BULLSEYE
Alderman Lyle Sohns Responds to Tax Pledge Offer
District 5 Alderman Lyle Sohns has responded to my April 2 offer to all seated (with the exception of Alan Hammelman and Pete Kosovich) alderman, to sign a tax pledge to the citizens of Franklin, like the pledge signed by Mayor Taylor.
For those of you following this campaign, or what’s been described by one Franklin citizen as, “the theatrics of guys like Fred,” follows is my email exchange with Alderman Sohns.
Alderman Sohns’ comment regarding the City’s e-mail server is a reference to my post “FRIENDS IN GOVERNMENT.”
Sun, 6 Apr 2008 11:27:38 -0500
Fred –
Thanks for your e-mail.
I read your blog this morning and I want to reassure you that there is nothing wrong with the City’s e-mail server.
Before we met to discuss your request and my response, I wanted to assemble some data to support the points I intend to make to you. I have a day job, so I needed a little time do my homework. I hope you can forgive my tardiness.
I’m traveling on business most of the week, but have Friday off. Would you like to meet during the day? You’re welcome to invite Bryan Maersch and Kevin Fischer if you like.
Friday, or what’s your pleasure?
Lyle Sohns
Sunday, April 06, 2008 6:44 PM
Lyle,
I hope you understand my “bit” on the city’s email server was pure sarcasm. I was simply trying to put some friendly public pressure on you and the other alderman who hadn’t responded to my email from last Wednesday. No hard feelings on my part.
I’m available to meet with you on Friday, April 11 in the late morning or early afternoon. I’ll check with Fischer and Maersch to see whether they are interested in a meeting and get back to you. If they're unavailable, I may ask Franklin resident and businessman, Scott Thinnes, as long as you don't mind.
Thanks,
Fred Keller
Sun, 6 Apr 2008 21:10:10 -0500
Fred –
Bloggers don’t have a corner on sarcasm – I know exactly what you meant.
Invite whom ever you like. By copy, I’m asking Alderman Olson if he’d like to join us.
Lyle
To be continued…
Fred Keller
in City of Franklin, Franklin Common Council
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Reader Comments (2)
I know this is true because Greg says so and it is in the Franklin-now I got in the newspaper today. After all Greg has been a Franklin resident since he has been 11 years old and he knows lots about the city.
He is my hero! Just ask anyone.
The travesty being played in Franklin’s Council chambers can aptly be titled: “A bad cause will ever be supported by bad means and bad men” ~ Thomas Paine
The Mayor has taken the high road with his pledge to hold a tax hike to 3%.
Then there are those like Ald. Sohns and Ald. Olson, who don’t like the idea of not having their usual “filet mignon”…something that has spoiled them far too long. It’s about time they and others learn what “hamburger” tastes like. Ald. Olson and Ald. Sohns, would you like some cheese with your whine?
While the working class has had to tighten their belts, these “trenchers” have the gall to belly-up to their “groaning table” of exorbitant taxation year after year.
There will always be grousing and excuses about the causes that shrink the city’s year-end fund balances. Ben Franklin nailed it when he said: “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else”.
These excuses only exemplify the incompetent management and lack of foresight in connection with unforeseen contingencies. All along there should have been discriminate trimming in Franklin’s government spending…little by little. Yet, the most facile method was used year after year…throw money at it! An elementary student knows how to do that! Give them a pail of money and see how long it lasts!
The veneer is wearing off of the tacit threat of reducing the effectiveness of our police and fire departments. There is a myriad of places to start trimming without even considering these services. I am sure the revamped Finance Committee will employ more exacting eyes.
Last year the Mayor used the “life ring” [that sunk] of: “a nearly 75% decrease in home development” to justify a budget that went through the roof. If that is the condition in Franklin, why did Ald. Solomon infer that Franklin has inadequate police and fire protection when he asked the Finance Committee how the Mayor’s limiting tax levy increases would effect unfilled jobs in the fire and police departments.”
With such a drastic reduction in home development, does it make sense to increase protection for fewer residents? Ad nauseum…more scare tactics.
Maybe Franklin’s financial circumstance will bring out some creative methods to eliminate unnecessary spending…things that we can get along without…pass on the “filet mignon” and enjoy better “health” with “lean hamburger”.
I trust that the Finance Committee will meet the challenge. Nothing should be done that will cause next year’s taxes to surpass a 3% increase...and every year thereafter!
If the Finance Committee and the Council apply the same standards that we use in our family budgets…do without low priorities to balance the books…who can fault that?
DISCLAIMER: The opinions mentioned above are not necessarily those of certain politicians but certainly those of the author.