MADEINUSA- just imagine how much of the new "wheel tax" the thugs in our city council will pocket..

The most ridiculous sidewalk I have seen or noticed installed as of recent is the one by Farm & Fleet and Kutters- What the hell?!? Now there's a sidewalk on both sides of the street that no one really uses. Wake up Janesville! We need to stop voting for morons to run this city!

luvujvl, is that landscaping, lighting, sprinkler system beyond the boundries of your property lines? If so, you are S.O.L. I do agree however that it is unwanted maintaince and stupid to install sidewalks along every street.

Our sidewalk install area has a large phone box on one end and another box on the other right in the way. Who pays to have all those lines moved? The telephone company or us? What about the mailboxes for the 4 houses in the area too? Any ideas?

Wortnik, For the record I help 3 of my elderly neighbors shovel & snowblow during the winter. Enjoy installing your sidewalks.

luvujvl - I agree with you 100%! Plus don't forget about our underground sprinkler system that we'll have to get replaced/moved. Just more money out of the pocket... Thanks board members...

What about those of us who "whine" about trees that have been there for 50 or more years - long before we owned the property? Plus driveway modifications that will need to be done, outside lighting that will need to be moved, and landscaping that will be destroyed? It's not "JUST" $1800. (As if that were a drop in the bucket.) It's also the other added expenses being forced upon us, plus the loss of green space, the intrusion on personal property, and the added burden of maintenance - all for something that won't even get used. Complete stupidity.

Borrow borrow borrow, leave it to the kids.

JohnWicket, now that's a great question since the increased taxes withheld above the baseline in TIF's is spent on infrastructure improvements. Are parcel owners in TIF's charged separately for their sidewalks? And, what are the definitions of infrastructure paid for from TIF funds?

Who pays for sidewalk construction and upkeep in the city's TIF districts? Are the owners of these businesses subject to similar taxation as homeowners?

redder, your statement about not being able to afford one's house is ignorant. At record volume of joblessness, bankruptcies, foreclosures and home/ loan abandonment this is not a time to mandate another "significant" burden. Regardless of the reason, good or bad, this country can not continue to spend. If it's any concern to you, Janesville will likely realize several more vacant homes, as result of a choice to make a mortgage payment or save a home from property tax default. It's simply too much a fact, like it or not.

Its about time this is over....people who whine about sidewalks need to get a life. REALLY...its just the way it is. For all those who cry about liability...REASONABLE CARE...call your lawyers. The rest that whine about trees, the side walk can go around them, in most cases, if not you planted them in the wrong place you should have checked first...Easement....about cost, well you have choices, move, finance, do it yourself, or quit whineing...its safe, the streets are not..just that simple. If you cannt afford 1800 bucks over 2 years at 3% you probably cannt afford your house

Is all it takes is just one case. You have all the proof and paperwork. Present it to the County DA. Stop dropping more misinformation and names here and go for it.

If I came into town as city manager and saw an administrative process where the city collected thousands of dollars from contractors and builders without receipt for specified infrastructure or services - I would shut that process down in a heartbeat. That system would breed fraud and corruption. Levitt should be commended if he ended that practice as you claim. But even that accusation deserves investigation since it happened during Sheiffer's time. Did Sheiffer's administration take money from property owners without receipt. That too is serious.

taxandspend, I don't know what state statute book you follow but in Wisconsin, special assessments run with the land - always. Claiming you paid for sidewalks in Janesville "no matter where they were placed" and future sidewalk maintenance explains a lot. I actually thought you may have had a real issue of fraud here. Legal contracts are binding no matter who the city manager. They cannot be dissolved until of course they were useless non-binding documents to begin with. From your writings it appears you have nothing but a chip on your shoulder for Levitt. Good luck with your petition.

There is absolutely no proof that that individual parcels of properties are being billed (assessed) twice for the same sidewalk. Saying so does not make it so. taxandspend claims he paid a special assessment for sidewalks and infrastructure - that's all. But the Gazette should investigate those accusations. They are serious since taxandspend is accusing city administrators of misappropriation of funds and fraud. With real proof, those kind of accusations lead to jail time. A petition won't be needed.

taxandspend: Let me know when that petition starts going around. I'm in.

Well, we know which council members not to vote for again. I hope you have all smartened up a bit by knowing which council members are listening to us and which are not.

youkillme: taxandspend has provided the proof already in one of the posts here.

Maxcap75: I hate governor Walker because he is a fake just like most of our politicians, both parties. But I am withe you 100% about the sidewalks and so are the majority of people.

Madcap, you too or are you taxandspend? If anyone has receipt that they paid a special assessment in advance for sidewalk installation and never had them installed and are now being billed again on the same parcel for sidewalks - please present your proof. If someone in the previous administration has embezzled money (or this administration) from special assessments, the public should be informed. But without proof - it never happened.

why should we have to pay for sidewalks when they were ALREADY PAID FOR in advance!?!?!?!?! Get your heads out of your rear ends and read and learn. The City manager misappropriated the funds for his own pet project and now wants us to pay for the sidewalks again???? If they try to put a sidewalk in my yard they will be very sorry.

Donnaw said..."I know people are upset but why the bad behavior? There are peaceful ways to settle disagreements. Private meetings, elections, petitions, etc. why yell and make a ruckus. I guess it's the new mode of behavior for bratty children."

So this behavior is only reserved and praised if you hate Gov. Walker and The Tea Party members, and Corporations. But when others use this method it is childish. hypocrites.

Where is your proof of the parcels being charged twice for sidewalks, etc.? You have only have proof of being charged once and that the city will do the installation as needed. It appears those parcels would be identified as having (pre)funded sidewalks.

taxandspend - where is your proof? I would also think considering the angry way a few people reacted to pay for sidewalks even one time, that anybody being billed twice for the same sidewalk would step forward and present their proof. With proof, you win supporters. Without proof you're little more than a dingbat with an ax to grind.

Why is everyone against paying their fair share? I had to get sidewalks, why not you?

Taxandspend - just don't stand on the sidewalk when you protest sidewalks :)

Its should be a requirement for all city officials to play SimCity in front of all the interested residents to see how they do before being elected

And all the trees and landscaping that will be lost should perk up the neighborhood---who wants to look at trees when cement is available!

So those of us living in subdivisions that were not platted for them get to lose our front yards. I can't wait for all these sidewalk users looking into my picture window only a few feet away and losing much of my driveway parking. Oh well--the property value has declined so much what's a few more thousands decrease.

Taxandspend, you are saying that in 2003, you paid about $8,000 on each parcel towards sidewalks, curb and streetlights on properties which now have homes that you sold, have yet to receive those amenities. True? Special assessments run with the land, not the owner. Which means if the infrastructure was not yet installed, they will eventually be put in since they are funded. But do you have proof Levitt took that money and spent it on the ice rink? I think that is a serious allegation that an accuser, you, should present with a little more proof than to just make the accusation seemingly based on Tarot cards.

So the anti-sidewalk crowd is really the local Tea Party. Why doesn't that surprise me?

"The council will borrow another $50,000 to demolish a building and clear the Jackson Street site." Why not get it done for free? All you have to do is have some taggers paint likenesses of the city council members on the sides. Maybe even throw on a picture of Walker. Then sit back and watch it being reduced to a pile of rubble.

Does anyone know how to start the process for changing the City government to a mayoral system?

I was very sad to see the skate park taken off the table. This has been on going for 9 yrs where every other larger city in the area put in a park to keep kids off the street and getting into trouble. No not in Janesville, you would rather see these kids wondering around the streets with nothing to do because there family can not afford to put them into a organized program. Skate and bike park is free to everyone and every city across this country saw that need and put one in. It was not the people who raised the money because that will never happen because it is not a organized group trying to raise money like baseball etc. That is why every city and I mean every city had to pay and build it. Not in Janesville because you scare the ---- out of the council members and they afraid to help families in need of something to do. Thus you will just keep complaining on how you see kids on the street doing whatever and creating problems. Money spent here will save over time due to damage repairs by kids who have nothing to do.

You would think Rashkin, after losing his house, filing bankruptcy and surviving a hitman, would underdtand what hardship is and what $2000 REALLY means to people who are struggling.

I don't have sidewalks in my neighborhood, intentionally. However I can see where sidewalks would be useful in certain locations. That said. There is something called fiscal responsibility. In a time when unemployment is high, many people are underemployed, other taxes are being increased etc... this seems incredibly insensitive to the financial wellness of many in the community. I think the board should have shelved this measure for the time being or come up with alternative funding sources such as trying to obtain federal grant money.

Janesville needs sidewalks so the kids can ride their skateboards to the new skate park. Folks need sidewalks to get to the walking path and if there were more sidewalks people could walk instead of drive and they would save on the wheel tax and fewer parking lots would be needed. In the winter people could shovel instead of exercising at the gym or club. There are a lot of positive reasons for sidewalks. And, why would the city want to spend $ 50,000. to tear down a building near the skate park when the kids could use it for smoking and stuff.

How much harder can you stick it to us Rashkin.. Wow, up the interest rate on something WE DON'T want that you mandate. Can't you all just see him trying to give citizens the shaft on a statewide level. Interest on this mandate SHOULD BE 0. At 6% can I buy into that a little? That's a better rate than any other investment. Yuri is committing political suicide. Let's all cheer as he flushes himself down the drain.

I know people are upset but why the bad behavior? There are peaceful ways to settle disagreements. Private meetings, elections, petitions, etc. why yell and make a ruckus. I guess it's the new mode of behavior for bratty children.

OK Taxandspend, I am in! How do we go about getting a petition started???

Let's see;
- another one added to list / trash collection
just keeps stacking up...

There is no "side walk fund", and there never was. There were only property owners who had to pay for sidewalks, and property owners who were lucky enough to avoid paying for sidewalks year after year after year, just because they could cause a stink at a council meeting. It's an old, old tactic and it's absolutely unfair to all the other taxpayers. This program had two years of delays due to the economy, but for some of these people the time is never, ever going to be right -- after all, they successfully opposed it back when GM was open and housing prices were leaping through the roof, so why not keep opposing it now while pleading poverty? The only question is whether these lucky few are going to have to incur the same expense that everyone else did, or whether the taxpayers who already paid into the sidewalk network are going to let them off the hook yet again.
.
The current sidewalk expansion is on the east side. I'd be happy to walk some of these people with nice homes and big lots around the Fourth Ward so they can see what real poverty is like.

Let's see;
- school taxes going up
- water going up
- sidewalks going in
what else can a struggling family pay for in this town?

So - "times are too tough" for the previously agreed-upon amount for skatepark funding.........but at the exact same meeting, times aren't really THAT tough, so we can pay up the nose for sidewalks we don't want. Which is it? Are times tough, or aren't they?

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to vote for or against an accountable mayor rather than get mad as heck at an appointed administrator with a multi-year contract who can ignore us all since he answers to nobody but an undemanding part-time city council.

taxandspend, first you wrote that when Levitt came to town the sidewalk fund, which I don't believe existed in the capacity you described, was drained. Afterwards then you wrote Levitt used the fund (which was drained before he arrived) to rebuild the $3 million Ice Rink for the Levitt children. So which is it?

If you're so glad it passed. Make sure to get out and help the elderly and infirm shovel this winter. It'll do you good

Good. I'm glad it passed. I value the sidewalks in my neighborhood!

for once I understand wanting to Recall officials! Any way of starting a recall effort against these bozos???

crunch_munch
Oct 25, 2011 at 4:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
"realitybytes - I agree, property owners shouldn't have to pay for a public sidewalk. I disagree about the sales tax though."

or

crunch_munch
Oct 25, 2011 at 4:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
realitybytes - "I agree, property owners shouldn't have to pay for a public education. I disagree about the sales tax though."

Janesville needs sidewalks. If not for sidewalks, all the kids that parents don't care about that are out all night would have to walk on other people's grass.

I'm starting to like this Levitt guy.

It's the old saying "Not in my neighborhood". Thanks you Council Members for standing up to this issue. Yes I have sidewalks. When they come around and spray paint the bad ones I have to pay. Welcome to my world. I think it should be citywide. Feel my pain. Yes they are used a lot. It should be on both sides of the street.

And from where does the city council think the residents are suppose to pull and extra $2,000 out from? Times are tough, A lot of people are doing everything they can to just get by, and keep groceries on the table!
Here again, and out of touch group of politicians puts thier own foolish adgenda ahead of the citizens best interests. We have 9% Unemployment! This as the city wants to increase the water charge another 21% ahead of the 9% they did the year before. Obviously our city council has a few too many clueless rich people or there is no way they would have voted to force people to pay for a sidewalk in this economic disaster. There is a ton of people locally who are poor and hurting, Homes are being repossesed because some cant afford thier payments, taxes, and utilities!
By the way, How many people have been killed in Janesville due to a lack of sidewalks? Can anyone think of ONE?
This has to be a grab by the city to put title leans on properties that are in forclosure etc or a way to ramp up the money they are making putting in the sidewalks. "Can't afford it?" "We'll put it in and until you pay for it, We own your house title!" This bill only hurts those who are hurting the worst.
Hey council members, Why do you think that people are mad? Why do you think there was hostility, and straight out resentment tward you when you vote for something like this at a time like this?
Thank You to those of you who voted NO! To those of you who voted yes, we will remember YOU at election time.

Why would it cost $50000 to demolish that old building at the batting cages? That sounds absurd can the Gazette clarify that. I had an entire house demolished and it was $1700.

I am not in favor of the sidewalks (At least at this time)

REality: If the Developer put money upfront for a future planned sidewalk in front of your property, then you have what the city calls a funded sidewalk. These are noted on the city sidewalk plan. If you the homeowner wish to hire a private contractor to put in your funded sidewalk (Or do it yourself), you can then contact the city for an inspection and a refund of the sidewalk cost (The city's cost figures not your actual cost). I would suggest contacting Mike Payne at the City before starting to be sure of the particular circumstances with your property.

But hurrah for the council members who broke ranks and voted against sidewalks

For many years the city would require that the developer of a subdivision would put money into a fund to cover sidewalks. Let's say that was $2k per lot. The developer simply raised the price of the lots by at least $2k to cover their costs. Therefore the homeownwer was the one that ended up paying for sidewalks. Also, since the fair market value of the lots was increased by $2k, the homeowners yearly property taxes were increased. If the city mandates sidewalk repair: once again the homeowners cost.

Why are homeowners directly charged for installing and maintaining something that is: 1)many times unwanted 2)a PUBLIC use entity 3)something that does not increase the value of the property.

Property owners are not the only users of sidewalks. I would prefer to see a 0.5% city sales tax added to cover these expenses. Money from this fund would be used to cover sidewalks, street lights, and (if money left over) bike trails. Sorry, but property owners should not have foot the entire bill for something that is used by everybody