Sunday, November 18, 2007

Thoughts from Village Cafe

The Village Cafe went well. Many items were pointed out as highly desirable including bike trail access, easy walking access and within, no thoroughfare road/street through the Downtown,...etc. I was very impressed with the turnout and ideas. Just a couple of items that bothered me:

  • When a group at another table pointed out that the empty land to the northeast of 39th Avenue and Highway 165 (104th Street) might be a good candidate to increase size of proposed downtown, Trustee Serpe (who is on the Design Committee) said no way quietly to our table because the empty field was next to his house. How ironic. Mr. Serpe sits on Plan Commission and Village Board and puts developments and businesses next to other people's houses yet when someone mentions same for his, he says NIMBY. I almost fell out of my chair.
  • The other item that bothered me was one most suspected and that was that the Village staff have their ideas and that's what we'll end up with as Trustee Serpe was already saying this will be there and that will be over here. Then he said Clock tower. Clock tower? What is the benefit of that? Can't we come up with something more unique like a nice park-like focus or unique sculpture/fountain? Maybe even those ideas are too lame? Need to come up with something better than a clock tower.
  • Lastly, where was Trustee Clyde Allen? Mr. Allen loves to point out that the Kenosha News and others weren't present at special budget presentations yet when the Village residents come together to hear everyone's ideas, Trustee Allen is nowhere to be found. In fact, his attendance has been lax lately. I wonder if President Steinbrink will start discussing that during Board Comments? Hahaha.

Over all, the Village did a nice job and I'd really like to see some of the residents ideas come to fruition (Brew Pup!).

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