Post 51 in a series. When Green Turns Brown is an examination of a small town’s digester-energy project, in which Whitewater, Wisconsin would import other cities’ waste, claiming that the result would be both profitable and green.
I’ve had lots of questions about the 12.15.15 Common Council meeting in Whitewater, that discussed waste importation, and a broader wastewater plant upgrade (I’ve now emailed everyone back – thanks much for your inquiries).
I watched the discussion on 12.15, and have reviewed it yet again since then. The full discussion is filled with some very solid assessments from residents and Council, and more than a few inadequate, almost evasive remarks from the municipal administration. There’s a lot there, both very sound and equally disappointing.
One can categorize the discussion by the three groups that spoke: (1) members of the municipal administration & vendor representatives, (2) residents, and (3) members of Common Council.
On Council, there were excellent questions from many, but one could not overlook that Stephanie Goettl showed a command of the whole project, touching on issues that I’ve not considered or addressed in this more narrowly-focused series. I’m sure that we’d have different opinions on some other subjects, but intelligent, thorough, and focused is always admirable.
Briefly, I’ll say that parts of the discussion, from some members of Council and from two residents (Jeff Knight, Larry Kachel) showed the unmistakable clarity that comes from fundamentals, applied to the project generally and to waste importation (as the particular focus of this series). There’s much to admire in that, truly. I believe – and do so because it’s so evidently true – that we’re a fortunate town of many talented people with much to offer.
For the municipal administration (that is, city employees and the vendors on whom they’ve relied), it was a tellingly disappointing showing. If one had doubts about waste importation before, there’s more reason to doubt after listening to Messrs. Clapper and Reel, and the vendor representatives. Candidly, some of the remarks from the city manager and wastewater superintendent call into question whether they grasp key aspects of the project and its consequences.
There’s much to consider, and there yet lingers the possibility that this city’s full-time staff will keep pushing for a waste-importation project with an unfounded, ill-considered enthusiasm.
I’ve notes to review, additional information recently received to consider, and as always more to read. One should, and can afford to be, diligent and methodical.
Here’s the video recording of the 12.15.15 meeting, with most of the evening’s discussion revolving around the wastewater treatment plant –
WHEN GREEN TURNS BROWN: Mondays @ 10 AM, here on FREE WHITEWATER.
It appears the waste-digester proposal, for the moment at least, has been consigned to the out house.
Have been waiting for this. Here is my take on the meeting, along with help from “Mr. Anonymous” We are probably what you would call town squires but like a lot of your work.
1. What a mess on the whole project. City staff starts with all they want then fights for as much money as they can get. Every time. The energy contract was like this too where they only came down after council noticed six figures of UNRELATED items.
2. Cameron made his situation on the digester worse after the meeting. He needs to stop talking about GLOWING right away. Yeah he doesn’t get what he’s saying. You now have even more ammo that before. He should stick to basics like roads avoiding big, dopey ideas.
3. Reel is HOPELESS. He has no clue about this town but wants a million more than the minimum for a lab?? Hey Pal, you can walk it. Plus a locker room doesn’t cost a million.
4. Stephanie did taxpayers in this town a huge service. Businesses are hurting now. Staff doesn’t need gold-plated ANYTHING.
5. Larry is right about additional burdens on this town coming up. Clapper starts high and dares people to peel it back. That’s not responsible.
6. Larry’s comments on risk to UW-W from a failed digester project are 100% right. A project that causes smells or pollution into the water/ground will kill the reputation of school plus housing starts here. Larry also raised big concerns about total costs A YEAR AGO but was obviously ignored by city staff. Why not take it to heart?
7. Even if waste importation could work somewhere it’s CRAZY to risk the reputation of housing, a clean place with lake and parks plus a whole university to this city staff. They are not up to it. A lot of us have a stake in this town that we would not hire this staff to protect. There’s a lot to lose. It’s scary.
8. You have a chance here to form a common ground with others who also worry about tax/business burdens. You may disagree about some points but you are all on the same page about not crushing business and ordinary residents. They aren’t going anywhere but neither are you (you’re talking about writing for another generation). That’s eternity. There can be a common ground.
8. You are what people in the day called a “public intellectual”. We so have lots of intelligent people in town but you’re one of a kind. There are many people now who wait for your take on a project to help evaluate it. It’s like officials have to get past you. That’s huge. Even people who disagree with you read you to see how FREE WHITEWATER will critique a project.
9. There are only so many times Cameron is going to be able to get by dropping key details. It doesn’t matter if he spent years but left out key work. (That’s Stephanie’s point.)Taking years without asking big questions is a joke.No one is paying for that. It’s like radiation poisoning where the cumulative effect will ruin this city staff. Some village elders need to step in and refocus this staff on more basic things.
10. Nice work to you and others.
Merry Christmas, John!
It belongs in the out house!!!