12 years ago
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
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About Me
- Chief Highknocker
- You aren't local until you have at least three generations in the cemetery.
62 comments:
FYI there's a big story in this week's paper about it.
Ken Bates has not rescheduled the meeting regarding the purchase of the Sunnyside acreage because he is waiting for more grant money to come his way. According to last weeks newspaper column by Ken Bates:
"we won't have to borrow any funds since there is another grant opportunity that would provide all the funds for the property. Because of this, the date for the special meeting will be set for a date after the grant award is known."
He preceded that statement by saying that "if we borrowed money to pay for the $240,000 difference it would only add $.003 to our tax rate. That equals $3.00 for a home valued at $100,000."
He goes on to say that in regard to the school purchase taking the land off the tax rolls, The Stewardship Fund has a payment to municipalities that is called Payment if Lieu of Taxes.
Mr. Bates sure seems to think that he has this deal all worked out. One of the contingencies in the offer is the approval of taxpayers. Sure sounds to me like he has put the cart before the horse.
Yes, $3.00 for a home valued at $100,000. FOR TEN YEARS. Oh, was that part left out....
Somewhere in one of the comments someone talked about how old GL textbooks were. Here's a good one for you. The enviromental biology class textbooks are from 1996. I may be wrong, but I think a lot has changed in the enviromental world since then. Global warming, and other enviromental concerns of today aren't even mentioned. This doesn't look to good for a school trying to promote themselves as a "green" school and a Charter School called the "Global and Enviromental Academy". I'd like to know if our current administration has even looked at the textbooks being used by the High School kids. I bet the History books are just as old. Are there any grants available to purchase new textbooks for these kids?
This morning, my wife and I read in the Ripon paper how the school is spending thousands of dollars on attorney fees for some land at the ABA. The madness continues!
Why don't we just buy the entire ABA and Sunnyside and Maplewood and Sandstone and Heritage Estates and all the land around Norwegian Bay?
Let's hear some outcry over the skyrocketing attorney fees. This school cannot keep wasting money.
To Local Parent -
The school district is being forced to spend money on legal fees because of the unfortunate behavior of Lindenwood Development. The County Board required, as is their right, that Lindenwood allocate public green space as part of the Estates of Lawsonia development. Lindenwood first offered the school two cart paths and a dump. The county board, not the school board, rejected that "offer." If Lindenwood would simply do the right thing and comply with what the County has asked of them, the school would not need attorneys. It's a mess alright, but don't blame the school board for Lindenwood's lack of cooperation.
To the blog above this one, what a bunch of BS. For one thing, you do not need a lawyer to say yes or no. Any human being with half a brain in their head could say, no, we do not accept this offer. Instead we paid some lawyer from Madison to say it and owe him $5,392 just for one month of "work". If the county is the one negotiating this deal, then let them pay for a lawyer if they want one.
Why isn't this information ever in the Green Lake newspaper? I have to read the Ripon paper to find out what is going on in Green Lake. How ridiculous.
I do not know the particulars, but Lindenwood has made at least three options available to the school, offering even more land than is required of them. Yet none of them were good enough, as the school is holding out for prime developable land instead of just "green space". There is no rule saying that Lindenwood has to give them any certain type of land or that it has to include wetlands along the water. Have you ever heard the saying: Beggars can't be choosers? The school should be happy to get any land from Lindenwood, even a so-called dump.
What I want to know is whether Lindenwood is legally obligated to give this land to the school, which has acted disgracefully in this matter, or can they give this land to another group who will appreciate the gift and do right by it? According to the Ripon newspaper:
"In granting preliminary plat approval in September, county leaders used an ordinance that allows the county to require not more than 10 percent of the total area of the subdivision plat be offered for dedication to the county, school district or town to provide appropriate sites for parks, playgrounds, public access points, school sites, drainageways and other public green spaces that will be needed to serve the needs of residents of the proposed subdivision plat".
I am now proposing (in all seriousness) that the school be denied the land in accordance with the county stipulation and that the land be granted to another group who will use it for the intended purpose as described in the above paragraph. In essence, the land does NOT have to be given to the school. I am suggesting that it be given to another cause in order to fulfill the obligation. There are many other groups who would gladly accept this land and nurture it in accordance for its intended use. The school has its sites set on another plot of land in Sunnyside, anyway. They don't need two school forests.
I personally envision this acreage as a beautiful woodland garden with winding paths, native plants, azaleas, rhododendrons, laurels, wildflowers, trees, and statuary. If Lindenwood is interested in donating this land to such a cause, I request that they respond to this blog and I will give them my contact information. I will gladly turn their dump into a woodland paradise and meet the requirements of the county. I am completely serious about this. As far as I am concerned, the school has had their chance, and they blew it. Another group will gladly work with what is offered.
This could be a community garden, and would do better at serving the intended purpose than a non-appreciative school who will do what with it? Watch the trees rot? The school doesn't need to own land to teach about the earth.
The whole idea was for the Green Lake school to receive some reasonable land (6-8 acres) for free in the Lindenwood subdivision. The idea was NOT for the school to get on its high horse and essentially demand choice development land, thereby ringing up thousands of dollars in attorney fees.
What business does the school have trying to negotiate Woodland Court, worth well over a million dollars? You cannot tell me that’s the only “reasonable land” in that entire 80+ acre subdivision. The school is being unnecessarily picky, plain and simple, and it’s costing us thousands of dollars.
It’s easy to see why the developer is fed up with these clowns. We are a school, not the Sierra Club. I don’t think our school leaders get this.
What I really find puzzling is how, after all the stunts that Lindenwood has pulled here - remember Lindenwood suing Brooklyn and trying to annex to the city? - people seem to still be puzzled as to why the school needs a lawyer. Read the article in the Ripon paper! Anyone trying to do business with Lindenwood better have a very good lawyer!
As a concerned parent myself, I want the school district to be able to offer my kids as many opportunities as possible. Here is an opportunity for a nature center - essentially for free. Of course the school should accept it and they should fight for what the county (and every reasonable parent) wants them to have. Except they shouldn't have to fight - but they do because Lindenwood is being Lindenwood - unwilling to give anything to anyone unless it will directly benefit them financially. Wake up folks - Lindenwood is just trying to pull yet another fast one.
When's the last time anyone, I mean anyone... invested millions of dollars in any investment project and then was just thrilled to have all kinds of people, without so much as a stinkin dime invested in their project, telling them what part of their investment they should be glad to give away.
Give me a break... have you people lost your minds? The school seems to be able to get free grants, demonstrated by Mr Bates, let them go buy their own land like everyone else does.
Lindenwood went into this project knowing what was required of them, I presume.
No one has anything good to say about Lindenwood, but you really never hear their side of the story. The Town of Brooklyn used them as leverage and might have lost without the less than knowledgeable citizens in Green Lake. That goes for some of our council members and new mayor who did not want the development in Green Lake. Now we are suffering with no new revenue and no money to update any infastructure. Our city could have had all new streets in ten years with this project in Green Lake. Short-sightedness will have long term implications.
Any developer wants to make money. It is up to local government to control the development. It can be a win-win situation. The city of Green Lake was the big loser!
The proposed annexation of somehow making the ABA a part of the city, three miles away, was never a legally sound idea. It was a losing idea from the beginning, and the developers only did it to manipulate the town of Brooklyn. But that is all water under the bridge. Sure, nobody likes the Lindenwood people or the changes that are taking place at the ABA, but I have to side with them on this topic of free land to the school.
I did read the article in the Ripon paper, have a copy right here by my side. Yes, Lindenwood is obligated to donate land for green space. But they should not have to donate their prime home-sites! That is ludicrous! And is makes no sense as far as the school is concerned. Any parcel of woods/land should suffice for teaching purposes. Lindenwood even offered the school MORE land than they had to and Ken Bates turned it down. This whole stinky deal is about putting a feather in Ken Bates cap anyway. As far as I am concerned, Ken Bates should have to pay that $5,393 back to the school out of his own pocket. Listen up Mr. Bates, the school is NOT going to end up with prime home-sites in this deal, and the sooner you accept that, the better. Any negotiations, with or without a lawyer will be a complete waste of time and money. Lindenwood is in no way obligated to give away their primo sites and succumb to your arrogant demands. Any such pursuit is just downright stupid and irresponsible.
The school doesn't deserve this land, and as much as I love nature and want all children to have a profound love for it also,the school does not need to own land in order to teach. What the hell has happened to our school??? The kids can barely read. How about teaching the basics and knock off all this ridiculous side-show crap?
I think that Lindenwood should rescind all offers, permanently, and seek another avenue to meet the legal requirements of "green space". Why hasn't the town of Brooklyn vied for this land as a town park? Mike Wuest, are you out there? What on earth are you thinking?
The ordinance reads ...the plat be offered to the county, school district or town ...
So why hasn't the county or the town had to chance to procure this land for a park? Who said that the school automatically has dibs?
Besides, the town or the county would much better serve the intended use of this "free" land. The school sure isn't going to make the land into a park or playground and will probably be picky as hell as to who gets to even go on the property or when. How is that serving "the needs of residents of the proposed subdivision plat"???
I would like to see the town or county step in immediately and request this land for the purpose for which it is intended.
It is just a matter of time before Green Lake schools will have to consolidate. For them to be looking at land ownership is preposterous.
I would think that Lindenwood would rather give the land to the county or town, since it would only be a matter of time before the school would have to sell the land to pay their debts. And with Ken Bates running the school into financial ruin, it wouldn't take that long.
Our school leaders are bent on blaming Lindenwood for this mess, trying to dredge up old memories about annexation and whatnot to excuse why the school has wasted over $5,300 on legal fees.
Basically, the school is demanding choice development land. The developer is not giving in, but is offering other options. But no, that’s not good enough for Green Lake, so the school is pretending Lindenwood isn’t cooperating to cover up their own arrogance.
Ken Bates and company are miffed because Lindenwood is refusing to give away Woodland Court. This does not mean Lindenwood is being uncooperative. Woodland Court is a high-end, choice cul-de-sac worth well over $1 million dollars. The school is asking Lindenwood to hand it over for some little program … and then pouting when the answer is “No.”
It’s time for the Green Lake School to get off its gigantic high horse and accept a different offer before more legal bills stack up. There is plenty of land at the Lindenwood subdivision. Woodland Court is not the only parcel. Maybe the school desperately wants it, but tough. It’s not the school’s business to greedily pick and choose what land should be donated. According to the newspaper, Lindenwood and the ABA have made other offers “but the school isn’t biting.”
The school claims that Lindenwood offered “two cart paths and a dump.” I don’t buy that because it’s very likely a half-truth. I also don’t believe the school when they say Lindenwood isn’t cooperating with the county. The county asked Lindenwood to dedicate 6-8 reasonable acres for school use, that’s it. The county did not say “Give away your best land to a haughty school with some little environmental program to show off.”
Dear Green Lake school,
Woodland Court is not the only land out there, not by a long shot. Stop acting like the developer owes you the moon. Accept a different offer before more legal bills mount. Stop this arrogance before the people of this district really let you have it.
If I were the Lindenwood people, I would be mad as hell. I am sure they have spent more money on lawyers than the school has over this stupid fiasco.
If the school is truly interested in teaching their "green" studies, then what better project could there be than remediating a former dump site? I can't think of a more valuable lesson for our youth to learn. If they just want to sit around and observe moss growing, they can do that in a terrarium in a classroom.
The fact is that it is not about the students or the lessons or loving the earth. It is about Ken Bates and his arrogant attitude trying to procure the most valuable land possible. Guess what Ken? When your ass is canned from Green Lake and you are sending your resume out to other school systems, they are going to look at the academic records under your administration and shake their heads in disdain. The fact that you ran a circus side-show instead of a school won't get you anywhere. Maybe you should get some professional help to get over your delusions of grandeur.
And another thing Mr. Bates, why are you leaving the school during the school day to attend meetings about the proposed Cornerstone "Wellness Village" when it has absolutely nothing to do with the school? Why are you even talking about it at the school board meetings? Maybe if you put your job first before the myriad of other groups you are involved with our students would know how to read. You make me sick. I wish you would resign and find some other community to ravage.
The school deserves nothing. Lindenwood should give the land to the county or town.
It is my understanding that other groups - towns, counties - declined the offer because they did not want to fund a park that will basically serve a small number of people in a gated community. The school was the only group that saw a way to expand use of this land beyond the privileged few who will be able to afford to build in this "exclusive" gated community. So the schools are offering our children an opportunity.
Should the schools be given their choice of land? Maybe not - but neither should they be forced to accept whatever Lindenwood figures they can get away with giving them. When Lindenwood first proposed the two cart paths and a dump, the negative reaction came from the County Board as did the requirement that Lindenwood offer something appropriate. Lindenwood may have made a number of offers, but that doesn't mean they've made any offers that are any better than the dump.
Lindenwood Development is two guys - Ted Dominowski and Doug Crusan - neither from around here and neither with alot of friends around here (if I'm reading the posts above correctly - "Sure nobody like s the Lindenwood people..". How is it that we think it's good for them to come into our town with a goal of making lots of money for themselves without any sense that developers should also contribute to the community. And one of the legal rights of communities is to specify how the developer will give back - in this case it's by giving part of their land to a willing community group for community use.
The fact that Lindenwood thinks so little of this community that all they can offer us is a dump speaks volumes about who they are - and if we accept that, it speaks volumes about who we are too. We and our children deserve better from Lindenwood and if Lindenwood won't give it voluntarily, then we will have to fight to get it.
I think it's important to keep focused on the prize - which is what's best for the community and what's best for the kids. Whatever Ken Bates may or may not have done on this or any other project is not the issue here. The issue is how can we people of Green Lake secure a resource for our children to use forever. Whether Ken Bates is great or not, and whether he stays or goes, sooner or later, is not the issue right now. Right now, we need to make sure we get something that will serve our kids and grandkids - long after Ken Bates and Lindenwood have moved on. If we get that land now for our kids, it's forever. If we lose it, it's probably forever too.
Wait a minute here. A previous blog states:
"It is my understanding that other groups - towns, counties - declined the offer because they did not want to fund a park that will basically serve a small number of people in a gated community."
Is this to mean that if the school owns this parcel of land in this gated community, then all district students can come and go freely into this gated community? But, if the county had a small park there, county residents would not be able to use it? This makes no sense to me.
I want to know if Ted Dominowski and Doug Crusan have offered this land to other groups, taking proposals for consideration? If not, why not? Shouldn't other non-profit groups have the same opportunity to obtain this land if they would meet the needs that this ordinance has spelled out?
As far as staying focused on the "prize", whoever wrote that must work at the school. Shouldn't the prize be that our kids get a high quality education? To say that "we need to make sure we get something that will serve our kids and grandkids", there is plenty of land around here that serves that purpose and always will. That is what the conservancy has been doing for years.
And I have yet to hear, exactly what are the "needs" of the school and exactly what do they plan to do with this land if they in fact end up with it? I want to see a detailed plan.
Ted Dominowski and Doug Crusan, please open up this land donation to other groups who would be delighted to work with you and would be most appreciative for whatever land you would choose to donate.
Here is how the ordinance reads:
315-13 Dedications and Improvements. Required dedication or payments in lieu of dedications: paragraph B. Parks, playgrounds, public access facilities, school sites, drainageways and other public green spaces. The committee may require that not more than 10% of the total area of the subdivision plat be offered for dedication to the County, school district or town to provided appropriate sites for parks, playgrounds, public access points, schools sites, drainageways and other public green spaces that will be needed to serve the needs of the residents of the proposed subdivision plat. The committee shall specify the unit of government that shall be offered the dedication of lands for such purposes.
A couple of comments: It says the committee may require that land be offered. It doesn't say the receiving body is allowed to pick and choose. It also says this is to serve the needs and be of benefit to the residents of said sub division. How does a school forest do that? I assume the residents will be allowed to use it as well. Also, roads within E of L are to be public roads, so any of us ought to be able to drive in and walk in the school forest. A final thought... there are four school districts in GL County. Do they all get to use this "school forest"? If it's free from Lindenwood as deemed by County ordinance... why would Green Lake School get dibs? MY kids go to Markesan SD. Are they not good enough to walk on the grounds of a GL school forest? (Markesan SD may have a forest, my kids aren't at that point yet in school, so I don't even know). Anyhow, we live in and pay taxes to GL County. This seems unfair to me. Perhaps our four school districts should all get grants and buy one primary school forest. As a previous poster wrote, it’s only a matter of time before they consolidate anyway. A lot sooner than many folks want to realize.
People, People, People. Order in Court Damn It!!!!
We are missing the whole point with all of this nonsense rhetoric.
Read the posts of Dec.11, "Chamber of What" Everything That Was Listed There Applies Here and I quote:
Green Lake LACKS TRUE LEADERSHIP and VISION from the county, township, city, chamber and school district. Most elected people try hard,are nice people and the heart is in the right place however they are not effective. Whether we believe it or not Green Lake is dying, maybe even dead for good. It may already be too late to revive her.
Go to the meetings, get involved, learn first hand both sides of the issues. Voice your opinions in public at the appropriate venues don't hide behind a blog or anonymous Sound Off letters.
One of the above posts wrote: “We and our children deserve better from Lindenwood, and if Lindenwood won't give it voluntarily, then we will have to fight to get it.”
This is exactly the arrogance that several people and I have written about. Lindenwood does not owe the school a $1.5 million cul-de-sac just so the school can feel important and conduct some silly project. The school should be happy to receive 6-8 acres of undeveloped land (for free) without whining about the developer not forking over the subdivision’s choice land.
I’m glad Lindenwood went public with this nonsense. People need to read for themselves how uncooperative the school is being. Ted Dominowski is right when he said the school is attempting a “land grab.”
For the 748th time, this is private land. Not yours, not mine. Private land. The Green Lake School District doesn’t understand this. Instead, our school officials think they can waltz into the county’s business and snatch someone else’s property because of some county ordinance dealing with green space. We should be happy to have anything set aside for school use, not paying a Madison lawyer $5,300 to bully Lindenwood for more than we deserve. The school's misguided priorities are astonishing.
News flash: Lindenwood is not giving up Woodland Court and it’s only going to cost the school more money to remain arrogant.
To This is How it Reads...
I thought the roads were to be public also, but the Estates of Lawsonia website specifically states that this will be a gated community. Not sure which is true.
About your idea for allowing multiple Green Lake County School Districts access to the land - I think you should bring that up with the County Board since the County Board is the one that has established this requirement for Lindenwood.
And to More Arrogance...
Ted! It's you! I'm sure it must be you because no one but you, or maybe Doug, could say with certainty that Lindenwood is not giving up Woodland Court. Glad to get your perspective on this, although nothing you said here is too surprising.
I am not Ted or Doug, and I am not a pee-brained idiot. I mentioned on an earlier blog that there is no way that the school will get this prime development land. That is just pure common sense. Any attempts by the school to do so are not only arrogant, but downright disgraceful. It is shameful Ken Bates has even tried such a flagrant, stupid move, and wasted our hard-earned taxpayer dollars to pay a lawyer to fight for something that they are never going to get. That is why Ken Bates should pay the legal fees and resign immediately. Good riddance.
In the county meetings for plat approval, Mike Wuest, Town of Brooklyn Chairman, made is very clear that the roads within Estates of Lawsonia would be public roads.
I'm guessing the E of L website has just not been updted yet.
You all don't understand. The school is out to help the people of Carpenter Lane. They want the choice lots to back up on the lane so that these people will not have anyone in their backyards. It is all a plot.
11:24 am What have you been smoking? You are definitely crazy to think anyone is helping the Carpenter Lane people in such a way! All the Carpenter Lane folks have done is let the public know ABA/Lindenwood have been doing things in an unprofessional way that has not helped anyone. I believe the school district, town, city and county can all see how Lindenwood conducts themselves.
8:41 am -you are full of your own ****. the people of carp n turd lane are part of the problem. you do not know how much trouble they are causing.
How can anyone blame the Carpenter Lane folks when they are not up there now?
I don't know who lives on Carpenter Lane or what dastardly deeds they have committed. I am sure they are the ones who forced the Lindenwood developers to act unethically and without respect or decency.
The Lindenwood Developers are adults and responsible for themselves and their business dealings. No one forced them to behave the way they have. They come by it nauturally!
My, my, $9600.00 for attonery fees for free land according to the Ripon paper. What don't I understand about this mess?
Yes, chief, could you post a fresh thread about the school getting land out at the ABA? Apparently it's getting out of control.
Yes, very interesting article in the Ripon paper regarding the out of control legal fees that Mr. Ken Bates is racking up in his so called "negotiations". The total is now over $9,600 and climbing.
Lindenwood is prepared to take this to court if necessary, and the law is on their side. Ken Bates actions are so irresponsible, it is astonishing to think that this guy is in charge of our childrens education. Sadly, it seems that Wendy Schultz and Gordy Farrell are destroying their reputations as well.
Now Lindenwood is looking at their options, "considering other groups to whom to dedicate the land in place of the school district". Good for them! I hope they do. The school does not deserve this land. As Mr. Dominowski states "You don't get to choose what you want. You just decide, Do you want it or don't you?"
What part of this does Ken Bates not understand??? He should be fired immediately for wasting the taxpayers money in this foolish, flagrant stunt he is pulling. His actions are appalling. He should have to pay back this money.
On that note, there is a lovely photo in the Green Lake Reporter this week of Princetons new school district administrator/principal. This one qualified man is taking over the jobs of two people, the current administrator and principal. SEE HOW THIS WORKS?? Even more amazing is that the Princeton school district is several times larger than Green Lakes!
It is time to get rid of Bates and Tracy and find one qualified, sensible, responsible person to do the job.
We need some new school board members who will act in the best interest of the school and not some pathetic brown-nosers. Hopefully we can replace King and keep Reabe.
to Anonymous at 6:25 pm -
Ted, Ted. Stop trying to pretend you are a local person concerned about our schools and our children. We all know you are Ted Dominowski, head of Lindenwood Development.
Everyone knows that the Green Lake Schools are supposed to be getting a piece of land in Estates of Lawsonia for an Ecology Program - that's what the County ordered. And we all know that the only reason it's costing the school all this money is because you are trying to get out of it.
So now your plan is to sue the schools - for what, for trying to get a fair deal for our children? I don't see how this will help the taxpayers or the children of Green Lake. Perhaps you could explain how your suing the school will help our community.
You are so far off base! I am NOT Ted. I have never met Ted. I do not like or approve of the entire Lindenwood development. But that has nothing to do with the fact the Lindenwood is RIGHT and the school is WRONG in this matter.
The school was offered free land. They have no RIGHT to choose the land. For Ken Bates to even try to dictate which parcel of land the school should receive is ludicrous.
I am a Green Lake parent, and I am COMPLETELY fed up with the shenanigans that have been going on at the school since Ken Bates has been the administrator. He has nearly ruined the school and the mindless idiots that are on the school board (you know which ones) just keep nodding their heads like everything is just great. This Lindenwood land deal is the last straw. I sincerely hope that Mr. Dominowski gives the land to a more respectful, deserving group.
The Green Lake school supporters are in denial on this issue. Two posts above, someone wrote “And we all know that the only reason it's costing the school all this money is because you (Lindenwood) are trying to get out of it.”
That’s a complete lie. It’s costing the school so much money because our district wants the most valuable land and isn’t willing to compromise. There’s no shame in asking, but after four months and nearly 10 grand in legal fees, you’d think we would cut our losses and take a different offer. Lindenwood has made other reasonable offers to the school, contrary to what the school claims.
Clearly the developer is not going to hand over his best land. No one should fault him for that. The more the school pushes, the more the developer will resist, and before long the county will step in and allow Lindenwood to give the land to someone else who will appreciate it rather than complain about not getting this or that.
To Enough...
You state that "Lindenwood has made other reasonable offers to the school, contrary to what the school claims."
I'm curious how you know this. All that I've seen in the paper is Ted Dominowski's OPINION that what Lindenwood has offered is reasonable. I have not seen the actual information about what Lindenwood has offered - only conflicting opinions from the school and Lindenwood as to how reasonable Lindenwood's offers have been.
Have the actual offers from Lindenwood been posted in any public forums or presented at any public meetings so we can all judge for ourselves what is reasonable and what is not?
You just don't get it. Any offer is reasonable. The school does not get to choose. The land was meant to help teach students about nature and forests. The land itself should not matter, as the school should work with what it is given. The Ripon paper did give specific offers and descriptions of these offers. If the school does not want the land that is offered, other groups would gratefully accept the exact same offer. Either the school takes what is offered or they are out of the picture. What part of that don't you understand?
Take a closer look at ALL the legal fees the current administration has piled up. Ask questions about settlements that had to be paid out because of botched administrative decisions.
"Any offer is reasonable" .. What??!! If any offer was reasonable, the County Board would not have rejected Lindenwood Development's first offer of a dump and two cart paths. I don't know if they used the word "unreasonable" but they clearly thought the offer inadequate at best, insulting at worst. So saying Any Offer is Reasonable is simply not true.
The only people who think Any Offer is Reasonable are Lindenwood. Somehow, they thought they could come into our town, make a lot of money, and not have to give anything back. Now they're being asked to give something back - not just what they can't use (and we couldn't either) but something that will really benefit our town and our children.
You folks from Lindenwood on this blog can whine and point fingers all you want. We know who you are and we know how you operate.
last poster -you stop blaming lindenwood. you must also blame and include every other wealthy land baron who lives or owns property around green lake. you all say that this area must not become another lake geneva, but we have it worse. we have a big beautiful lake but us locals have no access unless you serve the rich land barons. at lease lake geneva made much of the lake open to public access. lindenwood is just trying to make a buck like everyone one else here and maybe i will share in that money indirectly instead of having to crawl to one of the other wealthy land horders for work.
"The only people who think Any Offer is Reasonable are Lindenwood."
This simply is not true. Everyone that I have talked to regarding this issue has been disgusted by Ken Bates actions. People are talking about this, and I have yet to find one person who thinks that the school should get to choose.
In the course of my life, I have walked most of the land at the ABA. There is no part of that property that is so inadequate that it could not be used to teach students. Ken Bates is on a huge power trip and it is time to end his wasteful reign.
Is it true that GLHS is doing away with football for next year because they couldn't come to an agreement with Markesan High School. Was our adminstative arrogance showing in this as well? I've heard that Markesan was definitely willing to coop.
Does anybody know anything about this?
"You folks from Lindenwood on this blog can whine and point fingers all you want."
Actually, it's the school that's doing the whining and pointing of fingers. The school is whining about not getting handed Woodland Court. The school is pointing fingers at Lindenwood for having spent 10 grand on legal fees alone to get a piece of land that was supposed to be free.
I think our school administration is starting to realize their mistake and is trying to turn the tables on the developer.
I heard, from a very involved GLHS sports parent, that if they don't join with Markesan, there will not be a football team next year. Evidently, we simply do not have enough kids to field a team.
Hey Chief... how about a thread on our football situation?
I think it is just ridiculous that the Green Lake Reporter is NOT reporting the facts regarding the school/Lindenwood land fiasco.
Either start reporting the relevant news in this town, or you will start losing readers. I can easily cancel my subscription and start getting the Ripon newspaper instead. I am not the only one who is upset that the GL Reporter intentionally omits important stories to keep news from getting out.
"Everyone that I have talked to regarding this issue has been disgusted by Ken Bates actions. People are talking about this, and I have yet to find one person who thinks that the school should get to choose." - Anonymous, January 11
Interestingly, everyone I have talked to thinks that Ted Dominowski and Lindenwood Development are behaving badly by refusing to negotiate in good faith with the school.
I guess you get a different view of this situation depending on who you talk to and whose opinion you believe.
Ted Dominowski and Lindenwood Development have tried numerous times to negotiate in good faith. Any statements to the contrary are lies, false statements.
Bates has already wasted $10,000 of taxpayer money. Do you really need a lawyer to say "yes" or "no"? The fact is that the Lindenwood development is not going to give away their prime home sites! That was never the intention of the "gift" and no amount of fighting or negotiating is going to matter.
Lindenwood should give the land to another group. Ken Bates should be fired.
There is land available to our school all over the county, Conservancy land, DNR land and other public areas. More land and wetlands shoreline than our kids & instructors will ever set foot on. Yet, for some reason, there is some attraction to the “Woodland Court” area that happens to lie behind the, now infamous, Carpenter Lane at the ABA. It’s as if, this parcel is going to be the make or break woodland forest area for the future of our School. Other parcels in the estates of Lawsonia were made available to the school, yet they were turned down flat and the school focused in on the prime real estate of Woodland Court. If you go out there and look at the development areas, as I did late this past fall, it’s hard to see what the difference is to one from another. Some of those other areas haven’t already been logged and hacked up for future home sites.
Yes, it truly is baffling! It is an embarrassment and shame to our school system. Thank Ken Bates for that.
Wasn't there supposed to be some decisions at the last Town Board meeting about Lindenwood Development and the bonds they wanted the Town to sponsor?
What would Jesus do?
I think Jesus would be thinking... who the heck we gonna vote off the school board this spring? Let's get our school focused back on education. Not trying to get every student an acre of land.
Stop the madness!
Amen to that!
The Jesus comment was rhetorical. It was meant to be funny, and I think Jesus got a good laugh. Although, it gives one pause to think of what a person with real moral values might think of all this.
Didn't ABA sell that land to 'fund' clergy that could not afford to attend their $10,000 class on 'congregation revitalization'? Why not lower the cost of the class? ABA hardly seems to be expert in revitalization.
What happened to separation of church and state? Only in Green Lake can the church sell to some private endeavor and then the public school gets involved. A convoluted mess your community has. How public is this school anyway?
GLSD has been attempting to or acquiring land for ages. It's like a hobby. I don't know, perhaps you need isolated acreage in which to hide Nancy Burns, with her gag order and all?
The school needs to turn its attention to its students, not real estate, not wellness centers, and not evangelism.
Green Lake will be absorbed, consolidated. The student body has shrunked like the skin of a foot soaked too long in water.
More housing will not bring new families. Look at the economy now! It took 5 years and a loss to sell a house in Green Lake in a good economy. Why? The school district. No one with kids wants that school district. A few acres and the promise of a charter school won't do it. Your pool of prospective students is within a few miles of GL. People know the history. The past is the best predictor of future performance.
It is a beautiful community with some good folks, some good teachers, but it is fueled on unprecedented greed and a penchant to sweep misbehavior of the blessed few under the rug.
You still have a chance to opt out thru school choice, if your kid is not special needs. If your kid is special needs, good luck, you have to move. If GL ever gets its act together, you can always come back.
I second the motion! Great blog!
It is only a matter of time before Green Lake school will be consolidated. The merging of the football team with Princeton and Montello is just the first step. Perhaps the grade school will remain in the current location, but the high school will at some point have to join with another local high school, most likely Princeton. I understand that many folks are against this but when it reaches that boiling point, there really won't be any other option.
The current administration has been grabbing at any and all straws to prevent this, but in the grand scope of things, none of that matters. Consolidation is inevitable. The charter school, the IB school, the Tech/vocational school, all attempts to draw students that simply are not going to be drawn. Houses in Green Lake sit for sale and empty for years. There are no jobs. It may be many years before the economy springs back, if it ever happens. Economic predictions are bleak.
The school should be doing anything and everything it can to save and conserve money, and yet they are doing just the opposite. Thanks to Ken Bates, Wendy Schultz and several others, school spending is out of control. The refuse to work within their budget. Ken Bates is talking referendum for next year.
Elementary grades need to be combined. The administrator/principal job needs to be combined. Princeton is doing it and they have several times more students than Green Lake. The IB program is costing the school and taxpayers and yet they are not passing that expense on to the families who choose to participate like every other IB school does. Where does this all end?
Hopefully with a new administration and new school board members who will act in the best interest of the students AND the taxpayers. We need to get back to basics.
If you're sick of it all... Open school enrollment begins Feb 2. Move your kids elsewhere.
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