Local government goes beyond the mundane

By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher

Pity the poor headline writer thrashing about for a catchy phrase that would draw the reader into a story that, at its core, is just plain dull. Board meetings are often like that. Most months consist of necessary but tedious housekeeping duties. Sewer plant issues, street repairs and barking dogs all must be dealt with, but they hardly make headlines that grab attention. At times, I could cap the story with “Board observes sun rises in the east,” and no one would notice or care.

Rejoice, then, as last week was a triple play. I knew that when I arrived at the Norwalk Village Board meeting and had to fight for a parking place. Come to think of it, I must have known it the month before, when Bill Degenhardt laid out his plans for a big red shed. After 30 years of watching small towns, I can tell you that change, any change, generates, at a minimum, some controversy.

Although nearly everyone in the room had an opinion on the shed, I find it difficult to determine who has the best argument. Do we sympathize with the Kottens, who will trade their view of cows and corn for gazing at a steel wall? Or should we rally to the side of Degenhardts, who came up with a plan that would at least add to the tax base. It’s been decades since the last building went up in the village.

Need I add that nearly everyone in the room has had years, if not decades, to appeal to the board to develop zoning ordinances? Why must a big kerfuffle occur for us to consider that maybe, just maybe, long-range planning for land use might actually be beneficial?

But it’s not that zoning always guarantees peace in the valley. Community needs change, and variances can be issued.

But the scenario would have played out differently. The property in question belonged to the Muehlenkamp farm and would have been zoned agricultural. That alone could deter prospective buyers with other purposes in mind. Obtaining a variance can be a drawn-out affair and rests on more weighty arguments than, “I want to build it there.” By the same token, the Kottens would have a hook on which to hang their case beyond, “It spoils my view.”

But none of that happened because, after all, no one can tell anyone what to do with his or her property. That is, until something goes in next door that offends my sensibilities.

The more you unpack this thing, the more intriguing it becomes. Allan Martin of Wilton was at the meeting and suggested that due to its access to water, sewer and gas hook-ups, the property has appeal for commercial use.

Will we see steel sheds sprouting instead of corn? What village would turn down commercial development? But what are the options for housing development? These are all hard questions with no easy answers. Planning for orderly development takes research, debate and a lot of second-guessing regarding what the future holds.

Showing up once a month for an hour meeting to decide which brand of rider mower to buy just doesn’t cut it anymore. Maybe it never did.

Meanwhile, over in Wilton, the board members discovered that they are a pretty much big nobodies to United Cooperative. Evidently a mix-up in bills for the Village of Wilton and the Town of Wilton contributed toward confusion and possibly an unpaid balance on the former’s part. Had this happened with Hillsboro Farmers Co-op, someone would have rummaged around in the bookkeeping and straightened up the mess, and it would have been no harm, no foul. They certainly would not have cut off the village’s credit line.

Patience with slow payers is hardly a hallmark of United Cooperative. We’ve had six months to figure that out, so it should not have come as a big surprise that the company doesn’t make exceptions for municipalities. Bit by bit, we have all watched as local control and ownership slips away from us. As that happens, we are reminded we need to support the few we have left.

Do you suppose that all of this will end up on the Village of Wilton’s credit report? Oh, dear, maybe I should ask for cash up front for advertising.

Finally, in Ontario, we heard a board member suggest that the village hire a grant writer. Two people already suggested that I take on the position. Ah, no. Here is a quick lesson in journalism ethics: Reporters never ever appear on the payroll of the government units they cover.

Keeping a distance between the two entities is not just practical; it’s vital. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to avoid. Once, right here in Wisconsin, the town’s newspaper publisher married the mayor. They ran an open meeting notice for the wedding, as a quorum of the board was expected to attend the ceremony. I cannot tell you how much hanky-panky went on after that.

I am a bit curious about the projects the village hopes to fund with grant money. Maybe we will hear more about that next month.

So there you have it. It’s so much excitement, and all in one evening.

I am not sure I am up to it in my old age.

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