Productive Night for the County Board

Tonight was a very productive night for the County Board.  Some of the things we got done:

Meeting Per Diem Pay---My campaign promise was to reintroduce a proposed ordinance to end per diem pay for meetings.  That proposed ordinance came up tonight.  In order to pass, it would need a minimum of 18 votes (2/3rds of all Supervisors).  Based on how people voted on this issue when it came up before, as well as a recent vote on this issue, it looked like it would be a close vote.  On top of that, 2 supervisors were absent, which reduced the likelihood of getting the necessary 18 votes.  After assessing that, I didn't think the votes were there to get this done.

When the issue came up, Supervisor Deiss quickly offered a compromise, which Supervisor Schleif gave a quick 2nd to.  The compromise moved per diem payments to a heavily reduced flat rate of $20 per meeting.  Besides saving the County money, this also removes a financial incentive to unnecessarily prolong meetings (the system we just voted out increased per diems if meetings ran longer, which hypothetically could be an incentive to stretch out meetings).

While my preference would be to eliminate per diem pay altogether, I recognize the value of getting 80% of what I want through compromise.  This value is even greater when the alternative is seeing an issue fail for a 2nd time.  We still have Obamacare because we couldn't get 52 Republican Senators to compromise, I wasn't going to repeat that mistake on this issue.  I gave my support to this compromise, and got 80% of what I wanted.

By a vote of 21-3, the amended ordinance passed.  This is undeniably significant progress on this issue.

I thank every County Board Supervisor for working together on this issue, to get it done, and I especially thank Supervisors Deiss and Schleif for proposing the compromise.

One additional note:  The Washington County Daily News referred to this reduction as a "change in compensation."  While a reduction is a type of change, so that technically is true, it doesn't tell the whole story.  The fact that this is a reduction in pay is an important detail, and I am disappointed that the paper didn't highlight that.  Had we voted to increase our pay (as if we would ever do that), I am certain they would have used the word "increase."   Why hide the fact that we did something so good?

Levy Limits
A proposed resolution would support ending levy limits.  While I think the levy limits may be overly harsh for counties like ours, who would still be fiscally responsible and reduce taxes without levy limits, I can't support abolishing levy limits statewide.  I was an absolute no vote.

Executive committee had originally voted this down unanimously (0-7), but wanted every Supervisor to have a chance to voice their opinion.  In the end, this resolution failed a second time, with 6 yes votes and 18 no votes.

I thank every County Board Supervisor who joined me in opposing ann effort to end levy limits state-wide.

Milwaukee's Trolley
SEWRPC presented their annual report tonight.  It included mention of the VISION 2050 plan, which included a regional tax for several rail-based projects for Milwaukee, including their trolley.  I had led the effort to withhold out endorsement of any regional tax or rail-based passenger transportation (like the trolley).  SEWRPC's proposal made no mention of that, instead referencing our approval of the plan.

I specifically queried the SEWRPC representative about that, and was assured on the record that Milwaukee fully understands that we have zero interest in any regional tax to fund their rail projects.

Darkstore Resolution
By a vote of 23-1, we passed an ordinance affirming our continued support of efforts to end the dark-store tax loophole, which allows national retailers to skirt their tax obligation by shifting their burden onto small businesses and homeowners.

I thank every County Board Supervisor for working together in support of this issue.

Pizza Ranch is Open, and It's Good

It was about 5 years ago that I stumbled upon a Pizza Ranch while driving through Portage.  My kids didn't want to try it, they thought the name sounded weird, but as the dad I overrode their decision.  I didn't know anything about them, other than that they probably served pizza.  Within 5 minutes, the kids and I were loyal Pizza Ranch customers.  Now, when I am traveling somewhere that has a Pizza Ranch on the route, I'm often planning a stop there.

Two years ago, a local family started working on opening a Pizza Ranch in West Bend.  It took a lot of work, but this week they finally got it open.

Today I took the kids there for our first visit.  At 10 minutes after eleven, there was a line out the door.  The food was just as good as I would expect, the interior was more contemporary than most Pizza Ranches, and the staff was all great.  The community support was great too, every table was full and people were lined up out the door, waiting for tables to open up.

So glad we finally have a Pizza Ranch in our hometown.

Milwaukee's Trolley and Levy Limits

Let's talk about Milwaukee's Boondoggle Trolley, and why it is important to keep levy limits.

When I talk to neighbors of mine in Washington County about Milwaukee's trolley, I don't have any neighbors telling me that we should be helping Milwaukee to pay for this vital project (and I use the term vital project satirically).  Instead, the opinions I hear tend to fall along these lines

• If Milwaukee wants to be stupid with their money and build a useless trolley, that's their right, but we shouldn't pay for it.
• Building a trolley in 2018 is such a stupid idea, that it should be illegal.  Milwaukee residents shouldn't have to pay for it.

My opinion aligns with the second opinion.  Building Trolley's in 2018 is moronic.
I recall hearing Belling contrast all of the negatives of the trolley with all of the positives of Uber.  Interestingly, my own person experiences bear proof to that.  To draw the contrast in my own experiences:

Kenosha's Trolley. 

I was in Kenosha several years ago, on a cold winter day, visiting their museum with my kids. As we pulled up, I saw a trolley pulling away from a nearby trolley stop. I didn't know Kenosha had a trolley stop, but thought "That might be something fun for the kids." My kids were around 6-8 years old at the time. I decided that when we were done in the museum, we'd try to catch the trolley.

An hour or 2 later, we were leaving the museum, and I began looking for the trolley. It was nowhere in sight. I took the kids to the car, where we waiting for 5 minutes, freezing, while watching for the trolley. It was still nowhere to be seen. I took the kids back inside, and from the giftshop we watched out the window looking for it, but after another 10 minutes it was still nowhere in sight. I finally decided to take the kids back to the car and give it a couple more minutes. Then we gave up, and as we drove away.

My point is simple---the trolley was so inconvenient, we gave up and left despite wanting to ride it.

Uber. 

I was in Buffalo last fall with a few coworkers. We decided to go out for dinner, and picked a place a few miles away. The hotel shuttle wouldn't be back for 20 minutes thought. One of my coworkers was a frequent Uber user. She pulled up the app and said "There's someone 3 minutes away who can drive us there." We all decided to give this strange Uber thing a try. Stunningly, 3 minutes later, a guy walks into the hotel, sees my coworker, recognizes her from her picture in the app, and introduces himself as our driver. We walk out to the car, and reach our destination 4 miles away in almost no time.  I was stunned by how convenient it was.

Again my point is simple---Uber was more convenient than the hotel shuttle when we were in the hotel lobby.

In contrasting Uber (which started in 2009) to trolleys (which began as horse-drawn trolleys in 1820 and switched to electric trolleys in the 1890s), Uber is much more flexible, convenient, and adaptable.  It is moronic to be rebuilding trolley lines in the 21st century.

Levy Limits

Levy Limits exist to protect taxpayers from irresponsible government officials.  In Milwaukee, the Mayor complains about levy limits, and how he can't provide the basic services that are needed.  At the same time, while the 1st part of the trolley isn't even operating yet, he is already planning 3 expensive extensions to Milwaukee's trolley system.  If you don't believe me, read about it on the trolley's website: themilwaukeestreetcar.com.  He's not even waiting to see if people ride the trolley before working to expand it.

The planned expansions are:

1. The Forth Street Expansion, which would run from the Amtrack station up 4th street to the new Bucks Arena.
2. Walker's Point Expansion, which would extend the trolley south to Greenfield Avenue.
3. The Bronzeville Expansion, which would go from the bucks arena up to North Avenue.

If Washington County was released from levy limits, we would still be lowering our taxes.  If Milwaukee is released from levy limits, they'd go on a massive spending spree, building all of these trolley lines and ballooning tax bills.  Our state is one of the most heavily taxed states, and we need to bring that under control.

Human Services Committee Vice-Chairman

Today I was nominated by Chairwoman Deiss to be the Vice Chairman for the Human Services Committee.  I accepted the nomination and was elected to this position.  I am excited for this opportunity, and for this endorsement of my efforts from my fellow County Board Supervisors.

Former County Board Supervisor Les Borman had been the vice-chairman for the committee for the last 2 years.  I look up to Les, and his professional approach to helping oversee the Human Services Committee.  I also have learned a lot from Les over the last 2 years.  With the changes that were made to the structure of the Standing Committees, and the new duties the Human Services Committee is taking on that statutorily must be performed by elected officials, Les was unfortunately no longer eligible to remain the Vice-Chairman for the Committee. 

Les will be remaining on the Human Services Board, which will now be a portion of the duties of the Human Services Committee, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and learn from him.  I also look forward to continuing to work with Sara Malchow of the United Way, and new-comer Jessie Kroening as Human Services Board Members.

New County Board Supervisors joining the Human Services Committee included Frank Carr (Buzz) and Richard Bertram.  Both of them brought a lot of great insight to today's meeting.

2016 Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Heroine Task Force.  Seated with me are current County Board Chairman Don Kriefall, Former West Bend Mayor Mike Miller, Current Assemblyman Rick Gundrum, and Current Human Services Committee Chairwoman Kristine Deiss.

Back From Space Camp (4H Youth Trip)

I am back from Space Camp.  I was honored to be an Adult Advisor for the 3rd year, for the annual Wisconsin 4H youth's trip to Space Camp in Huntsville Alabama.  I was one of 15 adults who helped 148 youth experience Space Camp.  All of the youth are 4H members in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, and this year they include 10 youth from Washington County.

Below are a few pictures from the experience.

Full Moon rising over the Space Shuttle

Full moon behind the Saturn IV Rocket

Space Shuttle on display

Space Camp's "Rocket Garden"

Saturn IV and Saturn V rockets

Saturn 5 Rocket









Space Shuttle simulator

Selfie inside the Space Shuttle Endeavor simulator

Effort to End the Dark Store Loophole Continues

At the June County Board Meeting, the County will consider a resolution to affirm its view in 2016 that the State Legislature needs to end the Dark Store loophole.  Two years ago the resolution was introduced by me, after learning about this issue from City Alderman Chris Jenkins.  This time around, it is being authored jointly by myself and the full Executive Board.

Remember, the dark store loophole allows national retailers to shirk their property tax obligations, pushing them instead onto small businesses and local homeowners.  Walgreens began the onslaught of National Retailers in West Bend using this loophole.  Meier had only been open a week or 2 when they initiated their effort to use this loophole.

A lot of our local legislators are in full support of ending this, including Assemblymen Rick Gundrum and Robert Brooks, as well as State Senator Duey Stroebel.  They worked hard during the last legislative session to try to put an end to this tax loophole, and I know they'll be working hard again on this issue after the fall elections.

White House Visit for County Board Supervisors

Every one on the Washington County Board received an invitation to go to the White House.  The opportunity includes a White House tour along with a conference with key White House officials.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend due to a schedule conflict, however Washington County will be well represented.