Fifth Tuesday Forum called a success

Council Members Engage with Residents in Fifth Tuesday Forum


March 31, 2005
For Immediate Release


Four members of the Oshkosh Common Council met Tuesday with residents
at Reeve Memorial Union in what they hope will be the first of many
Fifth Tuesday Forums. Tuesday evening's open listening session was
organized by Council candidate Bryan Bain to encourage communication
among Oshkosh citizens and their elected officials. Residents spent
nearly two hours with council members Mark Harris, Brian Poeschl,
Shirley Mattox and Frank Tower discussing a wide range of topics --
from the controversial Five Rivers Resort Project, to how to design a
better City Hall website.


"This is a great way for city council members to interact with residents in a relaxed, casual environment," said Mayor Mark Harris. "I find it very encouraging that the City Council is so eager to spend this timee talking about what issues people are really concerned about right now."


The group began the evening by discussing the best way to run the
town-hall style meeting so that all citizens had a chance to speak out
while still keeping some structure and focus to the dialog.
"We also need to invite members of the County board, school board and
state legislators," said Mike Norton, himself a County board member.


Keeping the focus on accessible local government, the group then
debated changing the hours of city departments so that citizens have
more time to interact with City Hall. Poeschl and Norton voiced
concerns about the old, complicated City of Oshkosh Website and
offered suggestions on how to make it more user-friendly, including a
place for feedback and comments from constituents.


Much of the discussion highlighted current hot-button issues, focusing
in great detail on downtown and riverfront revitalization. One
resident asked how the city can take a more proactive role in
promoting the Grand Opera House, while another suggested researching
how to open a co-op grocery store on Main Street.


But current issues like Five Rivers Resort and what to do with Pollock
Pool gave way to less talked about ideas such as how to turn the
Vulcan Quarry into a recreational facility on the westside of Oshkosh
and the possibility of changing bus routes to make it easier to get to
and from county park on public transportation.


"We hit on a lot of topics tonight, and it was great to see how
enthusiastically we discuss things when we're not under the formal
structure of a City Council meeting", said Deputy Mayor Frank
Tower. "These kind of listening sessions are definitely something I'd
like to see continued in the future."


Bain explained there are four months out of the year that have five
Tuesdays, lending the name of the forum. He said people are used to
associating Tuesdays with council meetings and hopes that, if the
listening sessions continue regularly, the forum will see higher
turnout of active residents. "With the great discussion we had here
tonight, I think this truly has the potential to become an
excellent way for citizens and council members to more effectively
communicate with one another", Bain said.


"I think it was great to see how excited these city councilors are
about discussing issues with us", said Oshkosh resident Thomas
Pedersen. "They took the time to meet with the people and really dove
into issues that concern us. Their passion and commitment to Oshkosh
is very exciting."


For more information, please contact:

Bryan Bain, (920) 651-9329
Mark Harris, (920) 232-8688
Frank Tower, (920) 426-2405
Shirley Mattox, (920) 233-2833
Brian Poeschl, (920) 231-4581
Mike Norton, (920) 426-1051
David Machotka, (920) 203-2492

Results of campus straw poll

At the March 23 candidates’ forum on the UW Oshkosh campus, Oshkosh News asked attendees to participate in a straw poll. We have already published the qualitative results from that poll, and we’ve been asked to publish the quantitative results.

We do so with some hesitation. We have no way of knowing whether the forum attendees were representative of UW Oshkosh voters as a whole, and of course we have no way of knowing whether UW Oshkosh voters are representative of the city as a whole (although we suspect not).

On the other hand, we don’t know of any other effort to gauge citizen sentiment in the current campaign, and so we thought the straw poll results might be interesting to think about and talk about.

We make no argument about their scientific validity or predictive value. (Also note that the percentages don’t sum to 100 due to rounding.)

With those disclaimers, here are the poll questions and responses:

1. If you were voting today, who would be your choice for mayor?

Bill Castle.................55%
Paul Esslinger..........33%
Other.......................11%

2. If you were voting today, which the following candidates would get your vote?

Bryan L. Bain........................... 22%
Cheryl Hentz........................... 6%
Joe Jungwirth........................... 13%
Shirley Brabender Mattox......... 28%
Brian Poeschl........................... 3%
Meredith Scheuermann.................. 30%
Other........................... 3%

3. Of the following city issues, please indicate the three that are most important to you and will most affect how you vote.


Accountability in city government......... 3%
Downtown development.................. 21%
Housing costs/availability.................. 9%
Quality of life.................. 24%
Taxes & fees.................. 9%
Public pool.................. 6%
Revitalizing the riverfront......... 9%
Restaurant smoking ban......... 3%
Street repairs.................. 15%
Structure of city government......... 0%

Northwestern coverage questioned

(I have sent the following email to Alex Hummel, reporter at the Oshkosh Northwestern and am posting it here for others to see.)

Alex,

I wanted to write you an email to say some things in defense of Paul Esslinger and about the tactics the Northwestern is employing with respect to him in these last days before the election.

First of all, as you know Paul has explained to you he does not know Gerald Turner (or the alias he goes by of Andy Turner). I also understand that you personally spoke with Mr. Turner after the article entitled "The Men Who Would Be Mayor" ran this past Sunday and he also explained that he doesn't really know Paul Esslinger quite the way your article made him out to. Yet, even knowing the truth, I have not seen any kind of correction or retraction in the paper. This is disappointing and violates the basics of Journalism 101. To add insult to injury, a letter to the editor from Mr. Turner (scroll down) endorsing Bill Castle ran in the paper the following day after your article appeared. How coincidental. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, especially since the Northwestern is always pretty transparent in its coverage of certain elected officials or elected official wannabes.

Gerald Turner also supposedly told Jane Van De Hey that some of the things printed in your article were not exactly what was said. Since I am getting this information third-hand I don't know if it is true or not, but I would hope that if that is really what Mr. Turner said, he would have conveyed those sentiments to you as well when you spoke to him. If so, will you be running a retraction or correction on it as well?

Now I understand your newspaper is going to run an article Thursday morning on a question posed by Jef Hall at last week's mayoral debate on Mr. Esslinger's position on Affirmative Action issues. As you know Jef Hall has been making an issue of a piece Mr. Esslinger wrote on my show's web site last year about Affirmative Action and why it should be done away with. Mr. Hall seems to be of the misguided opinion that because Paul is not in favor of Affirmative action that he is somehow a racist. Nothing could be further from the truth and Mr. Hall continues to dance dangerously close to slandering Mr. Esslinger with his comments. If anyone reads the piece they can see for themselves there is nothing racist or bigoted about Mr. Esslinger's remarks. But some people want to make something as insignificant as this an issue in a campaign where the city councils neither sets nor enforces Affirmative Action policies. Congratulations! The Northwestern is now a player in the same silly game. I can only hope that you or some other reporter will also run a similar article on Bill Castle's union-busting tactics from years ago. How he feels about unions and how he treats workers in his own employ should be considered more relevant than how someone feels about Affirmative Action - especially since one is directly related to how one conducts themselves on the council dais in their dealings with labor and industry. But since the newspaper has made its position on this election very clear, I rather doubt such an article on Mr. Castle will be forthcoming.

One also has to question Jef Hall's timing and motives. The comments on Affirmative Action were placed on a public web site at least a year ago - perhaps longer - yet Mr. Hall never brought them up when Paul Esslinger ran for city council last year. Now when the position of mayor is at stake, he brings this silliness forward. I only hope that the people in this community will see him and his actions for what they are and the newspaper's motives for what they are as well. This is why people do not like the Oshkosh Northwestern.

I realize you do not make the final decision on what your paper runs, nor do I know how much input you have in the decision-making process. But this entire story idea is ridiculous and between that and the piece already written with no correction or retraction the actions being displayed are reprehensible and certainly violate the paper's code of ethics. Whoever has made the final decision on these things should be ashamed of themselves.

And win or lose on Tuesday, I will be having Paul Esslinger on Eye on Oshkosh the next time we tape to have a complete opportunity to explain his position on things and to clear up anything that may not be printed accurately in your upcoming article.

Cheryl Hentz

Some choice!

This came in by e-mail.

Some choice!
By Jay Bullock

It is that time of year again in Wisconsin: Our Department of Public Instruction has announced that 171 schools have applied to be a part of Milwaukee's voucher program next year. That is more than the 154 applicants last year, and way more than the 117 voucher--or "choice"--schools open last September. (Last September is a distinction that will be important in a moment.)

One disturbing element in this whole thing--and there are so many to choose from--is this: "The new batch of applicants includes some established schools that have decided to join the program--for example, Milwaukee Lutheran High School--but many are start-ups." One of the arguments that I make regularly about the voucher system as it exists here in Milwaukee is that it establishes very appealing incentives for anyone with a few friends and an occupancy permit to set up a "school" and start collecting tax dollars. (I have the highest respect for Milwaukee Lutheran--and there are many other schools, the majority, in fact, that do good work.)

How can this be? you might ask, especially those of you not from Wisconsin. Well, the answer is simple: Our Legislature, in its Infinite Wisdom (or perhaps, blinded by its sheer idiocy) refuses to establish even a single academic standard that these voucher schools must meet. Not. A. Single. One.

The only mechanism in place to make sure our taxpayer money is spent well is that a school must have a sound business plan. Does it matter what they plan to teach the kids? Goodness, no, we should not interfere in that. But we have to make sure they will stay afloat!

And, remember, these restrictions only came into place a year ago--after more than a dozen years of choice in Milwaukee. And these rules only came about because of massive fraud going on at some of these fly-by-night schools. You might think that problems like the ones described in the link at Mandela school would automatically be solved by the market. You know, parents would pull their kids out and the school was closed. Not so. As I wrote last spring:

The sad case of Alex's Academics of Excellency (yes, that is its real name) is instructive. This is a school that was ordered closed by Milwaukee's building inspectors in 1999, back when it was just Alex's Academic of Excellence. After moving repeatedly during the 1999-2000 school year, that summer the school's CEO (a convicted rapist) was jailed for tax fraud in an unrelated case. This was around the same time a private voucher program was refusing to send students to the school because it did not meet their academic standards. By the fall of 2003, the school was still open (now known as Alex's Acadmics of Excellence) and getting my taxpayer money while staff got stoned and drunk instead of teaching the children, and the state had to explain how its hands were tied.



This market approach to education is just plain stupid. It's like, stupid-and-a-half. Continuing on in that post from last spring:

The solution is clearly not the market--and what we're really talking about here is a free (or at least free-er) market for education. In any market, there are winners and there are losers. But we're not talking about losers like New Coke or Daewoo here--we're talking about children. Do we really, really want to say that the market, which guarantees losers among the winners, is the best way to educate our children?



This is doubly important based on the second thing that disturbs me about DPI's new list: "The list includes at least one person who was a key figure in a large voucher school recently closed by DPI order. Ricardo Brooks, who was an administrator of Academic Solutions, is listed as the administrator of a proposed school to be called Northside High School." Why does this matter? Because Academic Solutions is this year's poster child for failing choice schools.

I know this not just because of what I read, but because of what my students tell me--my students who have come to my school after Academic solutions closed following what can only be described as a riot. And they verify--and elaborate on--all the things I have read. Things like how the teachers stopped coming in to work after they stopped getting paid in November. Or things like absolute fraud in reporting the number students they should get paid for, so bad they called in the D.A.. Or things like this:The curriculum of that school--confirmed for me by former students and by Milwaukee police officers who were there--was videos. Why not? The teachers are not there. So the girl got an A for watching videos. Do you think that she really was getting the education she missed at the other school?

Ricardo Brooks, the guy from Academic Solutions who is looking to open a new school, said at the time of their appeal to stay open, "The school will be safe. [. . .] We don't have a bad school. We have a great school." This guy must have been blind to what was going on under his nose--serious fights every day while the teachers were MIA. And now he wants to try again? Give me a break!

Any expansion of the voucher program will only lead to more of this. And this should serve as a warning to anyone in other states considering "choice." Let them look at Milwaukee: It is not what I would choose.


March 22, 2005

Jay Bullock is a teacher in Milwaukee and he maintains the "folkbum rambles and rants" Web log at folkbum.com.

Truck gets Navy contract (and national notice)

Oshkosh Truck said today it received a $24 million contract to build a new tractor-trailer for the Navy.

The Associated Press recently sent a reporter this way, who filed this story about the higher volume of repair work being done due to the Iraq War.

What citizens want to know

Here are the audience questions that were submitted for the mayoral and Council candidates during Wednesday's forum at UW Oshkosh.

As it turns out, not all of them were actually posed. Candidates are invited to answer the unasked questions (such as the one about restaurant smoking) by posting comments below.

What steps would you support to make university students think of Oshkosh as their home?

How can you do this, legally change the form of government?

To Mr. Esslinger: You have written that you oppose rules that encourage diversity--saying you think Chancellor Kerrigan (sic) is wrong to encourage minority enrollment via Affirmative Action. How will these attitudes translate in how you deal with the university and minority business in Oshkosh.

With the loss of the veto power the mayor had as a result of the referendum, what authority will you have to enforce your vision for the city of Oshkosh?

To Mr. Esslinger, how will you be able to shake your reputation as a council member that refuses to take economic risk?

Mr. Esslinger--Your PAC has supported several candidates--many of these candidates have criticized other candidates that accept special interest money. However the community knows where the Chamber, unions nad Progress Oshkosh money comes from, but your PAC effectively shields its sources of revenue--what are they?

Why would you build a concert venue without bathrooms? Does that make any sense?

Should the Oshkosh Common Council be directly involved in promoting downtown special events? If so, what projects would you like to sponsor?

What role will the City Manager play with you as the Mayor? One Mayor candidate writes the city manager position may be eliminated? Please define your position as mayor and how you see it evolving.

Given our city's tight budget, what creative approaches would you offer to help the most marginalized members of our community--the homeless, children living in poverty, and the hungry?

For Paul Esslinger. 1. You believe the mayor should be elected by the people. If you are elected, it is likely that your council seat will be appointed (not elected). How do you feel about that? 2. If you really believe in electing all positions, why don't you resign your council seat to run for mayor.

Bill Castle has given up his seat on the council to run for mayor; Paul Esslinger,if elected for mayor, will leave an empty seat to be filled by an appointed, unelected citizen. Many difficult decisions are made by the City Council. How comfortable are you with only six elected councilors instead of seven representatives of the people?

What advantage would veto power be in a council-manager government? Would you want to get rid of the manager? If so, why are you more qualified to run the city than the city manager?

How will you represent us as UWO students fairly? And how do you feel about the current unfair treatment of UWO students by the city, rather it be the police/parking enforcements focussing most of their efforts by the campus & the revocation of the block party permit to Amherst Ave?

Will you support a restaurant smoking ban?

No Reality for Bloechl in City Debate

This came in from "Oshkosh Future."

While I enjoy Melanie Bloechl’s spirit and personality from time-to-time, her letter to the editor in the March 23 Northwestern (scroll down) was misguided, untruthful, and ignorant to the real issues the city is facing and the dialogue that has already taken place among council candidates.

When people in politics have nothing to resort to, they often start throwing around labels like "tax and spenders". At last week’s council debate every candidate was asked whether he or she supported cutting city staff, raising taxes, or expanding the tax base to pay for city services. Expanding the tax base was the number one response although candidates including Cheryl Hentz acknowledged the willingness to raise taxes for worthwhile services. I never heard Mattox, Bain, or Schererman say "they’re comfortable spending your hard-earned money on proposed projects, even though they haven’t reviewed plans or asked if you can afford them." Translation: You do not understand what you are talking about Melanie and it is a little disappointing.


Why? Because the increases in government spending have little to do with downtown projects and everything to do with:

1. the increased cost of health care for city employees
2. the increased cost of fuel and utilities
3. and declining state aid to the city

The only way to pay for all of the city services we need (from these uncontrollable costs mentioned to addressing streets and other infrastructure) without grossly increasing taxes is to grow the tax base. Projects like the public library expansion, Opera House Square, and the amphitheater have more than just social benefit, but rather a great economic benefit to individual taxpayers. It is not whether to invest in development of not, but rather how we invest.

Working with the county, the state, the region, etc. to best determine how to deliver services most efficiently will be a priority as all are under financial pressure.

A large number of city employees have their salary and benefits determined by the collective bargaining process. Ms. Blochel should know this. And actually, while health care costs are skyrocketing in the public and private sector, our City Manager has been effective comparatively at keeping costs down and getting city employees to pay co-pays.

As for the non-represented employees, there is a pretty clear classification system in place with 11 or so steps. The step increases are based upon the collective bargaining process with the represented employees. The city did a salary study a few years ago that determined where we were versus other cities. Sure, we can cut salaries and positions, but campaign populism has consequences, in this case quality. Are we better off as taxpayers with a quality, creative, efficient workforce, or with the cheapest we can find.

As for council members like Mr. Esslinger being "watchdogs", don’t go to Tan Lines and then say you went to Florida.

Here are some facts to review:

* Mr. Esslinger supported Melanie Blochel’s effort to examine a brand new $26 million City Hall. Thankfully Mark Harris, Shirley Maddox, and Bill Castle led the effort to save taxpayers $23 million when they purchased the county building for a new police facility.
* Esslinger was behind the city repaving Burnwood Drive near his High Oak residence near the airport. Because the repaving included property belonging to the Town of Nekimi, city of Oshkosh taxpayers had to pay over $200,000 to cover the loss of assessed property contribution. Way to go Watchdog!
* If the so-called "watchdogs" wanted to have an open bid process on the amplitheater bathrooms, why didn’t they support keeping the bathrooms included as part of the original project which would have been subject to open bidding. Mr. Castle, Ms. Maddox, and Mr. Harris did.
* If Mr. Esslinger is opposed to any tax increase, he should explain what city services should be cut, and what employees need to be laid off. Of course, he has voted for tax increases in the past.
* Respect for citizens would involve actually attending the city’s budget hearings, which Mr. Esslinger has not. (more than stopping by)

I thought the debate last week showed improved dialouge between all candidates. Unfortunately, Ms. Blochel missed that.

Citizens comment at UW-O forum

OshkoshNews collected comments from citizens at Wednesday's candidate forums at UW Oshkosh.

We collected them on an anonymous basis, which seems appropriate since the voting booth is a place where we express our opinions without attaching our names. We make no claims about the scientific validity or the predictive value of the comments.

They are simply what they are: expressions of citizen opinions.

Bryan Bain seems to have a plan. He is well-spoken, understands the issues. Mr Bain seems to understand what college students want or need. Vote Bain.

Hentz: on her best behavior
Scheuermann: not particularly articulate
Mattox: enthusiastic
Bain: intelligent and forward thinking

Bryan Bain plainly has a vision for the City of Oshkosh, one where the citizen's voice is heard, government officials are held accountable and one where Oshkosh will move forward increasing the tax base and increasing the quality of life within the city. Bryan Bain is a visionary. He is the positive change necessary to move the city forward in the these times of budgeting constraints.

It is interesting to see that Joe, Cheryl and Brian said almost the same things even though they talk about the current council being a block vote. Do we really want another block vote on the common council?

I was surprised that all of the candidates support 501(c)5 (PAC) endorsements. This is a local election!!! The position pays only $1,500 per year and they are spending the citizens' money. This money can be used in more integral avenues rather than influencing any candidates campaign, money, or endorsements. We look for fiscal responsibility, but if they are asking for money (or accepting) from PACs, then how can we trust them? Having a PAC endorsement is giving them advertising, so even though money does not exchange hands, the impact is equal. Also they are all in favor for waterfront development. So who's going to pay for the pollution cleanup of our water. Industry creates pollution.

This is totally misleading and to publish the results is poor journalism!

Bryan Bain for bringing something new to the forum, new ideas for him.
Shirley Brabender Mattox, for restating why she ran four years ago.

The most interesting thing I heard was the Citizens for Responsible Goverment endorsements. All three candidates that were endorsed were members of the PAC? Does that truly lead to responsible government when they are using their own group for support. I think it is a conflict of interest. Obviously the six candidates are slated to two sides--progressive and regressive.

2 of the candidates for council are shifting toward the progressives.

Mattox was the only candidate who answered the question about urban sprawl, Perhaps OshkoshNews could pose the question to them again.

Potential voters would have had to be struck by Shirley B. Mattox's enthusiasm and passionate commitment to making Oshkosh a better place to live.

Paul Esslinger for the people. Vote for yourself. Elect Esslinger.

Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer coming to EAA AirVenture this summer!

There's more great news for EAA AirVenture 2005, which already has confirmed a stellar lineup of the world's most unique aircraft. The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, which Steve Fossett piloted in the first non-stop, non-refueled solo flight around the world, will take part in the 53rd annual edition of EAA AirVenture, "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration," on July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

GlobalFlyer completed its 67-hour flight around the world on March 3 after logging nearly 19,880 nautical miles (22,862 statute miles) and returning to its departure airport of Salina, Kan. Fossett, an EAA member who had already been the first person to fly a balloon around the world alone, had earlier expressed his wish to bring the airplane to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Virgin Atlantic's chairman and founder, Sir Richard Branson, proclaimed immediately after the flight that the aircraft would come to Oshkosh this summer.

The airplane is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday afternoon, July 26, and remain for at least several days. It will be parked on the AeroShell Square showcase ramp at the center of the EAA AirVenture grounds.

The GlobalFlyer was created by renowned aircraft designer Burt Rutan and the Scaled Composites team in Mojave, Calif. The journey had some anxious moments, however. Early in the flight, indicators onboard GlobalFlyer showed that the airplane did not have as much fuel as earlier projected, putting the flight's completion in jeopardy. Fossett used outstanding fuel management and tailwinds aloft to successfully fly the airplane back to Kansas.

GlobalFlyer has a 114-foot wingspan and is powered by a single Williams FJ44-3 ATW jet engine. It is capable of speeds in excess of 285 miles per hour and can fly to altitudes of 52,000 feet. GlobalFlyer's cockpit is just 7.7 feet long, just large enough for the pilot, plus food, water and personal equipment.

You can find out more at www.airventure.org.

Bain Plans ‘Fifth Tuesday Forum’ March 29th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 22ND, 2005
CONTACT: BRYAN BAIN 920.651.9329

Oshkosh Common Council candidate Bryan L. Bain announced today that he plans to hold a ‘Fifth Tuesday Forum’ on March 29th at Reeve Memorial Union.

Bain has championed the innovative “Fifth Tuesday” listening sessions throughout his campaign as a method for City Council members to stay in touch with voter questions, concerns and compliments.

“I propose a traveling forum throughout the community every month there is a fifth Tuesday,” Bain explains. “For example, in 2005 there are four months that have a fifth Tuesday (March, May, August, and November) and there can be four forums in four different locations within the city. It is not necessary for a forum to have a structured agenda. However, I would prefer a listening session for the community so citizens can ask questions, praise staff and council on issues, and express any concerns they have about the city.”

All current council members will be invited to the event, which will be held in Reeve Room 213 from 7 until 9 pm. Bain urges all voters interested in an accessible, accountable city government to come speak out at the event.

Security may be changed at summer events

Police Chief David Erickson is putting together a meeting next week to discuss security at summer special events.

"The Chief is questioning whether there is a way to provide better security for the summer events and associated costs for providing said security," said City Manager Richard Wollangk.

"I have been made aware that a number of Council Members have been contacted by various individuals with concerns regarding this issue," added Wollangk. "this is strictly an exploratory meeting. There is nothing proposed – the Chief just wants to get some input."

Now it's Truck that wants a waiver

Oshkosh Truck is asking the city to waive its rules on adopting zoning changes to accommodate its plans for expansion in the 300 block of West Waukau Avenue.

According to the weekly newsletter from City Manager Richard Wollangk:

"Oshkosh Truck is proposing to purchase the property, raze the existing structure, and use most of the property for a parking lot for their employees. In conjunction with the zone change, they are planning an expansion of their existing facility at 370 West Waukau Avenue. This expansion would encroach over the lot line between these two parcels. The parcels will be combined to implement this proposed expansion."

Wollagnk added:

"We have also received a letter ... from the attorney for Oshkosh Truck, requesting that the Council consider waiving the rules on this zone change and adopting it on first reading at next Tuesday evening’s Council Meeting. The reason for this request is to allow Oshkosh Truck to begin the construction of their expansion."

Regional Arts Day Coming April 1

Oshkosh Arts, The Grand Opera House and the Oshkosh Downtown Business Improvement District are proud to be the hosts of Regional Arts Day in Oshkosh. It will be held April 1, from 8 am - 4:30 pm at the Park Plaza Hotel. From the morning keynote speaker to the afternoon tours of downtown attractions, the day holds something for everyone interested in the Arts.

This Web site has all the details as well as an online registration form.

'Eye on Oshkosh' wins state award

I have been notified that cable access show "Eye on Oshkosh" has won an Award of Excellence from the Wisconsin Association of PEG Access Channels as part of the WAPC Video Festival.

There were more than 160 entries from over 25 Wisconsin communities and we were among 13 to receive this distinguished honor.

I am very grateful to the WAPC for this award and our entire crew wishes to thank them. I also want to personally thank the "Eye on Oshkosh" crew for all its hard work. These folks come in twice a month, some from out of town, and graciously volunteer their time. This award would not have been possible without them and I want them each to know how valuable they are to the success of the show and how deeply I appreciate having them a part of this program.

I also want to thank Melanie Bloechl for all her efforts during the first two years of the show. Though she needed to depart late last year because of professional commitments, etc., she was a part of the show for which we have received this award and it's only fitting that she share in the honor.

This show would not be possible without guests, so I feel it only fitting to thank the dozens of guests we've had on the show since its inception. They help make it what it is - informational, interesting and, often-times, controversial. But it is a highly watched show and that, I believe, is due in large part to the guests I have had the privilege of booking. So again, thanks to all the guests who have graced our set.

I also want to thank the staff at OCAT for their continued support and assistance when we need it. They have been wonderful to work with during the last 2 and 1/2 years or so and we look forward to a continued relationship with them.

Finally, I want to thank Tony Palmeri for all his efforts in stepping up to the plate when Melanie needed to step away. He is a true professional and it is indeed an honor and pleasure to have the opportunity to work with him.

Cheryl Hentz
Host/Producer, "Eye on Oshkosh"

FORWARD OSHKOSH URGES YOU TO VOTE

FORWARD OSHKOSH URGES YOU TO VOTE ON APRIL 5!!!

Forward Oshkosh was formed by a group of community-minded citizens and business owners who are interested in helping elect local officials who will make decisions that will ensure the positive future direction of Oshkosh. We stand at a crossroads that will require elected officials to thoughtfully consider and evaluate opportunities and issues, and then develop effective and efficient solutions.

As members of Forward Oshkosh, we share important philosophies that are essential to a flourishing community including:

* A commitment to continuous improvement in quality of life for all of our citizens.
* A commitment to fiscal responsibility
* A resolve to hold all levels of government accountable to the taxpayers
* A commitment to achieving revenue growth through genuine expansion of the tax base.
* A belief in the widespread positive effects of planned economic growth

The elected officials we select MUST have the capacity to evaluate issues with an open mind and positive outlook. They must accept the reality that a city with a business friendly environment and well established infrastructure will attract and sustain successful business owners who will provide jobs, opportunities, and economic growth for our community.

On April 5, we ask that you . . . . . . . . . .

Choose progress and success
Choose a flourishing community
Choose a positive direction for Oshkosh

. . . . .by voting for Bill Castle for Mayor of Oshkosh
and the following 3 candidates for Oshkosh City Council:

Meredith Scheuermann
Shirley Brabender Mattox
& Bryan Bain

PLEASE VOTE ON APRIL 5th !!!!!!

The future of Oshkosh depends on you.

Vigil planned for troops killed in Iraq

Marking the two-year anniversary of the United States’ invasion of Iraq, the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center (WPJC), in conjunction with other local activist groups and organizations, is sponsoring a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 19th. The vigil will be held in Opera House Square at Algoma Blvd and Main Street in Oshkosh.

“Over 1, 500 American troops have been killed in Iraq, including more than 30 from Wisconsin,” said Bob Poeschl, founder of the WPJC. “The casualties continue daily, even though President Bush called an end to major combat operations shortly after the war began. Two years after the invasion, we are calling on all local residents to come out and memorialize the lives lost in the Iraq war.”

Poeschl and fellow community organizers plan a half-hour of silence to observe lives lost in Iraq. Commemorative discourse is encouraged following the vigil.

CONTACT:
Bob Poeschl 920.203.6966
Bree Madison 920.231.7155

City candidates forum at UW-O

A forum featuring the candidates running for city office will be held on the UW Oshkosh campus on Wednesday, March 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Council forum will begin at 6:30 and will be followed by the mayoral forum at 7:30 in Room 202 of the Reeve Memorial Union. A question-and-answer period may follow.

In attention attendees will be invited to post their reactions and responses to the Oshkosh News Web site.

Sponsors of the forum include the Political Science Department, Political Science Student Association, Campus Greens, Women's Advocacy Council, Wisconsin Campus Compact and the Oshkosh Community News Network/Oshkosh News.

Peace rally set for March 19

The Fox Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Fox Valley Peace Coalition are sponsoring an outdoor peace rally on the second anniversary of the Iraq War, Saturday, March 19, 11:00 to 12:00, on the corner of College Ave. and Appleton St. in Appleton, followed by an indoor program with lots of music and chances for networking.


For information, contact:

Fox Valley Peace Coalition, Connie Kanitz,920-722-6438

or

Fellowship of Reconciliation - Fox Valley, Donna Van Grinsven,920-735-9198.

State says city violated bidding law

It apparently won't have any effect, but an assistant state attorney general issued an opinion earlier this week faulting the way the city went about awarding the contract for building restrooms at the new Amphitheater.

Read the rebuttal from City Attorney Warren Kraft here.

Miles Kimball wants to donate land

The owners of Miles Kimball want to donate their current offices to the city for redevelopment purposes. This would happen after the proposed move to City Center, according to this week's newsletter from City Manager Richard Wollangk.

The site is between 8th and 9th avenues.

Harrier confirms for EAA AirVenture 2005

Received word this week that the Harrier jump jet will be coming back to EAA AirVenture this summer. It's been very popular in previous years when it's been here. In case you're not familiar with the airplane, it's the Marines jet that can take off and fly forward, backwards, sideways or just hover.

It's scheduled to perform in the afternoon airshow on July 29-31 at the very least, and perhaps more.

For info is available at www.airventure.org.

Labor Council endorses Bain, Scheuermann

Contact: Stephen Dedow
Telephone: 920-688-2355
Email: winnebagolabor@hotmail.com


WINNEBAGO LABOR COUNCIL AFL-CIO ENDORSES CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL OFFICE IN APRIL ELECTION


The Winnebago County Labor Council AFL-CIO has completed their endorsement process and will be supporting the following candidates in the April general election.

For Oshkosh Common Council: Bryan Bain & Meredith Schuermann.

For Winnebago County Executive: Mark Harris

For Oshkosh School Board: Lee Wilson

For Circuit Court Branch 2: Scott Woldt

For Oshkosh Mayor: No Endorsement

The Winnebago County Labor Council represents over 5000 union members in Winnebago County. The endorsement process was based on answers received to labor based questions submitted to the prospective candidates.

“We feel that these candidates would best represent the interests of the working men and women of Wisconsin and especially Winnebago County. It is our belief that each one of these candidates brings to the table a special talent and vision which best addresses the concerns of the WCLC AFL-CIO,” stated Stephen Dedow President of the Winnebago County Labor Council.

SpaceShipOne coming to EAA this summer!

Maybe you've heard this news by now, but in case you haven't:

SpaceShipOne, the world's first successful civilian-built spaceship that captured the world's attention last fall by winning the $10 million Ansari X Prize, is coming to Oshkosh! The history-making spacecraft and its carrier aircraft, White Knight, have been confirmed for arrival at EAA AirVenture, July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

This is the ONLY planned public appearance of these two aircraft in one place. Preliminary plans call for White Knight and SpaceShipOne to be at EAA AirVenture for the event's entire seven-day run. After arriving on Monday, July 25, the aircraft will be available for up-close viewing on the main AeroShell Square showcase ramp until their departure on Sunday, July 31.

Burt Rutan, the airplanes' designer, and Mike Melvill, who last September flew the first of two missions required to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize for civilian spaceflight, will lead a delegation from Rutan's company, Scaled Composites, at EAA AirVenture. Rutan and Melvill, both longtime EAA members, hosted a number of extremely popular presentations at EAA AirVenture 2004, shortly after SpaceShipOne's successful test flight to the outer edge of Earth's atmosphere.

Investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen partnered with Rutan's Scaled Composites team to form one of more than a dozen groups that sought the Ansari X Prize, awarded to the first civilian group to build and fly a single spacecraft to a height of 100 kilometers (62 miles) twice in a two-week period. On September 29, 2004, Melvill flew SpaceShipOne to that height and Brian Binnie followed up with the second flight on October 5 over the southern California desert.

You can find out more about the event at www.airventure.org.

Truck buying Leach plant

Company press release also says it will spend $5 million to expand its new product development facility.

Scenes from the Pomegranate Ball

Photos by Jenna Larson.

Here are scenes from Saturday's Pomegranate Masquerade Ball, at the Algoma Club.


The event was organized by Atomic Katz and Winnebago Peace and Justice Center and sponsored by ProgressMedia, Digital Printing Innovations, Advance Office Systems, New Moon Café and Water City Grill.


Proceeds are going to support high school art programs in Omro, Winneconne and Marion.

Let the (photo) voting begin!

Cast you vote for best Pride of Oshkosh lion photo in OCNN's online poll. Voting closes April 2.

This is the first of three photo contests we are sponsoring as part of the Oshkosh@151 project.

Directions on entering can be found here.

You can look at all photos that have been submitted to Oshkosh@151here.

Conservatives plan campus newspaper

A UW Oshkosh group called Conservatives in Action is planning to start a campus newspaper to be called Life & Liberty.

The group is looking for staffers and has a Web site under construction.

Liquor license holding period may be cut

At Tuesday's meeting the Oshkosh Common Counil will consider a proposal by Paul Esslinger to shorten the time that taverns can hold but not use liquor licenses.

"Currently, the city ordinance requires that a license holder use their liquor license within a two-year period, at which time the Council reviews the license for continued issuance," City Manager Richard Wollangk said in his weekly newsletter. "Council Member Esslinger would like this to be changed to only a one-year period that a license holder can hold, but not use, a liquor license."

Road repair costs going up

The Council will be asked Tuesday evening to approve bids for buying cement, stones and asphalt mix that the city will use in road repairs.

The bad news is that prices are going up. Some stone and chip is up 5 percent, and some hot mix asphalt is up 13 percent.

Behind closed doors

After Tuesday's open meeting, the Common Council will meet in two executive sessions, the second of which will deal with "the evaluation of the City Manager."

Both of the candidates for mayor have had some interesting things to say about the current structure of city government in the current online debate.

A note on journalistic etiquette

Now don’t laugh. It does exist—journalistic etiquette, that is—although it apparently is in short supply in Oshkosh.

Here’s how it works: When The Washington Post gets scooped by The New York Times and has to chase the story a day later, it will include in its account a reference to the fact that the news item was “first reported” in the Times. The same goes vice versa. And all of the other major papers do it, too, giving credit where credit is due even if the credit goes to ... (hold your nose) ... a Web site.

It’s just a classy tip of the hat that shows self-confidence, generosity of spirit and a willingness to acknowledge that in news—as in most other aspects of life—competition is a good thing.

What am I talking about? This and this.

The Northwestern refers to the Oshkosh News story as "highly politicized revelations." What in the world does that mean? Anyone reading the story can see that the main sources for the story were the Internet and developer Ben Ganther.

It's true that we asked for comments from all sitting members of the Council and all of the current candidates and that we posted everything that we received. That just seems like sound news-gathering to me. We also asked for comment from the city manager, the director of community development and the city assessor. Only the city assessor got back in touch, confirming what was already posted on the Web about the collections process.

For the record, Oshkosh News is brought to you by the Oshkosh Community News Network, an independent, nonpartisan organization made up of local citizens. Everyone is invited to join and to have a say in how we cover the news.

2 more TIF projects to come before Council

The Common Council will be asked Tuesday to approve the borrowing of $1.16 million to support two TIF projects.

One part of the proposal is for a $463,000 restoration of the Hungri's shopping center at 545 High Ave, which was damaged in an August 2004 fire. The site is also known as University Plaza.

The other part would support $700,000 worth of work at City Center.

The proposals are contained in Resolution 05-66.

FdL dean resists merger with UW-O

Daniel Blankenship, dean of UW Fond du Lac, is none to keen on the idea of merging with the four-year campus up Highway 41, according to this article in The Reporter.

“What’s wrong with the system now, and what problem does it solve?” Blankenship asked. “The problem hasn’t yet been identified.”

Students to lead school board debate

The North Star and the Index of Oshkosh North and West
High Schools are sponsoring the second student-led
school board candidate debate on Tuesday, March 15,
2005 at 6:30 p.m. in LRB. The event is also being
sponsored by the student councils of both high
schools, and is being taped by TV-9 to be aired on
OCAT.

Last year we had a nice turnout, and the candidates
were pleased with the questions students posed. As we
did last year, all questions are posed by students,
and the event is run by students. This is their
opportunity to have an audience for their ideas.


Trent Scott

100 N. Main in arrears but close to signing restaurant

Copyright 2005, Oshkosh Community News Network. Please credit.

The developers of the mixed-use building at 100 North Main have fallen more than $150,000 behind in city property taxes but expect to announce new commercial tenants--including an Italian restuarant--that will help them put the project back on track.

In a Feb. 22 letter to the city, developer Ben Ganther said the owners of the building would make their first quarter payment to the city by March 15 and clear up the outstanding taxes by Sept. 15.

"Next week we plan to announce the signing of our first retail tenant and we are in ongoing negotiations with a possible first floor restaurant tenant," Ganther added.

In an interview with Oshkosh News, Ganther said he was not at liberty to identify the new tenants. But he described them as a "national media company" and a "Northern Italian/Tuscan" restaurant.

Ganther's letter, addressed to Community Development Director Jackson Kinney, said attracting residential tenants to the downtown structure had proven more difficult than expected "due to a local overbuilt apartment inventory and a low home mortgage interest rate environment."

"Today 100 North Main stands with a 72 percent occupancy and 82 percent when including apartments with deposits on our waiting list," Ganther wrote. "We are on track to have full occupancy by June 1, 2005."

The city's online assessment records, which are sometimes out of date, indicate that the owners of 100 North Main owe $157,640.58 in 2004 property taxes and $68,043.96 in 2003 taxes.

But Winnebago County, which assumes responsibility for collecting taxes after July, said the 2003 taxes have been paid in full.

Ganther said the county transfers funds to cover unpaid taxes to the city when it takes over the collections process. "I don't see that the city is at any risk," Ganther said.

He noted that the project could get caught up in the current election campaigns for mayor and Council and could be used by critics of development and specifically of tax-increment financing.

To avoid that Ganther said that he had tried to keep city officials and at least some politicians abreast of what was happening with the project.

"I have informed most of the Council members and some of the candidates of what's going on," he said.

Ganther's letter to the city detailed some of the rental concessions that the project has made to attract residents.

Weak market conditions "created the need for our rates to be dropped $200.00 per apartment below our original pro-forma projections in order to be competitive in the Oshkosh rental market," Ganther wrote.

"To speed the lease-up period to 95 percent occupancy, we also have included two months free rent for each lease signed," he added.

"These factors and the length of time it has taken to sign the first lease in the retail space caused the 100 Block LLC to make the business decision to defer our real estate tax payment."