Janesville Getting Snow-Jobbed In The Summer

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Janesville Getting Snow-Jobbed In The Summer

It all started a few weeks ago when freshman councilman Bill Truman made what appeared to be a simple request at the time. He noticed some city parks and roadway areas were beginning to look unkempt with tall grass and suggested that they receive a little more attention, particularly during the summer tourist season. This request was quickly shut down by the City Manager Steve Sheiffer. He said now is not the proper time to bring this up and advised Truman that his request would be best handled during the next budget.

Last week, the Janesville Police Department requested the addition of a canine unit to the force costing at least $26,000 annually. The Deputy Chief made his presentation using charts and peer city comparisons and said the initial start-up costs could come from some surplus elsewhere in the department. Fair enough. But where was Steve Sheiffer on this matter? The city council made a motion for the canine unit and passed it through.

Only one councilman voted against it.

JG Editorial Excerpt:
Councilmen George Brunner, former top cop, voted against the plan because he said the proper time to discuss it is during 2008 budget talks.

Well, well, well. Councilman Brunner was merely following the script laid down by the city manager during the earlier mow-job council meeting. Point is, why didn't the City Manager stop the PD's request in its tracks? What is the difference between the Police Department making this request for additional tens of thousands of dollars in mid-fiscal year or Councilman Truman making a simple request at a previous meeting to have some knee-high grass mowed around the city? At least one other resident noticed something is wrong here.

JG Sound Off Excerpt:
On City Parks Upkeep: At Monday's meeting, council members questioned City Manager Steve Sheiffer as to why parks and roadways were not being mowed. His answer was because of the property tax freeze and money was not available. This was followed by a closed session about acquiring property for recreation. Does this make sense? -- anonymous

In addition, Sheiffer said earlier city budget cuts were the result of the property tax freeze (read republicans) and hoped this time around the senate (democrat) version will pass. Pretty slick.

But I have to blame the council too for these shenanigans. They blinked at the mow-job meeting when they should have merely taken Sheiffers statement as a matter of advice. They should have proceeded to make a motion on Truman's request and bring it to a vote. They failed.

A long, long time ago I recall that the leader of the largest city in the mid-west was canned simply because he couldn't get the snow plowed in the winter. Why should we expect anything less when our leader can't get the grass mowed in the summer?

But we can't vote Sheiffer out for these failures, he's not a mayor.