The “selecting” of Lake Geneva’s Contractors
Once again Architects McCormack & Etten was “selected” to design and direct the Riviera remodeling and restoration. Only two firms gave presentations to the “interview committee” for City. Administer Jordan, Utility Director Winkler, and Aldermen Tolar and Marcella and former Mayor Chesen did the “selecting”. The original Request for Proposals (RFP) for selection of the architectural firm was made by Utility director Dan Winkler in an undated document, and due no later than February 12, 2010. In that RFP Mr. Winkler does not use the city of Lake Geneva official e-mail address, but instead uses an address at Geneva on Line ...
Cove of Lake Geneva again on the Brink
The Cove of Lake Geneva once again is on the brink of losing their liquor license for failure to turn over the room tax money they have collected during 2009. This makes three years in a row they have failed to pay the taxes on time. The Cove according to Finance chairman Krause owes the city $57K in back taxes. Lake Geneva City Atty. Draper pointed out the council has three options in these matters. Grant it. Non-renewal, basically taking the license away. Renew, but not grant license, withhold issuance till he pays all his back fees. The council selected the last option, and withholds ...
White River Trail Project gets closer.
[caption id="attachment_699" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Ownership of Lake Geneva White River trail lands"][/caption] The White River Trail Project, envisioned in 1995, took a step closer to getting off the ground when the Lake Geneva City Council authorized an appraisal in order for Lake Geneva to apply for a grant from the State of Wisconsin. According to City Business Administrator Jordan, this 60 acre parcel of wetlands is environmentally sensitive land and the City first has to get an appraisal of the land in order to be eligible for a 50/50 matching grant from the State. Alderman Krause stated that the State has a ...
Private Lake Geneva Group wants to Spend Your Money
[caption id="attachment_681" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lake Geneva's Andy Gump"][/caption] The Committee for the Beautification of Lake Geneva should really be called the Lake Geneva Concrete Committee, for their plans to "beautify" Flat Iron Park appears to involve a lot of concrete. This private group presented their plans on April 14th, 2010 to spend what appears to be over a million dollars of Tax Increment Finance (real estate taxes which are being diverted from the schools) to: Put speed bumps on Wrigley Drive and Center Street, despite the fact that traffic does not speed there and would ...
Lake Geneva Wisconsin Spring Election Results
Jim Conners was elected as Mayor of Lake Geneva in the April 6, 2010 Spring election, he defeated Scott Storms 973 to 652. Other election results: Cty Lake Geneva Treasurer Total Number of Precincts 4 Precincts Reporting 4 Vote For 1 Total Votes 1554 Teresa M. Klein 1081 Tom Spellman 473 Write-in Votes 0 Cty Lake Geneva Attorney Total Number of Precincts 4 Precincts Reporting 4 Vote For 1 Total Votes 1309 Dan Draper 1288 Write-in Votes 21 Cty Lake Geneva AD 1 Total Number of Precincts 1 Precincts Reporting 1 Vote For 1 Total Votes 471 Todd Krause 321 Spyro Speedo Condos 149 Write-in Votes 1 Cty Lake Geneva AD 1 1yr. Total Number of Precincts 1 Precincts Reporting 1 Vote For 1 Total Votes 393 Ellyn Kehoe 212 Bill Cousino, Jr. 177 Write-in Votes 4 Cty Lake Geneva AD 2 Total Number of Precincts 1 Precincts Reporting 1 Vote For 1 Total Votes 397 Barbara A. Hartke 152 Thomas A. Hartz 245 Write-in Votes 0 Cty Lake Geneva AD 3 Total Number of Precincts 1 Precincts Reporting 1 Vote For 1 Total Votes 415 Peg ...
Ignorance or Arrogance or Both
“I want to get back to where the eight council members run this city. Not the fire department, not a church, not a bunch of developers, not Mr. Winkler.” stated former alderman Bill Huntress at the Committee of the Whole on 2.1.10. During the special election in December, uniformed firemen, were according to Huntress, “going around in the 3rd district rapping on peoples doors asking them who they were going to vote for, and telling them who to vote for….They were out campaigning against a setting alderman ( Mayor Chesen’s nemesis Tom Spellman) …..This is absolutely unethical, I’m not blaming the ...
Lake Geneva Wisconsin a City on Fire
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin's popular reality cable TV show over the appointment of Spyro Condos continues to entertain residents when, during the last city council meeting of 2009, another attempt was made to fill the council seat vacated in July by Gary Dunham. Perhaps the city should consider syndicating the show on a national level, it surely could compete with reality shows like Real Housewives of New Jersey. Lake Geneva's cable access channel 25 is only available locally and it's increasing popularity may be reflected in a 47% increase of cable TV franchise fees collected in 2009. The real drama to the council ...
Lake Geneva Property Taxes Increase in 2010
[caption id="attachment_610" align="aligncenter" width="221" caption="Property Tax Demon"][/caption] The city of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin balanced their 2009 budget with the last of it's 2006 bond issue proceeds. Residents will be paying off one bond issue till 2010, and making payments on the other till 2016. In 2006 Lake Geneva floated one bond issue of $4.39M with level payments amortized over 10 years and another issue of $1.11M that will be paid off in March of 2010. The last of the proceeds of those bonds were spent in 2009 for capital projects. For example the politically powerful Lake Geneva Fire Department purchased another ambulance ...
Lake Geneva News
The “selecting” of Lake Geneva’s Contractors
Once again Architects McCormack & Etten was “selected” to design and direct the Riviera remodeling and restoration. Only two firms gave presentations to the “interview committee” for City. Administer Jordan, Utility Director Winkler, and Aldermen Tolar and Marcella and former Mayor Chesen did the “selecting”. The original Request for Proposals (RFP) for selection of the architectural... [Read more]
Cove of Lake Geneva again on the Brink
The Cove of Lake Geneva once again is on the brink of losing their liquor license for failure to turn over the room tax money they have collected during 2009. This makes three years in a row they have failed to pay the taxes on time. The Cove according to Finance chairman Krause owes the city $57K in back taxes. Lake Geneva City Atty. Draper pointed out the council has three options in these matters. Grant... [Read more]
White River Trail Project gets closer.
Ownership of Lake Geneva White River trail lands The White River Trail Project, envisioned in 1995, took a step closer to getting off the ground when the Lake Geneva City Council authorized an appraisal in order for Lake Geneva to apply for a grant from the State of Wisconsin. According to City Business Administrator Jordan, this 60 acre parcel of wetlands is environmentally sensitive land and the... [Read more]
Private Lake Geneva Group wants to Spend Your Money
Lake Geneva's Andy Gump The Committee for the Beautification of Lake Geneva should really be called the Lake Geneva Concrete Committee, for their plans to “beautify” Flat Iron Park appears to involve a lot of concrete. This private group presented their plans on April 14th, 2010 to spend what appears to be over a million dollars of Tax Increment Finance (real estate taxes which... [Read more]
Lake Geneva Wisconsin Spring Election Results
Jim Conners was elected as Mayor of Lake Geneva in the April 6, 2010 Spring election, he defeated Scott Storms 973 to 652. Other election results: Cty Lake Geneva Treasurer Total Number of Precincts 4 Precincts Reporting 4 Vote For 1 Total Votes 1554 Teresa M. Klein 1081 Tom Spellman 473 Write-in Votes 0 Cty Lake Geneva Attorney Total Number... [Read more]
Ignorance or Arrogance or Both
“I want to get back to where the eight council members run this city. Not the fire department, not a church, not a bunch of developers, not Mr. Winkler.” stated former alderman Bill Huntress at the Committee of the Whole on 2.1.10. During the special election in December, uniformed firemen, were according to Huntress, “going around in the 3rd district rapping on peoples doors asking them who... [Read more]
Lake Geneva Wisconsin a City on Fire
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin’s popular reality cable TV show over the appointment of Spyro Condos continues to entertain residents when, during the last city council meeting of 2009, another attempt was made to fill the council seat vacated in July by Gary Dunham. Perhaps the city should consider syndicating the show on a national level, it surely could compete with reality shows like Real Housewives... [Read more]
Lake Geneva Property Taxes Increase in 2010
Property Tax Demon The city of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin balanced their 2009 budget with the last of it’s 2006 bond issue proceeds. Residents will be paying off one bond issue till 2010, and making payments on the other till 2016. In 2006 Lake Geneva floated one bond issue of $4.39M with level payments amortized over 10 years and another issue of $1.11M that will be paid off in March of 2010.... [Read more]