Be careful, share the roadways
I wrote a letter to the editor back in July 2007 alerting motorists about bicyclists because I was almost hit on Highway 33 by a large semi-trailer and a full-sized truck.
A day or so after my letter was printed in the paper, a young girl was hit on Highway 33 on her bicycle.
Well, unfortunately, my worst nightmare came true. I was hit on April 14 on Highway 33 by a motorist. Thank God I was not killed. I am writing this as a wake-up call to all motorists. Please pay attention to the roads. Give bicyclists and pedestrians safety and courtesy.
Thank you to all the people who do practice safe driving. I hope this letter will prevent any future automobile and bicycle/pedestrian accidents.
And remember: "Dance if as no one is watching, sing as if no one is listening, and live everyday like it is your last." (An Irish proverb).
— Kelly Braker
Beaver Dam
Poor meeting attendance could be costly
Hi, folks. Where were all of you on Tuesday, April 8? It was the annual Clyman town meeting.
There were only 27 taxpayers present and that is a darned shame for an annual meeting. I will bring you up to date. The annual report we were used to is history. You used to know where every dollar was spent. Thanks to Mrs. Schultz, the new report was the biggest screwed-up job that I have ever seen in my 79 1/2 years as a resident of the town of Clyman.
The clerk and the treasurer were asked why they couldn't have given us a report that everybody could read and understand? The answer was that they didn't have too. They quoted me some state statute that says you only have to do this and this. Now isn't it amazing they can hide behind a statute that tells them what they don't have to do, and completely ignore another statute that tells them what they have to do when putting out bids with public money? Mrs. Schultz's actions tell me that what might have been important to the taxpayers who pay her salary didn't concern the clerk.
My dad once said that the more important people think they are, the more they lose their common sense. The chairman refused to tell what his salary was. Accountability means nothing. Was it listed, or are we trying to hide something?
One item that has to be watched very carefully is the per diems. They are the easiest way to cost the township money — especially when used for a telephone call. They can be very deceiving if people are not honest. Two years ago a resolution was passed to control per diems. Is the treasurer keeping track of what is going on today? Does the treasurer realize that she has the obligation to request to see the phone bills in this kind of situation? Remember, it is fraud to get extra income by deceiving the people.
Then, before the meeting was over — by coincidence or maybe by design when nobody was there but all the big spenders — the board asked for a big raise and got it. Three thousand dollars for the clerk, $2,000 for the chairman and $1,000 for the supervisors and the treasurer got nothing. Remember, these figures do not include the per diems that are slipped in.
Now you can see how important it is to attend the annual meeting. The board is going to send out a postcard to 180 households to inform then when a dumpster is going to be available. Now, wouldn't you think that the annual meeting would be more important than a dumpster? Again, where is the common sense? There are a lot of questions that should be answered.
Who gives the board their authority to throw out boxes of records from the storeroom that were not checked for their content? Why would an annual meeting be called if you don't have an agenda? Another year is coming and another election. Board members can and will be changed. One day you might be on and the next day you might be off. We need people who will be concerned about the people who pay the bills. When we elect town officers, we should be able to assume that they are mature enough to follow the law so the taxpayer isn't ripped off. I guess we have to realize that some people don't mature as fast as others.
I felt that somebody should inform the people who were not at the meeting as to just what went on. Even if you were not there, they are spending your tax dollars, too.
— Jerome A. Haase
Juneau
Coverage of can drive is appreciated
The A.M. Kiwanis of Beaver Darn sincerely appreciate the press your paper provided during our recent Aluminum Can Drive.
As you know, the proceeds from the sale of the cans will go 100 percent to continue the work of the Dodge County Sheriff Department's Fatal Vision Program.
— Ruth Mack
Secretary, AM Kiwanis of Beaver Dam