Janesville City Council talks cops, compost
At Monday’s public budget hearing, resident Al Lembrich preached austerity while resident Burdette Erickson urged the council to put public safety first.
Council members agreed with Erickson and added two police officers beginning Jan. 1 rather than July 1 at a cost of $57,000.
The council also reinstated late afternoon and evening hours at the city’s compost site to serve residents who work during the day.
The recommendation to increase the police budget was made by council member George Brunner, who up until Monday was perhaps the most emphatic about holding the tax rate down.
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Nov 10, 2009 at 7:19 p.m.
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The police department is not a "company" so comparing law enforcement services to a company churning out widgets is an unrealistic "apples to oranges" scenario. Spreading the misery around isn't a solution. You don't cut corners when it comes to public safety or public education....the repercussions will be catastrophic in the long run.
Nov 10, 2009 at 3:01 p.m.
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thumbs up to comp hours and down to the need for more cops. How many officers are needed 'Napalm' to write a report for a burlary? The response time is ridiculous most of the time anyway, if they even show up. The city is getting smaller and with the budget the way it is "utilize what you have" as all other companies are laying off and using the minimal man power.............
Nov 10, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.
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From family, Beloit curb pick up is ok,as long as you have "yard waste" stickers.The cost does add up,and up,and.....
Nov 10, 2009 at 2:21 p.m.
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When I lived in Kansas, once a year they had "Tidy Town Day" lol. It was the one day of the year you could put ANYTHING curbside and the city would pick it up. Furniture, yard waste, paint, appliances, you name it and they'd pick it up free-of-charge.
Nov 10, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.
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Napalm, we in Janesville are not allowed to put yard waste on the curb except for special designated days during the year!
Nov 10, 2009 at 12:32 p.m.
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Are you people dumb? Put your yard waste at the curb, our taxes pat for its pickup. if you live outside the city, put it somewhere else or burn it like everyone else.
And with the population dropping, YES more police are needed. Why? Because less jobs = more poverty, more poverty = crime. The amount of people living here is irrelevant to the level of crime and what it takes to make it safe. Its more the sq. mileage, area traffic, and based on the number of burglerys in the public record lately, i'd say we need more police...or more doing actual police work and not harrassing the youth on milton ave.
Nov 10, 2009 at 11:40 a.m.
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OK so lets get this straight. The population of the city has DECLINED yet we need more police officers? How does that logic work? Once again more money added to the budget. Is anyone keeping a running total of how much unecessary spending has been added to our budget this year alone? People are hurting to pay their bills and find a job, yet the city council continues to spend. Well at least two out of work cops can find a job now...on the backs of those who can't find work.
Nov 10, 2009 at 7:53 a.m.
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Glad the City Council is reinstating the compost site's hours. I was wondering where I was going to put all of my yard waste after working hard all week!
Also, kudos for adding police officers.
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