In local politics, one sometimes hears flimsy excuses for big mistakes, just as one hears implausible explanations for serious problems. These sort of explanations are the stock in trade of officials who simply don’t want to accept responsibility for mistakes, or who simply don’t want to do the hard work their positions require. Whenever I…
City
City, Green Energy Holdings, Open Government
How to Keep a Public Deal from Common-Sense Evaluation
by JOHN ADAMS •
It’s not that hard, really. One just needs a shameless disregard for open government and an equal disregard for diligent environmental and fiscal evaluation. 1. Keep discussion of the deal within a closed session of the Community Development Authority. That would be item 12 from the 6.6.12 CDA meeting. See, at 1:14:56 in the video,…
Animals, City, Weird Tales
Whitewater, this snake would have been a real problem…
by JOHN ADAMS •
Scientists at the University of Florida say the 160-pound, 17-foot-long Burmese python found in the Everglades last week is the largest one ever seen in the state, and more evidence that the “monstrous” snakes are taking over the park. Even more disturbing than the snake’s size is the fact that it was carrying 87 eggs, also a…
City, Elections
Election Day
by JOHN ADAMS •
CDA, City, Green Energy Holdings, Open Government, Press
What Whitewater’s Officials Don’t Know (or Don’t Want You to Know) about that “Green Energy” Deal
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’m not sure what would be worse – (1) an airy proposal for an energy deal for the City of Whitewater in which city officials don’t even know simple implications of the proposal, or (2) a deal in which city officials actually know how this proposal has been received elsewhere, but don’t want the residents…
CDA, City
Common Council’s 8.7.12 Session
by JOHN ADAMS •
Common Council held its first session of the month last night. Discussion of some highlights from that session appears below: Library Expansion Plans. More space for people, less space for books (as new media require less space): that’s a sensible modification. Adjustment in the total space required, and a survey of community wishes for a…
City, Green Energy Holdings, Open Government, Press
Part 2: Questions for the Press about a Proposal with Green Energy Holdings
by JOHN ADAMS •
This post follows a recent story (from 7.17.12) about a waste digester proposed for Whitewater, Wisconsin (see, Waste-to-energy project coming to Whitewater“). For an earlier post along these lines, see Questions for the Press about a Proposal with Green Energy Holdings. 1. Does anyone think, as the 7.17.12 story states, that the City of Whitewater…
City, Elections
Whitewater Polling Location Notice (August 14th Primary)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Please see a notice from the City of Whitewater about the location of the August 14th primary polling site: NOTICE The polling location for the August 14, 2012 Partisan Primary has moved to the City of Whitewater Municipal Building, Common Council Chambers, 312 W. Whitewater Street, Whitewater, WI 53190. The location has moved due to…
Animals, City
Whitewater escapes herpetological disaster
by JOHN ADAMS •
City
About ‘Citizen’ Reps on Commissions
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater’s boards and commissions sometimes have politicians, city employees, the privately-employed, or retired residents as members. The mix between these categories is often fixed: there must be so many citizen reps, council members, etc. In a technical, but disingenuous, way, all of the members of a commission are likely to be citizen-resident representatives. If the…
City
The Common Council’s positive vote for the Field of Dreams
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater’s Common Council voted 6-0, with one member absent, to select a bid for artificial turf for the Treyton’s Field of Dreams project, and to authorize down payment on the project. It was a sound decision, for three reasons. First, it advanced a worthy project. Second, a thorough discussion took place, affording time for questions…
Charity, City, Sports
On the 7.24.12 Special Council Session: Supporting Treyton Kilar’s Field of Dreams Project
by JOHN ADAMS •
Tonight, at 6:30 PM, there will be a special session of Whitewater’s Common Council to consider whether to select a bid for artificial turf for the Treyton’s Field of Dreams project, and to authorize down payment on the project. Council’s decision tonight may determine whether the project meets the continuing requirements for a Pepsi Challenge…
City, Development, Green Energy Holdings, Local Government, Open Government
An Open Letter to the Interim City Manager on a Proposal between Whitewater and Green Energy Holdings
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good afternoon. Here’s a post to follow previous ones on this website, and a story today in the Janesville Gazette, about a proposal between the City of Whitewater and Green Energy Holdings for a waste digester. The project has been touted as a large one, but large claims for municipal projects require substantial justification. In…