All members of the City Council received this notice today from city manager Rohloff: "Chief Greuel reported to me that Urban Wildlife Specialists harvested nine deer in the Armory area last week. This was done prior to the expiration of their contract on December 31, 2009."
There was no public announcement that the culling was to take place, and to my knowledge no member of the council was apprised in advance.
So much for government transparency.
I've asked to have this situation placed on the agenda for the January 12 meeting.
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8 comments:
"Urban Wildlife Specialists" wtf now that's a title.
I'm far more concerned with the news of a pumping station by Menominee Park than the dear culling.
We knew they were under contract until the end of the year. It had been discussed ad nauseum, brought before a seperate committee, etc.
What purpose would it serve to notify "the public" again? other than to disrupt the contracted services?
I'm just not quite understanding your outrage on this one Tony. BTW- hope you had a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year.
Just one more thing-
I've got to call you one this one. If public transparency is so important (and it is), how did that antique fire truck get approved with virtually no notice and zero public discussion?
Looking for a little consistency here.
People have a right to protest the actions of their government. They can't do that if they don't know the actions are taking place. It's really that simple.
I realize the difficulties that transparency in a situation like this present, especially as regards what you call "disrupt the contracted services." But the true test of a government's commitment to openness is exactly how it handles the difficult situations, not the easy ones.
"People have a right to protest the actions of their government. They can't do that if they don't know the actions are taking place. It's really that simple. "
I agree.
My opinion-- This happens to be one of the easy situations. It's been before the public for a long, long, long time. Where have the protesters been?
On the other hand, the antique fire truck never got a chance for public feedback or protest. It could have been laid over for discussion, but it wasn't. It was up and over in one meeting. Done. Finito.
The pumping station slated for Menominee Park was never mentioned in capital expenditure in the city budget. It also "popped up" in a meeting.
You guys should be raising heck about that one.
I think we can do a better job of deliniating the "difficult" issues from the easy ones.
CJ,
I can't believe that you see inviting sharpshooters into a city--a clear public safety issue--as being the same as a fire truck and a pump station.
You are correct, the notice of the truck and the pump station should have been better.
Clearly the sharpshooting issue was NOT one of the easy situations for transparency. If it was, the city manager would have simply announced that it was going to take place. He and chief Greuel clearly wrestled with the best way to handle the situation, BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT.
Last year, the police distributed nearly 500 flyers door to door in the Osborn Ave. area notifying them when the culling would take place. They also issued a press release identifying the date and time of the action. That was a responsible was to handle the situation.
This time, there was no press release and no flyers in the neighborhood. I cannot believe, CJ, that you would not want to receive notification before sharpshooters were allowed in your neighborhood. It's just not conceivable to me that residents shouldn't have access to that information.
Hmmm "Transparency" Interesting word, How can the City Manager sneak by allowing Oshkosh Corp. to Begin storing trucks next to residenital neighborhoods? Wiping out property values.
O.C had other options yet The City Manager overlooked proper zoning lwas and approved plans for this to happen WITHOUT the approval of the city counsel. Wheres the "TRANSPARENCY"? More like a backroom deal....
Tony,
I think it would be a far great safety and security issue IF another 500 hundred notices and public announcements were made. With people lining Osborne and the area surrounding the amory would have been a hazard to themselves, motorists, the sharp shooters and the police.
I am confident that Chief Gruel made the right decision and secured the perimeter of the site before the culling took place.
It was done in the armory, correct? That is a facility where arms are stored and military reservists are trained or headquartered.
" I cannot believe, CJ, that you would not want to receive notification before sharpshooters were allowed in your neighborhood. "
I live by South Park. It is my neighborhood.
I think they did the right thing FOR the SAFETY of the surrounding neighborhoods.
We'll just have to disagree on this one.
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