Franklin Today

Brookfield's review of elected official appointments should be considered in Franklin

Yesterday the Brookfield NOW newspaper reported that two Brookfield aldermen are submitting legislative referrals regarding appointment on commissions. One of the proposals specifically aims at how long aldermen should have the luxury to be on a certain commission. The alderman proposing this piece, Scott Berg, is quoted in the NOW:

Berg's referral - made Feb. 3 - looks at limiting the terms of aldermanic appointments to city committees, boards and commissions. Berg proposed that no aldermen serve more than four consecutive years on any committee.

Berg said limiting the terms would give aldermen an opportunity to "be a little more rounded and be able to better understand the issues."

"I think the real problem is that people get entrenched on committees," he said.

If limits are enacted, Berg said he would like to see them in place by November, so that those interested in running for the council in 2010 are aware of the changes.

I think Berg is 100% accurate on the fact that some elected officials end up being "entrenched" in specific commissions. Franklin has several aldermen that have dug their trenches deep, including:

• Alderman Steve Olson: Economic Development Commission & Technology Commission
• Alderman Tim Solomon: Park Commission, Licensing Committee, and Finance Committee
• Alderman Ken Skowronski: Plan Commission & Economic Development Commission

The above-named commissions had the above aldermen on them for many, many years. From what I've picked up in City Hall, the thought of potentially putting in a fresher face to move these aldermen elsewhere isn't received very well. What bugs me is the notion that if an elected official keeps getting re-elected and has already planted his/her butt in a specific commission for X number of years, the seat almost becomes something comparable to the US Supreme Court.

I believe certain commissions and committees in Franklin should have some movement with regard to who the aldermanic rep(s) are. Keeping things the same for several years doesn't really promote much of a change or "new blood" for city issues relating to those commissions and committees.

Our State Senator's crappy sense of humor

It seems like our State Senator, Mary Lazich, doesn't give a hoot over Wisconsin's issues regarding drunk driving and alcohol abuse. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for the past several months has been taking these issues strongly, and thus has opened a lot of eyes in Wisconsin. I'd like to say that primarily because of this coverage, the state is beginning to take a deeper look into the laws regarding things like drunk driving.

In its efforts to get the viewpoints of our legislators out there in the open, the Journal Sentinel asked questions to each one, including Senator Lazich, regarding drunk driving laws. If the legislators responded, the Journal Sentinel would post the responses below their question. Well, Lazich did respond to the questions, and one particular response has grabbed the attention of myself and several other bloggers. Here's the Q&A (bold = JS, nonbold = Lazich's answer):

6. Beer tax: Wisconsin hasn’t raised its beer tax since 1969, and the tax rate is among the lowest in the country. Do you support any increase in the beer tax rate?

Wisconsin taxes are so high, they likely already drive people to drink.

Now if that's not appalling, I don't know what would be. Tonight, the Franklin Common Council will be looking into what action to take against the Buckhorn Tavern regarding two deaths on Christmas Day, 2007. A drunk driver that was overserved booze hopped in his vehicle and ended up murdering two members of the Kitchen family, who were alongside the road in front of their family member's home. The Franklin Licensing Committee 2 weeks ago recommended that the proposed stipulation between our special prosecutor and the Buckhorn owners not be accepted by the full Council tonight. Due to this, it's my opinion that the Council got the indication from the Licensing Committee that the Buckhorn should receive stronger penalties, which would most likely be the revocation of its liquor license.

State Senator Lazich represents all of Franklin. For a response like that to even show up makes me sick to my stomach. How dare our State Senator make something humorous over an issue like this.

Perhaps when the Council tonight makes its decision on the Buckhorn, they should also publicly rebuke the comments made by our State Senator and chastize her for making political humor on an issue like this. Someone needs to send the message to Lazich's office that the nonsense bologna going on with her and her office needs to cease and desist immeadiately. Her office should grow up and be a little more mature than the current state of affairs, and she should make a public apology to her constituents for her pompous and apparent ignorant attitude.

Shame on you, State Senator Lazich.

H/T: Bullseye & Blogging Blue

If you're open tomorrow night, head to City Hall

Fellow Franklin blogger Fred Keller and I might not agree on all issues, but on this matter he's right on the bullseye. Lately, he has been at the forefront of the Buckhorn Inn & Tavern issue, wondering when the city's leaders were going to make a decision on the almost year-long debate regarding the Buckhorn's liquor license. As most of you know by now, on Christmas Day a drunk driver who was served at the Buckhorn killed two people after leaving the bar.

Earlier in the year, when elected officials discussed "due process" on this case I would have thought the matter would have been moving at a good pace, but due to court and legal issues it would be a little slower than the norm. Sadly I seem to have been mistaken, since it's nearly a year and we're just getting to the issue. Eddie Lynn Keck was convicted and is serving his term now for the past several months, and the city sat around and hardly discussed it.

It's about time for the Licensing Committee to take up the matter. Tuesday night has been long awaited by many, especially for another Franklin blogger, Janet Evans. She has been going to these meetings on a regular basis for the past several months just in case it would be discussed. I would sincerely hope that many of you would take some time and stop on over at City Hall also; Franklin residents have been doing a fine job at leading the way for our aldermen on many issues, and I think this one should be at the top of our "to do list."

Any establishment that serves liquor in Franklin should be aware that there are consequences to their actions. One place simply cannot go over the limit just to make the extra buck. If they do, they risk incidents like the one last Christmas to happen all over again. Personally, I don't want to see another life eliminated due to an establishment refusing to halt the sales of booze to already drunk individuals.

Thanks for the eyestrain, Kevin!

In reading the over-bloviated blog entry by our State Senator's aide, Kevin Fischer, last night, I noticed one thing about it: he could have answered his blog's title with two simple sentences!

His title reads: Buckhorn isn't on the Franklin Common Council agenda...here's why

When you go the link, you'll see that the entry starts and he just goes on.. and on...and on...and on...and on with a bunch of legal and public relations rhetoric, until (of course) he answers the point of the title!

I would submit that most residents aware of the Buckhorn controversy want swift action. That won’t happen until the special prosecutor wraps up his part of the investigation.

Folks, that quote is the last two sentences of the entry.

So instead of just getting to the meat of the matter, Fischer injects a heap of unnecessary words and self-promotion because apparently he wants to flaunt his connections with City Hall. I mean c'mon, how many of us would take up the time of our taxpayer-funded City Attorney merely to satisfy our own curiousity? Since the City Attorney is a very busy man these days, and is funded by all of us in Franklin, I'd like to know why he didn't ask his alderperson for an answer?

Just in case Fischer doesn't have a phonebook, he can look up his alderperson's number by going to this site.