Stranger things...

Read all about it

The other night at November's City Council meeting I made history. In a rare moment when the council was deadlocked, I cast the deciding vote on a motion that granted Kwik Trip a Class A liquor license (see Mayor breaks tie). According to City Clerk/Treasurer Carmen Newman, who has served in that capacity since 2003, this was the first time the mayor has had to vote in all these years. And according to Third Ward Aldermen Bill Waite, whose municipal memory goes back even further, it's probably been longer than that.

One of the principles I live by is Solomon's sage council found in Scripture: “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2, NIV). In other words, don't thump your chest and brag about the stuff you've done. Let other people talk it up. And if they don't, well, it must not be worth talking about. Having said that, why then dedicate a post to something that no doubt will be a forgotten footnote in Chetek history? Well, frankly, because it's funny.

There was always a six pack
of  PBR in the fridge

I grew up in a home of social drinkers. In the '60s and '70s every home seemed to have a liquor cabinet and when company was over, out poured the libations. I don't recall drunkenness (except when at my uncle's home where their priest always seemed a little too...er...enthusiastic for what the moment called for). My parents never locked the cabinet and I, for one, never was tempted to sample the beverages (I found out just last year at my mom's 80^th birthday party that my sister did not share the same conviction). Now and again, I like to tell the story of one hot summer day when I was 12 and my dad was cutting the grass in our backyard. He was nursing a PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) and I asked him if I could have a sip. He said, “Sure,” and that one swig cured me forever it seems from beer. It tasted so foul I immediately spit it out. At 54 I'm not pulling anyone's leg when I say that is the last time I've ever sampled the stuff no matter what variety you can get it in today (I've had more than a few guys who have heard me tell that tale come up to me afterward and remark, 'If he had been drinking a Leinie's, you wouldn't be saying that...' or 'If he had been drinking a Budweiser...') I'll take their word for it but as rule I don't touch the stuff.

Here's lookin' at you, Bogie

As far as wine goes, in a given year I may imbibe at most three glasses total and always at home and always with my wife or on occasion with my parents. And as for hard liquor, well, I know enough to know that a Grasshopper is something you drink and Scotch-on-the-rocks or brandy was standard fare in all the film noire genre of the 1950s. I couldn't tell you if the stuff was good but Bogart and those guys drank gallons of the it.

People may be tempted to think this abstinence of mine arises out of some religious conviction I must have against drink in general. As far as I understand the Bible, drunkenness is what is condemned and the rest can pretty much be summed up in the phrase common in a lot of commercials these days: “Drink responsibly.” But reality is, it's never been a 'thing' with me. If you enjoy a Leinie's on a hot day (or, for that matter, a PBR), well and good. Brisk Raspberry Ice Tea is what I have to pace myself with – too much of it and I won't sleep well that night.

Which brings me back to November's City Council meeting. I did not see that moment coming. Chetek Kwik Trip manager Cindy Blaeser had appeared before the council back in the spring for the same reason and had been denied in an unanimous vote. I just figured it was a routine procedure that would result in the same end. Carl did a good job of summing up the conversation that occurred at that point of the meeting. First Ward Alderwoman Shirley Morley, whose ward Kwik Trip resides in, simply believes that we already have plenty of venues in town where people may purchase wines and liquors. Third Ward Alderman Bill Waite concurs with Shirley but is concerned that a large corporation like Kwik Trip can undercut a small local business like Keg 'n Kork. Their reasons were the same as last time. But when I announced, “All in favor,” all I heard was Bill's and Shirley's “yea” (note: it's a little confusing. We allowed a negative motion to go forward; so the 'yea' was, in fact, a 'nea' against issuing them a license). A roll call vote was necessary and during that we learned that both Second Ward Alderman Cliff Bronstad and Fourth Ward Alderman Mark Edwards were in favor of granting them the license. Suddenly we had a 2-2 tie and all eyes were on the mayor – the mayor who is a pastor, the mayor who spends a lot of time working with individuals whose lives have been ruined by the abuse of alcohol, the mayor who hardly touches the stuff himself. How would he vote?

Well, you already know how. I did vote in favor of granting them a Class A liquor license and here's why: They run a reputable business which regularly gives back to our community, that employs many local individuals and I am certain they will display their selection responsibly. Besides, as Cliff pointed out, if Gordy's can do it and Keg 'n Kork, why not them as well? It's only fair.

I slept fine that night. My mom and dad, who subscribe to the Alert, are going to have a chuckle when they see that headline when they get their edition later this week. I can almost hear my dad tongue-in-cheek say it now, “How is the pastor who voted to allow more booze in town?” Enjoy your laugh, Dad. I think it's funny, too.

My father-in-law, who passed away a month ago, would have been

It really is a book

disappointed to learn what his son-in-law, the mayor, has voted in favor for. He was death on the stuff and I can still remember years ago when he handed me a book titled “Sipping Saints” (I don't know why he did so other than maybe he thought I needed a reminder just in case). Sorry, Dad. But my guess is that the “fruit of the vine” of heaven is a finer selection than what you can get down here.

So like voice-over in the commercials goes, if you choose to pick up a six-pack or a bottle of wine tonight - be it at Kwik Trip or any other store in town where you may purchase it - remember to drink responsibly. Please.  

Plenty to be thankful for

It's the season of giving thanks and on the premise that's easier to be cranky and whiney, here's a number of things, in no order in particular, that I'm personally thankful for with regards to living in this city on the Chain:

1. The Chetek Area Museum
   
   As local, privately funded museums go, this one is tops. I mean whether your interest is Native American artifacts or military memorabilia, the history behind companies such as the Chetek Boat Corporation or the Tronick Tackler (creators of the Nonsinkable Fishing Tackle Box) or the wonderful collection of pictures of days gone by, this place has it. And the price of admission is right.

2. The new playground equipment at Philips (Beach) Park

Credit goes to the Parks & Rec committee

Kids love the new playground set (and I think a lot of parents, too). Frankly, “Beach” park is a wonderful asset for our community – the pavillion on the hill, the band shell, and the beach itself are frequently used during the summer months.

Big kids like it too!

3. The new Chetek Dog Park in Gotham Pioneer Park

They've worked hard to bring
it about

Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers, Chetek's dog population now has a place to call their own.

4. No one got hurt!

Imagine if it had fallen
on a car!

This past summer, one of the light poles on the Long Bridge simply fell over. Built in the 1970s, the footings of the poles just wore out. Fortunately, no one was on the bridge at the time and therefore no one got hurt. It precipitated us special ordering four brand new poles which hopefully will be placed before the new year.

Everything falls apart

5. New youth center

Back in January, after fifteen consecutive years of operation, The Garage officially closed their doors. Recently, a new group has organized and is presently using the Pool Hall on Friday and Saturday nights to provide a safe, healthy place for the kiddos to hang out.

It's a good read and I read mine
front to back every week

6. The Chetek Alert

Not every small town has a local paper but we do. Since 1882, the Alert has been and continues to be a great source of local news and sporting information. My folks who live downstate subscribe to it just so they can track the exploits of their grandchildren and their son the mayor.

7. The EcoHarvester (a.k.a., “the Skimmer”)
   
   
   
   
   
   

Just like with the dog park, due to the efforts of a lot of volunteers the Chetek Lakes Protection Association finally put their new skimmer to work this past summer collecting algae out of some of our bays. I'm told that for the most part it works like a charm except in their estimation they need 10 more of them. Still, I'm thankful for the people who worked and donated time and money to see this idea become a reality.

8. City Council Members – Shirley Morley, Mark Edwards, Bill Waite, Cliff Bronstad.

2015 was a difficult year for those who serve as alderpersons in our town. A handful of local citizens brought a lawsuit against the Community Center and the City of Chetek and, even more challenging, was the decision to sell Knapp Haven (now Atrium Post Acute Care of Chetek). But after serving alongside these individuals for the past seven months I have found them all to be people who love our town and are trying to do the very best by her. While stipened for their efforts, considering the time they invest by serving on various committees while tending to city business they are essentially volunteers. I am grateful for their patience with me and their assistance in helping me get up to speed with things.

L to R: Shirley, Mark, former mayor Mike Linton, former Chetek Lt Ray Parr,
Chief Mark Petersen, Carmen Newman, Cliff Bronstad, Bill Waite

9. Plan Commission Members – Mark Etten, Del Wacker,

 I think they prefer it this way

John Hunsinger, Sarah Knepper, Jim Fults and Bill Waite.

Honestly, before becoming mayor, I never knew this committee existed. Cities, villages and towns in Wisconsin are authorized by state statutes to establish a plan commission. In our case, this group of people advise the city council on zoning matters, land use issues and administering a comprehensive plan. While not as authoritative as, say, the Bible, that plan serves the council as a general road map for us to follow. All these folks (except for Bill, who as a council member, receives a small monthly stipend) are volunteers and convene monthly. I have found them to be a great source of encouragement in my rookie year.

10. Donna Bachowski

That winning smile

There's more to come!

Donna became the new director of the Chetek Community Center (now officially, “The Center”) back in February. She has brought new energy and vision to help us transform the way we all look at this wonderful municipal asset. Instead of being viewed as a place where the “old folks” hang out, it is a center which is truly serving the entire community.

  11. Jennifer Blatz, Chetek Chamber of Commerce Event      Coordinator

There are a lot of people who work hard behind the scenes to make Liberty Fest the smooth running annual event that it is including the guys from the Public Works Department, the Chetek Police Department and a lot of unsung volunteers. But coordinating everyone like a maestro before a hometown orchestra is Jennifer Blatz. I'm thankful for her efforts in putting this altogether every year. Of course, this isn't the only rodeo she oversees.

12. City Building Inspector Joe Atwood.

If your job includes informing individuals that they have to move an old unlicensed car sitting in their yard or paint their house that is sorely in need of it, you're likely to encounter the ire of certain members of the public. But Joe is a consummate professional and is always calm and collected. Thank you, Joe.

13. The members of the Chetek Area Volunteer Fire Department and the Chetek Area Ambulance Service.

They are a small yet dedicated force of highly trained individuals who run toward fire and mayhem instead of away from it. Several years ago, the house that our oldest daughter was renting was struck by lightning. The cavalry was there within minutes of her 9-1-1 call and I have forever been grateful.

14. Dan Knapp, Director of Public Works.

Camera shy

Dan is content to remain in the background diligently overseeing the work that we simply take for granted – cutting grass at our local parks, plowing the streets, picking up our trash, replacing light poles that inexplicably fall down, you name it he and his guys are on it. He even turns a profit on our old cement by having it ground into fill.

15. Carol Burnham and the Calhoun Memorial Library.

The Calhoun Memorial Library is open six days a week and serves people from Barron, Chippewa and Rusk County. It is always busy and provides free Wi-Fi, access to the internet, DVDs and videos and, oh yeah, books.

16. Chief Mark Petersen and the Chetek Police Department.

He doesn't smile much but he's a good cop

Regrettably the atmosphere that police are forced to work in these days is increasingly hostile and yet Chief and his crew continue to provide 24/7 protection. Sure they write tickets when they must and do drug busts as well. But they don't just bring the hammer. You can also find them conversing with kids at our schools or at the new youth center. They work hard to keep us all safe and I am thankful for their dedicated service.

17. Former mayors of Chetek John Banks and Dianne Knowlton.

Over the past seven months, both John and Dianne have offered their encouragement and lent an ear when I needed it. I'm grateful for the support I have found from both of them as I work to earn my wings as mayor.

18. Waste Water Treatment Operator Mike McGuiness.

Mike's got an odd job: make sure our dirty business gets cleaned up so that we never even think about it. And he does so effectively. Even though our aging plant is often pressed beyond its capacity, he quietly goes about his work without any fanfare. We should all be so very grateful.

19. The rest of the Public Works Crew: Tim Berning, Joe Fostvedt, Rod Rhodes, Brandon “Tank” Davis and Aaron Robert.

These guys show up, day in and day out, doing good work that benefits us all. Did you know that at Christmastime our garbage guys are known to be gifted by grateful patrons with cookies and other holiday refreshments? To me, that says something of the kind of service they bring to our community.

20. Karen Zimmerman, Cassandra Larson and Carmen Newman.

These three ladies make City Hall the welcoming, hospitable place that it is. They are ever so capable and good at what they do. Everybody knows that mayors come and go but Carmen, our City Clerk/Treasurer, is the mainstay. I can't tell you how much she has helped me get acclimated to serving as mayor as well as navigate the sea of city ordinances she always seems to have at her fingertips.

These two make quite a team!

There's twenty reasons that come to mind in one sitting that make me grateful that I live here. There are others – the people of the fellowship I serve as pastor, the athletes I get to coach on C-WHS' Cross Country team, and the kids I get to read to every week at Roselawn. All of them remind me in one way or another that I live in a good place, made up of good people who regularly make me feel thankful for God's goodness in my life.

A Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Swimming upstream in 2017: The 2017 Proposed Budget

Well, it's time. The big reveal, the bottom line, full disclosure. This Tuesday evening, the 2017 Budget for the City of Chetek will be presented at the budget hearing held in council chambers at 6:30 p.m. prior to our regular monthly city council meeting. For the past two months the budget committee comprised of Carmen Newman, City Clerk/Treasurer, Cassandra Larson, Deputy City Clerk/Treasurer, 2^nd Ward Alderman Cliff Bronstad, 4^th Ward Alderman Mark Edwards and myself, the mayor, has met a couple of times, crunched some numbers and had many an informal discussion in search of a budget we can live with. I even presented it to the folks at the Chetek House of Prayer to pray for us during this process (which they did.) As I noted in an earlier post (see The Bottom Line), I was hoping a relatively painless solution would emerge. Unfortunately, it hasn't. Like the old saying goes, “if wishes were fishes we'd all swim in riches” and it looks like in 2017 we'll all be swimming upstream a bit.

The most significant change the general public will experience next year is that beginning January 1, 2017 (assuming the full council will approve the budget this Tuesday night) the City of Chetek will reduce its full-time police force by one full-time officer. That's a big deal. But in stating as such, the commitment remains to offer 24/7 protection. How so? I'm assured it's how we work our schedule as well as offering more regular hours to part-time officers. I'll defer to Chief on that one. Clearly, he and the department would rather stick with the force we currently have but “if wishes were fishes...” er...you get what I mean. Otherwise, city residents will continue to be offered all the regular services they are used to receiving – weekly garbage pick-up, friendly and personable service at City Hall open Monday thru Friday, a small but capable crew of public works' guys who diligently go about repairing and maintaining city property and a dedicated unit of police officers who work hard to keep us all safe.

Rod and Mike - the two guys on either side
of me - have 65 years of service to this city between them!

These same people who answer our questions or plow our streets or pick up our trash or make sure our sewage continues to be treated properly or respond to a 911 call were all informed in October that their health insurance premiums would be going up and they would only be receiving a 1% increase in pay in 2017. It wasn't the result of extended negotiations. It was just the hand they were dealt reluctantly – but dealt all the same. Still, I'd be surprised to learn of a drop-off in the quality of the service they will, no doubt, continue to provide. They are that kind of people.

This picture tells a story of the rising costs of health care

If you subscribe to The Chetek Alert and read the lead story in the October 26, 2016 edition (see Committee votes to reduce police force), I thought Carl did a good job of summing up the issue pretty succinctly. In fact, that little graph they ran pretty much tells it all. The biggest culprit behind our budget woes is the Affordable Care Act. An employer must provide health care to their employees or face stiff penalties. In 2017 alone we will experience an increase of 70% in our health care costs. If you're a fish, that's a big worm to swallow. After only presenting a 1% pay increase as a token gesture to our employees who will be paying higher premiums next year, after cutting back on outlay accounts such as replacement monies for a new squad car for the police department as well as new equipment for the City Shop, that still left us $80,000-some in the hole. Given that we are already working with a skeleton public works' crew we are reluctantly recommending we lay-off one full time officer come December 31.

There are other ways to fix the current budget dilemma but none of them are smart ones. You could use outlay accounts or fund balance or even what monies we hope to realize because of the sale of Knapp Haven. But using those monies is something like paying your water bill with a credit card. Sure you paid this month's bill but by next month you're really two months in arrears – with interest accruing. That is financially dumb. Fund balance is really for emergency needs or one-time purchases not ongoing expenses.

To the person who sent in a letter anonymously begging us to raise their taxes so we would not have to lay off anybody I'm afraid to inform you it doesn't work that way. Since 2006, the State sets the limits on how much a municipality can levy. Even if we wanted to raise your taxes, we couldn't. Well, that's not totally true. The max the State is allowing us to levy for 2017 is $4,200 spread out over the tax rolls. That's it. No foolin'. So if you can't raise taxes and you can't print money then the only thing you can do is pull in your belt another notch and do the best you can with what you have to work with. It's not anything we're doing wrong as far as I can see it. It's what all small towns like ours have to do to continue to provide the quality of life we enjoy here.

The budget hearing is open to the public at which time we will field any questions or clarifications anyone may have about the 2017 Budget. It may not be one that you personally like. It's not necessarily one that we like either but it does balance and it does come with a promise that life as we know it in these here parts will continue to go on pretty much as usual.

Twenty Questions (in case you were wondering, too)

Most of us, I think, are familiar with the “Twenty Questions” parlor game. I haven't played it myself in a very long time. Usually when I've heard that phrase it's customarily in the form of a declarative statement as in “We're not playing 20 Questions here” or something to that affect. And the inference is that the person who says that seems annoyed with what they feel is a barrage of queries – twenty or more of them!

In the course of a normal week I get stopped by friends and acquaintances alike who stop and greet me, maybe shake my hand and beyond sharing the normal pleasantries ask me various questions (none of which I want to make clear, annoy me) regarding the city in case I might know. Here's a few of them in no order of frequency or sense of urgency.

Nothing fishy going on with Douglas Street

“When is Douglas Street going to be repaved?”

Back during the summer, Douglas Street, between 2^nd and 4^th Streets, got ripped up as part of the annual cycle of repaving certain designated thoroughfares (City Park Drive, 15^th Street and a section of Kleve Street were also redone). In a relatively brief turn-around, the Barron County road crew returned and repaved every street that “the grinder” had tore up and resurfaced them – except between 3^rd and 4^th Street. There was a reason for that. For quite awhile now we have had a water line in need of repair and so Public Works Director Dan Knapp contracted the job to coincide while the road was being worked on. The street projects were concluded in August and the company hired informed Dan that they could not get to us until September. As we moved through September, they let Dan know they couldn't be there until October. So, for the time being, 'it's hurry up and wait.' (At Refuge, it once took a guy six months to get there four months after he said he would!) That's why Douglas Street between St. Boni and Off R Rocker remains undone.

It's all about keeping kids safe

“Why is it posted 25mph on Hwy SS between Chain of Lakes and the city limits near the old Snug Harbor resort?”

I maybe get asked this more than any other question put to me. Part of the frustration with the presently posted speed limit is the reality that in Cameron driving past both the high school and the new elementary school the speed limit is 35 mph. On the north end of town there's a few businesses, some storage facilities and only one residence. Why would it be necessary to curb our enthusiasm way before we reached Subway or Dairy Queen? To more than a few they conclude the only reason is to generate revenue for the city. “Jeff, you got yourself there a bonafide police trap” is how someone put it to me one day at The Center.

Here's what I've come to know. Those speed limits were not set locally but at the county level. What's more, as part of the Safe Routes to School initiative that brought all that new sidewalk on the north end of town, the deal was slower speed limits had to be set. Now, I don't think I've ever seen any kids walking to school on SS. And if I did, I'd probably pull over and offer them a ride. You'd probably do the same thing, too.

That tall grass there is there by design

“Who's responsible for cutting the grass on SS beyond Heritage Credit Union?"

That, too, is a County matter. A few weeks ago I was stopped at Kwik Trip by a resident who lives on Elizabeth Lane by Christ Lutheran upset about the length of the grass in the ditch by the storage units. I spoke with Joe Atwood who does a lot of the mowing of public property in our town and he told me to call Barron County Road Commissioner Mark Servi. I did. Mark was very accomodating. While the county does mow the ditches alongside the highway they do so only once a year and usually in the early summer after the spring rains have passed. Within a week or two a county mower showed up and cut the tall grass from Elizabeth Street to Pinewood on both sides. As for the scrub that remains growing along the fence line of the storage units as far as I understand it that is on the owner's in maintaining the appearance of their property.

“Who's tree is that?”

Several years ago, we planted a bridal wreath bush at the edge of our property. Since then, it's leafed out incredibly and when it's in full flower, we enjoy a lot. But by city ordinance, every bit of our bush that leafs out across the line no longer belongs to us. If Happ & Kathy want to trim their “side” of it, they are totally within their rights to do so because once my bush crosses the property line its no longer my bush. Now, good neighbors that they are, if it was a problem they would call us up and we would work out some equitable solution like neighbors are supposed to do. But technically, they wouldn't have to do that. They could sheer away up to the property line.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine who drives for Erb Bus let me know that there was a low hanging limb on 7^th Street just south of the school that was causing bus drivers to cross the center line to avoid it. I put a call into Dan who in turn let one of his guys know about the matter. When Joe showed up to deal with it, however, the owner was adamant that he skeddadle, that he was in no way going to touch “their tree.” Once again, when a tree limb either crosses a property line or, in this case, creates a potential public safety issue, that limb will come down regardless of who it belongs to. (That issue has since been resolved.)

No complaints here

“How's that 'mayor-ing'-thing going?”

I've been in office now six months and bar none that is what I am asked most often. I infer from that question several others most that center around this one: “Do I have “buyer's regret”?” Or am I sorry that I decided to run for office? Here's my short answer: Nope. No regrets. I'm truly enjoying the opportunity to serve the community I call home as well learning all about how municipal government works. Honestly, there was SO much I never paid attention to before elected mayor. I only went sparingly to city council meetings. And while I read whatever the Alert printed about city proceedings, I usually didn't connect a lot of dots. I didn't run for office with an ax to grind. I wasn't mad at anybody. I just was willing to serve. And the more I learn and the more meetings and proceedings I'm involved in, I'm beginning to develop my own opinions on how we can make our community better.

She even does windows

Even at his birthday party he wouldn't sit down

I was given a lot of advice in the run-up to the election most of which has proved to be true: City Clerk Carmen Newman, Deputy City Clerk Cassandra Larson and Water Utility Clerk Karen Zimmerman are, indeed, wonderfully capable people that we are fortunate to have serving us. That goes for Public Works Director Dan Knapp and his crew along with Chief Petersen and the rest of Chetek's finest. There are a lot of good people who work tirelessly and without a lot of fanfare to help make our small town a place people want to be and come back to. No question about that. 

Addendum: Since posting this I thought of another question I am asked from time to time:

"Does the mayor have any authority to prevent the train coming through town and blaring their horn at 3 a.m.?"
None. Nadda. Zilch. Zero. They come through when they darn well please and on account of safety regulations are required to blow their horn at every intersection. Personally, I think some of those guys enjoy that privilege just a tad too much.