In the Race

Janet, it’s called listening to the voice of the people. The fee waiver idea was ill conceved. Some aldermen stuck to their guns and wouldn't listen to the public outcry on this issue. Some actually represented the people. I think that is what they are supposed to do. As Fred said. Its democracy in action.

Secondly, Is it really "illegal" if you listen to the pod cast you'll hear the opinion change from its illegal, to the statutes don't really specifically say its illegal it just doesn't say anything about it. Well actually if you do a search of the state statues on line you'll find the only reference to fee waivers is the how and when the state parks can GRANT a  fee waiver. Not a word about prohibiting waivers that I could find. Are the State Parks breaking the law also?

Here’s what I found on the subject

Updated 05−06 Wis. Stats. Database

CHAPTER 27

PUBLIC PARKS AND PLACES OF RECREATION

(9) WAIVER OF FEES; SPECIAL FEES. The department may waive

the fees under subs. (7) and (8) or may charge admission fees in

addition to or instead of those fees. Fees or fee waivers may vary,

based upon any of the following:

(a) Certain classes of persons or groups.

(b) Certain areas.

(c) Certain types of visitation or times of the year.

(d) Admission to special scheduled events or programs.

(e) Admission based on a per person basis

Lastly, you can't expect these service clubs to monitor the agendas. Of course you do. It’s your hobby as a blogger. As I mentioned at the council meeting,  the entire parks commission didn't know this was going on up stairs and was encouraging a scout to ask for a fee waiver. The city clearly should have contacted all the organizations who received fee waivers prior to this going to the council the first time. After all there is only a handful. If the city didn’t do so the Aldermen should have.  If they had they wouldn't have egg on their faces now.

Public outcry?  Your outcry of emails?  Was it your group's emails to the Aldermen that were rude?  Outcry?  I didn't see the audience at the Council meeting filled.  There were a handful of citizens that spoke, and some of it didn't even stick to the facts regarding actual fee waivers.  

Whether you believe it or not...there are some citizens who would rather that the fee waivers are eliminated.  It's a moot point now...  The veto was upheld.  Why do you argue?  There is more outcry from Senior's when they are worried about losing funds.  Where was the Senior support on this issue besides Casper Green?  Don't they support fee waivers?  Where were the Eagle Scouts? The Girl Scouts, the Ovarian Cancer group?   I thought people would be pouring into the hallway and out into the street.

I expect you to monitor agendas...you are on a Commission.  As a citizen of Franklin and a taxpayer, why not expect those who ask for fee waivers to be interested in their city government?  I choose to be interested in city government as a "hobby" which I do as a public service for those who don't attend meetings.  I choose to blog as a hobby, you are correct.  Not all bloggers are interested in city government.  If you're going to hold your hand out...maybe you can come and see what it's all about once in awhile. Yes, even if you are volunteering and giving back to the community.  Come and see "democracy in action." Meet some of the people in City Hall who do the work for those "soft costs" we've heard so much about.

I don't believe anyone has egg on their faces now.  A veto is nothing to be embarrassed about.

It's kind of Clintonesque, isn't it, Don?  "It depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is. "

Illegal...Not legal.  The tapes are there.  The citizens may listen to them...or choose not to.   They may read my blog and my opinion, or choose not to.  I don't look for hits; I don't look for comments...I provide information...and once in a blue moon I give an opinion when something really irks me.  

Maybe I'm just funny about things that are Clintonesque...

Janet I think you got under Don's skin as you dared to inhibit his hobby of trying to fund raise for the Community Center that was suppose to be built without any taxpayers money.

Say what is a fee waiver, oh, thats right tax payer money.

Janet, I was cc'd on all many of the e-mails regarding this. It was not just "my group" who made their voices heard. The Lions club, Scout groups, Woman’s Club, Citizens for a Safe Franklin, the Park Concert group. etc . None of the e-mails where rude.  I am amazed at this and some of the other misrepresentations being made about this issues.

Like you, I make my opinions known when something really irks me. It’s not about the money. It’s about the city seeing the value of the work that these many groups do for the good of the city.

I'm glad to hear, Don, that you were copied on many of the emails.  I'm assuming they were all sent through city email addresses.  I think I used the word "rude," and I could be incorrect on that. I got the impression from the tapes when Alderman Taylor was speaking, and Alderman Solomon, that they did not receive emails that were, let's say, all proper.  Since they are open record if they were sent through city email, perhaps you would like to forward them to me, including every one you sent to each of the Alderman.  I'm really interested in those from you.  Would you agree to that, Mr. Dorsan?  Sharing your emails to Aldermen Taylor, Solomon and Sohns, in particular?  I'd be glad to print some of those.  Alderman Solomon made a point of saying he received emails from you and Mr. Hanneran. He made a point of stressing how Mr. Hanneran had a very nice email.  

You make opinions known, Mr. Dorsan...how about sharing what you asked of the Aldermen with the readers?

It's Saturday...other things to do than sit by the computer.  Later.

Boy,  this sure is getting personal. Why is that?  Aren't we simply talking about waiving fees for groups that most everyone agrees does some level of good for the city. Why the anger over this issue?

But at the risk of dragging this silly debate and knowing you'll think I'm hiding something, I'll comply with your request.  Here are all the e-mail's I've sent to the elected officals. Please let me know if there is anything you would consider rude or out of line. I can't imagine anything more dull for your readers to read. Lets move on to something important.

9/10/08

Mayor Taylor and Aldermen,

I read the posting on the Franklin Now website Nonprofits will have to pay city fees ,  which tells of a recent council decision to charge non-profits various fees which have been traditionally waved.  Nonprofits, such as the Franklin Cultural Arts Center provide valuable services to our community by bringing the performing arts to the community, providing performance opportunities to our citizens- both young and old, and promote the image of our community in greater southeastern Wisconsin.

Franklin is blessed by its active citizen organizations that provide quality of life programming and services that the city simply can not afford to provide, but as evident by the attendance at last weekend’s concert in the park, the public wants.  This sort citizen participation should be nurtured and encouraged rather than hindered by fees. Organizations such as the Franklin Historical Society, The Friends of the Franklin Public Library, The Lions Clubs, and the FCAC,  to name a few,  run their programs on a shoe string budget. The difference between breaking even on an event and taking a loss could easily be the fees you are now going to charge these organizations. When these organizations do make a small profit on these programs, the funds are funneled back into the community through additional services to the community or other events. These fees will result in a reduction in programming provided by these dedicated volunteer non-profit organizations which will negatively impact the image and quality of life in our community.

I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision

Don Dorsan

Franklin Cultural Arts Center

9/12/08  - To Steve Olson

Steve, I know how busy you are but as my aldermanic representative I would like to hear first had how you feel about this issue?

Don

9/12/08

to Steve Taylor

Steve, I hear you where the driving force behind this change.  I know how busy you are but would hope that you can find a moment to respond to my e-mail on this matter.

Don Dorsan

9/12/08

Tim as a fellow parks commissioner I had hoped for a response from you on this e-mail.

At our last parks meeting we talked about how wonderful the music in the park program presented by Dale Pfor's group was and we encouraged an eagle scout to use the parks for his fundraising event for a bridge project he intends to build next spring. We told him that we could help by waiving fees.  Are we to tell both of these of people that they will now be paying fees?

Don

9/14/08 to Steve Olson

Thanks for the response Steve. For me it comes down to a question of whether or not the city supports the efforts of organizations which benefit the greater community, Looking at the list of fee waivers granted,  I would think we would want to encourage the boy and girl scouts, a group working to raise money for ovarian cancer research, The Franklin veteran's memorial,  our firefighters and police,  Dale Pforr's music in the park group, and yes the FCAC.

Of course occasionally, a generous policy like the fee waiver policy previously in place will result in someone who shouldn't get a waiver receiving one. I think that most tax payers would support this rather than seeing the kid working to build the veteran's memorial get nicked and dimmed with a $40.00 operators fee.

Don  

9/20/08 To Steve Olson

Steve I want to be sure I have my facts right. Did you co author, along with Steve Taylor, the resolution to eliminate fee waivers?

Don

9/16/08 To all aldermen

Aldermen,

We  keep talking about nonprofits receiving fee waivers because that's how the news originally broke on this issue. But more often than not, it is civic organizations who received waivers. The cub scouts, and girl scouts, church groups, a group of residents raising money for ovarian cancer research - probably because some one they know has been afflicted, our veterans groups, or a group of citizens bringing music to the park. These aren't some large "nonprofit" organization with deep pockets. These are the people who live and work in Franklin trying to make their community a better place to live - one tiny event at a time. These are what George H. Bush referred to as  "…one thousand points of light" It sounds great doesn't it? But in Franklin, we want to tax the matches which light those candles.

What does it say about the state of Franklin when we can extend a hand to the individuals and small groups who are working for the betterment of our community?

Here’s an excerpt from President Bush’s State of the union address which seems appropriate to review at this time.

Tonight, I come before this house, and the American people, with an appeal for renewal. This is not merely a call for new government initiatives, it is a call for new initiative in government, in our communities, and from every American—to prepare for the next American century.

America has always led by example. So who among us will set this example? Which of our citizens will lead us in this next American century? Everyone who steps forward today, to get one addict off drugs; to convince one troubled teen-ager not to give up on life; to comfort one AIDS patient; to help one hungry child.

We have within our reach the promise of renewed America. We can find meaning and reward by serving some purpose higher than ourselves—a shining purpose, the illumination of a thousand points of light. It is expressed by all who know the irresistible force of a child's hand, of a friend who stands by you and stays there—a volunteer's generous gesture, an idea that is simply right.

The problems before us may be different, but the key to solving them remains the same: it is the individual—the individual who steps forward. And the state of our Union is the union of each of us, one to the other: the sum of our friendships, marriages, families and communities.

We all have something to give. So if you know how to read, find someone who can't. If you've got a hammer, find a nail. If you're not hungry, not lonely, not in trouble—seek out someone who is.

Join the community of conscience. Do the hard work of freedom. That will define the state of our Union.

Don Dorsan

It's not personal.  And there is no anger - just hurried in my response to you this morning.

If those are, in fact, all of your emails, then no, I find nothing rude or offensive about them.  Not at all.  Thank you for sharing them.  I'm glad it wasn't you who told the aldermen they were anti-volunteer (podcast 4), or said the city staff wasn't working hard enough (podcast 3).

You came into my blog, Mr. Dorsan.  Of course, you are always welcome.  Like you, I would be happy if you would like to move on to something else.  The Mayor's veto stands.  So why are you wasting your energy on all of this?

You know, while I may have disagreed with you regarding the fee waivers, you are I are in agreement about volunteerism.  And we have something else in common...I'm happy to see you are a fellow supporter of former President Bush and President George W. Bush.  

Note To Self...

Remember these things:

Never take someone's comments out of context when you copy them - especially when they are related to an entire conversation that has been going on.

Don't read people's faces or expressions...you don't know what they are really thinking or what they are going to do.  

We only need one "Geraldo" in the world.  Everything isn't Al Capone's vault  - and most stories you think are sensational will end up that way...empty.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.  Keep your distance from people who appear to be enemies. 

Forest Gump..."Stupid is as stupid does."

Add to this list later...

The stock market took it's biggest hit yesterday with almost a 800 point drop with no good news in