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TORN ASUNDER!
What is happening to Lake Geneva? Unstable elements have been seeded into the very fabric of the city as populist opinions unsupported by science or facts become visible and felt not only at the national level but also at the local level. The last Personnel Committee meeting of the Lake Geneva began, went on, and then ended in bedlam, as the police had to be called in to assure us there would be no violence. The former committee chairman, who ran for Mayor of Lake Geneva in the last election and was beaten soundly by Todd Krause, retained his lower seat on the committee by winning his election for the city council.
This council member was censored by the committee two weeks ago at a contentious hearing that was attended by many of that man’s supporters. The councilman forced the head of Lake Geneva’s water and power department to endorse him for mayor, which is strictly forbidden by city ordinance. The committee voted three to two to censure the accused committee member and council person. One of the no votes was cast by this individual himself. His supporters went wild in their anger over the slight slap on the hand this man received for disobeying the ordinance. There was no fine, no discharge of duties, or any of that. A seatbelt violation has stiffer punishment than what this man got.
JaNelle Powers, a wonderful woman and new council member, was attending and chairing this first meeting of the Personnel Committee. This woman was verbally attacked and insulted by Mr. Hoiland and his supporters, almost taking an exemplary page out of current national political attacks, where policy differences are turned into areas and situations of pure vitriol and hatred. Ms. Powers held up, since she’s made of the ‘right stuff’ and comes from such solid stock. Mike Powers was her husband, who passed ten years back, but was of the same great substance. Mr. Hoiland is not an objectionable man, but he’s certainly proving that the public was most correct in assuring that he did not serve as the titular head of the city. That title, incidentally, is not the mayor’s to hold.
The city administrator is the most powerful individual in Lake Geneva’s governmental organization. He attended that raucous meeting. He said not one word throughout. Another reason that his identifier has been cut to only a few letters: The Hut! The city is also ‘under attack’ with street repair, utility work, and sewer replacement materials. Finally, to make this whole rolling nightmare fit into any kind of perspective, the entire downtown of Lake Geneva is going to be dug up and then redone while people hope and pray that they can still use the services the downtown so wonderfully provides. What is being done to prepare for this stunningly upsetting two-year series of attack-like events? Meetings are being held. Plans are being discussed. The officials are being consulted.
The Geneva Shore Report has fought tooth and nail to attempt to keep Lake Geneva the state’s sort of ‘Jewel of the Nile’ spot of calm, quality, friendly, and even loving contemplation. The keyword there is “KEEP,” and not modify or change unless necessary, and then with great care, concern, and diligence. The community must now literally pray that it has selected leadership, even those like Mr. Hoiland (who sometimes, indeed, does the right thing), that will see us through these uncertain and difficult times.
Never forget one thing, as Chicago certainly does not, everyone is always after the Jewel of the Nile.
