Lake Geneva Wisconsin Police and Firemen unions show their political power through the benefits they receive from taxpayers that are far superior to other city employees. The resent actions by Wisconsin Governor Walker and his republican minions only widen the inequality.

Until the action by Governor Walker et.al.; no city employees paid anything toward their health insurance or pensions. Though there is a deductible and co-pay for health care.  They paid zero, nothing as a percent of their pay, with the taxpayers picking up the entire cost. Now all city employees except the police and firemen will contribute 5.8% toward their pensions and 12.6% for their health care. Police and firemen will continue to pay nothing.

The inequality of the benefits for public city employees has been biased in favor of the Police Department employees for some time. Upon retirement, employees for the city have to pick up half cost of their health insurance premiums but Police employees pay    nothing.

• Police: At least age 55 with a minimum of 20 years of service: the City will pay the full amount (100%) of the single medical premium or contribute 60% of the family medical premium on behalf of the retiree until eligible for Medicare or age 65.

• Streets: At least age 55 with a minimum of 20 years of service: the City will contribute 50% of the single or family premium on behalf of the retiree until eligible for Medicare or age 65.

• Water: At least age 55 with a minimum of 15 years of service or family medical premium on behalf of the retiree for a period of 4 months. The City’s contributions, however, will not exceed Medicare or age 65.

• Exempt: At least age 55 with a minimum of 20 years of service; in return for every year of service, the City will contribute 50% of the single or family medical premium on behalf of the retiree  for a one-month period. The City’s contributions, however, will not exceed Medicare or age 65.

• Note: Eligible retirees may also use the monies resulting from their unused sick days accumulated upon retirement, up to the maximum of 100 days, for continued medical coverage.

City employees and taxpayers will be in for a very rude awaking in light of the City has not been setting anything aside for future post employment health care liabilities. A recent study by an independent actuarial and employee benefits and consulting firm concluded the City should be setting aside about $384K / year since 2008 for these retiree benefits. But Finance Chairman Todd Krause continues to ignore the elephant in the room. When Alderpersons asked City Business Manager Jordan about these liabilities his quip was that other cities are in much worse shape than Lake Geneva. He is correct; unfunded governments benefit liabilities in the United States is estimated to total Over Three Trillion Dollars. Is that a good enough reason for Lake Geneva to start digging a hole though ?

On March 24th a union representing public works employees in Wisconsin’s capital city of Madison and another for firefighters and other public safety officers seek in the state court complaint filed to have the law recently passed by Governor Walker and this fellow Republicans reinvalidated.

The firefighters union said in its complaint that the law’s exemption for firefighters and police officers creates “unnecessary conflict among the employees and divisions within and among public sector labor organizations.”

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 for “questions” about the bid.

McCormack & Etten’s fee is comprised of hourly charges not-to-exceed 7% of the project amount plus reimbursables. The firm will:

• Develop project plans and specifications for review by the City.
• Develop final project plans and specifications for bidding.
• Coordinate advertising and bidding the project.
• Attend bid opening, review bids….and give recommendation for the awarding of bids.
• Modify bid documents and develop final contract for approval.
• Provide detailed invoices for payment.
• Perform all other related services.

According to Jordan in a letter to the council “Both firms are very capable and would each do a good job for the city.” But the committee recommended Etten . Ken Etten was the only person to try and defend Bill Chesen’s antics in the fall of 2009, which brought the Lake Geneva Wisconsin’s government to a standstill, and he looked very uncomfortable doing it.

The bidding for this $900K project does not conform to policies and procedures  for RFP’s for the City of Lake Geneva.

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:

“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 3^rd 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 firemen, I’m blaming the Chief Connelly and the President of the Police and Fire Commission Mr. Storms……I know it’s unethical… and I’m trying to figure out if it is ignorance or arrogance or both.”

Huntress stressed that, “maybe Mr. Storms can explain the difference between ignorance and arrogance.”

Fire Chief Brent Connelly made it perfectly clear that “I don’t condone any political activity of anyone in fire department uniform. John Peters the head of the union also doesn’t condone any political activity in fire department uniform.”

“What was going on is our department has an active smoke detector program we offer to replace the batteries or put up a smoke detector in those neighborhoods.”

Tom Spellman was recalled for “not voting according to his constituents” in that special election. His replacement, Bill Motts, was recently appointed to the personal committee by Mayor Chesen on 2.22.10. The Personal Committee is in the process of negotiating the union labor contracts of the Police, Fire, Street, and Office employees for the next three years.