After a brief break, The Vanguard is pleased to be back on-line covering local issues that are brought to the attention of this blog by many people who are plugged in to what is going on in the Falls.

As is often the case with local governments and their questionable relationships with non-profit groups that are directly or indirectly funded by the taxpayers, promises are made and stories are published about how wonderful the relationship between the two are and the many wonderful things that are being accomplished because of that wonderful relationship(s).

The local newspapers pat themselves on the back for covering these "stories" and the promises that are made by the Village Board and the non-profit groups, but rarely if ever do they follow up with whether or not these promises are ever actually carried out.

The Vanguard has learned of at least one of those cozy relationships and the failed promises between the Village Board and a prominent non-profit group made up of current and former Village Board Members dating back to 9 years ago costing the taxpayers once again thousands of dollars.

Trustee Steliga and former Village President Bob Steliga 9 Years Late on Falls Fest Pledge to Village Library

The Menomonee Falls Library Board announced at their February 10, 2010 meeting that a couple of pledges were outstanding from the 2002 Building Fund Drive as part of their fund raising efforts.

The total amount of the 2002 pledges were $337,187 and to date $36,400 remains outstanding.

The largest outstanding pledges involve 2 non-profit groups and one Village Board Member.

New Library was Supposed to be Built Without any Taxpayer Money with Waste Management's Funding

The Village Board in 2002 had promised through its $42,000,000 Municipal Facilities Fund to build a new library, police station and village hall at no cost to the taxpayers because Waste Management was supposedly going to pay for everything with tipping fees from the landfill in Menomonee Falls.

Tipping fees are collected from Waste Management per ton of garbage left at the landfill in lieu of the lost property tax revenue until the dump is eventually closed at which time there are no revenues collected and the community is left to look at a mountain of garbage without any property taxes being collected while Waste Management continues to collect millions in methane gas selling leases to We Energies for 30-40 years that currently provides energy to some 10,000 homes in the area (http://www.jsonline.com/business/87542832.html).

Menomonee Falls currently receives $0 from Waste Management for methane gas selling leases to We Energies.

Waste Management is required by State Law to burn off or remove methane gas from their landfills throughout Wisconsin to avoid potential explosions if the methane gas is not released.

It was discovered in 2003, with a new Village President and Village Board Members, that Waste Management was not going to pay for the $42,000,000 cost of the new library, police station and village hall (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Municipal-Facilities-Fund.png) and that taxpayers would have to make up the $17,000,000 shortfall starting as early as 2016 with an additional assessment for the average homeowner of $832 through 2022 on their property tax bill (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/MEst-Effect-on-Property-Val.pdf).

Waste Management was scheduled to pay the Menomonee Falls Village Board about $3,000,000 a year starting in 2004 through 2014 in tipping fees for the privilege of piling their garbage in Menomonee Falls from all over the area.

It was also learned in 2003 that Waste Management would only pay $3,000,000 a year in tipping fees to the Menomonee Falls Village Board if the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls first gave Waste Management $1,200,000 to pick up their garbage netting taxpayers $1,800,000 a year from Waste Management thus causing taxpayers to help retire the $42,000,000 in debt service through 2022 for the Municipal Facilities Fund.

After the $17,000,000 shortfall was made public in 2003, the Village Board eventually voted in 2009 to make good on their 2002 promise to taxpayers to pay for the $42,000,000 in costs by expanding the landfill out to Main Street and stacking the garbage 15' higher through the approval of the DNR.

It remains to be seen if this promise will be fulfilled for the taxpayers.

The landfill is located at Main Street and 124th Street and can often be detected with its aroma permeating the air.

The Municipal Facilities Fund has $26,000,000 remaining in debt service through 2022 (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Debt-Principal%20%26%20Interest.pdf).

Unlike the Town of Paris in Kenosha County who negotiated with Waste Management for free garbage disposal and no local or county taxes (http://www.town-of-paris.org/Meeting%20Minutes/2008/05-20-2008%20Special.pdf) for expansion of their landfill as well as having a $20,000,000 + surplus(http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/45360922.html), the Menomonee Falls Village Board requires taxpayers to pay $100 a year for garbage service, provides no tax relief and spends all of the tipping fee monies from Waste Management before it is even collected.

Sounds a lot like the legislature in Wisconsin, Congress in D.C. or the Country of Greece.

What a difference in leadership makes for the taxpayer.

Back to the Steligas and Their Failed Pledges to the Library Board

The 2002 Building Fund Drive was led by former Village President Joe Greco and the goal was to raise some $1,000,000 for the new library.

The Vanguard remembers a fund raising board out in front of Village Hall on Pilgrim Road that stayed there for years in hopes of raising $1,000,000 for the new library and never came close.

When it was publicly reported that Waste Management was "going" to pay for the new library without any taxpayer money, the fund raising became very challenging.

Many people at the time simply asked, "Why donate to something that was already paid for?" or so they were led to believe.

As is often the case with the Steligas and Falls Fest, things aren't really what they seem once the curtain is pulled back and the operations of their non-profit group are looked at a little more closely.

The Steligas jumped in with both feet to pose for pictures in the paper(s) and to make personal and non-profit promises to help fund the building drive of the new library in 2002.

2002 Pledges Revealed

Thanks to 4 major contributors and many individual contributors, the Library Building Fund Drive raised about $300,000 in 2002 toward the completion of the Municipal Facilities Fund of $42,000,000 that included the massive and opulent library.

The total amount of pledges for the Library Building Fund Drive in 2002 was $337,187.

The 4 major contributors in 2002 that completed their pledges were:

• Menomonee Falls Rotary Club $100,000
• Strong Funds $62,500
• Harley Davidson $50,000
• Medical Associates $25,000

These 4 contributors represent about 80% of the pledges that have been received to date.

As of today, $36,400 remains outstanding from the 2002 pledges including Falls Fest and the Steligas.

Steligas Pledge $16,500 in 2002 for New Library

Similar to everyone else that made a pledge for the new library in 2002, Trustee Jeff Steliga and former Village President Bob Steliga pledged at the time to commit $16,500 in personal and non-profit monies to help pay for the new library building fund drive.

Of course the Steligas grabbed the spotlight at the time with press releases and pictures in the local papers to boast of their support of the community by making this large pledge to help promote the new library through their non-profit Falls Fest organization.

A review of the most up-to-date Village Hall documents show however, that only Jeff and Bob Steliga, with the exception of one other local non-profit group whom shall remain anonymous, have not fulfilled their 2002 pledges for the library building fund drive.

The Steligas run the local 501(c) 3 Falls Fest non-profit organization that remains under a cloud of suspicion with a complaint that has been filed with the Menomonee Falls Police Chief with citizen and businessmen information that has raised ethical, legal and possibly criminal issues involving the Steligas using their position on the Village Board for questionable dealings for real estate transactions, Board votes, late payment(s) to other non-profit organization(s) and individuals for scholarships and missing check(s) from other non-profit groups in their role as directors of Falls Fest.

According to Falls Fest Federal Tax Returns on www.guidestar.org, former Village President Bob Steliga is listed as the President of Falls Fest while Trustee Jeff Steliga is listed as the Treasurer of Falls Fest.

Falls Fest lost nearly ($44,000) in operating costs in 2004-05 with annual revenues of $150,000 - $170,000 for several years after that according to the non-profit website, www.GuideStar.org, and has  shown healthy profits in operating revenues of $30,000 - $40,000 while giving back to the community a minimal amount of about $13,000 on average over the last several years.

Falls Fest has anywhere between $30,000 - $40,000 in cash on hand at anytime according to their federal tax returns.

The Steligas always boast that they give back to the community 100% of everything they make on an annual basis.

Falls Fest pledged $15,000 to the Library Building Fund Drive in 2002 and to date has made only one payment over the last 9 years with an outstanding balance of $14,000.

Jeff Steliga made a personal pledge of $1,500 to the Library Building Fund Drive in 2002 and has an outstanding balance of $400 after nine years.

Jeff Steliga was listed as a member of the Library Board according to the Village Hall Directory but rarely if ever attended Library Board Meetings over the last 10 years.

Now it is probably known why he didn't attend the Library Board meetings because he has owed $16,500 over the last 9 years to the very people he had to look at once a month at their meetings.

What do you think?

Should the Steligas fulfill their 9 year old pledge to the Library Building Fund?

Should the Library Board just wipe out the pledge?

Should the Steligas use their Falls Fest cash balance and make good on their pledge now?

As always, thanks for reading The Vanguard.

 The Vanguard is a blog hosted by the Journal Sentinel and normally is written by Jefferson Davis.

Jefferson invites guest bloggers to the Vanguard.

I do not want my name released on this blog as I have seen what happens to people who question or challenge the status quo in Menomonee Falls.

Jefferson has given me permission to write this blog and I appreciate that very much.

Attached is an email that I received from the Davis for Trustee Campaign about the April 6th Election for Village Trustee.

This email encourages people to vote!

In the words of Ronald Reagan when he ran for President in 1980 against Jimmy Carter, the simple question of Menomonee Falls voters is this,

     "Are you better off now than you were 3 years ago?"

Clearly we are not.

I will be voting for the guy that will cut taxes, clean up corruption, freeze spending and give us our government back.

We deserve no less.

The attached press release was received by me from the Davis for Trustee Campaign.

Jefferson E. Davis is running for Village Board Trustee Seat 4.

The election is April 6th.

Permission has been granted to me to post this press release on the Vanguard blog.

If these numbers are true, what in the world is the Menomonee Falls School District thinking by looking a gift horse in the mouth for $11 million through 2019?  Especially if the school district is looking at published budget deficits of nearly $9 million through 2015?

Of course the taxpayers will have to make up the difference.

This makes no sense whatsoever.

Please contact your School Board (http://www.sdmf.k12.wi.us/) and Village Board (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/) to rescind these votes.

And you guys who make the hateful comments that you do on this blog, would one of you please speak to this issue instead of using your Saul Alinsky tactics of hate and destruction to criticize a man who is trying to get the truth out to the rest of us to save us on our property tax bills?

Of course there has been little or no coverage of this devastating development in the newspapers.

Brass Pro Shop Project's "Lure" Puts Taxpayers on the "Hook" for $20.3 Million Through 2019

Menomonee Falls - Village Trustee Seat 4 Candidate Jefferson E. Davis announced today his opposition to the $40 million + TID 8 Project that has become known as the Bass Pro Shop Project.

The Village Trustee Election in Menomonee Falls is April 6th.

Davis' opponent, a 20-year incumbent, has voted to ask the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls to subsidize TID 8 because the district will not be able to pay for itself. 

TID's (Tax Incremental Districts) are an agreement between a businessman and the Village Board to develop an area with taxpayer's money (bonds) that normally would not be developed if it were not for the help of the taxpayer's for the businessman.

Once the TID's debt service is paid off, usually within 15-20 years, the new tax revenue is then divided amongst the school district, Village, Waukesha County and WCTC.  

"In a mostly uncovered story with little or no debate for Menomonee Falls taxpayers, The Joint Review Board, consisting of Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald, longtime Menomonee Falls resident Lew Tietz, Norm Cummings, Waukesha County, Cary Tessman, WCTC and Menomonee Falls School District representative Jeff Gross, voted 3-2 to approve TID District 4 becoming a donor district to TID District 8 recently.

Cummings and Tessman wisely voted "no".

I agree with Norm Cummings and Cary Tessman because they feel the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls, WCTC and Waukesha County are going to be shortchanged with TID 4 becoming a donor district to TID 8.

The development plan also lacks detail and specificity as to whether or not the Village actually has anyone committed to coming to TID 8 in Menomnee Falls.

We can not have a, "If you build it they will come mentality."

That was tried for TID 5 since 1999 across the the street from the landfill on Main Street and it is still 50% empty with tax revenues woefully short of making the annual $1.4 million debt service payments. 

Approving a TID District to become a donor district simply means that the tax revenue from the existing district will be donated to a new TID District because the new district won't generate enough tax revenue to make debt service payments over 15-20 years.

TID 4 District will have its debt service paid off in 2010 with a surplus of about $2 million and would normally be closed because the debt service is paid off with the surplus monies being distributed 55% to the school district, 28% to the Village, 10% to the county and 7% to WCTC.

TID 4 was created in 1996 at the corner of Good Hope Road and Appleton Avenue.

TID 8 is the area on the west side of the freeway along Hwy 41/45 between Pilgrim Road and Steinhafel's.

According to Village Hall documents and published reports (http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/64057547.html), making TID 4 a donor district to TID 8 will cost taxpayers $20.3 million through 2019 because TID 4 will be kept open 10 more years and all of the tax revenue will be given to TID 8 because TID 8 won't be able to pay for itself.

When the nearly $2 million surplus is added to the $18.3 projected tax increment from TID 4 over the next 10 years and given to TID 8 because it won't be able to support itself, someone is going to have to make up that difference.

The Village Hall documents put a cap on TID 8 expenditures at $36.3 million not including interest or finance costs.

The school district has published projected deficits of almost $9 million through 2015.

Why would the school district look a gift horse in the mouth for $11 million from TID 4 only to give it away to TID 8 while staring these types of deficits in the mirror for the next 5 years?

If Bass Pro Shop does come to Menomonee Falls, it is likely the Bass Pro Shop facility will take up the entire TID 8 area.

Bass Pro Shops had 2 stores in 1995 and through an aggressive and highly taxpayer subsidized marketing program has expanded to about 60 stores today.

Bass Pro Shops has 16,000 employees and grosses about $3.4 billion a year in sales with a one year growth rate of 28.3% (http://www.answers.com/topic/bass-pro-shops-inc).

A review of tax records from Boone County Missouri, (www.showmeboone.com), shows that the Bass Pro Shops store there pays about $77,500 in annual property taxes for its store that is assessed at $3.8 million.

This store would be very similar to the one being considered for Menomonee Falls.

If the Menomonee Falls store would be assessed at $3.8 million with a tax rate of approximately $21/$1,000 assessed value, the store would generate about $79,800 a year in property taxes.

The annual debt service payments for TID 8 will be about $2.4 million a year.

This annual shortfall of $2.32 million will have to be made up by the taxpayers.

It is estimated by Norm Cummings on the Joint Review Board that every homeowner in Menomonee Falls will be assessed a minimum of $500 in new taxes to make up for this shortfall. 

There is no doubt that TID 8 needs to be cleaned up and developed, but at what cost and in a residential area that includes St. Mary's Catholic Church and School a block or two away.

I would rather see Bass Pro Shops have some skin in the game along with the current owners to clean up this mess instead of putting it all on the back of the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls.

I also believe we should look to the EPA's Super Fund (http://www.epa.gov/superfund/) and the State of Wisconsin's Super Fund (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/rr/cleanup/superfund.htm) for assistance to use these resources that are designed to help communities facing clean up issues such as these.

Taxpayers should exercise their free will to shop where they want and not be forced to pay for a retail company to locate in Menomonee Falls that doesn't have any skin in the game."

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www.jefferson-davis.info

davisfortrustee@yahoo.com

For full disclosure purposes, I am a reader of the Vanguard and have asked permission to post the attached press release from the Jefferson Davis for Trustee Campaign.

Davis is challenging 20-year incumbent Mike McDonald for Trustee Seat 4.

Seeing that the local papers won't print much about the April 6Th Election and the vast differences that exist between Davis and McDonald, I thought it would be good for the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls to at least know what some of the major differences are in policy proposals the two candidates have so they can at least make an informed decision for the April 6Th Election.

I also learned today that the Waukesha Municipal Judge, Joseph Cook, who will determine Trustee McDonald's fate for alcohol related offenses involving obstructing Menomonee Falls Police Officers and being in a bar after hours when he was caught hiding in a utility closet as part of an investigation in 2009, has received a petition asking the judge to hold the trial for McDonald before the election to protect our community from unsafe drivers and to prevent elected officials from trying to use their position to convince the Police Chief to let them off or fire the officers who arrested them.

Because voters won't see the March 10Th Chamber sponsored Trustee Forum announced in the papers, by the Chamber or on Falls Cable Access, the light schedule of broadcast times between now and April 6Th are as follows:

Sundays - 1:30 and 8:45 P.M.

Mondays - 7:30 A.M. and 11:45 P.M.

Tuesdays - 2:10 and 9:00 P.M.

Wednesdays - 12:40 and 7:15 P.M.

Thursdays - 5:10 and 6:00 P.M.

Fridays - 8:00 A.M. and 11:30 P.M.

Saturdays - 1:30 and 10:15 P.M.

A review of the Falls Cable Access Channel schedule (http://fallscableaccess.com/weekly_schedule.html) over the next 3 weeks shows the same old programs, some from 2009, that have been playing for a long time now along with other programs that aren't even local being shown during prime time repeatedly when it would be easy and proper to drop in the Chamber sponsored Trustee Forum. 

The Chamber and Falls Cable Access are both highly taxpayer subsidized organizations by the Menomonee Falls Village Board with the Chamber receiving over $300,000 from state and local taxpayers along with the Department of Tourism while Cable Access was given a no-bid, 10-year, nearly $1,000,000 taxpayer contract from the Village Board in 2009.

The Chamber Director, her husband on the Village Board and the only part-time Cable Access Employee, who earns a salary of $52,000 from the taxpayers, are all supporters and or financial campaign contributors to Mike McDonald.

If you would like the Chamber to run the Trustee Forum at times when people can actually view it instead of when they are asleep or on their way to work, contact the Chamber Director at sue@fallschamber.com.

Myself and about 40 other people attended the March 10th Chamber sponsored Trustee Forum and any intelligent person, after listening to the 2 candidates for nearly 50 minutes, would have no problem making the right decision of whom to vote for on April 6th.

One candidate clearly had ideas to lower taxes and fees to stimulate the local economy and the other candidate blamed the economy and the State of Wisconsin to keep things the way they are.

Watching the forum will show you the difference between the candidates.

Here's the Press Release from March 15Th sent out to the 4 newspapers covering Menomonee Falls and to citizens on an emailing list for voters in Menomonee Falls:

Apparent Illegal Certification of 3rd Candidate's Election Papers by Clerk's Office for February 16th Primary Election

In a totally uncovered story by the 4 local newspapers, who have all been made aware of a major mistake by the Clerk's Office involving a candidate missing the filing deadline for placement of their name on the February 16th Primary ballot, it appears the Village Clerk's Office illegally certified the election filing papers of Scott Krause who is or was, depending on what day it is, the 3rd candidate for Village Trustee Seat 4 currently held by 20-year incumbent Mike McDonald.

A primary election is held when there is more than 2 candidates for one seat on the Village Board to narrow the field down to 2 candidates for the April 6th Election.

The ladies who work in the front office area of the Clerk's Office are excellent employees and are always friendly and engaging in their handling of questions, documents or providing assistance to the public.

3rd Candidate Mysteriously Drops Out of Race

In a strange and mysterious development on February 1, 2010, Scott Krause, citing "personal reasons", dropped out of the race for Village Trustee Seat 4 only to endorse the very person he was running against, 20-year incumbent Mike McDonald.

Members of The Vanguard applied the "smell test" to this development and started digging into the matter only to find out some very revealing and interesting information at the Clerk's Office.

The acting Village Clerk has been submitted a number of questions about the matter and has refused to answer any of them with the exception being that she doesn't have any choice but to have the election on February 16th per Wisconsin State Statute 8.35  which states:

     "Any person who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot may not decline nomination. The name of that person shall appear on the ballot except in case of death of the person.” 

Candidate's Papers Missed the January 5, 2010 5:00 P.M. Filing Deadline 

With copies obtained by The Vanguard from the Clerk's Office, the following time-line unequivocally establishes what happened with the apparent illegal certification of Scott Krause's name being placed on the ballot for the February 16th Primary Election:

Scott Krause did not meet the January 5, 2010 5:00 P.M. filing deadline with his Campaign Registration Statement (GAB-1) that in part reads:  

     If a candidate does not file this statement by the deadline for filing nomination papers, the candidate's name will not be placed on the ballot. 

Scott Krause did not certify his Campaign Registration Statement until January 14, 2010 when he returned to the Clerk's Office to affix his signature in the Certification Section.

To view the entire GAB-1 State Elections Board form, please click here (http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=1691&locid=47).

By not filing his Campaign Registration Statement on time, Scott Krause's name was apparently not legally certified by the Clerk's Office to be placed on the February 16th Primary Election ballot. 

This was a major mistake by the Clerk's Office. 

The Clerk's Office needed to have applied the following Wisconsin State Statutes that govern when a candidate's name is to be placed on the ballot:

8.30(1)      
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the official or agency with whom declarations of candidacy are required to be filed may refuse to place the candidate's name on the ballot if any of the following apply:

8.35(1)      
(1) Any person who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot may not decline nomination. The name of that person shall appear upon the ballot except in case of death of the person. A person who is appointed to fill a vacancy in nomination or who is nominated by write-in votes is deemed to decline nomination if he or she fails to file a declaration of candidacy within the time prescribed under sub. (2) (c) or s. 8.16 (2).

11.05(2g)      
(2g) Candidates and personal campaign committees. Every candidate as defined in s. 11.01 (1) shall file a registration statement with the appropriate filing officer giving the information required by sub. (3). If a candidate appoints another person as campaign treasurer the candidate's registration statement shall be cosigned by the candidate and the candidate's appointed treasurer. A candidate who receives no contributions and makes no disbursements shall file such statement as provided in s. 11.10 (1) but need not appoint a campaign treasurer or designate a campaign depository account until the first contribution is received or disbursement made.

11.05(5m)      
(5m) Certification. Every statement and every change made in a statement filed under this section shall contain a certification signed by the individual filing the statement that all information contained in the statement is true, correct and complete. 

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Members of The Vanguard had the privilege of participating in and observing some of the most wonderful Christmas music known to mankind during the recent Christmas Season.

On December 4th, an ecumenical choral group from some 15 local churches presented selections from Handel's Messiah at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Richfield.

Over 800 people packed the church and enjoyed a beautiful presentation by vocal soloists along with wind, brass and string instrumentalists.

Plans are to make this an annual event.  The Vanguard will keep you posted for 2010.

Falls Baptist Church also presented Handel's Messiah with their Youth Choir, Orchestra and Adult Choir along with vignettes throughout the presentation with a gospel message of what Christmas is really all about on December 19th and 20th.

Falls Baptist Church is the only organization in Menomonee Falls that has a college and is very rich with talent and purpose.

Menomonee Falls is fortunate to have so many wonderful churches with so many talents and gifts.

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Let's hope that 2010 is better than 2009.

We're Americans.

We can meet, beat and exceed any challenge that is put before us.

We'll do the same this time too.

Go Scott Brown in Massachusetts!!!!!!!

Former Optimist and North Hills Country Club Member Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges

Jeff Stadelmann pleaded not guilty to the 3 felony charges on December 11, 2009 in federal court.

His trial will begin on March 8th in federal court in downtown Milwaukee.

The US Attorney General's Office commented to The Vanguard  there is always the possibility of a plea bargain before the trial begins.

Stadelmann and his female partner were charged in November 2009 with either bank wire fraud,  mortgage loan application violations and or misuse of investor's funds.

For more details on this troubling and revealing case, please visit the attached link (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/78338987.html).

McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds Lead Village Board on $600,000+ Spending Spree at Taxpayer's Expense Before Year's End

Unbeknownst to taxpayers, Trustees McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds, who are all on the ballot in this year's Spring Election, led the way in late 2009 to milk taxpayers out of some $600,000 of their hard earned money during severe recessionary times for what has become very controversial governmental public sector spending sprees for retirees.

This tactic is what started the recall of former Milwaukee County Executive Tom Ament that has buried Milwaukee County Taxpayers for years to come because of the excessive spending by the Milwaukee County Board in backroom deals.

Thank goodness Scott Walker became the new County Executive for Milwaukee County and hopefully our next governor of Wisconsin.

At a time when most every private and public sector employers are asking for concessions, freezing or lowering wages, implementing furloughs, laying off employees and downsizing their operations, the Menomonee Falls Village Board is spending taxpayer money like there is an endless supply similar to what the Obama and Doyle Administrations are doing at the national and state levels with their failed stimulus, cash for clunkers, home tax credits and TARP programs.

Unfortunately, the 4 local newspapers refuse to report any substantive news about what the Village Board is doing at taxpayer's expense on matters such as this.

With the support of McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds, who are all on the ballot for this year's Spring Election, the Village Board also prevents citizens from asking any questions at Public Hearings with their "180 second" speaking time limit, which is by design to make sure information about Village Board policy and financial decisions are kept from taxpayers until it's too late. 

Maybe if citizens were allowed to ask questions this type of public policy could be debated and prevented from being implemented in the first place. 

This is similar to what has been happening in Washington D.C. and Madison with backroom deals and the total lack of transparency when voters were promised by Obama and Doyle to have the most ethical and transparent administrations ever.

How's that working out? 

Village Board Establishes New Policy for Retirees in Late 2009

Taxpayers have been forfeiting their hard earned money since the early '90's for some $5,000,000 funded and unfunded liabilities in unused sick leave cash payouts to Village Retirees.

The Vanguard has been writing about this issue since 2008.

Most non-village employees don't have sick leave.

Village Employees get 15 days of paid sick leave a year. 

If a non-village employee gets sick, they usually aren't paid.

They have to take time off without pay.

If a non-village employee has sick leave at their place of employment, they can only use it if they are sick. And then they may only receive 3-4 days a year and are not allowed to accumulate unused sick leave days like government employees can.

Village Employees can accumulate unused sick leave for up to 120 days for a lump sum cash payout at retirement ranging anywhere between $20,000-$70,000.

Village Officials have been saying for years that the reason the Village Board has had this lump sum cash payout policy for unused sick leave was because Village Employees didn't have disability income and the Village Board didn't pay for retiree health care.

The truth is that taxpayers have paid for Village Employee Disability Income through the Wisconsin Retirement System (etf.wi.gov) at no cost to Village Employees since the '60's.

Now, thanks to Trustees McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds, who are on the ballot for this year's Spring Election, Village Retirees are now having their health care paid for in retirement by taxpayers and no cost to the retirees.

New Retirement Health Care Plan and Unused Sick Leave Lump Sum Cash Payouts Revealed

Led by Trustees McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds, who are on the ballot for this year's Spring Election, the Village Board either knowingly or unknowingly slipped in the approval of $434,000 in unused lump sum cash payouts to Village Retirees for 2009 at taxpayer's expense.

Maybe if citizens and taxpayers were allowed to ask questions at Public Hearings these types of payouts could be debated in the open and not covered up in the $30,000,000 total budget.

McDonald and Steliga's track record for these lump sum cash payouts since 2007 are as follows:

2007

$142,000 (5 employees) highest payout $70,000

2008

$56,000 (3 employees) highest payout $27,300

2009

$434,000 (17 employees) highest payout $47,500

Total taxpayer expense for lump sum unused sick leave cash payouts since 2007 : $632,000

The Village Board asks taxpayers for $120,000 of their hard earned money each year to make these payouts.

It is unclear where the extra money from taxpayers will come from to make up the deficit for the $434,000 payouts in 2009.

One thing is clear though, the taxpayers will pay for this and not the Village Board.

It gets better........

It's always easy to spend someone else's money.

Put another way, "Would you spend money this way if it were yours?"

It's unimaginable that elected officials would spend money this way if it were their money or their business operations.

In a 2009 undated memo obtained by The Vanguard titled "Voluntary Enhanced Retirement Program",  the Village Board, led by Trustees McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds, who are on the ballot for this year's Spring Election, either knowingly or unknowingly slipped through the $30,000,000 budget a new policy that now pays for Village Retiree Health Care Plans for 2 years after retirement.

The 2 year cost for taxpayers with this new Village Board Policy for health care will be approximately $200,000 for 9 retirees even though 2 retirees opted out of the plan presumably joining their spouse's plan in retirement to make sure they had coverage.

The overwhelming majority (approximately 70%) of these employees do not reside in Menomonee Falls.

McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds' Policy Establishes a Costly Precedent for Taxpayers

By establishing this new health care retirement policy, the Village Board has now set a precedent that all future Village Retirees will ask for when they retire.

The Village currently employees approximately 200 people.

This new policy will be extremely expensive for taxpayers to fund in the future.

At a time when Americans are facing 10% unemployment, having to make major concessions at their work place, a credit crunch and a tightening of their belts at home, this type of reckless policy making by Trustees McDonald, Steliga and Raymonds couldn't come at a worse time.

These elected officials have always said that these types of benefits and salaries are necessary in the public sector to attract and keep employees because the private sector has so much better benefits.

This of course is not true as has been borne out by a USA Today analysis (http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20091211/1afedpay11_st.art.htm?loc=interstitialskip).

For the Saul Alinsky Progressives who always chime in with their, "These are negotiated benefits that employees are entitled to and they can't be changed..." excuse, please save your breath and don't waste reader's time with your defending the status quo.

The City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County and Waukesha County are just a few of the many local governments who are restructuring their union and non-union contracts to save taxes and make employees have an ownership in their salary and benefit packages instead of making the taxpayers always pay for nearly 100% of employee benefits.  

What do you think?

1. Should the Village Board repeal this new policy of paying for retiree health care?

2. Should the Village Board restructure the lump sum unused sick leave cash payouts?

Contact the Village Board with your opinion at the following link (http://menomonee-falls.org/index.aspx?nid=292).

The Vanguard was anonymously contacted recently about a very little known and well hidden matter involving a very prominent Menomonee Falls citizen having been indicted by a federal grand jury.

The Vanguard can confirm that indeed a very well known Menomonee Falls citizen was indicted on numerous charges by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2009.

More on that after some brief updates on the 2010 Village Budget, Village President leaving position at Medical Associates and Trustee McDonald's legal troubles.

2010 Village Board Budget Passes Unanimously

The Menomonee Falls Village Board unanimously passed the 2010 Village Budget that will lead to higher taxes, higher water bills, higher sewer bills, higher garbage tax fees, higher health care premiums and approximately $15,000,000 in new debt service to the taxpayers for a new public works garage on top of the Village's already existing $100,000,000+ debt service that costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year to finance.

Of course there was very little, if any, pre-coverage of the 2010 Budget by the local newspapers.

No pre-coverage of the Village Budget on Falls Cable Access.

No notice of the Village Budget Public Hearing in the water/sewer bills.

No Village Newsletter to inform citizens.

The Village President didn't allow for questions or answers for the taxpayers unless comments on the $30,000,000 budget were less than 180 seconds.

The Village Web site did not include any substantive information prior to the November 30th Public Hearing and wasn't even on the web site home page until it was brought to the Village's attention that it couldn't be found.

Only a handful of citizens showed up with maybe only one person bothering to say anything which is exactly what the Village Board wants.

The public hearing was held at 6:00 P.M. which prohibits most taxpayers from attending.

Unless citizens are repeatedly informed well in advance of the public hearing and are made aware of what impact the passage of the budget will have on their pocketbook, budgets like this one will always pass with taxpayers forking out more and more of their hard earned money to the government when it's too late to do anything about it.

Oh well, that's what elections are for.

Go Scott Walker and Jim Sensenbrenner!

These guys will always vote for cutting taxes and spending!

The same could have been done with the 2010 Village Budget for taxpayers if we only had elected officials who had the courage to do so (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/78102982.html).

Lots of ideas were presented to the Village Board to save taxpayers a lot of money.

Of course it fell on deaf ears.

The greatest fear of this Village Board is that taxpayer ideas would work and would cut taxes.

Something this Village Board is afraid to allow happen. 

Trustee McDonald's Legal Problems Continue with Trial Scheduling Set for January 2010

Trustee McDonald, who is no stranger to legal troubles and ethical lapses recently, has his obstructing an officer and being in a bar after hours citations with the Menomonee Falls Police being scheduled for trial in Waukesha Municipal Court in January of 2010 after the parties could not reach an agreement at a September 30, 2009 Hearing.

McDonald's citations were moved to Waukesha Municipal Court from Menomonee Falls Municipal Court on August 4, 2009 to avoid a conflict of interest with the Menomonee Falls Municipal Judge whose salary and budget are approved by Trustee McDonald.

McDonald was caught obstructing on officer on May 29, 2009 when he lied and was hiding from Menomonee Falls Police in a utility closet at Su Casa after hours around 2:45 A.M. 

One citation has a fine of $802.00 and the other fine will be determined by the judge.

Both citations can carry jail time especially for repeat offenders with alcohol issues.

Trustee McDonald was arrested and convicted of drunk driving charges in late 2003 while having to pay a $612.00 fine, incurred a 6 month drivers license revocation and was ordered to attend alcohol assessment school (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/49603077.html).

Trustee McDonald, on both occasions, threatened to call the police chief because he "knew the chief" and even threatened officer's jobs if they arrested him.

Other McDonald Sightings Revealed

Trustee McDonald has also been linked to "cash pay for play" offers with a former Menomonee Falls Municipal Judge in exchange for Village Board votes to approve the Main Street Hotel Project.

McDonald and the Judge met the business partners of the hotel at North Hills Country Club in attempt to cut their deals.

Money was paid to the Judge by one of the hotel partners, but it is unclear if Trustee McDonald ever received any privileges for his amazing voting reversal on the hotel project from nay to yea some time later.

The taxpayers have lost $1,600,000 on the hotel project on Main Street so far with little or nothing to show for it  except an empty and abandoned hotel while Ernie Von Schledorn received nearly $350,000 for lots on Main Street (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/70222492.html).

Trustee McDonald also voted to extort a landowner out of 50 acres of swampland in 2004 in exchange for his vote to approve the property owner's business proposal when he was initially adamantly opposed to buying the swamp land because of the taxpayer price tag of $150,000.

The swamp land could not be used for anything because it was swamp land.

The property owner's business proposal had languished for 3-4 years thanks to the punitive tactics of Trustee McDonald.

He was also knowledgeable of the deal for the empty old $1,000,000 Marcus Theater on Main Street to Falls Fest for $250,000 in exchange for Village Board votes to approve 4 new screens for Marcus at their new location next to Home Depot in 2003, which initially had been a very controversial project with neighbors in 1998 when it was approved by the Village Board including Trustees Steliga, Jeskewitz and Village President Greco.

The deal between Marcus and Falls Fest culminated on March 13, 2003 10 days after the Village Board approved 4 new screens for Marcus which specified in their documents to Falls Fest that Falls Fest would not get the old theater for $250,000 unless Marcus got the necessary Village Board votes for their 4 screens.

Trustees Jeskewitz, Steliga and Village President Greco were or are affiliated with Falls Fest.

Trustee McDonald has also voted to directly and indirectly give Falls Fest in excess of what appears to be $700,000 over the last 15 years for what is now known as the Chamber Building on Appleton Avenue when Falls Fest was supposed to return that money to the taxpayers in a Village Resolution, but to date have not returned any funds to the taxpayers.

The Village Board Seat that Trustee McDonald currently holds is up for re-election in April of 2010.

Former Optimist/North Hill Country Club Member and AIS Insurance Group Executive Indicted on 3 Charges by Federal Grand Jury

An IRS-CI (Criminal Investigation) effort to stop fraudulent financial and mortgage practices dating back to at least 2002 by Jeff Stadelmann, 47, formerly of Menomonee Falls, came to partial fruition on November 10, 2009 when a federal grand jury indicted the former prominent Menomonee Falls resident on 3 charges.

Stadelmann was indicted with Donna Lonzo, 44, also formerly of Menomonee Falls on November 10, 2009. 

Because of the lack of coverage by the local newspapers and other media outlets, The Vanguard and its contributors had to dig a little deeper over the last 2-3 weeks to get information on this developing story.

Stadelmann will be arraigned in U.S. Federal Court on Friday, December 11, 2009 in downtown Milwaukee.

He is free at the present time and not incarcerated.

Grand Jury Indictments Explained

According to the U.S. Attorney General's Office, the first charge involves wire fraud in connection with an investment scheme he is alleged to have conducted between March of 2002 and March of 2008.

Stadelmann is alleged to have fraudulently obtained over $2.4 million from over 50 investors and private-party lenders based on false pretenses.

He is alleged to, among other things, have obtained investors money under false pretenses to invest their money and then allegedly converted the funds for private use and to pay other investors.

This is similar to what Bernie Madoff was convicted of doing in New York recently.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine not to exceed $250,000.

The second charge alleges that Stadelmann and his associate, Lonzo, conspired to commit wire fraud when they conspired to defraud Countrywide Home Loans on a home mortgage loan to obtain a $2 million vacation home in Boulder Junction, WI.

Countrywide Home Loans was rife with fraud and abuse in 2006-08 when CEO Angelo Mozilo had to step down and the firm was taken over by Bank of America which received $45 billion in TARP Money from taxpayers because of fraudulent sub-prime mortgages.

Mozilo and Countrywide have been linked to Democrat US Senators Dodd from Connecticut and Conrad from North Dakota for "sweetheart loans" because of their positions in the US Senate.

Stadelmann and Lonzo are alleged to have conspired with another individual to apply for and obtain  $1.8 million in mortgage loans to purchase the vacation home between November 2005 and January 2006.

The indictment refers to the third individual as "W.B.".  This is usually a sign that this person is cooperating with the authorities.

The indictment also states that the three conspired to state that "W.B." was the applicant for the loan and that he overstated his assets to obtain the loan for which Stadelmann and Lonzo would have otherwise not qualify for.

Stadelmann and Lonzo would face up to 5 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000 if convicted.

The third charge involves money laundering and alleges that Stadelmann obtained $200,000 from "W.B." in a bank wire transaction to Stadelmann's bank account from the over $258,000 in funds "W.B." obtained from Countrywide in October 2006 through a fraudulent second mortgage loan on the Boulder Junction property. 

Stadelmann faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $400,000 if convicted of this charge.

That's a total of possibly 35 years in prison and fines not to exceed $900,000.

The U.S. Attorney General's Office is asking anyone with information to contact them at 414-297-1700.

The investigation is ongoing and therefore the names of the over 50 victims can not be released. 

Lt. Governor Lawton bragged (http://www.ltgov.state.wi.us/news_print.asp?onid=4414) of the filming of this summer's "Public Enemies" production at Stadelmann's Big Bear Hideaway (http://www.bigbearhideaway.com/index.php) with $4.6 million of Wisconsin taxpayer's money. 

Stadelmann also has a financial firm listing in Boulder Junction (http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_8sspnc).

Prominent Member of the Menomonee Falls Community

Stadelmann was a long time member of the Menomonee Falls Optimist Club and would often help out with various club activities and fundraisers.

He was also a member of North Hills Country Club where many of his A.I.S. Insurance Group Associates paid dues and attended.

He was a representative for the well known Menomonee Falls A.I.S. Insurance Group that included Dan Hart, Ron Bretl and Lew Tietz as representatives.

A.I.S. was acquired by R&R Insurance sometime around 2006 on Appleton Avenue next to the Menomonee Falls High School.

Stadelmann owned a very prestigious home on Menomonee Avenue (N84 W16061) just west of Walgreen's near a very visible pond on a private drive.

Troubles Began in 1997

Stadelmann started in divorce court in 1997 with his former wife.

Donna Lonzo, Stadelmann's alleged co-conspirator, also went through a divorce starting in 1995.

According to court documents, Stadelmann and his former wife have been back to court many times over the last 12 years almost on an annual basis over child support, visitation and other various domestic issues.

Late on Property Taxes Since 2000

The Menomonee Falls Stadelmann home and lot on Menomonee Avenue have had their property taxes paid late every year, except 2007, since 2000.

The home is assessed at $421,900 while the lot is assessed at $136,900.

The home is absolutely beautiful according to readers of The Vanguard who have been in the home and is assessed at nearly $200,000 less than similar homes in the area.

Total penalties and interest on the two properties since 2000 total about $10,000 with the 2002-2004 taxes being paid all at once in February of 2005.

The lot is still in Jeff Stadelmann's name while the home was titled to Deutsch Bank of Texas in 2008, usually a sign of a home being foreclosed, and is currently titled to the Stadelmann Engineering Profit Sharing Trust in 2009.

Stadelmann's father was a prominent engineer in Menomonee Falls, serves on the Community Memorial Hospital Board and loves model train displays at local firms.

Some Victims Identified

According to court documents, the following people/banks are a partial list of those who have been affected by this very unfortunate situation:

1. Leroy Wegener, DePere - $756,256.00
2. First National Bank , Manitowoc - foreclosure
3. Westridge Builders, Waukesha 
4. Michael Dean, Waukesha 
5. Daniel Moynihan, Milwaukee 
6. Jeffrey Smith, Waunakee 
7. Kim Gangon, Marenisco, MI 
8. Kerry Gangon, Marenisco, MI 
9. Extreme Homes, Arbor Vitae - $21,656.00
10. Jeffrey Smith, Waunakee - $42,481.00
11. Kim and Kerry Gangon, Marenisco, MI -$24,237.00
12. Friebert, Finerty and St. John, Milwaukee - $20,863.00
13. Falls Chiropractic (Hauser, Trigg and Lynn)
14. Deutsch Bank, Santa Ana, CA - foreclosure
15. Extreme Homes, Arbor Vitae - foreclosure
16. Wells Fargo, Simi Valley, CA - foreclosure
17. Westridge Realty, Waukesha
18. Westridge Investments, Waukesha
19. Don Hike, Menomonee Falls
20. Jane Hike, Menomonee Falls 
21. Department of Revenue WI - $2,539.00 (delinquent taxes)
22. Department of Revenue WI - $22,549.00 (delinquent taxes)
23. Department of Revenue WI - $31,254.00 (delinquent taxes)
24. Dr. John Riesch, Germantown - First National Bank, Manitowoc - foreclosure   

This is a very sad situation and unfortunate for everyone involved.

It is hoped that Jeff Stadelmann will recover from this after justice and restitution are done.

This is, however, news and it needs to be reported.

Unfortunately, the local newspapers have all but looked the other way. 

Let's hope this story will help others to come forward for help from the authorities.

Village President Leaving Position at Medical Associates

The Vanguard has learned that Village President Randy Newman will no longer be in his current position with Medical Associates effective January 2010.

Readers of The Vanguard have confirmed that Newman recently sent an email to employees informing them of his imminent departure.

The Village President would not respond to an email sent to him asking for confirmation of his no longer being with Medical Associates effective January 2010 or what his future employment possibilities would be or are for him.

The Vanguard  has also learned that a number of Medical Associates Employees have lost their jobs with the merger/acquisition of Medical Associates and Pro Health Care and apparently the Village President is part of that effort of the two firms.

2010 Village Budget Taxpayer Public Hearing Receives Little Notice 

The Village Manager and Village Board are holding a Taxpayer Public Hearing on the 2010 Village Budget on Monday, November 30, 2009, 6:00 P.M. in the Village Hall Board Meeting Room.

There has been little or no coverage by the 4 local newspapers on the Annual Taxpayer Public Hearing for the 2010 Village Budget.

With a total budget of somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000,000, the public should be notified as many times as possible and far enough in advance to give the public every opportunity to attend the public hearing to ask questions of the Village Manager and Village Board to find out what kind of tax and fee increases are in store along with the school district and State of Wisconsin increases that will appear on property tax bills in December.

6:00 P.M. on a Monday night is a very awkward time for a public hearing to be held as most people aren't even home from work yet and haven't even had time to eat supper with their families let alone head out for a village meeting at such an early time of the evening.

Village Public Hearings in the past were always held at 7:00 or 7:30 P.M. to accommodate taxpayers.

The Village had buried the November 30, 2009 Public Notice of the Meeting and the Budget Summary deep inside the bowels of the Village's Web site.  Unless an individual knew exactly where to go to find the public hearing notice, there would be no way for them to find it on the Village's Web site.  The notice has now been more prominently displayed since it was recently pointed out to the Village that it was very difficult to find any information. 

The average taxpayer and probably over 99.9% of the Village's 32,647 population have no idea what is in the 2010 Village Budget and the effect it will have on their pocketbook.

This is sad and so unnecessary when so many alternatives are available to get this information out to the public unless of course the absence of ample notification for the public hearing was by design.

The Vanguard suggests the utilization of ample public hearing notifications through the use of the Cable Access Channel with pre-hearing interviews, mailing the notice with water bills, posting it on the Village's Web site where it can easily be seen, having a Village Newsletter on the Village's Web site, having press conferences and going directly to the press to get the information out to the taxpayers who pay the $30,000,000 bill.

An Open Letter to the Village Manger and Village Board About the 2010 Budget 

Thank you for your service to the 32,647 residents and some 1,500 businesses that call Menomonee Falls home.

Your service and time are appreciated.

Please accept the congratulations, questions and suggestions of this letter in the spirit in which they are intended, which is to be supportive and helpful.

There are a lot of good things in this budget and the Village Manager is to be congratulated for his hard work and vision for our community under some very difficult circumstances. 

This is a great improvement from the past, but much more work can and needs to be done.

Seeing that everyone on the Village Board, with the exception of Trustee Farrell, doesn't acknowledge or return email inquiries, The Vanguard is putting the concerns of the taxpayers in writing in hopes of making those concerns part of the permanent record because the Village Board recently adopted a "180 second" speaking policy for the Annual Taxpayer Public Hearing that prohibits any substantive comments or questions from being made by taxpayers on the $30,000,000 budget and policies. 

Taxpayers were always given ample time in the past to ask questions or make comments about how their $30,000,000 was being spent and could stay at the podium as long as they needed to until they were completely satisfied.

For some reason the Village Board no longer abides by that long standing policy for Village Taxpayers.

Sounds a lot like the democrats in Congress on health care, global warming, union card check, stimulus wasteful spending, bank bailouts, etc. who want to jam through whatever they want without public input on how their money is being spent or how their policies with affect them.

The Good Things About the 2010 Village Budget

The Vanguard had a chance to view the 2010 Village Budget and made some good observations.

The Village Manager and Village Board are to be commended for the following budget policy decisions that are about to be made if the 2010 Village Budget is to be passed in its present form:

1. In an undated memo from the Village Manager to the Village Board, it is stated that the 2010 General Fund Budget is reduced by $1,155,410 from 2009 spending levels.  This is an excellent start and a definite step in the right direction.  Who said government spending couldn't go down without a cut in services and programs? 
2. In the same memo, it is stated that the 2009 Budget will have a $375,000 deficit to be made up in 2010.  It could have been a lot worse.
3. The tax levy increase will be less than 2% or about $312,000.  The average homeowner of a $150,000 home will see their village portion of their tax bill increase by $6.24 while the owner of a $250,000 home will see their tax bill increase by $10.40.  
4. Every homeowner will see their garbage tax increase to just under $100 per home up from the original $85 that was promised to be a temporary tax in 2006.  The garbage tax is above and beyond the normal tax bill and was always included in the tax bill prior to 2005.  The total garbage tax is about $1,200,000. 
5. The total number of village employees is reduced to 223 for 2010.  That number was 253 in 2007, 239 in 2008 and 233 in 2009.  This is another step in the right direction.
6. There appears to be a lot of reorganization being done by the Village Manager.  Change is good and the Village Manager is following through on a lot of his promises made to members of  The Vanguard  in 2007 when he said, "We have to live within our means."
7. The Taxpayer's Surplus Account (a.k.a. Working Capital Fund Balance) will be at $8.109 million at the end of 2010.  The Vanguard believes this is too high and unnecessary as it should be used instead for more tax relief for homeowners instead of interest income which is at an all time low and minimal.  This amount also far exceeds what Moody's Rating Service in Chicago, professional bond rating agency hired by Village Taxpayers, states that it should be.  Unlike Social Security and its supposed Trust Fund,  the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls actually do have a surplus account of their money being held at Village Hall for over taxation.  What should be done with the taxpayer's surplus is a policy question that will hopefully be debated in the future. 
8. This budget accomplishes many things without any cutbacks in services or programs.
9. The village's assessed evaluation is $4,310,887,272 for 2009 which is admirable considering the severe downtown in the economy and property valuations. 

Some Questions About the 2010 Village Budget to the Village Manager and Village Board

Because the Village Board will not allow for any substantive questions or comments at the Taxpayer Public Hearing, The Vanguard will pose the following questions in hopes of getting answers and to lower the tax burden for homeowners:

1. What percentage will Village Employees be paying for their health care benefit premiums?  Many government entities are asking government employees to pay more than 5-7% of their $1,500 monthly premiums.  Some are asking as much as 15% from their employees for health care premiums which is still way below the private sector.
2. Why isn't the Village asking union employees to take a pay freeze and furloughs like the Village of Germantown (http://www.germantownnow.com/news/70294382.html) and City of Milwaukee (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/60045712.html) are?
3. Why isn't the Village Board implementing a tax levy freeze like Milwaukee County Executive Walker has done (http://maciverinstitute.com/2009/11/comparing-the-budgets-of-the-city-of-milwaukee-and-milwaukee-county.html)?
4. Does this budget still have $120,000 in it for unused sick leave cash payouts for retirees?
5. Does this budget include Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) for village employees that will substantially lower health care costs while maintaining great benefits?
6. Does this budget eliminate the $100,000 contingency funds for the General and Capital Budgets?
7. What is being done for the Main Street Project to recoup the $1.6 million that has been spent so far?
8. The $50,000 in hotel taxes that was budgeted for 2009 will obviously not be collected and is not budgeted for 2010.  How will this shortfall be made up and does that mean the Main Street hotel project is dead for now and the foreseeable future?  
9. How will the 2009 $375,000 deficit be made up in 2010?  New taxes or using the Surplus Account?
10. The Village Manager states in his memo to the Village Board for the 2010 Budget that there will be, "...little growth outside of TIF's and a significant decrease in permit revenue."  How will the shortfall be made up?
11. What is the $100,000 expenditure designated for landfill closing in the Fund Balance Account?
12. Why is the non-profit taxpayer funded Falls Cable Access Corporation allowed to keep over $500,000 in surplus monies from the taxpayers instead of returning it to the Village Board as all other non-profit groups have to do in with other government entities?  What do they get from the Village Board on an annual basis?  Do they have to turn in their unused monies at the end of the year?
13. What is the future of agreements with corporations like Time Warner?
14. Why are the taxpayers charged $100 per home for garbage collection when Waste Management grosses over $13 billion a year and nets over $1.08 billion a year including the Menomonee Falls site (http://www.wm.com/wm/press/mediakit/WM_Corporate_Fact_Sheet.pdf)?
15. Why isn't the Village Board asking Waste Management for selling rights for methane gas sales from the landfill to We Energies that provides energy to 15,000 area homes like many other corporations across America do (http://www.eco-structure.com/alternative-materials/its-a-gas.aspx and http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/30/news/economy/elkind_ftworth.fortune/index.htm)?
16. Does the Village still allow double dipping contracts for Village Retirees who retire from the Village and are then hired back by the Village at basically the same position they just retired from?
17. What is the total of Village Debt that is still being defeased?  The total Village Debt Service is $98,780,188. 
18. How many more years will there be $95,000 annual payments made to the Sewer Utility for the unfunded $2 million Wisconsin Retirement System liability that was discovered and corrected in 2003?
19. Will the Village ever qualify for the State's Expenditure Restraint Program again?
20. What is the rationale behind renting fire hydrants at a cost of $1,665,000 from our own Water Utility by the PSC?
21. The Chamber's subsidy has been reduced to $1,500.  Why was it dropped from the previous year's amount of some $20,000?
22. Why is there a transfer of $150,000 to the Solid Waste Collection Fund?
23. Is the Village looking at buying dump trucks that may be used or a turned in lease at a substantially lower cost than buying a new one?
24. How is the Village making up for the annual $600,000-$700,000 shortfall in bond payments for TID #5 that has $14.6 million in debt service remaining through 2018?
25. How will the $3.5 million in tax breaks be made up for the new company locating in TID #5 that is already under water with its annual bond payments?
26. Is the Village on target to make the final $26,000,000 in debt service payments through 2022 for the new library, village hall and police station without the taxpayers having to kick in and help out?
27. Will the AT&T Franchise Fee remain constant at $25,000 or will it increase?

Some Suggestions for the Village Manager and Village Board to Cut the Property Tax Levy and Fees

Hopefully the Village Manager and Village Board will accept the following suggestions that will substantially reduce taxes and fees for Menomonee Falls taxpayers for 2010 and beyond.

The only reason for these suggestions not to be implemented would be out of fear that they might work and would actually cut the tax levy saving homeowners millions of dollars and giving them more money to keep in their pockets or to stimulate our local economy.

Here goes:

1. Freeze all employee wages like the City of Milwaukee did for 2010 and 2011 (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/60045712.html) saving anywhere between $260,000-$390,000 in taxes depending on the projected size of the employee wage increases.
2. Work with employees to implement Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) that will conservatively save anywhere from $500,000-$750,000 a year in taxes depending on the structure of the contract.  Waukesha County, City of Brookfield and Community Memorial currently uses HSA's.
3. Require Village Employees to pay at least 15% of their health care premium saving $150,000 or use HSA's at a lower cost.
4. Restructure the unused sick leave cash payouts to retirees minimally saving $120,000 annually.
5. Eliminate double dipping contracts for retirees saving $100,000-$125,000 initially.
6. Eliminate the new garbage tax from Waste Management saving each homeowner $100 per home or $1.2 million collectively for our local economy on an annual basis.
7. Use the Falls Cable Access Taxpayer Surplus Account for tax relief of $400,000-$500,000.
8. Insist on renegotiating Waste Management's Contract to include a minimum residual of $100 per homeowner for selling rights of the methane gas from the landfill.  An extra $1.2 million for our local economy on an annual basis.
9. Offer a different health care plan for Village retirees that will improve renewal rates for the Village's Health Care Plan.
10. Coordinate Village Employee spousal health care plan to eliminate any double coverage.
11. Require Village Employees to pay 10% of their Wisconsin Retirement/Disability System Benefit for an annual savings of $120,000-$150,000.
12. Postpone the $10,000,000 bond sale for the construction of a new Public Works Facility which with interest will cost taxpayers a total of around $15,000,000 depending on the length of the bond(s).  This is not the time for a new Public Works Facility when the present facilities are just fine.

The total suggested savings are very doable and will save a considerable amount of money for the taxpayers.

With the severe recession and no end in sight, massive home foreclosures, high unemployment, economic uncertainty, benefit reductions, store closings, factory shutdowns, dwindling retirement accounts and the promise of higher state and federal taxes, this is not the time to raise fees and taxes.

This is the time for tax cuts and putting as much money as possible in the pockets of homeowners and business people. 

Other communities are doing it, why can't Menomonee Falls?

Let the Village Manager and Village Board know what you think.

If you don't contact them with your ideas, concerns and suggestions on how to cut taxes, this budget will pass without objection.

Here's their contact information:

Mark Fitzgerald, Village Manager, mfitzgerald@menomonee-falls.org and 532-4200.

Village Board (http://menomonee-falls.org/index.aspx?nid=292)

Citizen Inquiry Leads to Investigation of $1.6 Million in Main Street Redevelopment Costs Since 2003 

The Vanguard receives numerous tips and inquiries about various local, state and federal issues that severely affect taxpayers because of decisions and policies that are made by elected officials without cause or concern for the taxpayers who pay the bill for the decisions of those elected officials.

Once such inquiry is the attached email from earlier this summer...

    "Hi, what can we do to get the hotel knocked down?  We had some friends in from another state and they couldn't believe our mess."

The Vanguard made numerous inquiries over the last several months of the Village about the costs for the Main Street Redevelopment that started nearly 7 years ago, only to be stonewalled until recently when repeated attempts to get information were partially granted by Village Officials.

Main Street Redevelopment Plans Started in 2003

To the credit of the Village Manager and Village Board at the time, plans for the redevelopment of Main Street started in 2003.

The section of Main Street from Pilgrim Road east to the City of Milwaukee at 124th Street near the dump, has long been an area that has many eyesores and less than desirable properties causing great concern for citizens who often asked the question:

     "What are we getting in return for our money that is spent in taxes?"

According to professional traffic studies, this section of Main Street is estimated to have approximately 10-14,000 cars a day made up of local residents as well as those who are visiting the area or are simply driving through the Falls on their way to and from work.

Realizing the condition of numerous areas of deplorable properties, the Village Manager asked the Village Board to expend taxpayer money to create a vision and plan for this area that residents and visitors could be proud of instead hoping that people would simply look the other way, close their eyes or just ignore the obvious as conditions on Main Street continued to decline over the last 30 years.

For those businesses that have survived on Main Street and are hanging on to keep their doors open, a big hearty thank you goes out to you for providing Falls residents the commerce and retail options that you do.  Main Street would be a disaster without you.

Breakdown of $1.6 Million Main Street Redevelopment Costs Examined

Since 2003, taxpayers have paid the following costs to redevelop Main Street so far:

• $349,314 for the purchase of property from Ernie Von Schledorn (http://www.evsauto.com/). 
• $399,024 for water main work to C.W. Purpero (http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&source=hp&rlz=1R2TSHB_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=cw+purpero+milwaukee&fb=1&gl=us&hq=cw+purpero&hnear=milwaukee&cid=12248522190519355872) for the Main Street Hotel.
• $262,500 for consulting services to RTKL (http://www.rtkl.com/).
• $92,949 for services to planning and engineering firm Bonestroo (http://www.bonestroo.com/).
• $78,056 for services to planning firm HNTB (http://www.hntb.com/about-us).
• $177,581 for legal fees to the former law firm of the Village Attorney, von Briesen & Roper, S.C.(http://www.vonbriesen.com/).  
• $11,147 for accounting fees to the former accounting firm of the Village Financial Services Director and current Village Accounting Firm, Reilly, Penner & Benton (http://www.rpb.biz/).
• $4,379 for legal fees to the law firm of Michael, Best & Friedrich (http://www.michaelbest.com/).
• Approximately $100,000 for in house services provided by Village Employees.

It appears that a lot of firms have made a lot of money off the backs of the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls with little or nothing to show for it over the last 7 years.

Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Interest Costs on $1.25 Million Main Street Bond in Additional Costs

The Vanguard has learned that taxpayers not only had to foot the bill for all of the legal, accounting, consulting, construction, planning and in house costs for the Main Street Project, but taxpayers also have to make the interest only payments on the $1.25 million bond that was issued by the Village Board in 2008 for the Main Street Project.

The $1.25 million bond was issued as a 2 year note with an interest rate of 4.5%.

 Those interest payments total $110,312.50 which were and are due in similarly equal payments on May 5, 2009, November 11,2009, May 5, 2010 and November 1, 2010.

These are interest payments only.

The $1.25 million outstanding loan balance will eventually have to be paid off.

The promise by the Village Manager and Village Board in 2008 was to use the new tax revenues from the Main Street Redevelopment Project to make these payments.

Obviously, that remains in question and appears to be somewhat doubtful as the taxpayers will have to make up for the difference if the Main Street Project ultimately fails.

The Village Manager refuses to answer where the money will come from to make the current $110,312.50 in interest payments for the issuance of the 2008 $1.25 million bond for the Main Street Project.

All members of the Village Board have also been asked the same question(s) and refuse to answer to date.

Village Manager Questioned About Main Street Redevelopment Costs and Project Status

Numerous inquiries have been made of the Village Manager over the last few months for an update about the $1.6 million redevelopment costs of Main Street and the progress of the project.

To date, the Village Manager has repeatedly refused to respond to those inquiries instead choosing to  hide behind the Village Attorney's advice that he doesn't have to "give his opinion" with Open Record Requests.

It has been repeatedly made clear to the Village Manager that no one is asking for his opinion, but simply want to know from him in his capacity as the CEO of the Village Government what is going on with the Main Street Project after numerous stories and promises were made to the taxpayers by him and the Village Board that this project was going to be a resounding success and paid for by new tax revenues from Main Street Redevelopment. 

Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent and what the status of apparently failed projects are before any more money is possibly wasted for projects that appear to be headed for a dead end.

Village Manager and Village Board Promised Main Street Renaissance with 2008 Developer's Agreement to be Completed by December 31, 2008

Many news articles in the local newspapers boasted of Main Street's Redevelopment by the Village Manager and Village Board in September of 2008. 

After taxpayers paid nearly $1.6 million of their hard earned money to improve this long neglected and depressed area, it was finally hoped that after 30 years of abuse that the Village Manager and Village Board would finally follow through with their promises of redeveloping Main Street.

A recent review of the Village Manager and Village Board's Developer's Agreement reveals some very interesting and perplexing issues.

The terms of the Developer's Agreement are very clear and need to be followed through on by the Village Manager and Village Board to protect the taxpayers who have footed the entire $1.6 million bill so far with little or nothing in return for their investment.

Please consider the following actions required of the Developer's Agreement by the Village Manager and Village Board:

(Note: the Village Manager has been asked for clarification of these terms and refuses to answer any inquiries.)

• The developer had to spend $10.5 million on the Main Street Hotel for a value of $13-$15 million.
• The developer had to spend $13.1 million on the 82 condos across the street from the hotel on Main Street for a value of $16.4 million.
• The developer had to begin work on the project within 90-120 days of November 9, 2008.
• The developer had to maintain a Radisson Franchise Agreement for 10 years.
• The developer had to maintain a 5,000 square foot full service restaurant agreement for 10 years.
• The developer must have the Radisson Hotel and full service restaurant absolutely open by December 31, 2008. 
• The developer would annually receive 37.5% of all generated hotel taxes through 2027 in exchange for promoting the hotel.
• Village Manager and Village Board promised as part of their 2009 Village Budget that the hotel would generate $50,000 in hotel taxes annually.  The hotel has generated $0.00 in tax revenue for 2009. 
• $3.1 million Municipal Revenue Obligation Bond (MROB) is provided for in Article IX of the Developer's Agreement.  It is unclear if the MROB has been issued for the project as the Village Manager and Village Board refuse to answer questions.
• $1.00 is the price the hotel owner will pay to the Village Board for the Redevelopment Parcel if the 82 conco units are not built across the street from the hotel by 2013 or 5 years.  This clause is unclear as well as the Village Manager and the Village Board will not answer questions.

The Developer's Agreement has a "Performance Clause" (The Vanguard term) in Article XIV where 8 areas of the Agreement must be met or the Agreement could be considered in default.

It is clear from examining those clauses that the Developer's Agreement appears to be in default for failing to meet various performance requirements established by the Village Manager and the Village Board.

The Village Manager and Village Board are required by the Agreement to notify the developer to resolve the outstanding issues to cure the default matters. 

It remains unclear as to what if anything is being done with the Main Street Project as the Village Manager, Village Attorney and Village Board refuse to answer any questions of the taxpayers.

Trustee McDonald and Former Municipal Judge Shake Down Developer for Village Board Votes in Exchange for Cash

Trustee Mike McDonald, who is up for re-election to the Village Board in 2010 and is no stranger to skirmishes with the law as he was arrested and convicted on DWI Charges in 2003 which cost him his driver's license for 6 months, a $612.00 fine and alcohol assessment, was also caught and cited with 2 charges by the Menomonee Falls Police for hiding in a closet after bar hours and obstructing an officer at Su Casa Restaurant in Menomonee Falls in 2009.

The 2009 case is still pending in Waukesha Municipal Court.

Trustee McDonald, according to Police Reports, always threatened Police Officers when he was arrested or cited by the officers that he was going to go to "...the Chief" because of the officer's actions against him as a Village Trustee. 

Trustee McDonald, along with the former Municipal Judge, tried to shake down the developer and his original partner of the Main Street Hotel in 2005 and 2006 for cash contributions in exchange for Village Board Votes to approve the developer's project while meeting at North Hills Country Club.

It is widely known that the developer gave money to the former Municipal Judge in exchange for Village Board Votes.

The former Municipal Judge later had to resign from office in 2006/2007 for numerous legal violations involving the lack of disclosure of client accounts and the improper recording of financial transactions for services rendered to clients when client payment for services were deposited into the personal bank account of the judge and not the law firm's client escrow accounts which is required by law.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules for Professional Conduct of Attorneys through its Disciplinary Division cited the former Municipal Judge before he resigned from office.

Is it any wonder that certain projects in Menomonee Falls aren't completed especially when they are tainted like this one has been from the start? 

Taxpayers Deserve to Know Where Their $1.6 Million Went

What do you think?

Let The Vanguard,

Village Manager (mfitzgerald@menomonee-falls.org),

Village Attorney (mmorse@menomonee-falls.org),

Village Financial Services Director (mdatka@menomonee-falls.org) and

Village Board (http://menomonee-falls.org/index.aspx?nid=292) know what you think about the accounting for the expenditure of $1.6 million of taxpayer money and for the update of what, if anything, is being done with the Main Street Project.   

Thanks for reading The Vanguard. 

The Journal Sentinel has revealed there are a lot of readers.  Thank you.

We try to bring interesting, informative and enlightening issues to the attention of local residents that for whatever reason are primarily ignored by the 4 local newspapers.

We're told there were quite a few comments regarding the last posting (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/55408017.html).  

Comments are good and it is hoped they will continue.  Thanks again for reading.

The Vanguard also knows there are those, including at least one Village Employee, who have either contacted the Journal Sentinel and or the DA's Office to make sure this blog does not continue.

Yes, there have even been threats of lawsuits to "stop or else" because those that have been exposed in Menomonee Falls have a lot of money to take "you" down.

That is considered a compliment.  

Those that disagree are welcome to make any suggestions for what they believe may be inaccurate information and it will be corrected immediately.

Warning....this Posting Contains Information that is In depth, Thought Provoking and Challenging

If you like accountability, follow up and transparency for government officials regarding their policy decisions, this posting will be very beneficial and eye opening reading. 

If not, this posting will present a challenge to those who have told the taxpayers and business people of Menomonee Falls one thing for many years, but have done just about the total opposite.

Issues to be Discussed with this Posting 

As is so often the case with government and the mainstream media today, a story is covered at the time of an event(s) but is seldom, if ever, followed up on to determine if the policy, promises and projections made by politicians actually stand the test of time or any scrutiny at all.

The Vanguard will begin a series to take a look at the following issues where absolute promises were made by the Village Board about how good these policies would be for the taxpayers and businesses in Menomonee Falls:

• MMSD (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District) settlement of 1996
• Purchasing of Milwaukee Water since 1999 will be next posting
• Ambrosia Chocolate Plant being annexed by City of Milwaukee from Menomonee Falls in 1995 in early October 
• Trustee McDonald's visit with the Judge over police citations for obstructing an officer and being in a bar after hours (3:00 A.M.)
• ACORN affiliates were in Menomonee Falls during the 2004 Presidential Campaign registering voters with the Village Clerk's Office  

Let's get started.

1996 MMSD Settlement ...How did this happen?

The Vanguard remembers the promises that were made by the Village Board in the mid-90's that if the policies the Board were adopting with the City of Milwaukee and MMSD were implemented, the taxpayers and businesses of Menomonee Falls would be better off working out a deal with MMSD instead of continuing "the fight" with the 8 FLOW (Fair Liquidation of Waste) Communities.

The Board at the time said this would ultimately lead to a "regional cooperative effort" with the City of Milwaukee Mayor's Office to keep costs down, bring environmental relief, avoid further legal delays and treat the waste from Menomonee Falls.  

Members of The Vanguard have met privately and confidentially with the lawyers, engineers, past and present political leaders who know this matter intimately and its affect on the taxpayers and businesses of Menomonee Falls as well as the other communities who have been affected.

To a person, everyone agreed the 1996 MMSD Settlement was not at all in the best interest of Menomonee Falls from an operational, environmental, legal or financial standpoint.

When asked how this was allowed to happen, everyone pointed to one person who deliberately and systematically undermined the efforts of FLOW to "cut a deal" with the Mayor's Office in the City of Milwaukee.

Once one FLOW Community was willing to "cut a deal" with John Norquist and the horse was out of the barn, it was just a matter of time before the other FLOW Communities were pressured in to doing the same thing.

That one person, who "cut the deal" with John Norquist, was former Menomonee Falls Village President Joe Greco. 

Everyone intimately familiar with the settlement explained to Vanguard Members that it was devastating what Joe Greco did and how he secretly and individually persuaded the other Village Board Members to go along including Trustees Jeskewitz, McDonald and Steliga for many years. 

Not one of the Board Members stood up to Joe Greco or for the taxpayers and businesses of Menomonee Falls.

Everyone intimately familiar with the matter agreed that Menomonee Falls would be better served with their own treatment plant instead of being serviced by MMSD.

This would require a strong political will and leadership from the Village Board because of the obstructions that will inevitably be put up by the DNR, Democrat Controlled Legislature, Democrat Governor Doyle, the City of Milwaukee and MMSD.

Strong political will and leadership seems to be lacking in a lot of communities these days. 

The Vanguard is not interested in rehashing the entire settlement issue.

The Vanguard is interested in exploring how this happened, what has been the effect on taxpayers and businesses and what can be done to correct this monumental problem.

The Vanguard has been able to piece together from many conversations, meetings and review of documents the following list of how this was allowed to happen through the efforts of Joe Greco, perhaps former Village President Bob Steliga, John Norquist and the Village Board, including current Trustees McDonald and Steliga,  to "cut a deal" to settle with MMSD in 1996:

1. John Norquist insisted on keeping 7 of the 11 MMSD Board Member appointments for the Mayor's Office with no suburban representation.  The MMSD Board (http://v3.mmsd.com/AboutUs.aspx) still stands that way today.
2. John Norquist insisted that Ambrosia Chocolate move to Menomonee Falls because of the Bradley Center but be annexed by the City of Milwaukee (12500 W. Carmen Ave., Milwaukee WI)  near 124th and Silver Spring.  More on Ambrosia Chocolate later.
3. John Norquist wanted to charge property taxes to homeowners and businesses based on the value of their property without any input or control by the Village of Menomonee Falls.
4. John Norquist wanted to set the waste treatment rates for Menomonee Falls without any input or control by the Village of Menomonee Falls.
5. John Norquist wanted to help convince Menomonee Falls residents their water was highly contaminated with radium and how they needed Milwaukee Water to correct the problem.  Joe Greco even bragged about his role with John Norquist in protecting Menomonee Falls residents from the water in his 2003 campaign fliers.  More on that later. 
6. John Norquist wanted a check for $27,836,817.00 from Menomonee Falls taxpayers and businesses to settle.
7. Give a nearly $1 million public relations 15 month contract to a high ranking Village Employee's spouse to promote MMSD Efforts in 2003.  The money was paid out, not sure what the results were. 

After secretly meeting and talking with John Norquist numerous times, Joe Greco lead the Village Board, including current Trustees Steliga and McDonald, to agree with John Norquist against the recommendations of legal advice and consultants and the rest as they say "is history".

1997-2009 $91 Million+ City of Milwaukee/MMSD Settlement Costs Examined

Here's the follow up to what the actual costs have been based on information obtained from the Village and MMSD:

                 Debt Service                              Treatment Charges             Property Taxes to MMSD*

1997           $1,136,551                                       $1,098,323                                  $2,520,689      

1998           $1,718,129                                       $1,084,234                                  $2,154,576

1999           $1,716,907                                       $   840,482                                  $1,810,131

2000           $3,649,809                                       $   929,802                                  $1,973,187

2001           $2,211,863                                       $   928,257                                  $2,043,264

2002           $1,604,411                                       $   992,607                                  $2,817,579

2003           $1,586,146                                       $1,007,627                                  $2,140,971

2004           $3,381,541                                       $1,007,855                                  $2,826,887

2005           $1,714,833                                       $1,007,000*                                $4,451,326

2006           $1,588,084                                       $1,198,371                                  $4,311,183

2007           $1,581,303                                       $1,227,280                                  $4,228,080

2008           $1,568,803                                       $1,489,182                                  $4,519,155

2009           $1,575,912                                       $1,489,182**                               $4,519,155**

2010           $1,579,677

2011           $1,579,974

2012           $   874,620

Total        $29,793,563                         Total     $14,300,202 (2)              Total    $40,316,183 (3)

Cash         + 6,786,817                               *2005 estimate                             *$1.28/$1,000       

Total        $36,580,380 (1)                        **2009 estimate                            **2009 estimate

Total of Totals $91,196,765 (1), (2), (3)

(Note: MMSD is much better to work with in getting information than the Village of Menomonee Falls is.  MMSD is polite, professional and very responsive.  The information is provided without any questions or delays.  There is no cost for copies of documents provided by MMSD.)

City of Milwaukee/MMSD Property Taxes on Homes in the Falls Reaches Over $40 Million Since '97 

According to the Village of Menomonee Falls and the City of Milwaukee/MMSD, Menomonee Falls homeowners and businesses have paid the City of Milwaukee/MMSD $40,316,183 in property taxes since 1997.

With a 2008 Property Tax Rate of $1.28 per $1,000 assessed value, the following chart demonstrates the costs to homeowners in the Falls on an annual basis for property taxes paid to the City of Milwaukee/MMSD:

Home value                    Property tax amount

$150,000                                    $192.00

$200,000                                    $256.00

$250,000                                    $320.00

$300,000                                    $384.00

$350,000                                    $448.00

$400,000                                    $512.00

$450,000                                    $576.00

$500,000                                    $640.00

Don't Forget the Residential Wholesale Charge

Each residence in Menomonee Falls is also charged an additional $99.08 for a "residential wholesale charge" each year to the City of Milwaukee and MMSD.

It's like those cable access fees that no one seems no know or care about that add up to about $300,000 a year.

Or the $.75 monthly fee on cell phone bills for protection services to the State of Wisconsin.

Or the $90.00 a year garbage fee at $1.2 million a year that goes to Waste Management to pay for the new library, police station and village hall.

A million here and a million there and pretty soon it's real money.

Wonder why Sewer Bills are so High?

The Vanguard often hears from readers about the complaints they have regarding their extremely expensive water and sewer bills.

These costs are directly reflected in homeowner bills because of Settlement and Treatment Costs along with the Property Taxes being paid to the City of Milwaukee and MMSD.

It's only going to get worse.

Cost effective alternatives will be given later in this posting that will dramatically lower water and sewer bills.

Is $91.2 million acceptable?

John Norquist and Joe Greco were way ahead of their time with their "redistribute the wealth" socialist agenda for the current White House Administration and Democrat Controlled House and Senate.

Environmentally Sound?

The 1996 MMSD Settlement was suppose to be an environmentally sound agreement.

Just the opposite is true.

Every time it rains, the suburbs collectively hold their breath and hope the MMSD Deep Tunnel doesn't overflow for fear of being sued again by the DNR.

The Vanguard has been provided a copy of at least one DNR lawsuit because of MMSD Overflows and it isn't pretty.

Taxpayers of Menomonee Falls are on the hook for the legal costs every time it rains which is added on to the water and sewer bills.

Here is just one of many examples that exist of how Menomonee Falls is affected by the failure of MMSD when it rains (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29271919.html).

This will continue until the taxpayers demand a different and better way from the Village Board.

There is a much better way that is much more environmentally sound and cost effective for the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls.

What are the Other Options?

The Vanguard believes and knows there are more cost effective, environmentally sound and legally pure alternatives that will dramatically lower water and sewer bills for Menomonee Falls.

Between the water and sewer payments being made to the City of Milwaukee/MMSD by Menomonee Falls residents, the total annual costs are approximately $7 million.

Menomonee Falls is currently serviced by 3 Sewage Districts (Sussex-Red, Brookfield-Blue and MMSD-Green) as well as private septics (white) (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/DSC01368.JPG).

Approximately 10,000 homes in Menomonee Falls are serviced by MMSD (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/MMSD_CUSTOMERS_BY_BILLING_DISTRICT%5B1%5D.pdf).

Homeowners in the Sussex and Brookfield Districts pay for the treatment of their waste based on usage only and do not pay any property taxes to Sussex or Brookfield.

Option 1 

Leave things the way are.

Good luck with that.

Been there done that.

How's that working out for you?

$91.2 million of our hard earned money to the City of Milwaukee/MMSD since 1997.

Option 2

Expand service areas to Sussex and Brookfield based on usage not property values for future demands.

Both communities have the capacity and would love the revenues.

This is one time where cooperative government agreements make sense at a low cost, efficient operations and are mutually beneficial to both communities.

Option 3 

Build a treatment plant in Menomonee Falls in spite of the Village Board's cozy relationship and supportive public statements of MMSD maintaining the status quo for the last 12 years.

There are numerous locations available throughout the Village to build a plant.

With the Village having its own plant, the costs will drop dramatically because taxpayers won't have to pay the City of Milwaukee/MMSD $4.5 million a year in property taxes.

The average homeowner would save about $300.00 a year on their sewer bill.

The $1.5 million annual MMSD Debt Service Costs will stop in 2012.

A new plant will carry an annual debt service of approximately $2-$2.5 million for 20 years.

The Village has the infrastructure, equipment and great employees in place to facilitate a new plant. 

The new Village Manager, in a meeting with Vanguard Members in 2007, said he has a background in building treatment plants in Colorado where he came from.

Let's hope he will apply his background and experience to help Menomonee Falls and not the City of Milwaukee and MMSD.

The $1.5 million MMSD Treatment Charges will stop and will be replaced by Menomonee Falls Village Employees at a much lower cost.  More savings on sewer bills.

With the hopeful election of Scott Walker or Mark Newman as governor in 2010, having a Menomonee Falls Plant is a real possibility.

MMSD, the DNR and the City of Milwaukee will howl and throw everything they can to stop this because they are going to lose a lot of money.

No more environmental threats and lawsuits because of MMSD and overflows.

Much lower legal costs because the Menomonee Falls Plant will virtually be exempt from any environmental lawsuits because the affiliation with MMSD would be terminated.

We would be in control of our own destiny instead of forfeiting it to an entity that provides us no input, control or voting privileges.

Much lower sewer bills because homeowners will no longer be paying $4.5 million annually to the City of Milwaukee and MMSD.   

We're Americans.

We can meet, beat and exceed any challenge that is put before us.

Doesn't this just make sense?

Wouldn't this be the right thing to do?

What can be done to correct this?

Just like those Americans who are getting out of their comfort zone to attend Tea Parties to protest an oppressive government and have contacted their Congressman and Senators to stop the health care train wreck being proposed, Menomonee Falls residents can change this mess to make it about doing the right thing for homeowners and business people while providing excellent services at a lower cost.

Residents must contact the Village President, Village Manager, Village Attorney and Village Board or otherwise the status quo will always be maintained with higher costs, more lawsuits, poorer service and more taxes.

Here's how to contact the Village President and Village Board (http://menomonee-falls.org/index.aspx?nid=292).

Village Manager mfitzgerald@menomonee-falls.org

Village Attorney mmorse@menomonee-falls.org

Trustee McDonald's Visit with the Judge Set for Waukesha Municipal Court 

The Vanguard has obtained copies of citations 0841 and 0842 for Trustee McDonald involving an after hour (3:00 A.M.) bar closing violation and obstructing an officer for hiding from police in a storage closet at the bar earlier this summer.

Trustee McDonald's obstructing an officer citation has a fine of $802.00.

Trustee McDonald's after hour violation fine is to be determined by the judge.

These citations could carry jail time especially for repeat offenders to be determined by the judge.

Trustee McDonald's case was originally transferred to Elm Grove Municipal Court and has now been transferred to Waukesha Municipal Court awaiting trial.

Trustee McDonald is notorious for his brushes with the law (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/49603077.html) where he has been convicted of OWI, fined $612.00, ordered to alcohol assessment and forfeited driving privileges for 6 months.

Trustee McDonald always threatens the officers who arrest him that he will contact the police chief about his arrests.

Trustee McDonald has also been known to ask for cash for business proposal(s) in exchange for his vote on the Village Board according to those who have contacted The Vanguard. 

We will keep you posted on the resolution of Trustee McDonald's latest skirmish with law enforcement officials.

Trustee McDonald is up for re-election in 2010.

ACORN Affiliates may have Poisoned 2004 Presidential Election in the Falls

With all the news about the ACORN Community Organization with its multiple problems and investigations (21 states including Wisconsin http://www.city-data.com/forum/elections/458262-barack-obamas-acorn-friends-now-being.html) as well as being defunded by Congress (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090917/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_acorn) and the Senate (http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE58D6CW20090914), The Vanguard has now learned that ACORN Affiliates were in Menomonee Falls during the 2004 Presidential Election.

At least 2 ACORN Affiliate Groups, New Voters Project (http://www.newvotersproject.org/about-us) and Women's Voices. Women Vote. (http://www.wvwvaf.org/2008/3/18/liberal-groups-mobilize-350-million-for-november), were heavily involved in registering voters in Menomonee Falls in 2004.

Both of these groups pride themselves in being involved with or associated with ACORN and far let wing billionaire George Soros (http://frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35838 and http://www.newvotersproject.org/partners).

Like ACORN, Women's Voices. Women Vote., also has many problems and investigations (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/03/AR2008050301870.html and http://ncvoters.blogspot.com/2008/10/nc-robo-calls-cost-womens-voices-women.html) costing them at least $100,000 in fines and penalties.

With track records like this and affiliations such as these, is it really a stretch to wonder if these groups may have poisoned the 2004 Presidential Election in Menomonee Falls?

The Vanguard  is aware of numerous questionable voter registration issues in 2004 with the Clerk's Office.  

The Clerk's Office first said there weren't any issues in 2004, they then had to admit there were issues when they were presented with indisputable evidence of multiple violations.

The Clerk's Office supposedly forwarded these issues to the DA's Office in a communication from the Village Attorney.

The DA's Office, in a written communication, later said they had never received any information from the Clerk's Office about voter registration issues in 2004.

Who's zooming who here?

Put your money on the DA's Office for telling the truth.

With governmental corruption all around us, is it too much to ask for a safe and secure election in Menomonee Falls by following State and Federal Election Laws for legal and integrity purposes? 

Let's hope Menomonee Falls voters are protected from this type of questionable and probably illegal behavior when we go to the polls in 2010.

Enough for now...

Have a great week and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather.

The Vanguard has been off for a few weeks enjoying the summer months and all of the activities that go with it.

The following issues will be touched on with this post:

1. Follow up to Trustee McDonald's citations
2. Nearly $1.5 million over taxation of taxpayers for 2008 Village Budget 
3. Taxpayers have to pay 15% increase in health care premiums for Village in 2009
4. Water bills to increase 36% for taxpayers because of Milwaukee Agreement with Village Board

Trustee McDonald Defenders Respond to His Citations From Police and Questionable Behavior

The Vanguard has learned that a number of responses were made to the July 2nd posting regarding Trustee McDonald's hiding from police in a storage closet at a Menomonee Falls establishment after hours (past 2:00 A.M.) earlier this summer that ultimately lead to Trustee McDonald receiving 2 citations from the Menomonee Falls Police Department for obstructing an officer and being in a bar after hours (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/49603077.html).

The Vanguard welcomes comments to its postings, but doesn't make it a practice to read them.

Readers have contacted The Vanguard to share their concerns about some of the comments that were made that seemed to focus more on people, personalities and politics for the defenders of the status quo rather than doing the right thing about the behavior and policy decisions of the local elected officials on the Village Board that adversely affect the community in very negative ways that repeatedly go uncovered and unreported on by the 4 local newspapers for some inexplainable reason(s).

The Vanguard  doesn't concern itself with these types of comments because in the words of Ronald Reagan:

     "There is no limit to what a man can do or how far he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."

Simply insert the word "community" for "man" in Reagan's quote and Menomonee Falls would be much better served if individuals on the Village Board would focus on "doing the right thing" for Menomonee Falls instead of the repeated pattern of behavior that has existed for over 20 years that benefit select individuals on the Board and their handful of favored non-profit organizations at the expense of the rest of the 33,000 citizens of the community.

The Vanguard chooses to follow the principles of those like Ronald Reagan to make it about doing the right thing for the betterment and advancement of Menomonee Falls without concern for credit instead of those in Menomonee Falls who seem to use the principles of 60's radical community organizer, Saul Alinsky, who in his book, "Rules for Radicals", wrote in his Tactics Section some of the following rules to attack politicians or those who don't agree with them or won't give their organizations what they want:

• Fifth Rule...Ridicule is man's most potent weapon.
• Thirteenth Rule...Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.

These tactics may make good headlines in the local papers, are good for a few laughs and take the attention and focus off of what is really going on with local leaders and their questionable policy decisions and behavior, but they don't help a community.  Quite the contrary, these tactics deeply hurt a community.  Menomonee Falls has experienced enough of this in the past while these tactics were being used while at the same time many questionable policy decisions were being made by the Village Board to benefit them and their circle of close friends.

The young person who reported Trustee McDonald's compromised state to the police to protect the rest of the community before the Trustee may have hurt someone with his vehicle that ill fated early morning hour of 3:00 A.M. on May 29, 2009, responded to The Vanguard's posting with the following email:

Mr. Davis...

I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all the information shared in your latest blog. It was very insightful as to what is going on in Menomonee Falls. I actually wanted to come over and thank you myself, but I've recently moved out of my parents' house and am no longer in the neighborhood. But I want you to know that the article is greatly appreciated in more ways than one. Happy 4th!

The Vanguard invites comments from the defenders of the political status quo regarding illegal/inappropriate behavior of elected officials in Menomonee Falls if the community is better off when the right thing is done for the betterment of all citizens with good policy decisions or when the following things occur that benefit only those on the Village Board and their pet non-profit organizations?

1. Is it good public policy by the Village Board to ask the taxpayers to forfeit their hard earned $5 million for unused sick leave cash payouts to Village Retirees? (August 20, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=08-01-2008&endDate=08-31-2008)
2. Is it good public policy by the Village Board to reward their friends at Falls Cable Access by looking the other way when so many IRS and State Law violations were committed by Falls Cable Access at the taxpayer's expense and then reward them with a nearly $1 million,  10-year, no bid contract? (August 1, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=08-01-2008&endDate=08-31-2008 and April 25, 2009 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=04-01-2009&endDate=04-30-2009 and December 1, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=12-01-2008&endDate=12-31-2008 and December 20, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=12-01-2008&endDate=12-31-2008)
3. Is it good public policy by the Village Board to allow so many election related mistakes by the Clerk's Office that have possibly compromised the electoral process in the Falls for years? (July 2, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=07-01-2008&endDate=07-31-2008 and Sept. 5, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=09-01-2008&endDate=09-30-2008 and October 15, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=10-01-2008&endDate=10-31-2008)
4. Is it good public policy by the Village Board to allow double dipping contracts to Village Employees that gave the former Village Manager the opportunity to become a millionaire in retirement at the taxpayer's expense? (Sept. 14, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=09-01-2008&endDate=09-30-2008)
5. Is it good public policy by the Village Board to vote to have taxpayers subsidize Falls Fest each year while some of the Village Board Members are Directors of Falls Fest? (July 24, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=07-01-2008&endDate=07-31-2008)
6. Is it good public policy to have the Village Board support $100 million payouts to MMSD and Milwaukee Water when other options and alternatives are available at a much lower cost to consumers in the Falls? (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/content/view/62/2/)
7. Is it good public policy for Village Board Members to apparently extort, shake down, accept contributions from, finagle real estate deals with, barter for services, refer business to or require businesses to give cash in exchange for votes? (March 30, 2009 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=03-01-2009&endDate=03-31-2009 and January 9, 2009 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=01-01-2009&endDate=01-31-2009)
8. Is it good public policy to have the Village Board be dishonest with the landfill negotiations, $42 million debt service for new facilities, no Village Revenues from methane gas sales and the "new garbage tax" on top of property taxes? (December 8, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=12-01-2008&endDate=12-31-2008 and December 20, 2008 http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/blogs/archive/?blogID=43791447&archive=y&startDate=12-01-2008&endDate=12-31-2008) 

As a community with varying opinions, let's have an open and honest discussion about the issues and what is right for Menomonee Falls. 

Let's set aside the people, personalities and politics because that will help Menomonee Falls as a community win instead of losing like it has so many times in the past and will in the future if the citizens don't stand up for what is right, legal, ethical, honest and transparent.

The Vanguard welcomes comments from readers.  Please share what your opinions are on the 8 questions proposed above.

Taxpayers Forfeit Nearly $1.5 Million in 2008 in Surpluses

In an uncovered story, The Vanguard finally received a memo from the Village that shows a nearly $1.5 million surplus for 2008 General Fund Operating Results on a budget of about $30 million or about a 5% surplus.

Surpluses are usually the result of unexpected revenues or lower than expected expenditures or a combination of both.

The Village Board Policy has always shown the appearance of returning annual surpluses to the General Fund Surplus Account in the past.

For some reason this year, the Village Board will be spending the entire 2008 Surplus on various Village Projects and Loan Funds rather than putting the surplus in the General Fund Surplus Account or reducing debt or using it for tax relief in 2010. 

The Vanguard remembers the hue n cry from Trustees McDonald, Steliga and Jeskewitz in the early 2000's that all annual surplus account funds had to be returned to the General Fund Surplus Account instead of being used for tax relief because using the surplus account funds could possibly lower the Village's Bond Rating and those excess funds had to be set aside for emergencies which turned out to be completely false.

Moody's never lowered the bond ratings for the Village and Village Staff budgeted for emergencies as part of their annual budgeting process.

As a matter of fact, it was learned the Village had way too much in surplus monies according to the suggestions of the Moody's Bond Rating Agency (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/How-much-is-enough-paragrap.png) that were later mysteriously ignored when the Village Board changed the policy without any apparent vote (prior to 2006 http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Misc-Info-10-pgs09.png and after 2006 http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Misc-Info-10-pgs08.png).

The Village Board had a nearly $11.2 million Taxpayer Surplus Account in 2004 (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Misc-Info-10-pgs03.png) which has now been reduced to $7.5 million (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=849) for a reduction of $3.7 million or about 33%.

The Vanguard is in the process of finding out why the Fund has been reduced to level that it has and why the Village Board has changed their policy to spending down the Surplus Account when they used to protect every dollar in the Fund instead of using it for tax relief.

It is hoped that the Village Board will do a better job for 2010 and it will be interesting to see what the Operating Results are for 2009.  
 

Health Care Premiums for Village Employees Increase 15% in 2009

In another uncovered story, The Vanguard has finally obtained the 2006-09 health care premium increases for the Village's Health Care Plan after first requesting the increases in a meeting with the new Village Manager over 2 years ago and the results are not good.

After a stellar performance by the first time ever Village Benefit Analyst from 2004-06 (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Misc-Info-10-pgs10.png) that resulted in annual average increases of about 2% for three years and saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Benefit Analyst was unanimously fired by the Village Board in 2006 for what the former Village Manager said was for "pure political reasons". 

The former Benefit Analyst provided invaluable information and developed many new initiatives that provided short and long term relief and changes to the Village's Health Care Plan which now seem to be all but gone with the new Benefit Analyst judging from the documents from the Village at a huge cost to the taxpayers.

The previous 5 year track record for the Village Board saw the premiums rise from about $1.1 million in 1999 to around $2.4 million in 2003 for average annual increases of about 18% (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Misc-Info-10-pgs10.png). 

Taxpayers now pay over 92% of the Village Employee Health Care Premium for most employees and should have a vested interest in how the plan works and what the costs are because it directly comes out of the taxpayer's pocket. 

About 10% ($2.5-$3 million) of the annual Village Budget are directly tied to health care costs at taxpayer's expense.

Most Village Employees only pay $90.00 per month for the $1,632.25 family plan and $45.00 per month for the $595.78 single plan.

The annual health care plan increases the last 3 years are as follows:

• 2007   9.4%
• 2008   9.3%
• 2009   15%

The taxpayers would have seen a larger tax increase over the last 3 years because of the health care premium increases had it not been for the Village Board firing about 30 employees.

The Vanguard will explore some options and ideas to be considered that will save taxpayers a ton of money and maintain an excellent health care plan at the same time for Village Employees in a future posting.

It will be interesting to see what the premiums are for 2010 and whether or not the Village Board will step up and look at some alternatives for cost savings that have been available to the Village for a long time but have simply been ignored to maintain the status quo at taxpayer's expense.

Water Bills to Increase 36% With Village Board Support

In another primarily uncovered story, taxpayer's will be looking at a minimum of 36% increases (http://www.discoverhometown.com/menomonee/NewsArticle3.asp) in their water bills this year thanks to the unanimous votes of the Menomonee Falls Village Board who have repeatedly stated publicly over the last several years what a wonderful job the City of Milwaukee is doing for our community with their water agreements.

Unfortunately, taxpayers were once again sold a bill of goods in the '90's and early 2000's on the false premise that Menomonee Falls water was highly contaminated with radium and the supply was dangerously low which explained the reason why Milwaukee Water had to absolutely be purchased or else. 

Those statements by Village Board Members really couldn't have been any further from the truth.

The truth of the matter, according to the latest update of the Menomonee Falls Water Supply from 2004
(http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/file/MFWell.pdf), shows the water supply not being highly contaminated with radium and not dangerously low as the community had been lead to believe by the Village Board. 

The truth of the matter is that Milwaukee Water is simply blended with Menomonee Falls Water every few days and homeowners still consume Menomonee Falls Water.

The truth of the matter is that taxpayers have paid nearly $10 million since 1999 (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Misc-Info-10-pgs06.png) to the City of Milwaukee for water that may not have been needed.

The Vanguard is in the process of getting updates on Menomonee Falls Water, if they exist, to make sure the public really knows what is going instead of accepting the peddling of the message that has been recited for the last 10-15 years by the Village Board which is proving to be mostly untrue.

The answer from the Village Board is to blame the City of Milwaukee for the 36% increase because of the City is facing a pension shortfall, hire yet another consultant at taxpayer's expense to complain about the increase at the PSC Rate Increase Hearing and Trustee McDonald ordering citizens to show up at the PSC Rate Increase Hearing to complain.

Where will you be Trustee McDonald when the PSC Rate Increase Hearing is held?  In a closet hiding from police somewhere or at the PSC Rate Increase Hearing yourself representing the citizens of Menomonee Falls?

The Vanguard has another idea, how about using the Village Staff that is already paid for with taxpayer's money to find a solution to use our own water and give the community an update that shows where the water quality and supplies are at?

This is just the water bills and doesn't include the sewer bills to MMSD that have totaled over $91 million since 1996-2009 (http://www.jefferson-davis.info/images/Documents/Misc.-Info3-3-pgs..png) which taxes homeowners based on the value of their homes at a tax rate of $1.28/$1,000 assessed value that now total over $4.5 million in taxes to the City of Milwaukee each year.

There are other options for waste treatment that don't include MMSD if the Falls only had a Village Board that had the courage and leadership to do the right thing instead of maintaining the status quo in fear of what might happen from the City of Milwaukee if they stop using MMSD as a wholesaler for waste treatment. 

Imagine if taxpayers didn't have to pay the $90 a year garbage fee, had lower water and sewer bills, paid less for Village Employee Health Care Premiums and had a 3 year, 5% property tax reduction?

All of those extra millions could be pumped into the local economy instead of being given to the City of Milwaukee, Waste Management, United Health Care and the Village Government. 

The sad thing of it is that all of this is doable with the right leadership on the Village Board and a citizenery that was informed and engaged.

Let us know what you think...

Do you like 15% health care premium increases at taxpayer's expense?

Do you want other options for health care that will lower taxes and maintain great benefits?

Do you want over taxation at $1.5 million a year?

Do you want surpluses used for tax relief to the taxpayers or Village Board spending projects ?

Do you want to continue with 36% water bill increases from the City of Milwaukee or use our own water at a much lower cost to taxpayers with great quality?

Do you want Trustee McDonald to come clean and apologize for his illegal behavior of obstructing an officer and being in a bar after hours?

Let the Village Board know what you think by contacting them at their email addresses below.....

http://menomonee-falls.org/index.aspx?nid=292

Have a great week!

Happy 4th of July

In spite of what some are saying about our great country while constantly trying to tear America down under the guise of apologizing, environmentalism, fairness, equality and redistribution, America is without question the greatest, most caring and most giving country in the world in spite of those in the political and media circles who try to convince us on a daily basis that America isn't the greatest country in the world.

We're Americans, we know better and we will not let America be taken away from us by the select few.

Instead of creating ways to criticize and demean America, let's reflect on what has made America the greatest country in the world through the eyes of our founders and what they did for us to give us the privileges we enjoy today with the following historical documents that laid our unmovable and unshakable foundation unless, of course, evil is allowed to triumph because good people do nothing to protect our country as we build on making a better and more stronger America instead of a weaker and more compromised America:

• Federalist Papers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalist_Papers)
• Declaration of Independence (http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/) 
• Bill of Rights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights)
• U.S. Constitution (http://www.theusgov.com/the%20constitution.htm)
• Star Spangled Banner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner)
• Pledge of Allegiance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance)
• American Flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States)

Enjoy the 4th of July with your family, friends and neighbors.  Attend the Menomonee Falls Parade and Fireworks on July 3rd starting at 7:00 P.M. on Appleton Avenue and Pilgrim Road.  Celebrate our great country and it's independence!

And now.............Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Trustee McDonald

In a repeated and very familiar pattern of behavior, Trustee Mike McDonald was once again cited by the MFPD (Menomonee Falls Police Department) on alcohol related matters in the very early hours of Friday morning, May 29th, involving a Menomonee Falls establishment that Trustee McDonald frequents regularly and is required to vote on their business proposals and liquor license renewals after a citizen contacted the MFPD with a "serious concern" about Trustee McDonald's "severely compromised ability" to drive home.

More on this incident later.

Trustee McDonald was arrested and convicted on a similar matter in 2003.

More on that matter later as well.

The Vanguard has been given copies of Trustee McDonald's Police and Court Reports from 2003 and 2009 for alcohol related arrest, citation and conviction matters which will be explored in detail later.

No one could possibly wish what has happened on anyone especially the innocent people who have unfortunately and unnecessarily become involved because of the careless behavior of Trustee McDonald.

It is hoped that Trustee McDonald will get or will be ordered to get professional help from the courts because of this repeated pattern of behavior before someone is tragically hurt that are innocent.

People that repeat this type of behavior are screaming for help and unfortunately are often times enabled to continue on by those who are the closest to them.

Let's hope that is not the case this time for Trustee McDonald.  Let's hope he gets some help and will truly and sincerely change his life to protect others and himself from this ever happening again.

Menomonee Falls deserves better from their elected officials than to constantly having to concern themselves with what their elected officials are up to and are citizens being protected from them and their behavior.

Sitings of Trustee McDonald at Local Watering Hole Establishments in a Repeated Compromised State

Numerous contributors to The Vanguard have confirmed Trustee McDonald's apparent public pattern of compromised behavior with numerous sitings of Trustee McDonald in an apparent "compromised state" at some of the following Menomonee Falls establishments over the years:

• Su Casa
• Trysting Place
• North Hills Country Club
• DeMarini's
• Pepino's
• Mojo's Steakhouse
• Maiden Voyage

Trustee McDonald is nearly 60 years old and has been on the Menomonee Falls Village Board for nearly 20 years.

Trustee McDonald is up for re-election to the Menomonee Falls Village Board in less than 5 months.

Trustee McDonald is a local favorite and is apparently given a "free pass" by his fellow Village Board Members and voters in spite of his continued and repeated questionable, criminal and illegal behavior because he "votes the right way" for defeated local referendums, Village Budgets, employee contracts and agreements for the benefit of "selected" businesses and non-profits, but not necessarily voting the right way for the taxpayers who pay his salary and benefits each year.

Trustee McDonald Subject of Numerous Controversial Matters Over the Years

Because of his apparently often "compromised state", Trustee McDonald has been the subject of many controversies while serving as a Village Trustee that include, but are certainly not limited to the following:

• Trustee McDonald's wife, employed by the Menomonee Falls School District, uninvitingly attended a private event for a fellow Village Board Member in 2004 while wearing a secret recording device in a private area of her body which she later gave a copy of her taping of the event to the press in an attempt to help her husband get re-elected to the Village Board.
• Trustee McDonald, in response to citizen's concerns about the lack of promised parks and recreation facilities for the Creekwood Crossing Area on the Village's South side, was taped at a Planning Commission Meeting in 2003-04 as saying something to the effect, "...we don't have the resources for this and "people" from the City of Milwaukee have been known to compromise the safety of children in public parks and we don't want any of that in Menomonee Falls."  It was later learned that Trustee McDonald made it all up on the fly about the "people" from the City of Milwaukee and that he simply worked with the former Village President to jam as many homes as possible into Creek wood Crossing to expand the tax base in lieu of the promised and planned parks and recreation facilities. 
• Trustee McDonald attempted to get cash from a Main Street businessman in exchange for his vote on the Village Board for the businessman's proposal in 2005-06. 
• Trustee McDonald personally tried to kill a business proposal for a prominent, highly successful and ethical businessman from the City of Milwaukee with an ethnic background that Trustee McDonald did not like or want in Menomonee Falls.  The businessman contacted the former Village Manager and Village President wondering if Trustee McDonald had a "problem" after the businessman spent an inordinate amount of time with Trustee McDonald seeking answers as to why Trustee McDonald he was so adamantly opposed to his proposal.  The businessman later pulled his proposal only to have Trustee McDonald approve virtually the same business plan for the same location for someone of a different ethnic background.  
• Trustee McDonald "fired" the Benefit Analyst for the Village in 2006 for what the former Village Manager described to the "fired" Benefit Analyst were for "pure political reasons" when the Benefit Analyst had greatly improved the Village's Health Care Plan at a much lower cost to the taxpayers who at the time were paying 95% of the Village Employee's Health Care Premiums that were approaching nearly $3,000,000 a year.
• Trustee McDonald greatly challenged Woodman's Grocery and their business acumen about coming to Menomonee Falls before ultimately voting in favor of their business proposal in 2009.
• Trustee McDonald voting to extort a businessman out of his 50 acres of swampland in exchange for approving his business proposal costing taxpayers about $170,000 in 2004 and Lord knows how much to the businessman whose project was delayed for nearly 4 years and it took over 4 years for the Village to pay the businessman for his property.
• Voted to deplete the taxpayer's surplus account by nearly $4,000,000 over the last several years without any apparent explanation while for the longest time maintained that it would lead to financial ruin if the account was depleted at all because it was needed for "emergencies" which of course didn't exist and were simply made up by the Trustee.
• Voted to give a non-competitive, no-bid contract of nearly $1,000,000 to one of his favorite non-profit groups at taxpayer's expense.  
• Voted to give Falls Fest the old theater from Marcus Corporation on Main Street at a 75% discount in exchange for the approval of 4 new screens for Marcus in 2003 at their new complex near Home Depot and Applebee's.
• Told homeowners in Creekwood Crossing in response to their request for a "tot lot park area"  they were originally promised by the developer and Village that, "...if you can afford homes like this, you don't need a park, you can afford your own playground equipment."
• Tried to block the request of Falls Baptist Church for some variations to their church and school complex by saying of the pastor something to the effect to fellow Village Board Trustees between Village Committee Meetings in 2003-04, "...he's the kind of guy that it wouldn't surprise me if you woke up on a Monday morning to find out that he ran off with all of the money from the collection plates."

Of course the 4 local newspapers have been made aware of all of these news stories and for some inexplicable reason won't touch any of these news stories.

Normally when incidents of this nature occur involving an elected official who is sworn to uphold the laws of various governmental levels, it is considered news and the numerous matters referred to above are explored in great detail, but not in Menomonee Falls for some unknown reason.

Trustee McDonald's 2003 Alcohol Related Complaint, Arrest and Conviction Examined

The Vanguard will not rehash the entire 2003 complaint, arrest and conviction of Trustee McDonald, but will simply "highlight" the more pertinent matters of the case as follows:

• Citizen contacts the MFPD about a vehicle (Maroon SUV Dodge Durango License Plate TH-285 belonging to Trustee McDonald) driving erratically near North Hills Country Club on Friday night, June 6th around 12:00 A.M. on the eve of the Lombardi Golf Classic at North Hills Country Club where Trustee McDonald is a member and volunteer for the event.
• The citizen, in a signed statement to the MFPD, noticed the SUV repeatedly swerving in his lane nearly hitting another vehicle and curb numerous times.
• Trustee McDonald abruptly came to rest nearly in the middle of the Appleton Ave./Pilgrim Road intersection at a red light.
• Citizen asks the occupants of the other vehicle near Trustee McDonald if they knew the Police Department's Phone Number and eventually got it by calling 411.
• Citizen follows Trustee McDonald to his residence on Schneider Drive near the YMCA out of concern of him hitting someone or something because of his apparent compromised state.
• During this time the citizen estimated that Trustee McDonald was traveling approximately 60 miles per hour in a 25 mile an hour residential speed limit zone.
• MFPD Officers arrive at Trustee McDonald's residence on Schneider Drive near the YMCA to find Trustee McDonald's SUV in his driveway with the grill still warm.
• Officers approach the front door to be greeted by Trustee McDonald's daughter and asked to see the owner of the vehicle parked in the driveway.  The daughter gets her father who appears before the officers in his "blue hospital scrubs" and motioned to meet with the officers in front of his house outside.
• Trustee McDonald repeatedly demanded to know from the officers who called them and the officers said that wasn't important at the time.
• Trustee McDonald then angrily threatens the officers and demands their names and badge numbers. 
• The Trustee then volunteers without any questions being asked by the officers that he had been asleep for about 6 minutes before they arrived at his house and that his wife, Nancy, had followed him home from Trysting Place and that he wasn't driving erratically.
• The Trustee admits to driving the SUV and he is observed by the officers as having "glassy and bloodshot eyes", having a "slurred speech" and having the "odor of intoxicants" from his mouth and person.
• The Trustee admits to having one beer at Trysting Place and none at home.  He was very interruptive and argumentative during the entire interview process.
• He wants to Contact Police Chief Jack Pitroff.
• Officers repeatedly request a field sobriety test at which time the Trustee becomes even more angry in a loud and raised voice that this is "bu@%&*it" and that the only reason this was being done was because he was a Village Trustee.
• The Trustee finally concedes to the test and is barefoot, but locked everyone out of the house when the officers ask him to put some shoes on.
• The Trustee could not correctly enter the code to gain entry through the garage door even with the assistance of the officers.  The Trustee's wife, Nancy, finally opens the front door with a pair of shoes for the Trustee to perform the sobriety tests.
• Officers ask the Trustee to perform the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn Test, One Leg Stand and Preliminary Breath Test.
• The Trustee performed very poorly for the administered tests and failed the Preliminary Breath Test with a reading of .19.  The legal limit in Wisconsin is .08.
• The Trustee was shown the test results and denied he was drunk, but now admitted to having 4 additional beers at the Lombardi Golf Classic in addition to the one he had at Trysting Place.
• Officers advise the Trustee he is under arrest for OWI and the Trustee demands to speak with his attorney and that the officers contact Police Chief Jack Pitroff.
• The Trustee is handcuffed and continues to be argumentative with a raised voice wanting to contact his attorney and Police Chief Jack Pitroff.
• The Trustee is transported to the MFPD by the Officers and continues to make threats for their jobs while being loud and argumentative because his rights have been violated.
• The Trustee continues to be loud and argumentative at the Police Station denying that he is drunk and states to the officers on duty, "When this is done, I am going to get your badge number because you're not going to be working here much longer."    
• The Trustee continues to be loud and argumentative during the 20 minute observation period demanding to speak to his attorney which the officers allowed him to do at 1:10 A.M.
• The Trustee now refuses to conduct a test with the Intoximeter after agreeing to the test earlier.
• The Trustee changed his mind and wanted to now do a test.
• The Trustee then changes his mind again and refuses the test once again.
• The Trustee is finally released to his daughter at approximately 2:25 A.M. in a signed statement.
• The Trustee's wife, Nancy, admits to following her husband home after they had had some drinks at Trysting Place, but denies that he was driving erratically and was fine to drive home by himself.
• MFPD issues an OWI Ticket to the Trustee per Wis State Stat 346.63(1)(a).

Trustee McDonald's OWI Case Moved to Brookfield Municipal Court Late in 2003

Trustee McDonald's OWI Case was moved to the Brookfield Municipal Court because of his close friendship and relationship with Menomonee Falls Municipal Judge Mike Hurt in October of 2003.

Judge Hurt was later forced to resign the Menomonee Falls Municipal Judgeship in 2006 because of violating the terms of a probationary agreement set out by the Attorney Disciplinary Division of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and agreed to by Judge Hurt dating back to various records from 1998 that involved Judge Hurt's failure to fully disclose client lists to law firms that he had been with and for taking cash at his personal residence in Menomonee Falls, which he later lost to foreclosure in 2007, from clients instead of running the client account payments through the law firm he represented which is required by law.

Trustee McDonald was eventually convicted of the following with his OWI Case in Menomonee Falls by the Brookfield Municipal Judge in late 2003:

• Convicted of OWI.
• Paid a fine of $612.00.
• Had drivers license revoked for 6 months.
• Ordered to attend alcohol assessment. 

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Vanguard has reviewed Trustee McDonald's most recent MFPD Reports from May 29, 2009 involving a local establishment that Trustee McDonald is required to consider voting on their business proposal(s) and liquor license and can disclose the following information the local newspapers refuse to report:

• A courageous citizen who was not afraid of Trustee McDonald's bullying and intimidating tactics reported an extremely intoxicated Trustee McDonald to the police after closing hours at 2:10 A.M. because everyone in the establishment knew that Trustee McDonald was going to drive home even though he was obviously extremely intoxicated and the citizen did not want Trustee McDonald to hurt anyone on his way home.
• The citizen arrived at the establishment around 11:00 P.M. to find Trustee McDonald there who according to another witness was already in a "drunk and obnoxious state".
• The reporting citizen does not know Trustee McDonald, does not work at the establishment, had not been drinking, was playing darts with her friends and felt "bothered" by Trustee McDonald because he was so drunk throughout the evening.
• The citizen also stated that more patrons were drunk than usual at closing time.
• She personally gave 2 patrons a ride home because they were so drunk and couldn't drive home by themselves.
• The citizen believed that Trustee McDonald was waiting for all of the patrons to leave before he left for home while being extremely intoxicated.
• Trustee McDonald's new home is on Tamarack Trail just south of Thomas Jefferson School about 2-3 miles from the establishment.
• The citizen said the bartenders were serving Trustee McDonald in a cocktail glass.
• Another citizen wanted to report Trustee McDonald to the police however his cell phone battery died.
• Another witness captured Trustee McDonald's "obnoxious and drunken state" on video earlier in the evening.
• Another witness yelled at Trustee McDonald regarding his "obnoxious and drunken behavior" on the way out of the establishment something to the effect, "...so this is how our taxpayer money is spent".
• Another witness, whose job it is to "kick people out at closing time" and "to give rides home to those who are too drunk to drive", was called by the owner of the establishment on his way back to the establishment around 2:30 A.M. to give Trustee McDonald a ride home.

MFPD Arrive at Establishment to Investigate Complaint of Trustee McDonald's Intoxication and Effort to Drive Home

The Vanguard can report the following account from the perspective of the police officers called to the scene on May 29th:

• Officers arrive at the establishment around 2:10 A.M. to find the doors locked and the blinds drawn which was unusual behavior for the place based on past experience by the officers.
• The officers find a vehicle (red Dodge Durango SUV license plate 520-KZA) registered to Trustee McDonald in the parking lot.
• The officers notice individuals inside after hours and finally gain entrance to the place and ask if there are any patrons in the establishment to which the owner and bartender deny knowing of anyone else being there besides themselves.
• The officers check out the entire place and do not find anyone else.
• The officers leave and stake out the place in secluded areas near the establishment only to see the owner come out later in a crouched position looking to see if there is anyone else in the parking lot.  The time is nearing 3:00 A.M.
• The officers notice other individuals leaving the establishment and an individual fitting the description of Trustee McDonald being assisted into a black pick-up to be taken home.
• The officers later pull the black vehicle over that contained the establishment's escort driver for drunken patrons and Trustee McDonald.
• The escort driver was very cooperative with the officers.
• Trustee McDonald had difficulty getting out of the vehicle because he could not get his seat belt off because he was trying to unbuckle it from the right side when the seat buckle is on the left side.  The escort driver finally got the seat buckle off for Trustee McDonald because he was unable to do so.
• Trustee McDonald then told the officers he wanted to urinate at which time they told him he couldn't because that was against the law and would have to hold it until he got to a restroom.
• The officers noticed a strong odor of intoxicants coming from and on Trustee McDonald.
• Trustee McDonald entered the squad car and agreed to provide a written statement.
• Once Trustee McDonald was advised that he was going to receive 2 citations for being in a bar after hours and for obstructing an officer, he became very agitated and confused as to what was going on.
• Trustee McDonald then refuses a preliminary breath test.
• Trustee McDonald was read his Miranda rights at which time he then refused to give a statement to the officers.
• Trustee McDonald then made statements to the officers that he would be talking to "Ann" in the morning presumably to mean the Police Chief Anna Ruzinski which is consistent with Trustee McDonald's behavior in 2003 with Police Chief Jack Pitroff.
• Officers also gave the escort driver a citation which was later pulled.

These citations appear to be misdemeanors and can carry a fine of somewhere between $0-$1,000 and jail time of up to 6 months or both depending on the discretion of the judge and the circumstances involving the case and whether or not the individual is a repeat offender.

The Vanguard will follow these citations as they make their way through the Court System of the Municipal or County District Courts.

Establishment Owner and Employee Cited by Officers

The officers also pull over the establishment's owner that evening for the following reasons:

• Cite him for having patrons in establishment after hours.
• Cite him for obstructing an officer for lying about not having patrons in his bar after hours.
• Cite him with an OWI.
• Cite his bartender for obstructing an officer.
• Trustee McDonald was hiding in a storage closet to avoid being detected by police officers.
• The bartender was very cooperative with the officers and unfortunately was caught in a situation with Trustee McDonald that quite frankly she didn't know what to do about.

How sad that Trustee McDonald would put an innocent person in such an awful position with the potential of such collateral damage to that individual who to no fault of her own was in the wrong place at the wrong time because of Trustee McDonald's reckless behavior.  Hopefully she will be granted some leniency by the courts.

Establishment Owner Threatens Officers Because of Alleged Illegal Activity That is on Tape

During the arrest and field sobriety test of the establishment owner by the officers, he made some very interesting statements involving the police officers as follows:

• "I assure you if you are going to mess with me, I'm going to f_ _ _ you up." 
• "I got pictures of you guys drinking in my bar after hours and videos too." 
• "At least 4 people are going to lose their jobs tomorrow."
• "You need to know that a lot of people are going down if I am arrested and f_ _ _ _ _ d with."
• He also made reference to contacting the "Journal" to report the misconduct of MFPD Officers.
• He also made allegations about officers being in his establishment conducting illegal activity.
• He did not elaborate on what type of illegal activity he was referring to other than being in his bar after hours consuming alcohol.
• The owner told officers he could not speak english which the officers knew wasn't true because of personal past dealings with him.

The Vanguard has also learned that certain Village "law enforcement employees" may be or were business partners with owner of the establishment in question.

If this is true, the Police Chief has a real mess on her hands that definitely requires an investigation into the alleged illegal activity of officers and business relationships with this business owner.

The Vanguard will follow through with these matters in hopes of getting answers for the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls that the 4 local newspapers refuse to cover.

Unfortunately, Trustee McDonald is required, because of his position, to vote on proposals and liquor license requests for this business owner.  Hopefully the Village Attorney will properly advise Trustee McDonald so that taxpayers aren't compromised any further because of irresponsible behavior.

What do you think?

Should Trustee McDonald resign from the Village Board?

He is up for re-election in less than 150 days when nomination papers can be circulated for the 2010 April Spring Election.

Should Trustee McDonald be fully prosecuted to fullest extent of the law for being a repeat offender or should he be given a sweetheart deal which is often the case for those who are part of the establishment by local court systems?

Let Trustee McDonald know your thoughts by contacting him at his email address of mmac1883@aol.com.

Let the following Village Officials and Village Board know your thoughts by contacting them at the following addresses:

• Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald mfitzgerald@menomonee-falls.org
• Village Attorney Mike Morse mmorse@menomonee-falls.org
• Village Police Chief Anna Ruzinski aruzinski@menomonee-falls.org
• Village Board villageboard@menomonee-falls.org

Thank you for your time.  Have a great week and a Happy 4th of July.  See you next week at The Vanguard.

Non-Competitive, No-Bid 10 Year Contract of Nearly $1,000,000 is Unanimously Awarded by Village Board at Taxpayer Expense for Falls Cable Operations with Village Manager's Recommendation

Like the popular 70's cartoon character Alfred Newman who always seemed to be oblivious to those things around him that didn't seem just right with his "hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil" attitude,  Village Board Policy was adopted this past week at the Village Board Meeting of April 20th with the awarding of a nearly $1,000,000 non-competitive, no-bid 10 year contract to Falls Cable Access Corporation for Management Services of the Falls Cable Access Channel(http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/43400587.html) without any substantive questions or debate by the Village Board.

All of the preliminary work for the contract was once again done in Closed Session between the Village Manager and Village Board without any taxpayer input, review or inspection of any documents before the Village Board unanimously awarded the contract at the April 20th Meeting.

A contract award of this size (nearly $1,000,000) and magnitude is typically required by Village Ordinance and Village Board Policy and under normal circumstances is put out for competitive bids and often times public input is encouraged prior to any decisions being made by the Village Board as was done with the new library in 1999-2000 and the 2005-06 Cable Access Consultant's Report that taxpayers funded. 



This is also done for sidewalk installations, curb and gutter replacements, equipment purchases, well drilling, road repair, tree plantings, computer software purchases, ambulances, street sweepers, squad cars, fire department vehicles, snowplow trucks, firearm purchases and park shelters to mention a few of the many Village Departments that are required to go through a competitive bidding process every time a purchase is made or contract is awarded on much smaller amounts than $1,000,000 involving taxpayer money. 



The Village Board also used the competitive bidding process to privatize the operations of the Assessor's Office in 2005 that was promised by the Village Board to save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars with the awarding of a contract to a private firm for assessment operations in the village.

The Village Board also used the competitive bidding process in 2006 to, in the words of the former Village Manager "...fire the benefits analyst for pure political reasons", award the benefit analyst contract to a new firm that has unfortunately resulted in nearly 12% annual increases in health care premiums for taxpayers over the last 4 years when the previous benefit analyst had a 2 year track record (2004-05) of lowering health care premiums by an annual average of 1.7% saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

The public was not notified of any pending Village Board action on Falls Cable Access until the April 20th Village Board Agenda came out at the last minute late in the day on Thursday April 16th or Friday April 17th buried on the Village's Website or posted on the Public Notice Board just outside the front door of Village Hall giving taxpayers no time to contact Village Board Trustees with concerns or suggestions about the questionable and controversial operations of Falls Cable Access over the last 17 years.



History of Falls Cable Access Revisited



The Vanguard has written extensively about the troubled past of Falls Cable Access (http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/the_vanguard/archive/2008/08/01/falls-cable-access-whatever-happened.aspx) and will simply summarize their many questionable operation decisions and bully tactics here:

• didn't file federal income taxes on over $1,000,000 in income for nearly 15 years
• wasted some $7,500 of the taxpayer's money trying to convince the IRS Tax Exempt Division they were part of Village Government when they weren't 
• used bullying and intimidation tactics toward those who dared to raise questions about their operations
• threatened lawsuits to those who had legal concerns about their operations
• were part of a smear website campaign that depicted an African American as a slave to be used against elected officials that asked questions about their operations
• probably didn't report thousands of dollars in personal income to the State of Wisconsin and IRS
• probably used government facilities for personal or business gain 
• publicly physically accosted individual(s) who challenged the legality of their operations
• threatened to "get you" in an email for those who questioned them
• admitted to severe personal "debt" and "health" problems in an email
• Board of Directors hadn't met in many years while business was being conducted without any oversight, accountability or legal decisions for the benefit of just a couple of people
• threatened to shut the cable access channel down in protest to the questions being asked

IRS Cites Falls Cable Access for Numerous Federal Tax Law Violations

The Vanguard also learned of the IRS citing Falls Cable Access in 2005-06 for numerous violations in various areas of federal tax law (http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/the_vanguard/archive/2008/12/01/obama-fairness-quot-silence-quot-doctrine-comes-early-to-menomonee-falls-village-board-budget-hearing.aspx).

A partial summary of the IRS findings against Falls Cable Access would be as follows:

• federal tax returns should have been filed for the last 15 years
• Falls Cable Access is not part of the Village Government in total contrast to what Falls Cable Access stipulated with their attorney
• federal tax returns must be filed in the future
• the original IRS Letter Ruling of 1992 should have been followed when for 15 years it had not been
• turn over 2004-06 federal tax returns
  
  

Attorney General's Office Cites Falls Cable Access on Numerous Open Meetings and Public Record Law Violations

The Vanguard also learned of the Attorney General's Office citing Falls Cable Access in 2008 after a 3 year investigation for numerous violations in the areas of Open Meetings and Public Records Law (http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/the_vanguard/archive/2008/12/20/doveryai-no-proveryai-trust-but-verify-village-board-garbage-agreement.aspx) that can partially be summarized as follows:

• improper posting of meeting notices
• insufficiency of public notices
• insufficiency of meeting minutes
• conducting business outside of properly noticed meetings
• insufficient number of Board Meetings
• untimely responses to public records requests
• excessive per page charges for public records
• improper requirements of identification of requestors of public records
• improper requirements of the motive for those requesting public records
  
  

The Attorney General's Office decision was in part due to a 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court Case (2006AP662) involving similar behavior of a governmental funded unit in the City of Beaver Dam that tried to do the same things to the taxpayers there and lost.

Falls Cable Access is Finally Forced to Disclose their Expenses as a Result of IRS and Attorney General Findings

The Vanguard has also written extensively about the full disclosure of the expenses for Falls Cable Access (http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/the_vanguard/archive/2008/09/23/public-employee-benefit-costs.aspx).         

Taxpayers will now be able to go to the Guidestar Website (www.guidestar.org) to review the Federal Tax Returns of Falls Cable Access without having to be treated the way they have been for the last 6 years and without any fear in learning how taxpayer's money is being spent by this organization.

A Simple Question of the Village Board

Would your business be given a contract with a poor and dismal track record like that of Falls Cable Access of the last 15 years?

Once again it's too late because the Village Board has already made a decision without giving the taxpayers a chance to be heard.  Now they have to live with it unless enough pressure is put on Village Board to do the right thing for taxpayers.

The Vanguard is simply asking the Village Board to do the right thing with the following suggestions:

• return the taxpayer surplus account (over $500,000) at Falls Cable Access to the Village for proper use because the taxpayers gave it to them in the first place
• appropriate only what is necessary to Falls Cable Access for budget purposes on an annual basis
• return any unused funds to the Village like all other non-profits throughout Wisconsin are required to do on an annual basis
• in the future, give taxpayers a voice for a decision of such magnitude as this with a public hearing in light of all of the controversy created by Falls Cable Access
• monitor the purchase of any "digital equipment" by Falls Cable Access in the future because there is serious doubt that Cable Access Channels will even be in existence 5-10 years from now because of the internet and technological advances similar to questions being raised about the future of libraries 
• why invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment that may not even be needed 5-10 years from now
• no one thought typewriters would ever be eliminated either
• accept Time Warner Cable's Offer to purchase equipment above and beyond their refunding of the taxpayer's money with their annual $300,000 + payments to the Village unless it's too late because the Village Board didn't accept their offer in contract negotiations     
• follow the recommendations of the taxpayer funded 2005-06 Cable Access Consultant's Report that strongly suggested the Village Board have more oversight and accountability of Falls Cable Access by holding semi-annual meetings
  
  

What do you think?

Let the Village Board know what you think by contacting them at their attached email addresses (http://menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?nid=292).

Have a great week!

Kenosha County Town of Paris has a $21 million Budget Surplus due to Waste Management and We Energies 

There has been widespread news coverage recently, except for the 4 local Menomonee Falls newspapers, of The Town of Paris (population 1,500) in Kenosha County and their burgeoning budget surplus of $21 million as a result of landfill and power plant payments from Waste Management and We Energies in a time when other governmental entities are cashed strapped and looking for ways to raise taxes and fees to meet their endless spending habits instead of reducing costs to lower taxes in severe recessionary times. 

The coverage goes all the way from Chicago to Minneapolis/St. Paul to Green Bay about this stash for cash phenomona with the following links:

Chicago - http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-townsurplus,0,6454898.story

Minneapolis/St. Paul - http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-townsurplus,0,6454898.story



Appleton - http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=postcrescent&sParam=30550697.story

Madison - http://www.channel3000.com/news/19178726/detail.html



Green Bay - http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=10180426&nav=menu24_2 and http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090414/GPG0101/90414072/1207/GPG01



WISN TV - http://www.wisn.com/money/19179653/detail.html



WTMJ TV - http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/43012192.html



History of Landfill and Power Plant Revealed



The landfill was started in

The power plant was started in

List of power plants in Wisconsin http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/teacher/Climateguide/pdf/PowerGenerationWisconsin.pdf

Landfill Expansion Talks are Ongoing

http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/plandev/smart_growth/documents/TParisUtilities.pdf

Free Garbage Service

Town of Paris residents have free garbage and recyclable service from Waste Management at the landfill (http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/plandev/smart_growth/documents/TParisUtilities.pdf) 

Town of Paris residents do not pay local property taxes or county taxes

Because of the agreements negotiated by the Town of Paris with Waste Management and We Energies, residents do not pay local or county property taxes.  This arrangement has been in place for

.  They do pay school taxes.

Waste Management (landfill) and We Energies (power plant) pay about $3 million a year to the Town of Paris for the privilege of domiciling their businesses in the community.

The breakdown of the $3 million annual payments from Waste Management and We Energies is as follows:

Rather than spend the money from Waste Management and We Energies before they actually get it like Menomonee Falls has done for the last 16 years, the Town of Paris has saved it for tax relief and other obligations such as when the landfill is eventually closed and the $3 million revenue stream stops.

Disclosure

I am a guest blogger for this posting with The Vanguard.  

If this information that I received this morning from the Davis for President people is true, then Menomonee Falls has more serious problems than has ever been imagined.

The newpapers don't cover this stuff and Cable Access certainly won't broadcast any of this on the public channel.



I hope as many voters as possible will read this stuff before tomorrow's election for Village President.



Randy Newman is on the Village Board and appears to be part of the stuff in the attached communication.



Please contact the Village Board (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?nid=292) if you want this stuff to stop and that you want Woodman's to come to Menomonee Falls.  Randy Newman does not list a phone number on the Village Website and can only be contacted by email.  

Falls Village Attorney Bars Woodman's from Speaking with Board Trustees on Project

Menomonee Falls - In a bizarre and last minute twist in the April 7th Menomonee Falls Village President Race, it has been learned that the Village Attorney has ordered or strongly suggested that Woodman's Corporation can not have contact with Village Trustees because, in the attorney's opinion, that would constitute a "rolling quorum".

When learning of this development, Jefferson E. Davis said today,

"This is one more example of the Menomonee Falls Village Board chasing away good business because that business may not "play by the rules".

Woodman's wants to build a 250,000 square foot facility that will expand our tax base, increase revenues, create jobs and not require any Village Services to speak of.

Woodman's has been trying to locate a store in the Falls for 3 years.

Woodman's has picked a perfect spot based on their business acumen to locate their store at Bradley Road and 124th Street for maximum exposure and return on their capital investment.

This area borders TIF District 5 that is more than half empty and has a remaining debt service of $12 million between now and 2018.

TIF District 5 also has a bond payment due of $2.5 million in 2009 with only $595,000 coming in from existing tenants to make that payment.  The taxpayers will be asked to make up the difference.

Woodman's has been incredibly successful with their business model because of their background and experience in the marketplace not because government has told them how to run their business.

Wherever Woodman's has gone, more businesses follow because of their magnetic effect for ancillary economic growth.

Woodman's does not want a handout from the taxpayers.

Woodman's is not building their store in a TID (Tax Incremental District) District.

Why would the Village Board look a gift horse in the mouth by having the Village Attorney purposely shield them from Woodman's unless there is something else going on which we have learned is often the case in Menomonee Falls unless you play the game of giving Board Members cash, bartering agreements, referrals, campaign contributions or real estate deals in exchange for votes. 

The taxpayers have graciously funded nearly $1 million for studies, surveys, consultants and legal fees for Main Street redevelopment since 2004.

The taxpayers have also funded a bond for $1.25 million for the hotel on Main Street for redevelopment in 2008 that has an interest payment of $50,000 due in 2009 with very little money coming in to make that payment.  The taxpayers will undoubtedly be asked to make up for this shortfall as well. 

The hotel on Main Street was supposed to be completed and opened on January 1, 2009.

The Village Manager budgeted nearly $50,000 in 2009 for hotel tax revenue that is now lost.

The Planning Commission and Village Board want Woodman's to put their store on Main Street or at the Stolper Foundry Site on Pilgrim Road and the freeway.

That would be the equivalent of putting the USS Ronald Reagan on Main Street and Pilgrim Road and having it stretch nearly to the freeway in heavy residential areas.

I believe the Village Board's actions toward Woodman's are inappropriate because Woodman's should not have to be held hostage because of the failures of the Village Board for their poor planning and waste of nearly $2.25 million of the taxpayer's money for Main Street.

I also believe that Woodman's should not have to pay for the millions of dollars in environmental hazard waste clean up for the Stolper Foundry or be forced to buy the failed theater acquisition by Falls Fest from Marcus Theaters in exchange for votes that has nearly bankrupted Falls Fest, which is made up of some of the Village Board Members.

I believe Woodman's should be allowed to talk to or meet with any Village Officials they want in order to explain their project in hopes of getting it approved.

I have submitted an Open Records Request of the Village Attorney's Office to see what it is he has specifically done to thwart the efforts of Woodman's to explain their project to the Village Board in hopes of bringing their store to the Falls.

The taxpayers deserve better than this from their elected officials."

Jefferson E. Davis is opposed by Randy Newman who is currently part of the Menomonee Falls Village Board.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{[

www.jefferson-davis.info

davisforpresident@yahoo.com

414-750-6785

hasEML = false;

Disclosure 

I am a guest blogger for this posting.  I have contacted The Vanguard and have received their permission to do so.

I watched the Village President Debate on March 30th and heard Randy Newman promise to resign over his tax bill increases if he were wrong. 

I have looked at my property tax bills from the last 3 years and they have gone up 10% when the new garbage tax is included that Randy Newman has voted for since 2006 that our community was promised was going to be temporary.

I don't know Randy Newman, but I hope he will follow through with his promise because I'm tired of my taxes going up so much and I don't want to see any more fees added to my tax bill. 


I moved to Menomonee Falls from Milwaukee to get away from what they were doing with new fees and high taxes.

I am posting this communication that I received from the Davis for President group this morning.

I believe the voters need to know this because it is not being covered in the newspapers.

Davis Accepts Challenger's Resignation From Office over 10% Tax Bill Increases in Falls Race

Menomonee Falls - In a startling and encouraging development in the race for Menomonee Falls Village President, the challenger to Jefferson E. Davis (Randy Newman) has said he will resign from office over his 10% + tax bill increases of the last 3 years if he is wrong about the amount of the tax bill increases while being a member of the Village Board (click here for coverage of resignation http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/news/42188172.html). 

Newman made the promise during the Chamber sponsored Village President Forum on Monday, March 30th that was broadcast live on Cable Access Channel 14 and is being rebroadcast a number of times between now and the April 7th Election.

The Cable Access Channel's schedule is attached (http://fallscableaccess.com/) and the Chamber sponsored Village President Forum is confusingly titled, "2009 Voter Forum".

  The scheduled times are unfortunately either very early in the morning, mid-afternoon or very late at night preventing the optimum time for the maximum number of people to view the forum.  It is also unfortunate that the Cable Access Director will not have the event as a streaming video available for those who would like to watch the forum, but have to work during the day and or are asleep for the late night rebroadcasts on the cable channel. 

The Menomonee Falls Village President Race will conclude with the election on Tuesday, April 7th.

In accepting Newman as a man of his word and his statement of resigning from office over his 10% + tax bill increases from the last 3 years, Davis said today:

"I have known Randy for probably 20 years now and consider him a friend and a man of his word.

I can only hope Randy will follow through with his public promise to resign from office because the facts are in the numbers that appear on the average homeowner's tax bill which have increased annually over 10% during the last 3 years due to his votes on the Village Board.

I will accept his resignation and I think the voters will too for lower taxes and free garbage pick up.

The overwhelming majority of homeowners in Menomonee Falls own a home in the $200,000 - $225,000 price range even with the recent pullback in home values.

To skirt the Governor's Tax Levy Freeze, which I wholeheartedly support and only wish that it were a true tax freeze instead of the window dressing that it is, my opponent voted in 2006 to legally do an end around the Governor's Tax Levy Freeze by raising the Menomonee Falls tax levy as much as possible and moved the garbage service pick up to a brand new fee of $85 per household.

The fee is scheduled to go up 3% a year without a vote by the Village Board, which is now $90 a year just 2 years later and has lead to his 10% + tax bill increases over the last 3 years with his votes on the Village Board.

My opponent's end around votes on property tax levy increases and switching basic garbage service to a new fee outside of what taxpayers expect will be included in their property tax levy, reminds me of the Minimum Mark Up Gasoline Law and the State Indexed Gasoline Tax that were both recently defeated and rightly so.

The taxpayers of Menomonee Falls overwhelmingly stated in the taxpayer funded 2006 Community Survey that they felt their taxes were way too high and want them to be lowered immediately.  I agree.

My opponent has done just the opposite of what the taxpayers have said what they want with his 10% + tax bill increases over the last 3 years with his votes on the Village Board.

My tax bill is an example of what the overwhelming majority of homeowners in Menomonee Falls have seen every December when they open their mailbox only to find my opponent's 10% + tax bill increases for the Village portion of the bill over the last 3 years:

2005     $861.36     no garbage tax as it was always included in the tax levy

2006     $869.70  + $85 garbage tax = $954.70   11% tax bill increase with new  
                                                                         garbage tax

2007     $865.22  + $85 garbage tax = $950.22    9% tax bill increase with new 
                                                                          garbage tax              

2008     $882.23  + $90 garbage tax = $972.23    12% tax bill increase with new 

                                                                          garbage tax

It is clear that homeowners have had to bear the burden of higher taxes and new fees over the last 3 years with my opponent shifting basic services from the tax levy to new fees when those fees were never there before until my opponent joined the Village Board in 2005.

There are more proposals floating around Village Hall for even more new fees to raise revenue and skirt the Governor's Tax Levy Freeze with a fire hydrant rental fee and an impervious surface fee including non-profits.

High taxes are not a result of the tax levy, tax assessment or tax rates.  High taxes are a result of too much government spending. 

I have called for an immediate Board Policy that will eliminate the shifting of basic Village Services from the tax levy to "fees".  No matter what you call it, it still comes from the pocket of the taxpayer.

Let's keep as much money in the pocket of the taxpayer and the local economy as possible.

 Menomonee Falls is the 7th worst taxed community in Waukesha County according to the 2008 Journal Sentinel Survey (http://www.jsonline.com/realestate/39528637.html) and when my opponent's $90 per household garbage tax is included, Menomonee Falls is the 5th worst taxed community in Waukesha County. 

When I served as Village President, we were able to pass a 3 year tax levy freeze that resulted in homeowners and businesses seeing their taxes actually go down.

This resulted in Menomonee Falls nearly making its way out of the Top 10 Worst Taxed Communities in Waukesha County, but unfortunately with my opponent's 3 year voting record, Menomonee Falls is making its way back up the list.  

During these severe recessionary times, I believe homeowners and businesses need tax relief not more taxes and fees for services otherwise we will morph into a Milwaukee with their constant transferring of basic services to fees (click here for a copy of the average Milwaukee Water Bill with numerous new fees that used to be included in their tax levy http://media.menomoneefallsnow.com/images/the_vanguard_703020_Misc-Info-10-pgs01.png).

I believe homeowners need to have their garbage picked up for free by Waste Management instead of being charged $90 a year by the Village Board because this is a company that has grossed $13.2 billion a year and netted $1.2 billion a year for the last 3 years while making millions of dollars a year off the backs of the taxpayers in Menomonee Falls.

This is a company that also sells methane gas from the Menomonee Falls Landfill to We Energies and provides energy to 15,000 area homes without the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls getting any royalties or dividends from these sales of which hundreds of examples exist throughout America where companies pay local governments hundreds of millions of dollars each year to domicile their operations in that community.

Unfortunately, my opponent has voted to "seal and keep secret" Waste Management's Financials for their Menomonee Falls Operations and we may never know how much money is being made off the backs of the taxpayers in Menomonee Falls.

My opponent also voted to not ask for free garbage pick up and to not get any royalties or dividends from the methane gas selling rights on December 15, 2008.

The taxpayers are missing out on major property tax relief and an income stream for many years to come from the methane gas selling rights because of my opponent's voting record.

As Village President, I will immediately ask the Village Board to vote on free garbage pick up, make sure the $42 million Municipal Facilities Fund is paid for without taxpayer's money as was promised by the Village Board in 2000, open the books for Waste Management's Financials and for royalties and dividends from the methane gas selling rights.   

The voters deserve no less than to have a Village Board that will work for the best interests of homeowners and businesses."

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April 2, 2009

www.jefferson-davis.info

davisforpresident@yahoo.com

414-750-6785

Disclosure 

In the interest of full disclosure, I have asked for this time and space from The Vanguard to submit a communication that  I received regarding the Village President's Race in Menomonee Falls.

I have attended Voter VIP Meetings hosted by Jefferson E. Davis.  These meetings are eye opening and extremely informative.  Too bad the press won't attend or report on them.

One of the many subjects that we were allowed to ask questions about without any time limits or editing was the questionable practices of Village Board Members and their dealings with business people, citizens and non-profit organizations some of which are in this posting.

If any of this stuff is true, which it appears to be after looking at the Village documents presented at the Voter VIP Meetings with the press present, then the voters of Menomonee Falls need to know this before the election so they can make an informed decision as to who it is that they believe will end this type of behavior by Board Members and stop the extortion of businesses for real estate, cash, bartering, referrals, campaign contributions or political favors in exchange for Board Member votes.

 I would also hope that law enforcement officials would take a look at this stuff as well which is their duty under a sworn oath of office.

Yes, I too have information from State Election Officials that permit me to be a guest blogger for this posting.  I too, hope the Village Clerk will not continue filing complaints, but will use the taxpayer's time, money and resources for better purposes than to monitor this innocent blog.   

Please contact your Village Board to let them know you want this type of behavior to stop immediately and that you support a complete and thorough ethical review of these dealings at the following Village Board contact link (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?nid=292). 

Randy Newman is the only Village Board Member that does not list a phone number on the Village Website.  He can only be contacted through email.

Menomonee Falls Village President Candidate Jefferson E. Davis Calls for Ethical Review of Board Member Dealings

Menomonee Falls -  Village President Candidate Jefferson E. Davis today called for an "ethical review" of current and past dealings with Village Board Members involving many businessmen, real estate transactions, taxpayer's money, personal gain, non-profit organization preferred treatment, Board votes, cash, political favors and has asked his opponent to join him in asking for the review.




Davis is running for the Village President Open Seat in Menomonee Falls as the current office holder is stepping down after 4 years.  His opponent is Trustee Randy Newman.  The Village President Election is Tuesday, April 7th.  

In asking for the review Davis said,

 "It has been known for quite some time that questionable and perhaps illegal transactions were going on because of actions by Village Board Members at the expense of good business people and taxpayers in Menomonee Falls. 

It is unfortunate that this apparent type of behavior by public officials has been tolerated for so long often times costing the taxpayers and business people for what appears to be the benefit of just a few people while my opponent has been on the Village Board since 2005. 

Business people should not have to concern themselves with having to "play the game" in order to get their projects approved by the Village Board in exchange for real estate, cash or political favors. 

Business proposals in reality, should almost be nameless and faceless in order to be approved by the Village Board while being based on their merit and if it is the right thing to do for Menomonee Falls, not for the benefit of a few. 

When things like this become known, the Village President, as a leader, has the obligation of their sworn oath of office to legally do something about  these types of things and not just look the other way or even be part of them. 

Business people have become fearful of not getting their proposals approved by the Village Board if they don't "play the game".  That is wrong, probably illegal, and it will immediately stop on April 8th if I am fortunate enough to be elected Village President."

In making the announcement, Davis cited just a few of the following examples of what has been brought to his attention by various business people and individuals since 2003:

Davis concluded by saying,

     "I sincerely hope my opponent will join me in asking for this review as we work toward having an open, honest and ethical government in Menomonee Falls. 

Unfortunately, he is being supported by the same people who have apparently been involved in these questionable practices for some time now.

No matter who wins the election, the good people of Menomonee Falls at least deserve an ethical Village Board to represent them and their concerns when it comes to good government.

With so much news coverage of ethical and illegal lapses for so many government officials recently, let's keep government in Menomonee Falls clean to benefit the community at large and not just for the benefit of a few people." 

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March 11, 2009

davisforpresident@yahoo.com

www.jefferson-davis.info

Disclosure

 I have been receiving emails from the Davis for President Campaign for nearly 2 months now that are not being reported on by the 4 local newspapers that I feel should be because of the importance to our Village on the issues that are very critical for the future of our Village, but for some reason are being blacked out by the press.

State Election Officials have been contacted and are ok with someone writing as a guest blogger for The Vanguard to comply with any election law rules that may apply to blogging.

This was done in anticipation so the Village Clerk wouldn't have to file any more complaints and to save the taxpayers time, money and resources being unnecessarily used by their appointed officials. 

Therefore, I am submitting what I believe are a number of press releases from the Davis Campaign and my postings that need to be covered in order for the voters to make an informed decision on April 7th instead of waiting for something to show up in the papers.

I'm tired of higher taxes.  I'm tired of the $90 garbage fee that used to be part of my tax bill.  I want Woodman's to come to Menomonee Falls.  I don't like higher water and sewer bills.  I want to explore options in this area.

Please take a minute and read what is really going on in our Village.  I think you will be surprised and it may even change your mind of who to vote for.  It sure did mine.

Woodman's Grocery is no AIG or Fannie Mae

Menomonee Falls - Village President Candidate Jefferson E. Davis today called on current Village Elected and Appointed Officials to find a way to say "yes" for Woodman's Grocery to be welcomed to Menomonee Falls instead of the obstacles that are being put in their way.

Davis is running for the Open Seat of Village President as the current office holder is stepping down after 4 years.  His opponent is Randy Newman and the Election is Tuesday, April 7th.

Woodman's (http://www.woodmans-food.com/) is the highly successful employee owned grocery retailer who currently has 12 stores in Northern Illinois and throughout Wisconsin.  They have developed a business model that has a unique market niche that has been met with open arms wherever they go.

According to Woodman's vice president of real estate, Bret Backus, they have been negotiating for 3 years on the purchase of property in Menomonee Falls at the corner of 124th Street/Bradley Road and Hwy 41/45. 

Woodman's wants to build a 238,000-square foot store on 33.4 acres and open the store in the fall of 2010.

In calling for a way to say "yes" to welcome Woodman's to Menomonee Falls Davis said,

"With severe recessionary times facing Menomonee Falls, Woodman's would be an excellent addition to our tax base and job opportunities as well as expanding our commerce and retail options.

With so many businesses laying off employees, closing their doors and actually leaving town, why would my opponent (http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/41524122.html) and the current Village President along with his fellow Planning Commission Members (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/news/39362877.html) try to tell this incredibly successful business where to put their store?

Officials using code words of "where" or "there?" or "impact" or "more study" or "zoned" or "wish list" or "where we think" or "it may be a good location for you, but" for where the Village wants Woodman's to put their business is wrong and as long as Woodman's meets the criteria set out by the Village to domicile a business in the Falls, they should be able to put their store anywhere they want to.

Woodman's has no doubt spent thousands of dollars on many different studies that show them this is where their store will have the greatest impact and the biggest return on their investment for them not the government.

Woodman's is not operated like an AIG or Fannie Mae that needs the government to tell them how to run their business and they are not looking for a handout.

Woodman's didn't get to the place where they are because they developed a bad business model and cut corners to benefit the few.

No, Woodman's got to be where they are because they have an excellent business model and know what it takes to be successful without the government telling them how to run their business.

One of the Woodman's Stores in Madison is worth nearly $13 million and pays nearly $250,000 in taxes each year (http://accessdane.co.dane.wi.us/html/parcelinfo.asp?ParcelNumber=070825301024&ParcelID=11071891).  This is repeated throughout their store models across the state. 

What would Menomonee Falls do with an immediate extra $250,000 or maybe even more?  That would and should lower everyone else's tax burden not to mention all of the new jobs that would be created with the opening of the new store.

Menomonee Falls Village Government should not be telling this highly successful company where to put their business or more companies will move to Germantown or even further out if my opponent and the other Village leaders keep this up.

TIF District 5 (Main Street/124th Street/41-45) was started in 1999 and has $12 million remaining in debt service through 2018.  TIF 5 borders the area where Woodman's wants to locate their store and has a bond payment of $2.5 million due this year with only $595,000 coming in as revenue from the current occupants of the TIF District that is probably more than half empty.  The $2 million shortfall is going to have to be made up by someone. 

With Woodman's locating next to TIF District 5, it is hopeful this would spur more economic growth for the Village and benefit everyone including the taxpayers who floated the bonds for TIF District 5 to begin with in 1999.

Woodman's has deadlines and profit margins to meet as a for profit corporation.  Let's not delay their plans any longer because a handful of government officials have a "wish list" that might interest them, but not the community at large." 

Contact your Village Officials to let them know that you want Woodman's to come to Menomonee Falls where they want to locate and not the government by using this link (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?nid=292).  Note: Randy Newman is the only Trustee that does not list a phone number on the Village Website.  He can only be contacted via email.

The Davis for President Volunteer Campaign is hosting Voter VIP Meetings at John Harbor's Public Coffee House (N88 W16521 Main Street) in downtown Menomonee Falls as follows:  

Saturday, March 28th, 9:30-11:00 A.M.

The Voter VIP Meetings are open to anyone and are not scripted, edited or filtered.  There will be no time limits and anyone can ask any question they want.

Jefferson's opponent has been invited to attend to meet the voters.

Make every effort to attend this meeting.  I have attended earlier ones and they are great!  Very informative, truthful and helpful.  It opened my eyes to the truth and changed my thinking compared to what I have read in the papers.  Too bad Falls Cable Access won't let Davis on the local channel.  He has incredible knowledge and information to share that has never been reported on by the local press and blocked by cable access.  

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www.jefferson-davis.info

davisforpresident@yahoo.com

The Vanguard will be providing the following insights with this posting:

•      Village residency for official questioned.
•      Private sector protected from mandated sick leave payouts while taxpayers remain on the hook from Village Board.
•      Government knows best for Woodman's Corporation. 
•      Where the so called "Stimulus Act" monies will go for each state in America.
•      Next Blood Center Drive March 9th at St. Mary's.

Village Residency Questioned for Commissioner

According to the Menomonee Falls Now Website, (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/news/40216647.html), the Village Attorney supposedly "received" a tip recently about a commissioner who serves on two committees for the Village and does not currently reside in the Falls because of a quick sale of his home and is temporarily living in West Bend with a family member.

The commissioner had notified the Village of his situation and is considering resigning from his positions even though he is attempting to move back to the Falls.

An investigation has been launched by the Village Attorney because Municipal Code requires elected and appointed officials to live in Menomonee Falls for the duration of their terms.

Government is often times so good at telling others what to do or so they think, while exempting themselves from their own rules, ordinances, resolutions or codes.

The Vanguard believes the commissioner should not resign because the current Village President has set a precedent for this type of situation when he "unexpectedly" sold his house in 2006 and moved to Sussex for 4-5 months rent free from a client that had business before Village Boards and Committees and were using the current Village President as their real estate attorney when they had never used him in the past for their legal needs.

It was later learned that taxpayers, with the knowledge and approval of the Village Attorney, Village Manager and Village Board, paid the current Village President's legal bill of some $700-$1,000 for an opinion that appeared to be premeditated and concluded that he was exempted from having to resign which was in direct conflict with the residency code requirements that appear to be being used against the commissioner whose living arrangement has come to light.

It was also learned the current Village President still had not paid his rental bill of $3,500-$4,000 to the businessperson that he represented as their real estate attorney nearly a year later.

It was also learned the current Village President did not have an address or phone number listed while he lived in Sussex while serving as Village President of Menomonee Falls. 

For an in depth read on the current Village President and some of his questionable actions during his four year term, read the following Vanguard posts (http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/the_vanguard/archive/2008/07/18/village-president-not-a-bad-gig-if-you-can-get-it.aspx) and (http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/the_vanguard/archive/2009/01/04/outgoing-village-president-quot-hustling-quot-for-business-before-term-expires-in-2009.aspx).

If the Village Attorney, Village Manager and Village Board are going to be consistent, then they should let the commissioner in question be given time to relocate to the Falls just as they did for the current Village President and pay for his legal bill if needed.

Let the Village Board know what you think about this issue by contacting them at the following link (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?nid=292).

Village Board Approves Exemption for Private Sector to be Mandated to Pay for Sick Leave, but Requires Taxpayers to Pay $5 Million for Village Employees

To the credit of the Village Board, private sector companies in Menomonee Falls will not be mandated to pay sick leave for their employees (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/communitywatch/39804857.html) as a result of the Board's vote on February 16th.

Menomonee Falls should be doing everything they can to retain and attract businesses to the community.  Jobs, lower taxes, revenues, commerce and retail are key to the success of a community.

This is especially true during a severe recession that appears to be hanging around for quite some time.

Unfortunately, the taxpayers of Menomonee Falls are on the hook for $5 million for unused sick leave payouts to Village Employees.

Since 1990, over $2 million has been paid out to Village Employees from the taxpayers for unused sick leave at retirement and according to the Village Financial Department, there is another $3 million unfunded liability for current employees who are scheduled to receive these payouts at retirement. 

The taxpayers forfeit $120,000 a year of their hard earned and shrinking money to the Village to cover any potential retirements when it would be more plausible and cost saving to take any potential payouts from the taxpayer's surplus account of $7.5 million while the unused sick leave payouts are restructured as many other governmental entities have done recently.

This is what got former County Executive Tom Ament and various members of his staff and County Board into big trouble in the early 2000's and rightly so.

To read a more in depth account of this troubling issue approved by the current Village President, Village Manager and Village Board, review the following Vanguard post (http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/the_vanguard/archive/2008/08/20/5-million-taxpayer-tab-for-unused-sick-leave-backdrop-pension-cash-payouts-to-retirees.aspx).

Let the Village Board know what you think about these sick leave payouts by using the following link (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?nid=292).

Let Woodman's Determine Where They Think the Best Location is for Their Grocery Store

Menomonee Falls received some excellent news recently that the highly successful and popular Woodman's Grocery Chain is trying to come to the community, but is being told by government officials where to locate their store under questionable and unusual scrutiny (http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/news/39362877.html).

Huh?

Does this really surprise anyone that our government officials would treat a highly successful business this way?

In severe recessionary times, government officials should be doing everything they can to retain and attract businesses to the Falls instead of chasing them away with location challenges and suggestions that don't fit their business model.

Of course the business person must meet the rules, regulations and requirements of Village Hall that are reasonable.

Woodman's didn't become successful because they have a failed business plan.  No, they became successful because they have a hugely successful business plan without government interference and having to deal with a government that has a "we know better than you do" attitude.

Woodman's has chosen the 124th Street and Leon/Bradley Road location because obviously their expensive demographic studies have shown them this is the place where the store should go to make them successful.

This is an area that would hopefully help jump start TIF District 5 that has labored for many years now with no new tenants since 2004 when Briggs and Stratton moved there.

TIF District 5 has $12 million more in bond payments between now and 2018.

TIF District 5 has a 2009 scheduled bond payment of $2.5 million with only $595,000 in projected revenues to make this payment. 

Someone will have to make up the difference this year. 

Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth.

Menomonee Falls needs jobs, commerce, retail, revenues and an improved quality of life not a "government knows best attitude" that will chase businesses away.

This would be an excellent start to make that happen instead of stymieing Woodman's.

Woodman's (http://www.woodmans-food.com/) has 12 highly successful stores in northern Illinois and throughout Wisconsin using an employee owned concept that has worked out to be extremely successful.

They employ hundreds and maybe thousands of workers and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes as well as being very philanthropic to local communities.

Let the Village Board know what you think about where Woodman's should locate their store at the following link (http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?nid=292).

Where are the so called "Stimulus Monies" Going at the State Level?

The Vanguard found this interesting link disclosing where the so called "Stimulus Monies" are going for each state (http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state).

Stay tuned and pray that God's will be done.

This is very scary stuff and only time will tell if any of this stuff will work.

The Vanguard doesn't think it will, but will be the first one to congratulate the President and his administration if it does.

This has been tried all over the world and has proven to be a total failure.

The Vanguard prescribes to a different philosophy and will save that for another time.  The following link to Thomas Sowell, well known African American writer and author, gives an idea of what should be done (http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell021809b.php3) for our current situation and who is to blame when the truth is told about how the mess was created in the first place when it all could have been easily avoided.

Blood Center Drive March 9th St. Mary's

The next Blood Center Drive will be held on Monday, March 9th, 1:30-6:30 P.M. at St. Mary's School.  

This is an excellent opportunity to help those who are in dire need of blood donations.

Call Lory at 414-353-8695 or Lori at 262-309-7292 for an appointment or to have questions answered.

Have a great week!  Spring will hopefully be here soon!