Well its going to referendum. Thank you to the Evansville city council for letting all be heard.

Funny little story I was told today about lake leota. Years ago when it was clear this lake needed to be dredged. A business man in town, a well known one offered to dredge the lake for the price of gas, as he had his own equipment. The city totally dropped the ball. This was told to me by a alderperson. They have had their chances over the years to do it for a lot less.

At this point as stated before. Let it go to referendum and let it be what it will be.

There are some very nice homes in Evansville. Some occupied, some sitting empty. But there is also the opposite side of the scale, from inexpensive to moderate range. Not everyone who lives in Evansville can with stand a tax hike. Which this will bring, especially since the upgrades to the waste water treatment plant. It is really sad that because they do get a lot of traffic from Madison the town has not attracted more business. More stores. Not offices. Most everything here is over priced.

I know the taxes, rent, etc is high in Evansville, that's why after living in an overpriced dumpy apartment for 3 months paying more rent than I could for a decent place in Janesville I moved and open enrolled my daughter to Evansville Schools. And if you look at the housing in Evansville, you can't deny there are more new and huge homes compared to existing homes (prior to 1988). Evansville is driven by the Madison market and it shows.

I want the lake, but I want to see it go to referendum. I have lived here all my life and can't remember the lake when it was in good shape.
They should have fixed it back in 1982 when the referendum cleared the way to fix it then and they did not. They have had several opportunities over the years to fix it and did not. Now we sit at a 2 million dollar price tag and that is with out doing the creek walls which they will still fix, but at a later time.

I have several neighbors right now that are really struggling just to make ends meets, one family in a dire situation.

To not have it go to a referendum would be very arrogant on the part of the city council.

It may very well pass, but everyone must have a say.

The answer is simple. It goes to a referendum, if it passes, it passes. But people are going to want to know the impact on their taxes. This as many have said is a 'want'. A referendum is the only clear, fair , logical choice. This is a town of 4000+ , we can not have a handful of people making this call for the entire town. It is a recreational choice. Some place and something we do for fun. By going to referendum no one can say that did not get a say. With people out of jobs, more layoffs coming, trying to decide should I pay my water bill or feed may family. Should I pay my health insurance or feed my family? Foolish spending can not just be decided by a few. It will be political suicide if it does not go to referendum. It will divide the town more than it already is, and there will be a lot of accusations, allegations. There should be no fear of it going to a referendum. It will be the call by the Evansville people. I have fears about what my taxes will be like with repairs/upgrades to the w.w.t.P. at near 3 million and add the lake into that mess and our taxes are going to take a hit. No if ands or butts about it.

This lake may very well pass, but it can not be a decision by a few. To referendum it must go.

I have heard quite a few people talk of a recall if it does not.

The school projects get added on to our city taxes. IT may not be the city who decides for the school but it still ends up on our taxes.

Any clue Jim as to how much money they dumped into the rumble stip down town? What a waste, plus they went way over budget. Its really to bad Evansville does not have the business to support these projects. IT is already saving on water?? I am sorry I do not see that on my bill, as high as ever.

The waste water treatment plant improvements is nearing the 3 million dollar mark. What is your answer to that. We can not afford this lake, and having a flushing toilet.

My self I like having indoor plumbing.
The schools, are you kidding. ITS going to happen sooner , not later. However it as well will take a referendum. HEIDI does not WANT to move the schools around . She is opposed to that, and they have already met to discuss wording for the referendum for the schools. The post office, we will not fund, but the library we sure will. IT will cost millions as well. I am not off on my hundreds of thousands go through and read the meeting minutes. Its all there in black and white.

If you want the lake great, vote yes for it on the referendum in November.

Cutaincall, the Post Office move isn't a city expense. That's a Federal building. They'll rent somewhere else and it won't cost Evansville an extra cent.

Rebuilding downtown was expensive but it had to be done. There has already been a water savings to the city just in the sanitary sewer repairs. Also, you might want to check on that "Hundreds of thousands" language. I think you're off by a bunch.

The schools are looking at future needs in the 5 year, 10 year, twenty year range. There's no sense in not planning and getting hit in the face with needs. Rearranging buildings is far more likely than new. Nobody is anxious to put up new bricks before the High School is paid off. Heidi doesn't make the decisions for the District but she is paid to make recommendations. that's her job. It's up to the Board and the District's voters to make the decisions and none have been made yet.

I know it feels like a lot is going on but the Lake is a City project, the School District is not the City, nor is the Post Office. You need to keep them separate.

The lake issue has to go to a referendum. Have not made up my mind completely how I would vote. I want more info. They have been asked several times for the effect it will have on our taxes and have gotten no answer. Now with the waste water treatment plant, which its clear we need but is going to cost millions. I am concerned. The schools I have been told also want to build. They want to re-do the library. At some point the post office will have to be moved and a new one build(because of library expansion.) Let us not forget the huge rumble strip they put in the downtown at the cost of hundreds of thousands. Went way over budget on that.. Not only that but the creek walls are going to need to be done and that the last time I heard was close to half a mil it self. To many projects, to many unemployed, to many choosing heat, food, or health insurance.. To many issues to spend millions on things we don't need. It is just something a few want.

As with most of you I also am an informed voter. I feel, Tuesdays vote, is a waste of time for me. As an informed voter you know, no single party covers all of your concerns, and we vote for the PERSON we researched as our choice, yet Tuesdays vote only allows us to vote as a single issue voter would, straight Democrat or Republican. Nothing will change because of Tuesdays vote!

I will tell you what happened to your 'donation' it got spent by the s.o.l.e. committee on one of their many estimates, reports, testing. What ever. The s.o.l.e. committee has done a poor job or raising money, as they just thought if we don't have it, the city will give it to us. NO real incentive there at all.. SO your money is gone.

Also not everyone lives in a 'big fancy house.'. Taxes in this town are outrageous and many struggle with the taxes as it is now. NOT to mention those unemployed who are struggling just to make their house payment.

' big fancy houses.' It has been a while since you lived here.

I don't live in Evansville so I don't have a vote. However, I grew up in Evansville, and the lake does need to be restored. I remember my parents and grandparents telling me what the lake was like when they were kids and how they went fishing and swimming in the lake. It's never been anything but a oversized puddle for at least 30 years probably even more than that. It would be nice to see boats on the lake fishin or folks swimming on a beach....Evansville definately needs something like Lake Leota....and if the residents can afford their big and expensive houses, they can afford to chip in on the Lake restoration fund. I know the 4-H Clubs in the area took donations. And I donated toward it....if it isn't restored what happens to the donations?

instead of lake leota i wish it read lake koshkonong

IF you can not attend the meeting contact your alderperson and let them know your opinion. I personally can not make it, but have talked with my alder. This had better go to referendum or get used to hearing the word RECALL. Especially with the waste water treatment plant getting closer to costing 3 million than 2.25 million as first thought. We can only afford so much. Taxes are sky high in Evansville as it is.