Paris town Supervisor Ron Kammerzelt, at Tuesday’s regular monthly Town Board meeting, proposed having a debate with one or even all of the candidates who are seeking to recall the board.
“I would personally like to talk with one of you or all of you at any time,” Kammerzelt said during citizens comments, stepping out from the table where board members sit. “I think some information needs to get out there.” He added that he has talked to Paris School District administrator Roger Gahart about using the school for the event.
Two of the recall organizers – and presumptive candidates if the recall election is certified — were in the audience, Joseph Kolnik and Paul Terry. When asked after the meeting about participating in a debate, both said they wanted to think about it.
Town Chairman Virgil Gentz and Supervisor Ken Monson, when asked after the meeting about their participation in Kammerzelt’s debate, said they would participate as long as they were available on the selected date.
Petitions asking for a recall were filed by Kolnik, Terry and Robert Fliess on July 6. The incumbents each filed a challenge to the recall on July 15. Kammezelt said his proposal for a debate is only if the election moves forward.
The recall organizers were mobilized by the board’s handling and approval of an intergovernmental agreement with Somers, which includes the mass transfer of 2,500 acres from Paris to Somers.
Town officials say the agreement will help the town secure its boarders while sharing in revenue from development along I-94.
Opponents object to what they see as a forced relocation that will diminish the value of their property.
Hey Recall Candidates,
Now is the time to put up or shut up.
You know instead of all this talking why doesn’t the town just stop paying everyone’s county and town taxes. That way we will all feel the same as those being forced to Somers and the town can save more money to give away at a later date. What’s fair is fair right Mike?
Hey Mike….you’ve got some flawed logic here(nothing new!) Seems to me, the “Recall Candidates”(not sure if you are referring to the incumbents or the challengers…if the recall is approved by the courts, wouldn’t everyone on the ballot be a “candidate”?) would not “put up” with the inequities and injustices foisted upon those residents living in the “Twilight Zone”, they refused to “shut up’ as well.
Their voices are being heard in our community. A tad ironic… Supervisor Ron Z. filed a motion to STOP the recall effort, now wants to champion a “debate”. I think man of us in Paris would WELCOME that……since it was there was virtually no “debate” over how this IGA was ram- rodded through!
Government of the people, by the people, for the people. The Paris Town Board broke that fundamental principal.
The Town Board acted in secrecy and got a bad deal. Whether you are a good debater is not the issue. The issue is trust. Without trust, we have nothing.
Why was Paris Town Board recalled? Because of the double whammy: Secrecy and a Bad result.
Why was nobody recalled in Somers? Though in secrecy, Somers got a good deal.
PARIS GOT A BAD DEAL
Salem and Silver Lake recently went through a similar situation (actually more complicated – merged entire Town of Salem).
How much did Town of Salem pay Village of Silver Lake???? Nothing, look for yourself:
http://www.townofsalem.net/vertical/sites/%7BFD43A93D-1DA7-4F52-8644-C09DA66C3401%7D/uploads/Village_of_Silver_Lake__Town_of_Salem_Cooperative_Plan_-_Draft_07_25_16.pdf
The Town of Salem did such a good job negotiating agreement with Silver Lake that the only issue was the name of the new area.
http://westofthei.com.customers.tigertech.net/2016/07/27/salem-and-silver-lake-approve-merger-agreement/58437
Town of Salem Platform:
1) Town Board pays the bills.
2) Town Board doesn’t make bad deals in secrecy.
3) Town Board seeks electors comments and works to educate the electors BEFORE they make bad deals.
4) Town Board doesn’t get recalled.
Normally I associate debates with elections…..
http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/when-is-the-first-presidential-debate-schedule-hillary-clinton-donald-trump-2016-republican-democrat/
Did Ron just announce Recall was successful? On July 27th?
Beverly McCumber said she wouldn’t make a decision till August 5th? Guess the rest of us will have to wait.
Is a debate the proper method for educating the public about a bad deal that is already negotiated and signed?
I wish we could have seen a debate BEFORE the agreement was signed. That would have been fruitful.
Unfortunately, when the Town Board signed the agreement, the Town Board didn’t want any input.
Taxpayer,
First, Paris does not have a town tax.
Second, as I have read Paris will pay the county tax in the I-94 Planning Area for 10 years.
Somers has a town tax that the I-94 Development Area or the “twilight zone” will now pay.
So what you are proposing is that everyone’s taxes go up. Why? The town pays the county taxes for residents as a way to share Waste Management revenue. I agree with that.
I would rather see the town tax not collected in the “twilight zone” until a property is developed.
That would guarantee the area is developed and water and sewer are available.
18 hrs of meetings, how many of these were done in behind closed doors? Like at the county building when there was not enough room for the meeting for everyone to fit and how about the 10 minute break by sommers tb after 10 at night so the hall cleared out of prople when the ramrod vote to pass this mess was pushed through. My family has lived on silver nail road since the 60s in Paris. Believe me if the tb would have put as much effort in notifying the people about this as they seem to be defending there actions we would not be in this mess. Let the people decide what we want to do with our properties, don’t covet my home.
I can understand incumbents eschewing a debate, but two challengers waffling over a debate seems extraordinary. The town made a compelling case for the agreement. I can understand the angst of those being forced into Somers against their will, but the agreement is in the best interests of the rest of us. My apologies to those affected.
@Western Paris………please explain your rationale that the “western border” of Paris could not face the same issue the “eastern border” is currently undergoing. Let’s be clear here folks…..this IGA ONLY “protects” Paris from “the big bad wolf” …aka..the city of Kenosha. If Bristol, Salem(which will shortly become a VILLAGE…same as Bristol) or Union Grove wanted to pursue annexation into Paris(assuming residents along those “corridors” would want to )…..what is STOPPING THEM????? This IGA is ONLY GOOD FOR 10 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The people have spoken by signing the petition to recall the candidates. The time for debate and hot air is over. The incumbents must get ready to hear the verdict of the people. Talk time is over.
The people were not asked for their opinion on the plan and now they are angry. Calling a debate is too little too late.
By state Annexation law, Somers would typically be required to pay Paris 5 years of property taxes (the amount the Town levied on the annexed territory, typically paid annually for 5 yrs).
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/66/II/0217/14/a/1
Instead, Paris is paying Somers. Our Board must have really wanted this deal badly to break convention (as required in state law).
If a boundary agreement is made between Town of Paris and Village of Somers, no payments are required.
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/66/II/0217/14/a/2
Why are we required to pay Somers nearly $10MM?
Here is the exact wording of the Statue.
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no territory may be annexed by a city or village under this section unless the city or village agrees to pay annually to the town, for 5 years, an amount equal to the amount of property taxes that the town levied on the annexed territory, as shown by the tax roll under s. 70.65, in the year in which the annexation is final.
2. No payments under subd. 1. must be made if the city or village, and the town, enter into a boundary agreement under s. 66.0225, 66.0301, or 66.0307.
The payment the statue is talking about is the amount is Subd. 1.
It does not say a payment is not made. Besides the payment amount is NOT
$10 million.
Nice Try.
Hey Darren,
How about this story?
http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/paris_recall_petitions_deemed_insufficient_489135137.php
Here is the exact wording of the Statue.
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no territory may be annexed by a city or village under this section unless the city or village agrees to pay annually to the town, for 5 years, an amount equal to the amount of property taxes that the town levied on the annexed territory, as shown by the tax roll under s. 70.65, in the year in which the annexation is final.
2. No payments under subd. 1. must be made if the city or village, and the town, enter into a boundary agreement under s. 66.0225, 66.0301, or 66.0307.
The payment the statue is talking about is the amount is Subd. 1.
It does not say a payment is not made. Besides the payment amount is NOT
$10 million.
Nice Try.
This comment was not posted
The City of Kenosha is the only municipality that can provide Lake Michigan water to Paris, WI. Should wells in Paris ever become contaminated, the Town of Paris will want access to clean water. The agreement by the Town of Paris with the Village of Somers is short sighted in that it permanently blocks access to that water supply.
http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2016/08/07/tainted-water-water-woes-big-issue-in-fall-elections/?utm_source=Urban+Milwaukee&utm_campaign=10a6c3e5bd-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa7240869f-10a6c3e5bd-51401353
O.K., as I mentioned similarly in another thread – Bob Fliess, Joe Kolnik and Paul Terry, where are you with respect to manning up and engaging in a debate with the incumbents? I for one Paris Township resident would love to see that.