Academy of Local Politics

I walked the soccer fields this morning. What a mess. The drought of 2006 sure took its toll on the fields. Since they aren't used in the middle of the summer for leagues. they aren't watered. They were just parched last year.

I really don't like soccer. But, they deserve decent fields to play on even if I don't like it. That is what living in a city is all about. We all have something that we don't like spending money on. For me, it's soccer.

We don't have money or manpower budgeted to start watering this year either. It wasn't me blocking it. We've just never done it and to start watering all 18 fields would take some time we don't have and money that we can't find.

I don't see CommonSenseville.US anytime in the near future watering the soccer fields during a drought.

The softball fields will continue to be watered because their leagues are during the summer months.

Mayor Al

An unused relic from the past! When rail was king.

Note the budding trees.

Speaking of Spring. I received a dozen Milwaukee Brewer pocket schedules from the Media Relations Department.  They will be available first come, first serve at the Clerk's Office.

Which brings up a touchy subject. Who is eligible for CommonSensevile.US benefits, such as Minnow Barrels or Brewer Schedules.

Let's talk about those Minnow Barrels. On Saturday I posted that we had two minnow barrels that were still for lease this year. It only took a couple of minutes this morning for those to be claimed and a new waiting list developed. The lease on these Minnow Barrels are only for citizens of CommonSenseville.US. Rural residents need not apply. 

But, they did. Six non-residents of CommonSenseville.US contacted Ronni Copper at Parks/Rec/Cemetery. One wanted to be first on a new waiting list of non-residents, just in case the City Council changes policy. No. Sorry. We are not going to start a waiting list of people ineligible to lease minnow barrels.

As for the pocket schedules, there is no paperwork required. You just reach out and grab one. No ID required.

Last week I wrote about the Economic Summit I attended. Over the weekend I found this report at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel web site.  Menard's the local home improvement giant (Eau Claire, WI) was importing firewood into Wisconsin in violation of "a federal quarantine designed to keep the emerald ash borer from hitching a ride into the state."

Excuse me. Importing firewood INTO Wisconsin. Just so I have this straight. Importing firewood INTO Wisconsin.

And, it isn't even good firewood!

Come on John. This has to come up on the same weekend you get some great press at your local Eau Claire Leader Telegram. If there is one thing we got in Wisconsin, its firewood. I don't know why, but it seems to me that Menard's should be shipping Wisconsin wood out?

Depending on how the next Economic Summit goes, maybe I'll bring it up. It does seem like a reasonable question to ask.

Mayor Al

Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Director Ronni Copper wanted everyone to know that there are a couple of minnow barrels still for lease this year.

Normally we have a waiting list. But, no longer. The lease for one these minnow barrels on the White Pine River is $25/year.

Contact the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Office for more information.

Mayor Al

"Yearning for the day when it can grow hemp."

How' this? I had to prove to you I could do it.

I've had a couple of very interesting conversations with people inside the Milwaukee Brewers organization regarding the the lack of Brewer Pocket Schedules in the area.

First, a nice lady by the name of Caitlen called me. (Excuse me if I misspelled the name.) Caitlen works in the Promotion Department. She has her own phone number so that was a positive. Caitlen just couldn't figure out why we would have been told we were "Twins Territory". Join the club. So, Caitlen wanted to solve the problem by sending me some schedules. I told her that was only the symptom of a much larger problem that we have been told we have been sold or traded or something, by the Brewers to the Twins. What's with that?

That was not her department. She was going to have Sara call me. Sara did. Sara works for the Brewers specifically with Miller Brewing. Sara offered to send me some schedules. Thank you, but what about this PR problem the Brewers have, selling off a portion of Wisconsin to the Twins? Sara, didn't know what to think about that. She agreed that it was a problem, just off the top of her head she had no solution. Which I wouldn't expect from someone who just learned of a problem. Sara wanted to do some talking with people. We'll see what happens. At least they have been alerted to the problem.

It comes down to customer service. I talked about that a few days ago. This time it is personal. When you're a small city Mayor, you gotta be ready to stand up for your community at a moments notice. Be it the State Legislators, or in this case a major league baseball team. Let them know you are here, and you care about what they do.

If you don't toot your own horn, nobody will do it for you. You do it nicely. But, you have to do it.

The citizens of CommonSenseville.US should expect nothing less.

Mayor Al

City Planner Harold Nation and myself spent this morning in Hayward at a Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit. It is a quarterly meeting of many cities spread around northern Wisconsin. We meet because misery loves company.

Economic Development. That is tough. Tough to even define. In the past it always meant "Industrial" development. Manufacturing, smoke stacks, raw material in, product out. Not like that anymore. At least for most small cities. Some never give up the dream of landing the "big one" but, in reality, they never will. Those who have, get more, those who haven't, don't. Normally depends on location. Imagine that. Location.

How is a company going to get raw material in and product out. Most likely by truck. Still some cities who only have a two lane highway, think they have a chance to land the "big one". When CommonSenseville.US and all other cities around here were settled it was because of the river. That was transportation. Today it is a highway. A four lane highway at minimum.

One gentleman, who I had never met before played Devil's Advocate with the group and asked the philosophical question "Will there ever be enough business to fill all those beautiful industrial parks"? The truthful answer is no. Those with the locations desired will get more than their share and the others will hope.

Just as some local elected officials are delusional about getting a "high paying" manufacturing plant, others are even more delusional about recruiting "high tech" to the area. A lot of money has been wasted over the years chasing dreams.

As I look around northern Wisconsin, what I find is the most stable grow comes from the locals who "had an idea". Since they were here, this is where they started to build on that idea. I see those businesses in every community. Over the decades some have been sold or merged or whatever. But, the original business was started here.

So, politicians can talk and promise all they want about bringing jobs to the community, that is all it is, talk. They are totally at the mercy of the location of their city  and dumb luck someone is going to stumble upon their "million dollar idea" in your community.

What I find most disturbing about Economic Development Summits is they rarely focus on anything other than traditional economic development. Tourism is an afterthought. Agriculture is not spoken. (It was not the appropriate forum for a hemp lecture). Too many dots to connect for many of the attendees, if you try to think out of the box.

So, you meet quarterly and talk. 

Mayor Al