Early one morning, while you’re in a coffee shop, a woman walks through the door, orders an Americano, and sits down at your table. She sips ever so tentatively, while poring over a local newspaper. She turns to you and asks, “Do you know how I could leave my mark on this community?” You’re not…
City
City, Waste Digesters
Update on a Digester Project: ‘Wastewater Facility Poised for Upgrades: Memo 4’
by JOHN ADAMS •
On Thursday, I posted about a technical memo on the City of Whitewater’s website, entitled, ‘Wastewater Facility Poised for Upgrades: Memo 4.’ The memo concerned the digester at the wastewater facility, and contained one line of text: ‘Technical Memorandum #4 – Digestion Complex and Energy Production – In Progress.’ In my post, I said that…
City, Waste Digesters
‘Wastewater Facility Poised for Upgrades: Memo 4’
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the City of Whitewater’s website, there is an announcement entitled, Wastewater Facility Poised for Upgrades (http://www.whitewater-wi.gov/residents/recent-news/2803-wastewater-facility-poised-for-upgrades). Among several memos about these upgrades, one finds Memo 4 – Digestion Complex and Energy Production. The text of that memo (embedded below) is brief: Technical Memorandum #4 – Digestion Complex and Energy Production – In…
City, Waste Digesters
One Year On
by JOHN ADAMS •
Some ideas, good or bad, are worth remarking on promptly. Some, but not all: there are times when a proposal is so destructive of a community’s well-being, so terribly misguided, that a few remarks, or even many, would not be enough. In those times, one meets a light, misplaced enthusiasm with diligent, well-placed work.…
City, Development, Government Spending
The Peddler’s Egg
by JOHN ADAMS •
A peddler visits a local town, and announces that he has a Fabergé egg to sell. Townspeople gather near his freshly-painted cart to see the shiny jewel. The seller contends his merchandise is the Rose Trellis Fabergé egg. He extols the beauty of the object, tells listeners that he recently purchased it from a museum,…
Charity, City, Good Ideas
The ‘Nearly Naked’ Run/Walk for Whitewater’s Community Clothes Closet
by JOHN ADAMS •
On Sunday, December 7th @ 11 AM, here’s a chance to join others in a very clever idea in support of a very good cause: Whitewater’s inaugural Nearly Naked 5K Run/Walk. Participants in the 5K run/walk will bundle up in clothing they’d like to donate to Whitewater’s Community Clothes Closet, and remove those items at…
CDA, City, Development, Economy, Government Spending, Infrastructure, Local Government
Is Whitewater’s Public Infrastructure Undeveloped? No.
by JOHN ADAMS •
I wrote on Friday that I would consider a bit more about Whitewater’s 2015 proposed budget today. This post’s title frames how to think about the budget: the city’s fiscal condition is only a small part of the local economy’s condition. Important, to be sure, but also small. Many city services are ordinary and commonplace…
City, Government Spending, Local Government
Catching Up with Last Night’s Council Session
by JOHN ADAMS •
Common Council met last night, and continued her discussions toward a November 18th final vote on the proposed 2015 budget. I’ll write more about Whitewater’s budget on Monday. It’s best to keep this principle in mind: that one works diligently to overcome setbacks, but spends far less time reflecting on successes. So, just a bit…
City, Government Spending, Innovation Center/Tech Park, Local Government
At Council Tonight…
by JOHN ADAMS •
At Common Council tonight, there’ll be, among other items, ongoing consideration of the proposed 2015 budget, and a presentation from Chancellor Telfer on the Tech Park. Both items offer curiosities. As in past years, City Manager Clapper will stand back from the discussion of the bus, but happily accept any money Council offers for it.…
City, Elections, Politics, School District
Thoughts on the 11.4.14 Election
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater will not see an election so big as last night’s for another two years’ time. There’s much to consider about the results. A few remarks appear below, along with a table using preliminary, unofficial data from Walworth, Rock, and Jefferson Counties with results for the referendum and gubernatorial questions. COUNTY COMMUNITY REFERENDUM YES REFERENDUM…
City, Elections, Politics, Wisconsin
Signs on Election Night
by JOHN ADAMS •
There are both statewide and local signs for how election races are going. Statewide, Jake of Jake’s Economic TA Funhouse (blogs often have inventive names) is right that, short of an improbable collapse for the major-parties’ strongholds, the areas to watch are the counties that have supported both Walker (’10, ’12) and Obama (’08, ’12). …
City, Local Government
Two Topics from the Proposed City Budget
by JOHN ADAMS •
At last night’s Council session, City Manager Clapper mentioned two upcoming budget topics of particular interest: funding for Downtown Whitewater and for the Janesville Transit Bus. The two items could not be more different: expenditures for Downtown Whitewater support local merchants, while the Janesville Bus supports a bumbling, dissembling Janesville bureaucrat’s ambition for his town…
City, Local Government
Bad Policy’s Like Low-Level Radiation Exposure
by JOHN ADAMS •
It’s seldom true that a single misstep ruins an official. With the exception of criminal conduct, most mistakes are ones from which a politician or bureaucrat can recover. And yet, and yet, some mistakes take their toll. They do so, however, with a cumulative effect – one after another debilitates as does cumulative radiation exposure. …
City, Local Government, Planning
Ordinances & Department Regulations @ Public Meetings
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater’s last Planning Commission meeting was a week ago, Monday (10.13.14). I’ve two suggestions: First, it would be a good idea to keep a copy of Whitewater’s ordinances and regulations available at the meeting. It may be that a city employee cannot recall a certain requirement or provision of our local law. That’s not surprising;…