LETTER: Saukville officials are ‘in over their heads’ in TIF development

To Ozaukee Press:

News tip: Commenting on Ansay Development’s Saukville Crossings proposal during a public hearing was not complaining, as reported in Ozaukee Press. It was reminding the Village Board of its legal and financial obligations taxpayers and the intent of forming the TIF.

There is so much behind this that is not being said and the current board composition has no history of that and are kept in the dark.

One should question why Village President Barb Dickmann and Administator Dawn Wagner intentionally eliminated key positions such as the community development director and engineer, as these were the checks and balances to ensure projects like the TIF stayed on course. There were very viable opportunities that met the intent of the big-box retailer, but staff were instructed to stand down and their positions eliminated thereafter. It is simply not true that economics and the recession were the reason nothing has happened.

All one has to do is look no further than Grafton that was building their Port
Washington Road commercial district during the same period. Contrary to Saukville’s leadership, they have an aggressive ground-up approach to making what could have happened in Saukville.         

The completion of the interceptor sewer and the Highway 33 reconstruction were the last critical components of the TIF and have been ignored as a marketing tool, not only for the TIF but the south Market Street planned commercial sector as well.

A new village president and administrator and rebuilding support staff would go
a long way in turning this situation around. The current leadership does not have the competence, experience or knowledge. They are in over their heads.

The public needs to know they have been getting the short end for some time now. They are going to feel it directly in their property tax bills, as has already been alluded to in the news.

These are facts. The only rebuttals are half truths and fabrications.

 Roy Wilhelm                                                                                               
Saukville