I cannot express how thankful I am to all Vernon residents that showed up at the polls and exercised that most basic right in our democracy; the right to vote!
I’ve mentioned before that I thought a referendum on the issue of splitting the fire department would have been a good idea. I have NEWS for ya’ll, yesterday’s vote WAS that referendum! I heard a resounding message intended for our town board: we need to do better!
I can’t say how impressed I am with the write-in vote for Diane Herried! Wow! She was only shy by seven votes; and that’s before a recount! I have my fingers crossed for her, but whichever way it goes, it is a major victory. The town board should now be paying attention!
I will post an update and more thoughts after the recount is complete on Friday. We still have lots of work to do. So, say a little prayer for a positive outcome in the recount and stay tuned!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
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Mike
ReplyDeleteIt was great to see the community come together on this. I would like to think that my small action of distributing the two flyers in our subdivision of 60 homes helped to contribute to election results. It helped to renew my faith that an informed citzenry is key to our democratic system of government.
I would like to thank the leadership of the VRSG for alerting the Town residents as to what was happening, and hats off to Diane Herried for sticking her neck out for all of us in a big way!
I also would like to thank VRSG and the Vernon community for coming together on an important election for our Town. Even is Ms. Herried does not pull through - the message should be loud and clear (especially with Singert winning by loads) that the citizens are against this Town Board and their arrogant ways of dealing with the Vernon residents and the people's public safety.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a working Fire Department for over 50 years before this Town Board and it will work again if the politicians stay out of it.
Vernon supervisor resigns
ReplyDeleteBy Amy Nixon
Posted: June 2, 2009
After a little over two years of service, Supervisor Gary Finch resigned from the Vernon Town Board on May 21.
"There is a saying: 'Lead, follow, or get out of the way,' " wrote Finch in his resignation letter. "I have decided it is my time to get out of the way."
Finch said his resignation will be effective June 4 in order to give the board time to find a replacement.
In his letter, Finch cited the "cleaning out of the planning commission and all the committees" as one of his main reasons for resigning.
"Many people who took great pride in participating in this government were thrown away without consideration of their true contributions and treated like gum being scraped off the bottom of the shoe," he wrote.
Finch explained that the reorganization of committees should have taken place over a longer period of time and in a more professional manner.
He also stated that he was disappointed in the board's decision not to allow Vince and Heather Siegel to build their fireworks store in the town.
"I watched a couple that had invested a lot of their future hopes in building a store in Vernon to sell fireworks also treated like gum being scraped off a shoe," wrote Finch. "When they tried to defend their position from the floor and asked for a referendum on the subject, they were told the police would remove them. Is this what this town has come to?"
Finch thanked the people of Vernon for his opportunity to serve them.
"Those of you who know me best will understand how hard it would be for me to attach my legacy to this board, whether it succeeds or not," he said.
Town Chairman Fred Michalek said he planned to look into the town's policy about finding a replacement for a resigned supervisor and said would share that information with the board at its June 4 meeting. No decision will be made then.
I sure hope this trend continues and that the message to the Town Board was loud and clear. We are running out of time and if the Vernon Town Board does not get their heads on straight, Big Bend will be with someone else or on their own and there will be nothing the Vernon Town Board or the VSRG can do about it.
ReplyDeleteThese people have beaten the Village down to nothing and the Village has every right to be upset. I give them credit for not getting dragged in or arguing with the Town Board Members. I fear time is running out and the damage this Town Board has done may not be repairable.
I hope that when I read in the Mukwonago Chief a few weeks ago the Big Bend Village President stated that he "hoped the Fire Department stays together" is still true.
I see advertisements going up all over the community for people to join the "New Big Bend Fire Department". Big Bend appears to be moving forward and when will we as a Town reach that point of no return. If we have to wait to give Big Bend an answer to contracting for 90 to 120 days, per the Vernon Town Board, I fear it will be too late.
All we have to blame is the Vernon Town Board. If we are going to keep the Fire Department together, then someone better contact the Village and first apologise for the actions of the Vernon Board and second ask the Village to sit down and discuss options of keeping the Fire Department together.
They are not spending $25,000 to have someone direct them how to put a fire department together, they are doing on their own with residents from both the Village and Town. Now that is saying a lot for a community who is suppose to be the bad guy in all of this.
My final thought is below......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRGd0gD0QNE&feature=PlayList&p=8660D797C41217B6&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=25
Enough said............
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteMike - if you want - the last posting can be deleted responding to Anonymouns of April 9, 2010 at 11:43 PM. The wording was a little confusing at first - but now they make sense after re-reading it.
ReplyDeleteI have a question regarding the April 13th Annual Town Meeting.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the legal ease to draft a motion worded properly to direct the Town Board to take action to save the BBVFD.
It could read something like:
"The Town of Vernon Residents hereby direct the Town Board to instruct the town Atty. John Macy to make amendments to the termination clause's in the inter-municipal agreement to allow for it to be re-instated and or re-negotiated as needed and if needed to bring it back to it’s prior operating standard. The Town residents further instruct the Town Board to initiate negotiations and negotiate the inter-municipal agreement as needed with the Village of Big Bend to promote the continuance of the Big Bend Vernon Fire Dept.”
Something like this would have to be agreed upon and signed by the village as well but it may be what is needed to save the BBVFD.
WOW....
ReplyDeleteKurt Barikmo hired multiple lawyers for a local recount according to the Journal/Sentnial. For a part time job that doesn't even pay that much. Now his true colors shine. He is a liberal through and through. Must have an in with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi because what he did is surely something from their playbook.
Complete control of the Town, hires lawyers for a small town recount and spends money like a fish out of water with no regards for the average taxpayer.
We are in for two more years of tax and spend..
Congrats Kurt and good luck... I hope you think of all of us who didn't vote for you when you vote to spend more money foolishly...
What?...I thought Barikmo WAS a lawyer...
ReplyDeleteI know he has a Certificate and a Big Fat Book that allows him to over rule Attorney Macy.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteWhat?...I thought Barikmo WAS a lawyer...
Obviously there are several great legal minds in the Town of Vernon. Take for example the recent discussion regarding “exigent circumstances”. Supervisor Rodell Singert said that it was appropriate to enter items on the agenda in violation of the municipal ordinances “7 day rule”. Rodell cited exigent circumstances in his reasoning… So whose life or wellbeing was preserved? Was evidence preserved as a result of his action? Which of the topics addressed was at risk as a result of a delay? Did the Town conduct an illegal meeting because Rodell was playing to the crowd?
Judge Goth seemed to agree with Rodell’s “opinion”.
Furthermore, Rodell had a plethora of opinions regarding the Fire Department study… then admitted that he doesn’t have a clue what the study involves. Later it had to be explained to Rodell that he really should give the company doing the study a call. Rodell subsequently pontificated for 15 minutes about the call… OK would have sufficed.
The crowd seemed to be in eager anticipation of Rodell’s every word. After all Rodell replaced that vile Mr. Riley. Rodell seems to be the consummate politician… if he doesn’t know the facts he makes them up and calls them his “opinion”.