Nearly 1,000 Sign Bugline Petition to Oppose Paving
On August 8th, Delores S. of the "Snowbugs" snowmobile club and myself met with Waukesha County Executive, Dan Vrakas and Dale Shavers, Director of Waukesha County Dept. of Parks and Land use.
The purpose of the meeting was to turn over the petition which states:
"By signing this petition, we oppose the proposed plan advanced by the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors to pave the Bugline trail. We oppose spending taxpayer dollars for this project. We further oppose the project because paving the Bugline Trail would destroy the trail's natural beauty."
The petition contained just shy of 1,000 signatures. A lot of work went into obtaining those signatures and I know we could have gotten many more signatures had we known earlier about this project. We asked why the taxpayers of Waukesha County were not informed of this project before it was voted on since it has hit nearly all of the residents we have come in contact with by total shock and surprise?
Mr. Shavers stated that anyone who wishes to may attend the budget meetings that are held by the county supervisors. We asked how one would know that an issue such as the Bugline Trail would be voted on at one of these budget meetings and he said there is no way for the board to inform the public of what would be discussed. Very disheartening, I think. I don't know about most of you, but I suspect, like me, you have jobs to go to and cannot possibly attend every county budget meeting to find out what will be happening to your neighborhood.
When we voiced our concerns about the impact paving would have on the Bugline Trail, Mr. Shavers had answers that he felt appeased our concerns, such as:
- He stated he has medical evidence that running on pavement is not harder on the body than running on crushed limestone, as long as you wear the correct shoes.
- He further stated that bike riders who want to go fast will not use the Bugline because of the hikers and dog walkers. Those of us who actually use the trail know better and I have to wonder, if the Parks Dept. is not concerned about excessive speeds, why are they telling us they will post speed limit signs?
We are being told that the Parks Dept. is planning on keeping a strip of gravel alongside the pavement for the snowmobilers, runners, dog walkers, horseback riders and hikers. Oh, but we were assured by Mr. Vrakas and Mr. Shavers that they are working very hard to make the trail work for all users. Something is wrong with this picture, isn't it? At the end of our meeting I simply stated that our petition represents nearly 1,000 voices of taxpayers who took the time to fill out the petition to say: "WE DO NOT WANT THIS PROJECT!" and that I hope our duly elected officials will listen. Mr. Vrakas and Mr. Shavers assured me that they are listening. What do you think? Please let them know!
As a footnote: There will be an "informational meeting" on the Bugline Project this Wed., Aug. 29th 5-7pm at the Pauline Haas Public Library in Sussex.
Zee Xenon
4:08 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
OK, time to tear up all the roads through our Kettle Moraine parks. Then, on to the State Parks. A good and proper government will verify each signature as 100% valid and, if so obtain approval of a county-wide referendum, meanwhile progressing on the original plan.
Menomonee Falls Taxpayers Association
1:16 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Menomonee Falls Taxpayers Association questions the need to pave the bugline trail. President urges the public to engage.
At a recent meeting of the Menomonee Falls taxpayers the question of spending $700,000.00 of County money to pave the bugline bike trail quickly became one of the top points of discussion. The issue was elevated by a citizen who had just joined the group that evening. “My wife and I are cutting every corner just to meet our household obligations and the county is going to spend that kind of money on something like that?” the member stated. The statement was well received as many of us in the area are struggling with the current economic conditions.
President Steve Welcenbach pointed out that an ill-advised quest for federal dollars was the underlying motive to pave the trail. “Scott Walker was right to turn down federal money when he was at the county level and Waukesha would be wise to follow his example” said Welcenbach, “we must get the spending under control, at the federal level in particular.
The next public meeting dealing with the bugline project will be held at the Pauline Haas Library in Sussex on Wednesday August 29, from 5 till 7pm. In the meantime the Taxpayer group asked anyone with concerns about the project to call County Executive Dan Vrakas and their county supervisor and tell them to reduce their tax levy by the $700,000 they would have spent paving a trail. County Executive Dan Vrakas’s number is 262-548-7902.
quiteconcerned
11:36 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Menomonee Falls Taxpayers Association, you rightly see $700K for a bike path as unnecessary when many are struggling to get by. Waukesha County Taxpayers also need to be aware of a proposed $35 million in taxpayer funds for Marcus Corp.'s development, The Corners, in the Town of Brookfield. Enriching corporations while taxpayers tighten their budget belts is offensive to many of us. Most importantly, it puts all of us at risk, even though Marcus Corp. recently reported record revenues of more than $400 million. We must stop rubber-stamping taxpayer funding of private projects, such as The Corners. Marcus Corp. can self-fund this project. Town residents already will provide many public services to the development. If we truly believe in free markets to find the best use for the land that currently houses a failed retail development in the very spot proposed for The Corners, then let the market invest in the project and reap the profits. But ensure the risk is where it belongs: with the developer, Marcus Corp., not with Waukesha County and Town of Brookfield taxpayers.
Zee Xenon
10:05 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012
On the other hand, thousands flock to the paved portion of the Glacial-Drumlin Trail. The anti-Tourism people are so one sided, their scotomas prevent them from seeing the big picture. Who are you denying the benefits of paving -- the children! The very people who benefited from the Hwy-164 trail underpass.