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February 27, 2014

Courier Hub

Opinion

ConnectStoughton.com

Letter to the editor

Supercenter is not a good fit for Stoughton

In 2005, our father, the late Larry Weiss, won election to City Council. The central issue of his candidacy was the proposed WalMart supercenter. Dad believed that outsiders should not take the lead in Stoughtons development (Courier Hub, 09/08/2011, p. 20). In his position, Dad concluded that a supercenter was not a good idea. Wal-Mart though abandoned the proposal before it ever came up for a full vote. The reason may have been an independent analysis, which concluded that WalMart probably could not sustain 50 additional supercenters nationwide. With disappointment, we learned that the supercenter proposal is back, with more cause for concern. Residents may not know that Wal-Mart is currently facing federal criminal charges for retaliatory firings of workers who protested their low pay (Huffington Post, 01/15/2014). Wal-Mart also consistently discriminates against its female workers, underpaying them relative to male counterparts and routinely passing over them for promotions. At one Ohio supercenter, some employees were struggling so much that their fellow associates conducted a Thanksgiving food drive last year (Huffington Post, 11/18/2013). Finally, Wal-Mart routinely lobbies for tax breaks (Green Bay Press Gazette, 01/07/2014) so it is unlikely that extensive revenue will find its way into City Halls budget. This is to say nothing of the environmental impact. The proposed location on Rt. 138 would convert fields to a 155,000 sq. ft. building and adjoining parking lot. Wildlife, such as deer, birds, and butterflies, rely on such open habitat for their survival. Wisconsin prides itself on its wildlife and picturesque landscapes. One of the BEST things about Stoughton is that it is out in quiet country, and yet a 20-minute drive accesses all the city amenities of Madison. One of the highest compliments Dad received upon his passing was from Mayor Donna Olson who stated that, [Larry] very calmly reviewedall the information and then made an informed decision (Courier Hub, 09/08/2011, p. 20). Wal-Mart already bailed on this proposal once another supercenter probably creates unwanted self-competition. Combined with questionable labor practices, we stand by Dads decision that a supercenter is NOT a good fit. We do recognize that some cannot afford trips to Janesville or Monona. Therefore, we would advocate for finding a replacement that treats its employees and the community more equitably (as an example, Costco already pays its workers an average of $21 an hour; MSNBC, 01/30/2014). Debra Weiss Wausau Anne Weiss State College, Penn.

Staff editorial

A little consensus-building could have gone a long way

Correction
Because of a late-night editing error, the Hub misspelled the name of our own editor in a story about the addition of the Fitchburg Star. Hub editor Jim Ferolie is leading the content of the Star as he does with all UNG news publications.

Courier Hub
Thursday, February 27, 2014 Vol. 132, No. 30
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easonable people can disagree, but I cant understand why Mayor Donna Olson and city alders who support the Kettle Park West development refused to postpone signing a $5.1 million taxpayer funding agreement at their Jan. 28 meeting. A two- or four-week delay would not have satisfied all who oppose the development. But it would have given the mayor an opportunity to gain the support of some who were undecided and only wanted more time to review the agreement. Many, including alders, had unanswered questions. At least attempting to build consensus would have been worth the delay, particularly in a small community like Stoughton, where values like neighborliness and listening to others ought to be more than mere lip service. Bill Livick The request to delay the decision by a few weeks was not unreasonable. Though Olsons administration has been working on this deal for three years and had talked about it last year, the draft of the development agreement and the news that a Wal-Mart Supercenter would anchor the project were not unveiled until mid-January. Most of the public hadnt seen the agreement until just a few days before the deal was scheduled for a decision, and everything that happened before that was purely conceptual from a citizens perspective. And while signing the contract in the middle of the night isnt illegal, it certainly adds to a perception that things are not being done transparently, particularly when it was obvious that one alder intended to request a reconsideration of his vote. There is no reason to think the agreement would not have passed after postponement. It might have been approved by more votes, in fact, and it would have left fewer people feeling that their concerns had been brushed aside. It all comes down to respect. At one point during the fivehour Jan. 28 meeting, the council had deadlocked 6-6 on whether to table the resolution approving the agreement. The mayor could have appeared more respectful of residents and more confident in the project if she had voted to table the matter. But she was impatient. Olson obviously believes shes doing the right thing for the city. And maybe it will ultimately be good for Stoughton. No one can be

sure yet though it is a sad fact that building retail stores is what passes for economic development these days. But the process has had several problems, any of which could have justified postponing a decision. For one thing, city attorney Matt Dregne couldnt say whether the agreement conformed to requirements in the citys so-called big box ordinance, as he hadnt read the ordinance. Its also beyond me how the council could justify voting for a project so significant before an impartial economic impact analysis provides an idea of how it might affect local businesses. The city is now seeking bids for such a study, but it seems pointless now that the agreement has been signed. In addition, Ald. Tom Majewski questioned why the city would reimburse the developer up to $550,000 for grading at the 35-acre site. Or why the city is willing to borrow $4.6 million in tax-increment financing in the next two years to make the retail project happen. I have yet to hear a good reason why they couldnt hold off to get some of those answers. Ald. Tricia Suess asked that question twice at the Jan. 28 meeting. She was comfortable with the agreement and wouldnt support tabling it if there were a serious consequence, but then added that people need time to adjust to it and know that we recognize what theyre saying. Olson and Council President Eric Hohol responded by asking what more information she and other alders could get that they didnt already have. Well, answers about the big box ordinance or the potential fiscal impact on existing businesses might have helped. At one point, Kettle Park West, LLC, attorney Ron Trachtenberg answered Suess question: The further we get delayed, the more likely we are to lose our tenants; therefore the project will die. Really? Its stunning to think Wal-Mart has been trying to build a Supercenter here for something like 10 years, yet would give up because of a 30-day delay in the approval process. That suggests a serious lack of commitment that would be better to know now. Olson defended not allowing a postponement by telling the Hub most people in Stoughton want the development to happen and support the potential taxpayer funding. They are a silent majority, she said. She knows this because people have told her while she was

shopping for groceries or attending basketball games. But theres a problem with that reasoning: This is a public decision that requires public discussion and debate because it involves public financing. Anything said in private should not count. That is why the council has a segment of its meetings dedicated solely for public comment, which on this project was dominated by people who either wanted the agreement postponed or rejected. The mayor thinks more supporters havent spoken up because theyve been intimidated by the opposition. To me, thats part of the plan of those that so adamantly oppose is to intimidate the others so they dont speak up, she said. Thats a shocking thing for an elected official to say or think about people in her own community. It comes back to that important word: respect. I attended the meetings and saw no evidence of intimidating behavior, nor had I heard that alleged until the mayor mentioned it. I still believe the mayor has good intentions, and have admired her work in the years that Ive been reporting on city government. But there has been precious little compromise in this process. I wasnt around when the city last went through a dispute over a Wal-Mart Supercenter, so I asked a professional acquaintance of mine, Lynne Diebel, her thoughts on the matter. The divisions from the last round were healing until this happened, she said. In a town this size, we all feel as though our opinions should at the least be considered. During the previous fracas, the council acknowledged both sides and truly worked to find the right solution. Now, no. I didnt expect Donna Olson to take that approach and Im disappointed. This reminds me of the councils response last year to residents who opposed a decision to start applying herbicides in parks. A group gathered more than 500 local signatures on a petition asking the city to hold off until it had time to develop a comprehensive turf management plan. I didnt hear a single voice from the public or see any letters calling for using herbicides. Yet the council moved forward, almost as if nothing had happened. So much for the voice of the people. Bill Livick covers Stoughton and Oregon government for Unified Newspaper Group.