Academy of Local Politics

All levels of government basically shut down from making decisions sometime in December. They can't make a decision during "The Holidays".

In local government "The Holidays" start at Thanksgiving, and goes until after New Year's Day.

In my part of the country the weekend before Thanksgiving kicks of the start of the Deer Season. So "The Holidays" start the Friday before Deer Hunting ... at the latest.

But watch out now. Staff has been busy working on proposed ordinance changes in their absence.

Zoning and Planning Departments are the most likely suspects. They call it "Housekeeping" or "Clean Up" changes.

Little things that have come up. Little things that could become big things.

Let the storm begin!

We can send people into space ...but,

Voters in Cuyahoga County will cast their ballots using paper and pencils during the March 4 presidential primary and every election from then on.

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner ordered the county Friday to scrap its $21 million touch-screen voting system, which is less than two years old, and buy high-speed optical scanners that read paper ballots. The new equipment could cost taxpayers as much as $9 million.

and this ...

Oh I tell you, there is nothing that gets me more politically excited than learning about young adults getting into the game of local politics. This is a great article from StandardSpeaker.Com. 

Bill Sharkey Jr. ran in a local election and won two years ago. Sharkey was 21 years old when he won a seat on West Hazleton Borough Council...He has a busy life. Included are a 20-month-old son, finishing up his college degree and running a business.

But, it is his quote that really turns me on.

“I was interested in politics since I was eight or nine years old. It was in my blood. I just think I had a passion for it,” he said. “No one pushed me. I just wanted to do it.”

Let's have a big round of applause for Mr. Bill Sharkey, Jr.!

Then we also learn about Tyler Frederick, age 25.

In the wake of Sugarloaf Township Supervisor Joyce Stevens’ resignation, Tyler Frederick was appointed to govern and sworn in on Dec. 11. Frederick will serve as a supervisor during his first meeting in January. He is excited to get into the governing spectrum and a little nervous at the same time.

His maturity was shown to me by his quote ...

“I’m not sure what I got myself into.”

No, he doesn't. But, he sounds like the kind of guy who might turn out to be a pretty good local official.

What is their advice to others?

“Don’t be scared. I’m living proof that you can run and get elected,” Sharkey said. “If you want to do it, don’t back down. Sometimes I think people think, ‘What does this kid think he’s doing?’”

And this next one is outstanding ...

The key is to be open to listening to those who are experienced in governing, Frederick said. “Without them, you would’t know where to start.”

This kid is really going to be good!

Thanks Bill and Tyler, for making my day.

There comes a point for some people when they just can't afford to pay their property taxes anymore. There is a very small, but growing number of local governments who allow a portion of property taxes to be "worked off".

Greenburg, NY is the latest that I have read. Jim Fitzgerald tells us this story in USA Today.  

Greenburgh wants to take their program even farther. It is not just for the low income. They ... envision retired doctors mentoring schoolchildren, retired accountants helping with the town's finances, retired lawyers offering their services for a discount. But there are plenty of less-skilled jobs that need doing.

That goes much farther than Boulder County, CO who since 1986 have benefited by having taxpayers ... landscaping, gathering climate data, clipping newspapers and staffing the courthouse information booth.

Or, Concord, MA who have taxpayers doing ... research, data entry and groundskeeping.

There is one thing and only one thing, that bothers me about this idea. That is the notion that ... unions would have to be convinced that the program is no threat to their members' job security.

And, what if it is unions, what if it is?

Elected Officials should be more than happy to have that public debate with union representatives.

Bring it on!

I may live in northern Wisconsin, but that does not mean I like snow. I don't.

However, winter is the necessary evil of living in this neck of the woods the other three seasons.

One of the most basic local government needs to those of us who live in the snow belt, is the Street Department's snow policy. How soon and how well can I expect to be plowed out after a storm?

I gotta give the Rice Lake Street Department credit. I am fortunate. I give them a solid B+ year after year for their ability to remove snow when required. 

What grade do you give yours? Why?

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