LITTLE GEMS
The huge developing problem of city, town, county, and even state officials not being available to take phone calls.
Try calling the Lake Geneva City Administrator. Voice mail, Period. Then no callback. How about so many others on the public payroll today? This is the new way for employees of the public to completely avoid the public, as well as avoid the work and duties they are paid to perform. At least in the city of Lake Geneva, there is a city council that can delegate instructions, budgets small amounts, and then issue city cell phones. These cell phones, issued and paid for by the city, would be required to be on for eight hours a day, and be answered, with strict call back requirements. Is the city currently paying for personal cell phones used by these people? That remains unknown.
However, there is no way currently to get personal cell phone numbers for any city employees, as those are held to be confidential from the public by the city. This utter crap of city employees being unreachable and even unapproachable must stop. The municipal building in downtown Lake Geneva is a lot like the public works department, where the street department is run out of. All locked doors, codes, and even barbed wire. Why is the paying public being shut out of what it’s paying to create build and operate the whole thing?
The south-facing traffic signal on Edwards Boulevard, at the Walgreens.
This is a potentially deadly problem, or at least terribly discomforting and annoying. What a mess, even more of a mess than before, at the Edwards/Highway 50 interchange traffic lights. For some unknown reason, the city painted a straight-ahead arrow at the end of the right lane of Edwards Boulevard, heading south. That lane was formerly used for right turn only vehicles, and the arrows were all right- turn arrows leading up to it. Now, those more northern arrows still indicate right turns only, except for the last one.
So, what is happening? A single-car, wanting to proceed straight ahead toward Walmart and Aldi’s, sits there, blocking the right turn lane completely. The left lane is loaded with vehicles so when the light finally does turn, now even more of a mess than prior to the repainting, the two lanes of traffic surge forward, the vehicles in the left lane unaware that the vehicle on the right is going to proceed straight instead of turning right. This is preventable trouble if the city management will simply drive by, take a look, and then drop over to the paint store and buy a single can of black paint!
Presidents Day is Monday, February 21st. The story of Presidents Day dates back to the 1800s, following George Washington’s death. Washington’s birthday, February 22nd, became a day of remembrance, as he was considered at that time to be the most important figure in American history. The holiday evolved over the years and past presidents of note have been added to the list to be honored on this special day. President’s Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present. As always, Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February. This is a federal holiday and, as with all federal holidays, a great many businesses will be closed. There will be no mail delivery, most government buildings will be closed, and banks do not open on this day, as well. Plan ahead, as the day approaches and enjoy the hard-earned freedom it symbolizes.
PERSONS OF THE WEEK
Boy Scout Troop 235 joins the city council meeting and performs the traditional flag ceremony, along with the pledge of allegiance, earning community and communication badges.
