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 ...
Happy Days are Here Again?!**
On 11.25.2009 Walworth County Judge Gibbs in a pretrial conference of a lawsuit filed against Mayor Chesen came to an agreement that all the elected alderpersons that the Mayor “suspended” from office in September 2009 would be returned so the “ city could present united front in the event or the face of litigation in federal court.” In the Court’s own words: “Everyone agreed it would be an appropriate lubricant if I were to give Mr. Condos a call and I will tell you this that Mr. Condos graciously, for the good of the city, indicated that he would tender his ...
Will City Boat Slips and Buoys be Corporate Welfare Again??
On December 14th, 2009 the city council will decide if city taxpayers will continue to lease boat slips and buoys to three corporations at below market rates despite 133 persons on the city waiting list to rent boat slips and buoys. According to Harbor Master Chuck Gray the city would have no problem renting the slips and buoys, “there is a 5 to 8 year wait for slips.” The demand is just as high for buoys because the city policy of giving persons who currently are renting buoys preference for slips when they become available. City residents are unhappy with the city ...
Lake Geneva Wisconsin Tourism takes a BIG Hit.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin hotels got hammered in 2009, with a drop in room revenue of 45%. Statewide hotel revenue per available room was down 15% According to the just released 2010 budget, room tax revenue for the city of Lake Geneva was $511K in 2008 and projected to be only $280K for the rest of 2009; a drop of 45%. The Village of Fontana saw a drop in room tax revenue of 33%; $345K in 2008 compared to $230K in 2009. Statewide the latest figures from the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association show a drop of 15.1% in revenue per available room. The Wisconsin ...
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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]
Happy Days are Here Again?!**
On 11.25.2009 Walworth County Judge Gibbs in a pretrial conference of a lawsuit filed against Mayor Chesen came to an agreement that all the elected alderpersons that the Mayor “suspended” from office in September 2009 would be returned so the “ city could present united front in the event or the face of litigation in federal court.” In the Court’s own words: “Everyone agreed it would... [Read more]
Will City Boat Slips and Buoys be Corporate Welfare Again??
On December 14th, 2009 the city council will decide if city taxpayers will continue to lease boat slips and buoys to three corporations at below market rates despite 133 persons on the city waiting list to rent boat slips and buoys. According to Harbor Master Chuck Gray the city would have no problem renting the slips and buoys, “there is a 5 to 8 year wait for slips.” The demand is just as high... [Read more]
Lake Geneva Wisconsin Tourism takes a BIG Hit.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin hotels got hammered in 2009, with a drop in room revenue of 45%. Statewide hotel revenue per available room was down 15% According to the just released 2010 budget, room tax revenue for the city of Lake Geneva was $511K in 2008 and projected to be only $280K for the rest of 2009; a drop of 45%. The Village of Fontana saw a drop in room tax revenue of 33%; $345K in 2008 compared... [Read more]
Lets Make a Deal
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Mayor William Chesen, unable to get the funding for a special prosecutor, may remove two alderpersons and appoint two new alderpersons so he can get the votes he needs on the city council. Mayor Chesen at the city council meeting on 11.09.2009: “I want this over with; I will do everything I can in the next two weeks to bring this to a conclusion. And that may well be appointing... [Read more]
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