Editor's Note: The following letter to the editor was submitted by District 1 Alderman Terry Thieme, who faces challengers Mark Myers and John Holst in the Feb. 19 primary election. Dear Neighbors and Citizens of Waukesha, It has been my pleasure to serve as District 1's Alderman for the last five years. In that time I have learned a lot from the district's residents and the job. One thing I know is that letting people speak about me without my responding risks people believing what others say about me. I would rather they hear directly from me and know what I am all about. Therefore I am …

Editor's Note: The following letter to the editor was submitted to Waukesha Patch. On behalf of the Waukesha Downtown Business Association, I would like to thank everyone who had a part in making the downtown ice sculpting contest such an incredible success.  With the nice weather, we saw record crowds in the downtown admiring the artist work and spending time in our businesses.  Specifically, I would like to thank Jen Palkowski and the Montecito Ristorante Lounge for their generosity of time in coordinating this event.  I understand that Jen has even bigger plans for next year! Many of the …

To the Editor: The Waukesha County Business Alliance has been a long standing advocate for the completion of the Waukesha West Bypass. Travelers currently face extended delays when trying to navigate north and south throughout Waukesha. In addition, there are numerous safety concerns due to capacity issues and current roadway design. The completion of the Waukesha West Bypass presents a great opportunity to increase the efficiency, capacity and safety of traffic flow for businesses, property owners and tenants on the south and west end of Waukesha. By 2035 SEWRPAC estimates that traffic …

Editor's Note: The following letter to the editor was submitted to Patch by Alderman Roger Patton. The Waukesha Business Improvement District has suffered a great loss in the resignation of Meghan Sprager as our director to take a new job.  The BID Board of Directors has been very happy with her enthusiastic leadership and finding her replacement will be very difficult. Her sunny, optimistic disposition kept our board together when we had disagreements over issues such as closing Main Street on Friday nights and the handling of the initial Guitar Town money.  We were reminded constantly by …

Editor’s Note: The following letter was submitted to Patch by Waukesha Business Improvement District Board Member Chris VanderBloemen and her husband, Stephen. As long time commercial property owners in the BID District and a past board member of the BID and officer for many years (Steve) and as a current BID board member (Christine), it is with deep sadness and disappointment that we hear of the resignation of yet another Executive Director of the Waukesha Business Improvement District.  Unfortunately, Meghan Sprager is not the first victim of these tactics.  Previous executive directors, …

Letter To The Editor: I am sure most are aware of the mess in the Waukesha County clerk’s office. Now we are reading that the mess is going to cost the taxpayers of Waukesha County $256,300.  I suspect this is only the cost of the software and the folks who install it. The question that is not being asked is who is going to oversee the installation of this software and the education of the people in the department? Obviously it has to be a person with a great deal of experience. That is why I am voting for Kathy Karalewitz who has 25 years of experience running elections, the majority being …

To the Editor: Waukesha County residents have an opportunity to vote on Aug. 14 and advance an experienced county clerk candidate to the general election on Nov. 6.  We need to elect a county clerk who not only has experience in running elections, but has the additional skills and leadership qualities to successfully run the county clerk’s office. Out of the three candidates running, only one has 25 years of election experience in this County and that is Kathy Karalewitz (the other candidates only have a combined three years of experience!). In Kathy’s 25 years of public service, she has …

Editor's note: This letter to the editor was written by Waukesha County resident Kathleen Madden. If you want to submit a letter to the editor, upload it here. To the Editor: On Aug. 14, Waukesha County residents have to select a county clerk candidate to move onto the General Election on Nov. 6. We need to elect a county clerk who has experience running elections. There are three candidates in the primary in August and only one candidate has 25 years of experience running elections in this County and that is Kathy Karalewitz. The other two candidates in the primary have a total of three …

Editor's Note: The following letter was written by Alderman Rick Hastings, who was appointed to the Common Council in early 2010. He was elected to the seat April 3 to finish the term vacated by former Alderman Charles Lichtie. Letter to the editor: I’d like to sincerely thank everyone in District 12 for supporting me in the recent election and voting me back onto the Council.  I am honored and proud to have the opportunity to continue serving as your Alderman for another year. Throughout my campaigning I spoke to many of you and stated that “I was passionate about helping resolve issues and …

Editor's Note: The following letter was written by Erik Rhine, who wanted to run for alderman but did not live in District 12 because of redistricting. I have paid close attention to the alderman election for Waukesha’s 12th district, even after my own disqualification from the race.  I publically supported Ron Kading.  Many people have inquired as to why. I have met with Ron several times over the past few months.  It became evident that water, taxes and a sustainable city economy emerged as the most important issues in Waukesha.  Ron Kading has strong opinions, and backs his positions with …

Editor's Note: The following is an e-mail from Waukesha STEM Academy-Saratoga Campus teacher Tina Koch about Jake Kelly, who passed away last week while out running. Kelly was a popular seventh-grade teacher at the school. I worked alongside Jake as a seventh-grade teacher at the Waukesha STEM Academy. Even though Jake and I only really knew each other for a few months, we grew quite close within a small amount of time. He loved to teach and this passion was clear in both talking and teaching with him. I feel like I've lost an incredibly great friend. We share similar interests in education, …

Editor's Note: This letter to the community came from Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas' newsletter. Dear Friends,Last month, I introduced my 2012 Executive Budget to the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors which freezes the County portion of the property tax bill. In order to freeze the County portion of your tax bill, under the proposed budget, Waukesha County will reduce the operating budget by 1.4% and personnel costs by 2%. Seeking partnerships between departments, other governments and the private sector to implement efficiencies and ultimately save tax dollars has been key to …

Editor's Note: This opinion piece was written by Mayor Jeff Scrima. Today, the 2012 executive budget for the City of Waukesha is being released. Special thanks to our Executive Leadership Team – which consists of Interim City Administrator Steve Crandell, our Finance Department and all of our Department Directors – for their collaboration and hard work in putting together a proposed budget which produces a zero percent tax levy increase for our citizens. We understand the struggles our citizens and city employees face. Putting together this proposal was time consuming, complex and required …

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, the Landmarks Commission of the City of Waukesha met at City Hall.  One of the items on the agenda was a petition from the YMCA to rescind the local landmark designation for the former Bartles-Maguire  service station at 422 E. Broadway. The short recent history of this property is:  It had been on the market for 170 days when it was sold to the Waukesha Family YMCA in May of 2010.  In July of 2010 it was designated a Waukesha Landmark by the Landmarks Commission over the objections of the YMCA. At no time during over five months it was for sale, did anyone attempt…

With the onset of a historic heat wave in Southeastern Wisconsin, HAWS – the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County – reminds pet owners of the dangers of heat for their best friends.Never leave pets unattended in your parked car.  The temperature inside a car, even with windows open slightly, can quickly reach deadly levels.  In sunlight temps can rise more than 30 degrees per minute. In extreme conditions such as these, pets should remain indoors in a climate controlled environment.  When pets must be outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun (a dog house does …

Editor's Note: Paul Furrer is a former Waukesha alderman who chose to not seek re-election this spring. Mayor Jeff Scrima’s June 11 Letter to the Editor tells me all I need to know why the Common Council should override his veto of the water negotiating team. Can the author of a letter that flatly states; “Oak Creek and Racine are unfeasible due to significantly greater distances and costs,” go on to lead good faith negotiations with those communities?  I don’t think so. As far as the mayor and town’s request to be represented at the negotiations. I suggest that the city invite the town into …

Would the Packers ever start a game without all of their defensive players on the field? In American football, the numbers of players on each team are matched for good reason. Having equal offensive and defensive players on each team is fair. Having 7 offensive players on one team playing against 3 defensive players on the other team would be catastrophic – catastrophic that is for the team with only 3 players. The same holds true with the water negotiations between the City of Milwaukee and the City of Waukesha. Milwaukee has already firmly established their 7 member water negotiation team, …

I’d like to thank everyone for their support in the recent election. I’m honored and humbled to serve you for the next three years as a member of Board of Education for the School District of Waukesha. Sincerely,Joe Como 

To the Editor: I want to thank the many people in Waukesha that have supported and encouraged me to seek reelection to the School Board.  These people have circulated nomination papers for my name to appear on the ballot, wrote letters and editorials on my behalf, placed  my election signs on their property and have given me confidence during a time of great political competition in our community. If re-elected, I promise to continue to be a voice of the community on the board, to listen and respond to public concerns, to remain well-informed and prepared to make decisions at board meetings …

For Karin Sue Rajnicek to refer to Waukesha School Board members as "mistrustful" is not a fact.  It is her biased opinion.  She has not worked with the board so how can she say this?  Hearsay?  Opinion of others?  Does she really know that these people are her neighbors who give of themselves tirelessly on behalf of her children and all children in our schools?  Does she know that these people are honest, hard-working and well-informed public servants, most of who hold down full-time careers while attending two to three school board meetings weekly, year-round, besides attending workshops …