July 27, 2007

Park postings on the way

The next series of postings I have wanted to do for a while now. They pertain to the Grand Chute Park, Trail, Open Space and Recreational Plan. The idea was inspired by comments from Popoki and appleton_lady over on the Post Crescent Community message board. Popoki was wondering about future trails, and apples pointed out it's important for Grand Chute to recongnize green space as a vital role in future development.

A comprehensive plan was compiled by the Parks Commission and approved by the Town Board in late May. It includes projects the park Commission would like to see the Town of Grand Chute undertake in the years 2006 to 2012. The six-year program emphasizes the acquisition of future neighborhood parks, development of existing parks, improvements to existing parks, and the additional trail development. I think residents will find this information interesting and useful. A copy of full 30 page report with maps is on file at the Town Hall.

Next week I will feature highlights from this report, along with the maps, so residents can easily view the plans in store these next few years. I will also be happy to answer any specific questions about our park development.

July 25, 2007

Fire Station bidding process

The Grand Chute fire station is open for bids. Some people's perception may be that since Boldt Construction is the construction manager, only their subcontractors may bid on the construction. This is not true. In fact, if your company would like to be part of the bidding process, please call the town hall for more information. (920) 832-1573.

July 19, 2007

June 19 meeting minutes available

Minutes from the June 19, 2007 Town Board meeting are available. There is a good explanation by Administrator Rohloff about using voter-approved funds for the fire station building. As you will see, the same method was used in the town hall construction.

July 17, 2007

Fire station budget passes

At tonight’s town board meeting I proposed a motion to go ahead with a $4.5 million dollar capped fire station budget. Many residents called and emailed demanding adequate fire protection services. I followed your direction. Supervisors Schowalter and Nooyen also voted in favor of this motion. What does this mean? Grand Chute’s proposed fire station budget is now passed. Grand Chute residents are going to get a fire station that will fulfill our town’s needs for years to come in the most fiscally responsible manner.

I also understand residents’ concerns that the fire station does not exceed the $4.5 million dollar budget. Therefore I made amendments to the motion. They are as follows:

1. All bids submitted to Boldt Construction must be submitted to the Supervisors and be accessible for town review.

2., When construction begins, a weekly project report must be submitted to Supervisors and also posted within the town.

We are now on our way to receiving the safety services our town deserves. Thank you for your support.

What is fiscal responsibility?

First, I would like to thank everyone that came to last night's town board information meeting. I feel it was important for everyone's voice to be heard. I think we all agree Grand Chute needs a fire station, and we need it now. It is no secret I am a supporter of the approved plan, even though it is $1 million over what Chairman Marsden and Administrator Rohloff led residents to believe they were voting for at the annual meeting. Residents, in general, are disappointed in the previous lack of fiscal responsibility. However, by insisting on the $3.5 million budget, Chairmen Marsden is, once again, not being fiscally responsible.

I have been a general contractor for 13 years. I have learned there comes a point in design where the price per square foot decreases as the building size increases. Right now the building price is $180/sq. ft. To reach Chairman Marsden’s self-appointed figures, the building size would decrease to 19,444 sq. ft. and that is at $180/sq. ft. I guarantee by cutting this space the overall sq. ft. price will increase, and probably reach over $200/sq. ft. This price now drops the station to 17,500 sq. ft. This is 7,500 sq. ft less than the approved plan.

Okay, the detractors say. We are saving money. We are getting fire protection. Some would say yes, but I say no. We are getting fire protection. For now. We are not saving money.

Grand Chute population growth is expected to increase 1/3 by the year 2030. That is an additional 6,000 residents in only 23 years. The original design is built to accommodate this growth.

The smaller fire station will be maxed out and an addition needed long before then. Within 10 years we will need to add that 7500 sq. ft. back into the fire station. Let’s be nice and give an overall cost increase of only 5% per year to the $200/sq. ft. price. (Last year alone steel prices increased 20% and copper increased 60%) In 10 years the 7500 sq. ft. addition will cost taxpayers at least $2.25 million. That is $1.25 million dollars more than the $4.5 million dollar budget I support.

That definately is not fiscal responsibility.

Each room is accounted for. Each room is needed. Each room will be used.

The voice of the people does matter. You still have the opportunity to express your opinion to the Town Board.

July 16, 2007

Fire Station meeting reminder

Just a reminder the special town board meeting to discuss the fire station cost increase is tonight at 7 pm.

July 13, 2007

Town Talk debuts


The first wave of Town Talk, a newsletter I created for Grand Chute residents, was mailed yesterday. Most of the information readers of the blog have already seen, but I felt there was still a need for a print version. Many residents do not have internet access, and this issue was also a way to raise awareness that my web site and office hours do exist. There is not a set printing schedule as of yet. The newsletter is going to be more of an issue-based publication. Let me know if there is an issue you would like to see addressed.

And, as noted, the newsletter is paid for by myself. No town or taxpayers funds are used for this publication or delivery.

July 11, 2007

How ISO ratings affect insurance premiums

Fire is the largest single cause of property loss in the United States. Virtually all U.S. insurers of homes and business property use ISO’s Public Protection Classification in calculating premiums. A number is assigned from 1 to 10. Class 10 indicates the area’s fire-suppression program does not meet ISOs minimum criteria. The rating depends on the communication, water supply, and the fire department, including equipment, staffing, training and geographic distribution of the fire stations.

Most locations in Grand Chute have a class 4 or higher rating. There are some areas on the eastern end with class 10 ratings.

To illustrate the how ratings affect premiums, a local insurance company was contacted and asked to quote a yearly insurance policy on a $160,000 house. Quotes are as follows:

Class 3 $668
Class 7 $733
Class 10 $1,229

It has been projected Grand Chute’s Public Protection Classification will go down with a new fire station and increased staffing. In addition, improved fire protection in our town attracts businesses and future development, boosting our economy.

July 10, 2007

COWs passing through in September



One part of a Supervisor's job is to approve special event permits. This past May, a request from a group came through that caught my eye. It was from Couples on Wheels, or COWs, a Wisconsin tandum bike club. They were holding a bike rally and part of the ride would run through Grand Chute. Intrigued, I did a little more research, and found out the group (and then some) will be back over Labor Day weekend for the Midwest Tandem Rally. Once again, the route will take them through Grand Chute. Mark Dobberstein, spokesperson for the group, was kind enough to answer some questions.

How long has your group been around?

My wife and I have been involved since the early 1990's. The COWS were already loosely organized years prior, in the 1980's.

Around how many COWS to you expect to attend the Midwest Rally Labor Day weekend?

MTR will be involve the COWS, PIGS, HOOTS, CATS, and many other such names, likely 400+ teams.

Will there be a specific bike route? Will this route pass through Grand Chute?


All riders start near the Paper Valley Hotel and bike routes will be followed. Riders travel through Grand Chute on Capitol Drive, Saturday, 9-1-07 around 9:15 AM

How many miles is an average bike ride?

Routes range from 30 miles up to almost 70 miles.

Do tandum bikers pride themselves as being a litte "different?" I would imagine a lot of people in your group have a good sense of humor.


I suppose some may see them as different, but we are all bike riders, who enjoy riding with our wife, husband, partner, significant other.

For some reason, not know to me, the various groups have taken on these special names. COWS - Couples on Wheels, PIGS - Paired Iowans Going Somewhere, CATS - Chicago Area Tandem Society, HOOTS - Hoosiers Out on Tandems, MUTS - Michigan United Tandem Society, and many others.

I would agree our gatherings are fun and a good time is had by all.

What kinds of people are in your group? Serious bikers, people wanting to have fun?

The riders are at all different levels, some extremely fast and others just out for a leisure ride. My wife and I are in our early 50's, and often feel young in comparison to many riders. We ride about 1000 miles per summer, which is nothing in comparison to many of the riders. A group of riders are taking the ferry from Michigan and riding to Appleton from Manitowoc.

July 8, 2007

Fire station price tag (repost)

I am moving the open fire station post up from last month as I see my website has been generating more hits due to today's article in the Post-Crescent. Be sure to also read the response to the editorial post from 6/25, to understand why there is the million dollar gap from what residents voted on at the annual meeting.

Taxpayers were recently informed the proposed fire station costs have been increased from $3.5 million to $4.5 million. A million dollars is a substantial amount of money, so taxpayers need to understand why there is a projected cost increase.The original idea was to build a fire station. Can a simple fire station be built for $3.5 million? The answer is yes. However the advisory panel began to see more than a “simple” fire station was needed, and the submitted plan reflects this.

The Federal government and Homeland Security, are pressing local municipalities to have a national incident management system in place. The federal government is telling local governments they need to handle their own emergency situations. The new station would double as our emergency center. This includes having a backup generator that will power the station in emergency situations.

In addition, the base of operations would be moved to the new station. This includes the command center, adminstation, training, and inspection. The decision was made to keep the 5.5 bays for future apparatus or future services. The training tower is being kept so firefighters do not have to travel out of town for this type of training.

The size and location of the proposed station reflects the continuing growing needs of our community. Do we build a simple fire station that would be obsolete in a few years, or does our town have the vision to build a facility that is more than just a fire station and will serve our community for 50 years? I am voting for the latter.

Do I want to spend this additional million dollars? No. But the reality is, substantial cuts have already been made to get it to the projected number. Any additional cuts would negate the integrity of the fire station, to the point where it would not serve the community’s needs.

The most significant point to come from last night's town board meeting was the board has approved the plan submitted to the fire station committee by Strand and Associates. Now the plan can go out for bids and an actual cost can be determined. Hopefully, the bids can close the gap between $3.5 and $4.5 million figure.

Keep this in mind: The additional million dollars presented at the June 19th meeting by Administrator Rohloff would increase taxes $5 per $200,000 home. Response times will be greatly improved and the average homeowner will save that on homeowner’s insurance rates alone, with lower ISO ratings.

Postponing action is only postponing the inevitable. This has already been going on for several years. Delaying this any further will only increase the cost to you, the taxpayer, and compromise our safety.

Tire Disposal week

Check out the upcoming event updates. Just added is Tire Disposal week. The program is for residential use only. Tires must be no larger than a 16" passenger cara tire (rims are acceptable) with a limit of four tires per household. You can call the town hall or email Sally.Leopold@grandchute.net to be placed on the list for pickup. Tires must be at the end of the driveway by 7 am Monday, Septmeber 17, 2007. Collection will take place this week only by the Department of Public Works.

Keep cool! I'm on jet ski patrol duty today for my other job at the sheriff's department. People's eyes light up when I tell them this, but it get's pretty hot on the water too! There certainly has been plenty of lake activity as people wrap up their 4th of July week. See you back in town Monday!

July 7, 2007

Charity softball game today

I hope everyone is having a great Fourth of July weekend. If you get a chance, check out the Firefighters vs. Police Officers charity softball game today at the Timberattlers stadium. All proceeds go to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. I hope the men and women are able to keep cool with the projected weather.

July 2, 2007

Special Town Board meeting for fire station budget

Based upon input from Town Supervisors, Chairman Marsden has called for a special Town Board meeting on Monday, July 16, at 7pm. This informational public meeting will deal with the proposed fire station budget. Town residents who attended the Annual Meeting will receive an mailed invitation. All town residents with concerns are encouraged to attend.