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Monday, April 02, 2007
Random Questions Welcome - Post Yours Here
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Monona,
Random Question
I'm trying to use my blog to get input from Monona residents on various issues. If I don't ask about something you are interested in, here is your place to post it.
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This was emailed about Woodland Park...you can answer this better then I.."Could someone tell me why that bar corner that was chopped down keeps getting mowed? Of all the parks that need mowed, that is not one of them. How are the woods ever going to recover and grow new trees if the undergrowth is mowed on a regular basis? When are new saplings going to be planted? I want to help with that if it ever comes around to that point. Rexie"
ReplyDeleteFrom: Dale
Doug.. I have several questions..
ReplyDeletesince I missed the CDA meeting this week I have been informed that the CDA deemed the Hickory Lane Mobil Home park as Blighted..
What does that mean and what effect is that going to have on the owners of homes there?
Also, Why did all of the data used to deem it blighted either been existing problems that should have been reported and fixed for the past 20+ years and also the data
that has been caused to happen because of the slow and irresponsible misinformation and false deadlines givin to the parks tenants.. I don't get it..
most of the problems have been existing problems for years that the John's should have been cited on and forced to repair anyways.
the rest of the problems have been mostly caused by the roller coaster ride that the tenants have been on..
discussions are pending on the need to contact the state attorney general and/or the ethics board if there is one or any other governing body that is over your heads.. this is a joke. Something is scammy about this..
Now the deadline for people to move out is May 1st.. yet it looks like there will be maybe 2/3 meetings on this embarressment before that.. still no help for the tenants and still being screwed by the sellers.
your welcome..
A couple of questions (OK, more than a couple, but a lot of questions on a couple of topics)...
ReplyDeleteOn Garden Circle:
As I told someone the other day, IF we're trying to "recruit" families to Monona (or otherwise just make the town more attractive) this should be a great opportunity for offering some first rate starter condos.
What is the status of Garden Circle?
Can the city act as a developer in this case?
How about some co-housing like Arboretum Co-Housing or Troy Gardens?
On volunteering:
Since we don’t have the people power to do something that need to be done (or that we’d like to have done, and should be done if we want to draw families), is there a way to organize people with the time an inclination to do things like plow the ice rink? I know you organize some projects (prairie burn, garlic mustard pulling). It seems like the website would be a good place to post a call for volunteers and even a sign up.
On cable access:
We’re not TV people, and so I don’t get to see the debates on Channel 12. I’d really like to have access to these things, again, from the website. Is this possible?
Thanks for your hard work!
Hey Stinky C.,
ReplyDeleteThe CDA has put a request for proposals for Garden Circle. The return date is April 25. I have asked the city planner (today) to put the RFP on the city web site.
I agree we need to do more with volunteers. City staff probably still needs to play a coordinating/clearinghouse role.
Also today, I emailed the cable coordinator Andrew Hagen, to see if we webcast shows. I'll let you know his answer. Andrew has really been a positive addition to the city.
Here is the answer from Andy Hagen, the city-school cable guy:
ReplyDelete"Right now I cannot stream shows on the site. I would like to do so, and have asked Madison what equipment they needed, and am getting an estimate put together for next year.
I did make copys of both Forums and put them in at the Public Library. I think they are behind the main desk. If other people would like to see them, please have them contact me.
Thank you,
Andy"
His email address is ahagen@ci.monona.wi.us
or you call Andy at221-7666 x 2133
what will be the outcome of the school board race?
ReplyDeleteMike V is running for mayor?
ReplyDeletefact or fiction?
What am I Kreskin? School Board outcome is just unclear to me.
ReplyDeleteMike Veserat? Running for mayor? Of Monona? Where did you hear that? Didn't we hear that rumor two years ago? Or was it last year regarding city council? Little late to start a write-in campaign. I suppose the idea would be to secretly organize some voters to write him in and hope nobody votes for Robb. Too clever by half.
big sign on Monona drive-
ReplyDeleteHey Doug-
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the win. It is well deserved. I have been thinking about this- It seems to me that Monona needs a really good piece of print material to promote the city. When I go to our accountant in Sun Prairie, I am always struck by the brochure that extols the virtues of living in Sun Prairie. I also wonder how many folks come into Monona to look at a certain "for sale" house and don't realize that the pool/library/park area is quite near or even exists.
So, my thought is to put together a small volunteer group of folks to put something together- Both to get it done, and to be responsible for distribution to realtors, large employers, etc.
And....my questions are: Is this already in the works by that committee that was formed to attract and retain families? And do you think the city would be able to contribute some money to the production and printing? What do you think of it as an idea?
Thanks for all you do-
Sue Carr
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteVery impressive win.
I don't like Metcalfe using TIF money to buy the trailer park land. It seems like he, and the "others" feel he is owed it because his father did so much for the community.
My dream is to use that land for a park.
I hear Mike V got something like 47 votes.
ReplyDeleteHey Sue. Thanks. The Chamber has a booklet that they put out. Have you seen that? Maybe it needs wider distribution.
ReplyDeleteHi Doug-
ReplyDeleteThanks for that info- and I also talked to some folks from the ad hoc "attraction and retention" committee and they are working on the exact thing I am talking about- and hope to have it out by summer. So, that is all good!
a brochure is not what we need.
ReplyDeletebrochures get outdated-quickly
get dusty and old-quickly.
a brochue is a 1970s answer to a 2007 problem
Then what do we need? I don't think a brochure would be bad, but probably not enough.
ReplyDeletewhat we need is to get professional help to promote our city image and all we have to offer. This is a competition, like it or not. There are a finite number of families with kids who can afford homes, and unless Monona decides to put resources into this, it will not turn around. Everyone is so uptight about losing schools, yet the city leadership has known for years that we are not attracting families with children and that trend started way before any talk of a Cottage Grove Middle School.
ReplyDeleteI do find this interesting in one of the fastest growing county in the midwest that we're having a hard time drawing families. I don't understand.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Dane Co. is growing, but Monona cannot and that is the problem. Turnover alone will not sustain the population of children because families are smaller than they used to be and more households than ever do not have children. If Monona wants to attract more families with children than it would naturally with no intervention, that will take aggressive action. Then again, maybe that is not what people want in general. Maybe the taxpayers do not want to expend city employee time and tax dollars on this issue. There may be something to be said for letting society and demographic trends take their course.
ReplyDelete"Most of us know this town would have a heck of a time trying to run itself these days without the immigrants. They're working at the grocery stores, the fast-food places, they're opening businesses and keeping this town alive and young. We're just being practical by telling them, 'Look, we want you in our community, and we want you to feel like you belong.'"
ReplyDelete- Republican Mayor Robert Patten of Highstown, New Jersey, whose town council unanimously approved measures allowing undocumented residents to interact with police and city services without fear of being reported to federal authorities - making it one of an increasing number of "sanctuary cities" with no-questions-asked policies on immigration status. (Source: The Washington Post)
Any thoughts?
Email that to the council and the mayor. Let us know the response.
ReplyDelete