

2009-06-08T12:30:00.001-05:00

The 2009 summer season at the Leach Amphitheater in downtown Oshkosh marks the first year this facility is being run by the city (the municipal government - specifically, the parks dept). The season was opened the last weekend in May with Waterfest and a weekend-long Irish Fest. Irish Fest was the first show organized by the city, and seemed to have gone quite well - fun, good music, and good weather. I am unsure of attendance and revenue figures, which obviously are significant indicators of success.

Additional summer programming includes music shows by local high school bands, the increasingly popular Brews N Blues, the Golden Dragon Acrobats, a major country act, and several other small programs. What isn't evident is an array of local musical acts or theater shows, despite a healthy local music and theater scene in the Fox Valley. According to the current schedule available on the Leach site, many of the Saturdays are open - nothing scheduled. Information available on the Leach website indicates a dedication to providing local programming, suggesting that this type of programming may be coming.

I have been an advocate for city coordination of this facility since January 2006. According to a Sept 08 post on MainstreetOshkosh.com:

In March of 05, Tony Palmeri and I had spoken at the council meeting in which the residing council members spoke of delusions of grandeur regarding the Leach... We simply requested that the facility serve the taxpayers who funded it, allowing access to local community groups and artists. This didn't happen. Now, it seems, that many are "coming to their senses" and recognizing the importance this fabulous facility can play for our local community - now including those individuals and groups who are eager to organize exciting programming at this facility, but who maybe couldn't afford the $1500+ rental charges previously requested.

I was pleased to see the city take control of the facility, with a focus on bringing in wanted acts, hosting and facilitating local programming, and running a top-notch facility.

I still think the city needs help. As stated in 2008, The Leach provides an amazing opportunity for UW Oshkosh business major interns and UW Oshkosh Marketing interns to work closely with staff on maximizing the use of this facility. Further, Human Services student interns may be able to collaborate with community agencies to expand partnerships in that direction.

I still think the Parks Dept needs help, as stated in 2008:

I second the call by Dr Palmeri for a Leach Advisory Board, and believe that putting the responsibilities on the current Parks Board would accomplish nothing. I would go further and call it an Advisory and Review Board, responsible for ensuring citizen input, participation, and approval of operations. The board should consist of at least one local musician, someone from the local media like Jane Spietz, someone from the local restaurant industry, someone from the university, someone from a local environmental program, a representative with WaterFest, and several others. Most importantly is that this group has the authority to guide and decide.

I think many people are skeptical of and resistant to the notion of the city effectively running this facility. But I also think the city has the capacity and potential to be excellent at operating one of the finer outdoor stages in Northeastern Wisconsin. I think it is time for the "gate keepers" to open the doors for further involvement, assistance, criticism, and promotion. Let's expand the programming, and bring in theatre, bring in Oshkosh area-rooted music acts like the Blueheels, let's try symphonic performances and fine dining meals like Madison's concert in the park, maybe partner with the local dance studios and feature local dance talent, and other ideas that the owners of the facility (Oshkosh residents) have.

Finally, I think everyone in Oshkosh and around the Valley should take a look at the programming available, and check out the facility for yourself. It is a beautiful setting and an amazing donation / contribution to our community.

1st Annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday, June 20th

2009-06-07T20:43:00.002-05:00

Attend the 1st Annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday, June 20th at Memorial Park in Appleton . This fun family event includes breakfast, children’s games, activities, and butterfly demonstrations. A group butterfly release will conclude the event. Proceeds benefit Parent Connection, a child abuse prevention program of Family Services,. Family Services provides valuable education and resources for families throughout the Fox Valley, including Oshkosh. For more information or to register, visit http://www.familyservicesnew.org/butterfly-festival.

According to Parent Connection supervisor Angie McCarthy, many of our families they are working with would like to attend, but can’t afford the $10 cost. If you would like to contribute to help assist a family, go to the website & register. You can also contact Angie and discuss options for helping out - amccarthy@familyservicesnew.org , 920.233.1926

Invest in Downtown Oshkosh - Start With the Parking Lot

2009-06-04T15:29:00.004-05:00

Downtown, things will be great when you're
Downtown, no finer place for sure
Downtown, every thing's waiting for you

Downtown Oshkosh has been suffering for many years, stores abandoned as shoppers drove instead to first malls then Wal-Mart and the 41 Corridor where shopping without a car is virtually impossible. Left behind are shells of former small businesses in between family owned businesses that are doing just fine.

In the last 25 years, the money has followed the trends of the time and taxpayer money has gone to develop the Corridor and other growing parts of the city. However the trend toward strip malls and big box retail stores is declining in America and there is a resurgent trend toward "walkable communities", urban in-fill, and re-building the sense of "community" that Main Street America always embodied.

Note the successes of the Harry Potter event downtown, the Public Enemies shooting, the monthly gallery walks, the movies in the park, Waterfest, and other events that drew are are drawing increasing numbers to downtown Oshkosh. Note the businesses that have survived from the past (Kitz & Pfeil), and the continuing success of a handful of businesses that are staying afloat if not thriving (New Moon Cafe, House of Heroes, Oblios, Apple Blossom Books, Salon Mode, the Exclusive, etc.). Also note that building owners downtown are investing in their properties and improving their appearance and functionality.

Notice to those who say Downtown Oshkosh is dead: there are still lots of people shopping downtown.

Downtown Oshkosh, like it or not, is on the verge of a renaissance. Put aside the fact that close to half the store fronts are empty right now and consider that Main Street from the Fox River up to (...?) will be completely redone and redesigned next year. The buildings are getting make overs. The Convention Center has been remodeled, and the Hotel was just purchased by people that want to make it a top notch joint. The library is hopping, events downtown keep people coming, and after Main Street is redone those store fronts on Main Street are going to be in high demand for small businesses ready to jump into the New Downtown. Downtown Oshkosh has the potential to flourish once 2010 turns into 2011.

About that Parking Lot...

The parking lot behind the buildings on the east side of the street is owned by the city - its called "public parking". It provides parking for downtown shoppers, as well as over flow parking for the always busy public library, parades, and Waterfest. When Main Street is closed in 2010, that parking lot will be the entrance to those shops that are hoping to weather the construction storm and make it through to the boom. And just as important, that parking lot (as well as the one behind Kitz & Pfeil) are visually an integral part of Downtown and the downtown experience. Visitors from out of town with their out of town money are more likely to come back to Oshkosh and spend their money if they found it easy to park. (It sounds lame, but its true.) The parking lot is going to be nice - it will meet all of the current standards for parking, including rain water "sinks" to reduce flood causing run off, and all of the tree-bush-flower requirements that the city makes businesses put into their parking lots.

In other words, for $600,000 to $900,000 you are going to get a pretty sweet parking lot - and it all supports downtown redevelopment.

City Hall and the Common Council have already put their money where their mouths are - the funding for this parking lot has been secured. Investment in Downtown Oshkosh only comes around about once every five years. If the current Council supports downtown redevelopment and investment like I think they do (and I think they should) than they won't stop this project from happening. The fact that the Mayor and one other Councilor have come out against the project is disappointing but hopefully the other 5 Councilors will continue their support for Downtown Oshkosh.

City of Oshkosh Begins Beach Water Testing

2009-06-03T08:17:00.003-05:00

According to the ONW,

The testing at Menominee Park beach started on Wednesday. Initial results showed E. coli levels of 166.4 bacteria per 100 milliliters of water during that day and much lower levels on the following day.

The story also included an interview with Colleen McDermott, and said the following:

In 2002, a team of microbiologists from UW-O found high levels of E. coli in the water, but the city said it wasn't responsible for the beach and ignored those results, said Colleen McDermott, a UW-O professor for microbiology, who worked on the 2002 project. City officials said at that time a "swim at your own risk" sign posted at the beach put the liability in beachgoers hands. "We were finding high level of E. coli that if it were Lake Michigan, then they would've required that beach to shut down," McDermott said.

I'm very pleased to see that this is happening, and believe the significant change in the city that is allowing this to take place is the new city manager Mark Rohloff. This small endeavor that he has helped facilitate is hopefully a sign of the positive steps our city will be taking under his guidance.

For some past information on getting the testing going, check out MainstreetOshkosh story HERE and EyeOnOshkosh story HERE.

Winnebago County Posts Water Sampling Results Online

2009-06-02T12:11:00.003-05:00

The results of water sampling at points throughout Winnebago County are now available on the county's website at http://www.wclwcd.org/health/sampling_sites.html.

Testing results are available dating back to the summer of 2008, and are current through May 27, 2009 as of this post. Testing includes 10 locations, including several in the Oshkosh area. Of particular notice is the frequency of high contamination levels at the county park beach.

Congrats to the county for completing this testing and for promptly posting it for public access. This is an example of quality government service.

The next question that comes out of such testing is what steps can be taken to remedy contamination levels such as those demonstrated at the county park beach?

"Recall Doyle" Group Forms in Oshkosh

2009-05-31T23:09:00.002-05:00

A local chapter of the statewide "Recall Doyle" initiative is organizing in Oshkosh, and is inviting potential volunteers to an "organizing and information meeting" at the Robbin's Restaurant (1810 Omro Rd) on June 2, at 7 p.m.

From their press release:

Coming after a packed house of over 250 in Milwaukee, the Recall Doyle team will hold an organizing and information meeting on Tuesday, June 2nd, 7PM at the Robbins Restaurant 1810 Omro Rd, Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920-235-2840).

The hour-long presentation is designed to inform citizens about their recall rights and statutory obligations, recruit volunteer circulators and local organizers, provide information about the progress of the Doyle recall effort, and explain the strategic benefits of recalling Jim Doyle as early as possible. Educational and promotional material such as organizer kits, buttons, yard signs, and other items will be available to attendees.

Those unable to attend can log onto www.RecallDoyle.com and learn more about the recall effort, as well as sign on to be a volunteer, circulator, or organizer. Currently over 3,000 people have signed up to help the recall effort. The recall will officially launch when 10,000 volunteers have been recruited.

The group appears affiliated with another group, Wisconsinites Interest Now (WIN) and the Citizens for Responsible Government, both of which are conservative action organizations in Wisconsin.

Weird Day for Oshkosh Wildlife

2009-05-30T08:51:00.004-05:00

I was taking a bike ride this morning, and not far from home I saw a white-tail deer bounding up Merrill Street, heading up to New York Ave two blocks from Main Street. I hit the brakes and watched the small buck with three inches of velvety antlers bounding six feet up in the air and crashing down on what passes for pavement on Merrill Street. It may have been the first visit of deer in my neighborhood in more than a century. Where the deer originated is a mystery; whether it was from the North, South, or East I can't say for sure. I have a hunch that it was a displaced quarry deer; the ancient lava field that is Merrill St. must have reminded it of home.

I headed up on to the Wiowash Trail and observed the usual wildlife suspects, admiring the yellow-headed black birds, yellow warblers and soaring white pelicans. As I was returning home through the city streets I passed a mother duck with six or seven tiny ducklings in tow on the corner of Wisconsin and Lincoln, heading south to the river. While it was a pretty good distance from the river, such a sighting in Oshkosh is not that unusual, except that these weren't mallards, they were wood ducks. The mother must have found a nice hollow tree, probably a silver maple, to nest in somewhere nearby. I stopped to watch them and they quickly disappeared into some shrubs. I wished them good luck running the rubber and steel gauntlet on their way to Fox, and pedaled the same gauntlet home.

Much Ado About Nothing

2009-05-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

The big to-do about Bob Poeschl and Tony Palmeri caused by Jef Hall's accusations finally started to bother me, because I consider both Bob and Tony as friends. When I watched the Council meeting live on TV I didn't even notice anything awry - I was still processing the Harold Buchholz choice given my recent thoughts that this guy had some dark horse legitimacy. The fact that Bob wanted a break before making his pick didn't surprise me, he doesn't like being rushed and he usually wants to think his votes through carefully before going "on the record". This is pre-Council Bob Poeschl.

I didn't even notice Jef Hall's accusations until the next day, after I had already written a short post here welcoming Harold to the Council. So I was a little surprised when I learned what Jef Hall had written in the morning - with a straight face accusing Tony and Bob of violating open meetings laws, and also at the meeting moments after (via Twitter) he mentioned it after it was clear that the Council was going to appoint Harold Buchholz and not Stephen Hintz to the seventh seat on the Council.

Stephen Hintz is a good guy, I talked him up here on an earlier post. He is also State Representative Gordon Hintz's father, and both father and son are very active in the local Democratic Party, which Jef Hall Chairs. So I thought maybe Hall was just going to bat for Hintz, taking pot shots at Bob and Tony for not voting for Hintz. I didn't see a big deal here.

Then the story got legs, even making it into the Oshkosh Northwestern, who got quotes from Bob, Tony, and Jef Hall. So, time to look into the story. I didn't want to call Tony because I knew he had just left town for a long vacation. I called Bob, talked to him a few times with some questions. Then I decided to watch the tape again, because when Council is on break, they keep the cameras on, but the screen is tinted blue and there is text blocking some of the view. But this is what I saw:

Palmeri, Tower, and McHugh had all spoken and named their choices, Buchholz, Hintz, and Buchholz. Esslinger is asking for someone else to speak next. Bob is reading over his notes, it looks like about 5 pages, and comparing them to what appears to be the resumes in front of him on the table. Esslinger asks again for someone else to speak up. King is looking down at the papers on the table, Poeschl looking over his notes.
Finally Poeschl says "...I'm still kinda sifting through my thoughts here,,,that's why I... why I'm...not, you know, being front...with... how I feel about [goes inaudible as Esslinger interrupts and asks him if he wants to take a break.] Poeschl continues "...I would appreciate that...there is a great amount of ...[inaudible] evidence here ...[rest inaudible as Esslinger calls for a five minute break.]

At this point, to me it appeared as if Bob had either not made his decision yet, or he was trying to figure out what to say when he did make his pick. Why King hadn't spoken up yet I don't know. Esslinger, as Mayor, was obviously waiting to go last, excercising Mayoral "priviledge".

So what happened on the break. The "five minute break" to allow Poeschl to collect his thoughts was actually 7 minutes and 15 seconds. During this time, the six councilors were coming and going and talking, along with non-Councilor and applicant for the seventh seat Larry Spanbauer. These seven people were the ones on camera most of the time during the break. This is how it played out (times are approximate):

00:00 - Break begins. Tower is up and off stage, McHugh stands up, Esslinger and Palmeri immediately start talking, appear to be smiling or laughing. Poeschl is looking over notes, King is looking over notes.
00:30 - Larry Spanbauer approaches Jessica King. Poeschl still looking over notes. Esslinger and Palmeri still talking.
01:00 - McHugh walks over to Esslinger and Palmeri and joins their conversation. Poeschl looking over notes, King talking with Spanbauer.
01:30 - Palmeri leans over to Poeschl and says something. Esslinger and McHugh talking, Spanbauer and King talking.
02:15 - Spanbauer leaves King, walks past Poeschl and Palmeri, stops at Esslinger. King gets up and leaves. Palmeri talking to Poeschl as Poeschl continues reviewing notes.
03:00 - Tower enters, Tower and Spanbauer talk in front of Council dias, Esslinger& McHugh talking behind dias, Palmeri & Poeschl talking in their seats.
03:30 - King returns, goes off camera into the gallery. Poeschl & Palmeri still talking, Palmeri is smiling about something.
04:00 - same arrangement, Palmeri & Poeschl talking, Esslinger & McHugh talking, Tower & Spanbauer talking.
04:30 - Poeschl & Palmeri talking on and off as Poeschl continues reviewing his notes.
05:00 - Palmeri now listening in on McHugh & Esslinger's conversation, Tower & Spanbauer still talking right in front of them, Poeschl alone with his notes.
06:00 - Poeschl interjects into the conversation between Palmeri, McHugh and Esslinger, then goes back to his notes. Tower & Spanbauer still talking.
06:45 - King returns. Poeschl on notes, Palmeri, Esslinger and McHugh talking.
07:00 - Spanbauer leaves, Tower takes his seat. McHugh takes his seat.
07:15 - breat ends.

Given the evidence before me, Poeschl was looking over his notes for 1 1/2 minutes before Palmeri started talking to him. Poeschl continued reviewing his notes during the first part of the ensuing 3 minute conversation, but about half way through was talking to Palmeri more than looking at notes. For the last two to two and a half minutes, Palmeri is talking with Esslinger and McHugh, and Poeschl is for the most part looking over his notes.

What I saw in this scene was Poeschl trying to "sift his thoughts", Palmeri basically distracting him for just under half the break (3 minutes), but other wise Poeschl was "sifting". Conversations were going on all around Poeschl, including three councilors all talking together, and an applicant for the seventh seat (Spanbauer) engaged in conversation with three separate councilors.

Spanbauer knows what Palmeri and Poeschl said to each other, he was right in front of them. King was there for the first part of their conversation. Esslinger and McHugh were right next to Tony. The Northwestern quoted Poeschl as stating that they did talk about the presentations, and Palmeri as stating that their conversation was "insignificant". I can imagine that Esslinger & McHugh were talking about the presentations, and Spanbauer and King were talking about the presentations, and the people in the hall were talking about the presentations, and the people at home watching on TV were talking about the presentations.

Did Palmeri tell Poeschl how to vote? No way.

Did Palmeri "influence" Poeschl's decision? And if he did, did he do it during that 3 minute discussion, or during his 3-5 minute monologue stating during the meeting why he was supporting Buchholz? Unknown. I would not be surprised at all if Poeschl was influenced by Palmeri's public comments, but I would be very surprised if Palmeri actually tried to convince Poeschl to vote for Buchholz.

In conclusion, I think Palmeri should not have distracted Poeschl during the break, because the break was called to give Poeschl (and King, by proxy) a chance to review their notes and prepare to offer their selections. On top of this, Poeschl and Palmeri should not have been talking about the presentations given where they were at on the agenda at the time the break was called. Neither did anything illegal or unethical though. I am no lawyer, but people who understand quorum rules have convinced me that no open meetings violations occured.

So this is really and truly "Much Ado About Nothing". Jef Hall has a grudge against Palmeri going back at least as far as Tony's 2004 State Assembly campaign as a Green Party candidate, and he has an axe to grind. I think that Jef Hall dislikes the fact that his County Democrats endorsed Palmeri for Council, and he dislikes the fact that Palmeri (and Poeschl to a degree) appears allied with Esslinger (another person Hall dislikes) and I think Hall is making hay out of nothing for political points.

In other words, this is just politics as usual.