Last night, the siren went off near my house and we headed to the basement. After a minute or so, the sirens went off and stayed off even though the Weather Channel and radio stations were reporting Kenosha County (Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie) were under a tornado warning until 9:30 PM. Why weren't our sirens still going? I talked with people in Kenosha and they said the sirens continued all throughout warning. What gives?
I spoke with Chief of Fire & Rescue Paul G. Guilbert, Jr. and he stated that the sirens are activated by County Emergency when: 1) NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) notifies them (detects possible rotation--like you see on Weather Channel); or 2) a Police, Fire , or trained spotter sees a funnel cloud or tornado. The siren will go off for about three, one minute cycles and that's it; no continuous cycling. Then you are dependent on radio and TV for updates for when emergency is over (he suggested a NOAA Weather Radio in case power goes off; I told him I had recently won a NOAA Emergency Radio that has a hand crank from The Weather Channel emergency preparedness contest). There is NO all clear signal (holdover from the 1950's Civil Defense Days) but you may hear more than once if multiple sightings (like in January--three times/three cycles). I told him that we can also hear the Illinois sirens and that it can sometimes be confusing as to which ones are going off. He did state that high winds can also affect people's ability to hear sirens and that some people did call because their sirens did not go off.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Breaking free from Unified could be an uphill battle for Pleasant Prairie
Click here.
Village Board Trustee Steve Kumorkiewicz--He said costs for seceding probably would be prohibitive, considering Pleasant Prairie would have to purchase Unified school buildings and assume a part of the district's debt, among other costs. He said there were no estimates how much that would be.
Haven't we already paid for these buildings? Weren't people asking to find out what exactly it would take to do this? Wasn't that the whole point of these meetings???
Village Board Trustee Steve Kumorkiewicz--He said costs for seceding probably would be prohibitive, considering Pleasant Prairie would have to purchase Unified school buildings and assume a part of the district's debt, among other costs. He said there were no estimates how much that would be.
Haven't we already paid for these buildings? Weren't people asking to find out what exactly it would take to do this? Wasn't that the whole point of these meetings???
Friday, June 6, 2008
District losing money on investment
Click here.
A controversial investment to help fund retiree benefits has cost the Kenosha Unified School District $214,000 more than it has earned since 2006, according to an analysis by an independent consultant for the Pleasant Prairie School Commission.
A controversial investment to help fund retiree benefits has cost the Kenosha Unified School District $214,000 more than it has earned since 2006, according to an analysis by an independent consultant for the Pleasant Prairie School Commission.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Water Bills, Assessments, Carol Beach
Click here and here for links to Carol Beach article and Village website news, respectively. I'm sure it will generate lots of comments.
My assessment dropped 2.2%. How about the rest of you? Mr. Vita was kind enough to send me assessments for our entire subdivision.
Someone has commented about high sewer and water bills. What I know is that we have to pay for our water and sewer services from City of Kenosha in part because of Great Lakes Water agreement. Kenosha charges us more for water than anyone else in the area (how much is due to PP, I don't know). We also pay sewer fees that appear to subsidize Kenosha residents. Not fair but not sure what can be done about it either. Perhaps we can get water from Illinois if they get Lake access at a cheaper rate??? Highly doubtful, but I'm thankful we have an abundant clean source of water.
My assessment dropped 2.2%. How about the rest of you? Mr. Vita was kind enough to send me assessments for our entire subdivision.
Someone has commented about high sewer and water bills. What I know is that we have to pay for our water and sewer services from City of Kenosha in part because of Great Lakes Water agreement. Kenosha charges us more for water than anyone else in the area (how much is due to PP, I don't know). We also pay sewer fees that appear to subsidize Kenosha residents. Not fair but not sure what can be done about it either. Perhaps we can get water from Illinois if they get Lake access at a cheaper rate??? Highly doubtful, but I'm thankful we have an abundant clean source of water.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Assessments
Click here.
Assessments are based on sales of similar properties.
"In that case we'd point out the sales that occurred in their vicinity and say that Pleasant Prairie isn't acting like other states in the country" where the housing market has collapsed, he said.
Well, a house just sold in my area for 17% less than it's assessed value. Others have also sold for less than assessed value (-15 to -2%). Only one or two for assessed value or above and one of those had illegal improvements that the new homeowners got nailed on. So I guess we'll see real big drops next time around. All depends on what happens in next two years. Not that it really matters as you pay either way.
Assessments are based on sales of similar properties.
"In that case we'd point out the sales that occurred in their vicinity and say that Pleasant Prairie isn't acting like other states in the country" where the housing market has collapsed, he said.
Well, a house just sold in my area for 17% less than it's assessed value. Others have also sold for less than assessed value (-15 to -2%). Only one or two for assessed value or above and one of those had illegal improvements that the new homeowners got nailed on. So I guess we'll see real big drops next time around. All depends on what happens in next two years. Not that it really matters as you pay either way.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Village Board Meeting Monday, June 2nd
I won't be able to make meeting (my birthday and daughter's Band and Choir concert).
A. Consider Resolution #08-22 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $2,940,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2008C.
B. Consider Resolution #08-23 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $950,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2008D.
C. Consider Resolution #08-24 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $500,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2008C.
D. Consider Resolution #08-25 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $7,550,000 Taxable General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2008D.
A. Consider Resolution #08-22 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $2,940,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2008C.
B. Consider Resolution #08-23 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $950,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2008D.
C. Consider Resolution #08-24 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $500,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2008C.
D. Consider Resolution #08-25 - Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $7,550,000 Taxable General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2008D.
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