'I Want to Save the BID'
Waukesha aldermen take action that they hope will save the Waukesha Business Improvement District.
The day before a major public hearing that will help determine the fate of the Business Improvement District, Waukesha aldermen rescinded the BID’s operating plan’s special tax assessment.
More than 60 percent of the property owners within the district want to disband the 25-year-old organization that provides services like marketing, recruitment and retention and events in the downtown area via a special tax assessment. Differing opinions often clash downtown and the BID’s been in a state of controversy for years. The controversy increased in 2012 when then-Executive Director Meghan Sprager resigned, citing a hostile working environment.
“Should I stay out of it and let the BID die without compromise?” Alderman Roger Patton asked. “That is what some of my friends want. ... This is a last-minute effort to save the BID.”
While the aldermen voted 7-5 on Tuesday to rescind the BID’s special tax assessment, the motion effectively rescinds the BID’s operating plan. Still the BID can’t conduct business while the petition for the BID to dissolve is addressed.
“I want to save the BID, but I don’t know how to do it,” Patton told the aldermen.
Some aldermen were not in agreement with the plan, however, some like aldermen Duane Paulson and Paul Ybarra wanted to give the BID a chance.
“While it may not work, it is one last thing to try,” Ybarra said. “We are very interested in saving the BID.”
Mr. Kelly
11:13 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
That's valiant of Roger Patton to try to be the savior, however these are tough economic times and property owners could use this tax relief through dissolving the BID. After all, property owners know best how to invest their own money. Government is not the savior.
Mr Lundt
7:10 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
It does not appear many of the paying participants in BID want the city's "help"
N Schmidt
12:52 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Roger needs to tell the people why he was implicated by the Mayor and Lynn Gaffey in the events that led to the vandalism of the past BID director's car.
Jaime Lannister
5:41 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I just hope the BID closure isn't going to reduce the number of vendors at the farmers market, or the ratio of saloons to people in the downtown. We've got a good thing going here!
Martin Tully
6:02 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Scrima is the problem.
This started with current mayor Scrima. His divisive actions have caused the failure of this BID.
We can't wait to replace you. We have several great candidates available and ready to work along with the people of Waukesha. The Council wants to move forward without you.
the people
9:35 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Scrima appointed, and the Common Council approved, the following people to the BID Board:
1. Ed Henshel
2. Bill Huelsman
3. Natalie Walters
4. Vance Skinner
5. JimTaylor
6. Sandy Cianciolo
7. Ron Lostetter
8. Nick Martinez
This Board sets the direction for the BID. Now what's wrong with these people?
Mr Lundt
8:49 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
60% of the BID business owners don't want the "help"
While is is neat that others people want the businesses to pay taxes to support this---the businesses obviously do not see enough benefit.
One would think this would be enough to kill it. However the notion of spending other people's money for a perceived noble idea is not limited to Washington.