Here again we celebrate the best, worst, and most interesting of the 2009 Main Street Oshkosh world.
1. Worst Display of Historic Preservation: The Oshkosh Water Tower. 2009 saw the end of the historic Oshkosh Water Tower near Menominee Park. What was cited in 1995 as a valuable historic symbol of our community was no more in 2009. So, contrary to the comprehensive plan and all principals of historic preservation, the city demolished the tower.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/2009/05/water-tower-revisited.html
2. Best Display of Historic Preservation: The community support for the Grand. Faced with unexpected challenges, the Grand was "in a tight spot" and without possibility for on site programming. And whether you like or oppose the idea, priorities, or anything else, you have to say that the overwhelming citizen support that showed up at the council meeting asking the common council to approve funding was extremely impressive. It even trumped our showing at the county board in ~ 2006 when we got the board to override a veto by Jane V in support of additional funding for the county's elderly, blind and disabled services.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/2009/07/grand-opera-house-we-need-it.html
3. The If You're Going To Do It, Work Hard At It Award: Gordon Hintz and Randy Hopper. We at Main St spend most of our free time in the 54901 district and rarely do we make it down to the Madison area. However, our Oshkosh-watch insiders have reported to us that Gordon Hintz and Randy Hopper, regardless of what positions they are taking, are working hard. And it stands out. And that is good to know. After all, Hintz is a self-confessed procrastinate and Hopper is a rookie - both characteristics that lead to one sitting quietly in the corner watching as the old boys network runs the show. Reports indicate these guys are taking stands, voicing their concerns, actively pursuing issues, and making noise.
4. SPECIAL COMBO AWARD!!!: Best Display of How Not to Bring a Community Together; AND Animal that Hates Oshkosh the Most Award:
Deer. When you think of animal problems in Oshkosh, the first two things that pop into your head? Geese, and how many stupid dog owners leave mean dogs off of leashes (like the guy on Monroe St who's Rottweiler attacked us, knocking my daughter off her bike, biting my dog, the works). Nope. Its deer. And the heated battle is "to kill or not to kill". Regardless of the result, the process was flawed, and produced two isolated blocks at war with each other. Those groups still exist. Next time, the folks at city hall will do better... we hope.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/search?q=deer
5. The "Oh My, I Can't Believe the World of Democracy Didn't Come Crashing Down" award: Common Council Appointment of Harold Buchholz.
Many folks damned the idea - appointing an applicant to the vacated seat created by Paul's shift to council meeting runner (aka mayor). Many were heated about it, demonstrating a level of wit comparable with my new puppy Marley. Well, the city didn't stop, things have since been discussed without explosion, and so far we are still on track for another election. It also turns out lots of places appoint to vacant seats, including our school board.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/search?q=Harold
6. The Craziest Shake-up Award -
City hall - This gets classified in the "lot of action" category - community development meets the chopping block - if you aren't aware, where the hell have you been? May the public servant concept be reinstalled at city hall.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/search?q=kinney
7. The Best New Local Program Website: TIE:
Oshkosh Housing Authority -
http://www.ohawcha.org/ and
The Sustainable Oshkosh -
http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/SustainableOshkosh/.
These are two nice lookin sites!
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. Most Important "New" Agency Award: TIE
- Oshkosh Area Community Pantry (
http://www.oacptoday.org/) - Changes went into effect Jan 2009, resulting in a massive super pantry for the city. With the increased quality and organization can an increase of uses - sort of the "If you build it, they will come" idea. Well, they're coming. Families and individuals needing food help and utilizing the pantry has never been greater in the recorded history of Oshkosh, and Steve Vickman and his crew are out in front making it happen. Well done!
- Father Carr's Place 2 Be. What once was a huge shelter complex with little use is now a huge complex with lots of use - more than in the history of the Place 2 Be. Much thanks for the improved access and outreach can be given to Joe Geniesse, who now runs the show. He's made it a point to not just have a facility, but to ensure those in need are getting services and to figure out ways to expand and strengthen the collaboration of housing and homeless services in our community.
9. Best New Thing Award -
Oshkosh Evening Holiday Parade
As far as we could remember, there wasn't a whole lot of newness in Oshkosh this past year. However, the holiday parade was moved to the evening in November, and it really was a great move. Loads of folks lined the downtown businesses and sidewalks and were able to enjoy a fine tree lighting followed by a great parade loaded with bands, floats, lights, and even some roller skaters. Good move.
10. The Public Health Service Award: Beach Water Testing
The city started testing the water at their public beach in Menominee Park, in partnership with UW Oshkosh. Thanks to the work of the Sustainability Board and Dr. Greg Kleinheinz, beach users now can make an informed decision about the safety of the water - the beach will even be closed if the water exceeds EPA levels for safe recreational water. A side benefit of testing is that it can reveal previously unknown contamination sources and issues, both in terms of unknown municipal leaks as well as unsafe pollution sources.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/search?q=beach
11. Best New Extensively Used Municipal Public Outreach Idea: Surveys
While surveys are nothing new, we've seen an explosion of them under the rule of city manager Rohloff. You've got the Vision Oshkosh survey, the Bike and Ped Plan survey, a survey on community development director qualifications, the UWO Public Admin survey, and probably serveral others. This is, without question, great. Now, the next test of greatness is to see if the results are considered and implemented into municipal actions. An overwhelming voice of support for sustainability was relayed in the Vision Oshkosh survey, suggesting that although intial costs may be higher, the benefits and values of sustainability are what residents want.
12. The Most Backwards Set of Priorities Award: Oshkosh Common Council's failure to support storm water management
Here's what we have to consider:
1. Water Quality issues are probably one of the most important components for the city of Oshkosh. The Vision Oshkosh survey calls it the vitality of Oshkosh. The Comprehensive Plan citizen survey that happened several years back called water quality the most important thing in the city. This list can go on and on.
2. There are proven and effective ways to help reduce water pollution and contamination through a strong storm water management system.
3. Almost all new subdivisions, condo developments, large-scale industrial and commercial plots, and re-developed residential plots have water retention ponds. And they look nice. The misinformed claims of sewage out-posts and insane drops in property values made by residents surrounding the west side golf course was, to put it best - ignorant; and worst - dishonest selfishness.
4. The golf course on the West side, according to our golfer-insiders, isn't really that great of a course, and could use a little excitement such as new terrain, water holes, etc. Further, this spot proved to be the most cost effective and efficient land area for addressing the serious and immense storm water disaster our city currently is in.
5. A small handful of residents that reside on or near the course moved with speed, some very polite and genuine while others playing the spoiled bully, and convinced the Oshkosh common council that the golf course land that they do not own is more important than the water quality of the future of Oshkosh, is more important than the 100s of basements still at risk for flooding due to the lack of an adequate storm water plan, and is more important that the tax payer dollars that the rest of us all pay.
The only note of qualification to any of this might be the process - which we hear criticism of quite often. Did the city adequately involve residents from the start? I don't know. Would some of those folks play the selfish and uninformed me me card anyway? Probably. What I'd suggest is the biggest need concerning the process is a mass educational plan surrounding water quality, conservation, and storm water management. Too many folks are too misinformed and uneducated about this issue, which can easily result in opposition to things that are in essence good.
13. The Cough Cough award -
air quality
We seem to frequently be on the Air Quality Advisory list - we get both air quality watches and air quality advisories. According to the WDNR, air quality advisories are issued "when air pollutants have reached unhealthy levels based on the Air Quality Index". This "unhealthyness" ranges from "Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects" to much worse.
In general, this is something the local municipality would be addressing, through the forestry dept, health dept, comm development, etc. The sustainability board would be a good source for action on this too. However, this topic is almost non-existent in communication circles or in city hall.
http://dnr.wi.gov/air/
http://www.stateoftheair.org/2009/states/wisconsin/
14. The Top of the City Award -
IT for website, media services, forestry guy
IT - doing a nice job. They have been the most professional and responsive folks in city hall that I have had the pleasure to work with. Keep up the great work.
Media Services - These folks have put together a solid program that includes tv, radio, web, and more. No other area of our local government even comes close to the superior level of services offered at OCMS
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/2009/08/maybe-oshkosh-community-media-services.html
Bill Sturm - Bill is the city forester, and for much of the past year, the acting parks director. Bill is taking the lead in our city on many fronts, including sustainable water and shoreline management, urban forestation programming, and the implementation of other goals found in the comprehensive plan such as development of local community garden space. Meanwhile, the city's parks and wide range of facilities that fall under this umbrella (leach amphitheater, pollock pool, cemetery, etc) continued to function without hiccup. A busy year for Bill, and a tip of the hat from Main Street.
15. Funniest Event Award -
Zombie Walk Really funny to see. The reports of dozens of zombies pushing up against the Cranky Pats windows with families and kiddos just a little nervous is really really funny. Next year I hope they have a zombie cleanup crew though.
http://www.oshkoshhorror.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7
16. Most intense political action: School Board referendum
Oshkosh schools face many difficult challenges, and unfortunately closing neighborhood schools is one of the options on the table. This past election, we saw a pretty intense referendum campaign that actually called for closing schools while building a large new school outside of town. Main St Osh was pretty vocal on the subject as well, questioning the concepts of sustainability as well as supporting certain aspects of the efforts. Its worth reviewing -
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/search?q=referendum
17. The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf Award: Jeff Hall Somehow, this guy does something every year to earn an award. Maybe its a sign of an informed PR man, or something a bit more. Mr. Hall didn't like good friends talking to each other, so he turned on his sirens and dove right in to what has been called Much Ado About Nothing. Based on no evidence, we've concluded that he was either in dismay for not getting the seat, or he forgot that the members of the board make their decisions based upon what we write here at Main St. Regardless, keep up the good work - we're eager to see what comes this next year.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/2009/05/much-ado-about-nothing.html
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18. The Grow a Third Ear Award -
Campus Dusting Without adequate notice, hundreds of students and faculty were dusted this past May by overhead planes dropping chemicals onto their heads. Main St contributor Ron Hardy got hit right in the head with a mist, and has since been closely monitored for the abnormal growth of a third ear. Nice work everyone involved with the dusting effort.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/2009/05/crop-duster-sprays-uw-oshkosh-campus.html
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19. Best Public Support for Working Families -
Oshkosh Common Council pro labor No one that I talked to remembered this happening, so I made a new award to bring recognition to this sound position taken by the council in 2009. The council voted down a proposal by the League of Municipalities that attacks living wage jobs. A well-deserved thank you goes out to the folks on the council for their strong showing of support for working families in our community.
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/2009/05/oshkosh-city-council-pro-labor-stance.html
20. Worst News of the Year Award: Closing of Water City Grill
http://www.mainstreetoshkosh.com/2009/04/dark-day-in-oshkosh-eatery.html
Runner Up considerations for various made-up awards ( also known as what else happened this last year): New recycling bins, Tour De Titan, Main Street Parking Lot, Release of Public Enemies, Oshkosh North HS Basketball, UWO Girls Volleyball, the old Mercy is finally operational complete with new sidewalks, mainstreet storefronts receive make-over, Oshkosh GHG draft report released, Monte resigns, Esslinger finally wins mayor seat,
