On Should the city of Milton subsidize a taxi service?
Posted on November 6 at 9:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is Milton Alderman Brett Frazier. Carrisford, I think you're on the right track with you previous post- this is Milton and surely we can figure out how to help our friends and neighbors get to the grocery store and the doctor's office for less than $105,000. Stacy Vogel's story (link available in above) highlights perfectly the questions that I have with the program being proposed. I have serious doubts about the estimated ridership- numbers that, if wrong, could seriously affect the city's cost on this program. It's also important to note that this cost would almost certainly go up in subsequent years...if we provide seniors a ride-share, but also raise their property taxes to pay for it...have we really accomplished anything? The reality is that the 2010 budget, with all the proposed spending, is not at all realistic in my opinion. There will need to be serious cuts to the proposed spending and the taxi service should be the first among those cuts. There simply has to be a better way without creating an entirely new city service...a service that would have a very limited number of citizens utilizing it.
We've got a great community and there are many of us willing to help those who need it...I'm confident that we can meet the needs of our senior citizens for a heck of a lot less than $105,000.
Posted on November 5 at 3:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
That "interesting" comment is not from me. Sorry there's not more discussion, Jim. The "consultants" part made me laugh out loud.
On Milton could get taxi program
Posted on September 24 at 10:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is Milton Alderman Brett Frazier.
I agree with Pete. I was the only Council member to speak up with questions and I am was not in favor of this being a city funded project. I understand the need for a ride-share type program for seniors. I would support something along those lines and I think The Gathering Place would be a logical group to head such a venture. I cannot, however, support this plan as it was presented the other night to us. My dissent, however, is going to end up being ceremonial at best- I will be drowned out by five supporters on the Council. I'll say it again- I believe the need is there for a senior ride-share program. It's my understanding that our city ordinances currently make it cost prohibitive for a for-profit to offer taxi service in Milton. Administrator Schmidt, upon my asking the question, stated that a private organization could offer taxi service "if they didn't charge for it". Sounds like a great volunteer opportunity to me or a community outreach program for a non-profit. We were told that there was grand money through a couple foudations that could help to fund this type program. I would love to see a non-profit step forward to obtain a grant and offer this service to seniors.
The fact of the matter is, however, that this is going to make the budget and it's cost will grow over time. There are, as I suspected when I ran for the Council, many places where we could save tax payer money, but that WILL NOT HAPPEN unless my fellow Council members hear from citizens! Your comments count and are referred to during meetings. A phone call can make a difference. There have been and there will be places presented where we can save $15,000 or $9,000 and they'll add up to real tax relief WITHOUT sacrificing service levels. There is money to be saved in this budget, but this Council needs to hear from people!
Posted on August 31 at 1:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
And...forgot to mention. Northleaf Winery and Old Junction Mill are GREAT examples of what can be done with these great old buildings!!!
Posted on August 31 at 12:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is Milton Alderman Brett Frazier.
I'm a HUGE proponent of historic preservation in Milton. I'm hoping that in my time on the council that we can really make strides in saving our city's history and historic structures. There are a lot of great projects for people to become involved in- the Milton House log cabin is the most pressing example, but the Goodrich House would be great as a house museum...these projects must be something that we as a community decide are something we care about...there's fundraising efforts, sure, but we have so many people with so many skills...a donation of time and talent is just as valuable if not more so!
My family (including the twins...are they famous or infamous for the interstate birth thing?)and I take walks around the college area a lot since we also live up there. I was so excited to see the old brick walkway being uncovered. I remember when I was a little guy and my friends and I "discovered" those bricks during a drought one summer. Initially there was another 15 or 20 feet of brick that had been uncovered...that section of walkway was on the College Preservation Society's property and someone with that group requested that the portion on their property be covered back up and the grass reseeded. I suppose that's a little controversy...
If people have ideas or energy for historic preservation I'd ask that they please get in touch with me...as an Alderman and as a citizen I'd love to hear from people who care about this sort of thing...
On Twin gets head start over sibling on the road of life
Posted on July 29 at 7:27 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey everyone! This is Brett. I just wanted to say thanks for the words of encouragement. Everyone's doing great. Jackson does a lot of sleeping and is very content (which I imagine will end at exactly the moment we get him home) and his sister Madeline is also very content, but is definitely more active...she wanted to be in the world ASAP and she is taking it all in! My wife is feeling much better and our older son is very excited about "his" babies. We'll probably head home in the next couple days.
Cardtrader- where were you at 2am that night?! I thought about it, but we hadn't cleared it with insurance for them to be delivered at Mercy and I really thought when we got on the interstate that we could make it. It wasn't until a couple miles before we stopped that I really think it sunk in that we had NO chance of getting anywhere near a hospital. I thought about detouring to Stoughton, but even that was probably just as far away at that point. However, in the situation...every did great; Jody did a great job at something she told me over and over in those tense minutes of labor that she did not want to do. The troopers, all of them (and there were a lot), did a great job, and the paramedics who ultimately delivered Madeline were great at taking control of the situation and making Jody feel at ease. A paramedic (who I believe showed up in the sedan) named James actually did the delivery and he was a seasoned vet at delivering babies having done it 8 times before. We have given Madeline the middle name James for him. I suggested other middle names like "Interstate" or "Mosquito" (there were and still are a TON in my car), but was given the standard glare from my better half letting me know that this was not the place for humor. :)
Again, thanks for everyone's comments and well wishes. I've got to get back to a couple little babies... -Brett
On Couple watch Clear Lake take over their home
Posted on July 14 at 10:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Unfortunately this isn't the only house either. It's probably the most tragic because it's a primary residence, but there are other houses that are on the verge of being lost. It's a problem that needs a solution immediately. Somehow the level of Clear Lake needs to be artificially maintained.
On Gun-carry ordinance put on hold in Milton
Posted on June 17 at 4:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is Milton Alderman Brett Frazier. I would just add to this.
The Attorney General's opinion basically says that just openly carrying a gun is not disorderly conduct. I agree with that. The issue here is changing our ordinance so that it falls within the bounds of that opinion. Our current ordinance says, very simply, if you have a gun...you're violating city ordinance. This new version will lay out a set of common sense places that you can't carry- bars, city buildings, schools, etc.
I care very much about our right to bear arms. I care equally about the safety of our people, our businesses, and our police force. I believe there can be a balance between those two interests.
On Talks heat up about new Milton fire station
Posted on May 7 at 9:21 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is Milton Alderman Brett Frazier. I absolutely think, and I've said this before, that the new high school fiasco is a good example of ego driving public policy.
That being said, what we're looking at with the new fire station is in the very beginning stages and is driven by a need to either repair or replace the current station AND the existence of possible grant money to pay for a large part of it. I DO NOT believe raising taxes is an option to pay for this project. I am hopeful that the grants are a possibility, but I expressed at the last Council meeting that I would like to start investigating possible funding sources now, before we get our hearts set on this. I also expressed my belief that this project needs to be presented honestly to the citizens of Milton and that they need to be the ones who are either behind this project or against it. There is a need and I do believe a new station is most likely the way to go due to a couple big factors: the current location is not ideal to serve the community and the current building will require some significant dollars to repair. I hope that in the coming weeks and months that people who have ideas or concerns will come to myself or other council members or the mayor and voice those ideas. I can only speak for myself, but I want to hear from people who care...regardless of what side they're on.
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On UAW/GM EAP holiday food drive won't happen
Posted on November 20 at 2:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Does anyone have an estimate on what this program would cost to continue?