Stories from our Feb. 6 edition

For profiles of the Kaukauna mayoral candidates, scroll down

Kimberly beer garden ordinance goes back for revision

By Judy Dixon Hebbe 
For the Times-Villager
With divided opinions on the use of outdoor enclosures for bars and restaurants, Kimberly trustees referred the beer garden ordinance back to Fox Valley Metro Police and Village staff for the purpose of addressing variances to the proposed ordinance.
“If we do not allow people to go out into the enclosures after drinking is no longer allowed, they will be out on the streets smoking,” Tom Gaffney said. “Littering could be a bigger burden for the community, than the drinking (outside).”
For Jerry Schumann, owner of Tiger’s, the requirement that outside enclosures be more than 100 feet from the property line of a residential property “puts most of the bars in the village out of business.”
Because residential properties back up to the Kimberly Avenue and neighborhood bars, bar owners will not have enough distance from the property line to install outside enclosures in the back of their establishments.
“Keep businesses in Kimberly,” Schumann said.
“This ordinance just applies to beer gardens,” Trustee Lee Hammen said. “If you just build a smoking deck, where people cannot drink, you are not subject to this ordinance.”
Only residential setbacks would apply in those cases.
In accepting the ordinance back for review, Administrator Rick Hermus said, “We want a clarification that will protect the community and still serve the businesses.”
Trustees also approved a lease agreement with Open Range Communications for the James Street Tower, which pays $1,500 per month with an escalator clause of 10 percent increase at each renewal.
On the recommendation of the Kimberly Plan Commission, trustees approved certified survey maps for four lots of Emons Acres, all creating zero-lot-line duplexes.
The mutual aid box alarm system, enjoining the Kimberly Fire Department with other municipalities within Outagamie County, was approved.
Trustees approved a $39,609.65 payment to Fischer-Ulman Construction, Inc. for work to date on the 2009 sidewalk rehabilitation program.
The purchase of a 2008 Chevrolet Uplander LS for $13,948.50 for use by the community enrichment director and available to the street commission and crew as necessary was also approved. The vehicle replaces a 1996 pick-up truck, which will be sold on eBay.
The vehicle comes with a 12 month/12,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, plus the original five year/100,000 drive train warranty.

Community stepping up to help Carney family

The community has stepped up in several ways to help the Kevin and Lisa Carney family, who lost their home to a fire on Monday.
All volunteer Combined Locks firefighters who fought the fire donated their pay from the incident to the Carney family.
A fund for the Carney family of Combined Locks has been established at Capital Credit Union. Checks made out to Carney Family Fire Fund can be dropped off at any of the credit union’s       locations.
Kimberly High School will be conducting miracle minute collections next week at school.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, students and staff will hold a miracle minute at school, then there will be a collection at the Kimberly versus Oshkosh West boys basketball game, which begins about 7:15 p.m.
Kimberly High School is also donating a portion of that night’s gate receipts to the family.
Police Chief Scott Lund said the Carney family greatly appreciates all the support and donations and are humbled by the community’s response to their misfortune.

Combined Locks seeking input on outdoor alcoholic beverage permits

By Judy Dixon Hebbe
For the Times-Villager
The Combined Locks Village Board reviewed a draft ordinance covering outdoor alcoholic beverage permits at last week’s meeting and referred it back to Police Chief Scott Lund for the purpose of contacting affected establishments for their input.
Promoted by the statewide smoking ban due to go into effect on July 5, the ordinance will allow local restaurants, bars and taverns to construct an outdoor entertaining area that is less than 100 feet from the property line of a residential property and is less than 50 percent of the gross floor areas of the licensed premises enclosed within the building. A professionally drawn to scale site plan must accompany the application that will be reviewed by the planning commission.
No amplified sound or music nor activities that constitute a nuisance will be allowed in the outdoor area. Bartenders will be responsible for policing the area which will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sales of alcoholic beverages will be restricted to the enclosed licensed premise and building capacity will remain the same even with the addition of the outdoor alcoholic beverage permit. Access to the outdoor area will be available only from the enclosed licensed premise.
A police officer on duty will have the authority to close down the outdoor entertainment area at anytime the officer believes its continued operation is in violation of the ordinance.
Trustees agreed to offer 64-gallon recycling containers, which cost $34.23 each, to residents. If a resident would prefer to have a 96-gallon container, which cost $40.56 each, it can be requested. Providing the preferred size to residents will continue until the supply runs low.
A survey of preference will be included in the March issue of the Village Reporter and residents will be given a deadline in which to respond. Residents may choose to pay for the container at the village hall before the deadline or the charge will be included on their next tax bill.
The price has been determined through a joint order by municipalities within and of Outagamie and Winnebago counties. The pricing is good until early May of this year. During his investigation of the recycling containers, Administrator Sean Hutchison discovered that an upward trend in the size of the containers was seen and had initially recommended the 96-gallon size. Trustees Ruth Wulgeart and Beth Sewall urged the Village to offer residents a choice.
Trustees also adopted the Comprehensive Plan 2030 and declined Buchanan’s invitation to participate in a joint traffic study of the Highway N and Kennedy Avenue intersection.

Kaukauna service organizations to honor four Wednesday night

The annual Kaukauna all-service club dinner will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with four      people set to be honored. The Kaukauna Rotary Club is hosting this year’s dinner. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., with dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Times-Villager office for $16 each.
Jan Kunz will be recognized for the lifetime achievement award. Volunteers of the year are Dr. Mark Ebben, Josie Robinson, and Dallas Werner.
Jan Kunz
Kunz started teaching at age 21 in Antigo, then moved to Kaukauna, where she taught social studies, history, geography, and science until her retirement.
She started junior high dances at Electa Quinney School in the 1970s.
After retiring, Kunz was a substitute teacher and tutored Hmong students in addition to starting the STEP program in the Kaukauna school district, which allows senior citizens in the community to provide assistance to the schools in exchange for a reduction in their school taxes.
Many of the STEP workers are retired teachers from the district.
Kunz has been an active member of the Kaukauna Community Health Associates, who are sponsoring her nomination, since the mid-1950s. She has chaired the Love Light fundraiser for many years, putting up the tree, making ornaments, and arranging entertainment for the lighting ceremony at the Kaukauna Public Library.
She started and has been the chairperson of the Younkers Day Sale fundraiser for the past five years.
She is the past president of KCHA and a past Lake Winnebago District chairman. In that position she worked on improving conditions in 11 hospitals. She was also an ad-hoc committee member and worked with state representative networking ideas and suggestions on health care.
Kunz initiated the fifth grade babysitting program and is still involved in that project.
Kunz and her late husband, Oscar, raised six children and was involved in the Lady Elks, a Brownie/Girl Scout leader, donated blood for more than 20 years, still visits the elderly at St. Paul, sings with various groups visiting nursing homes, belongs to her church’s Altar Society, makes popcorn balls at Christmas time to sell and has been an active participant in events at the 1000 Islands Environmental Center.
“We believe Jan is deserving of this distinguished honor,” Janet VanDeHey said. “She makes time to help others because she loves people. That is what volunteering means to her.”
Mark Ebben
Ebben has been serving Kaukauna and the surrounding communities with eye care for 31 years and has been serving needy people in third world countries even longer, since his final year of optometry school.
For 32 years he has done 1-3 mission trips to Haiti, Honduras, Nicarague, Peru, and Jamaica.
Ebben has been president of the Wisconsin chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity for more than 10 years. That groups’ primary objective is to provide quality eye care to third world countries.
A typical VOSH mission includes optometrists, opticians, and support personnel. Ebben manages the necessary flight arrangements, vaccination information, in-country contacts, lodging, language translation, and transportation.
He coordinates with his missionary priest friends how to get the word to the local people in the “bush” and back country that are in need of eye care.
Dr. Dick Foss of LaCrosse has accompanied Ebben on many of his trips. “No one in the entire state has done as many eye care mission trips as Mark has,” he said. On an average day of a mission trip, each optometrist sees a hundred people and dispenses necessary eyeglasses. Dr. Foss said Ebben has personally cared for more than 20,000 patients in third-world countries.
Because of his work, more than 100,000 needy people have received eye care.
Generally, Ebben organizes a team of 10-15 volunteers who give of their talents and financial resources. The support staff and doctors personally pay all their own expenses and Ebben supplies the glasses.
Josie Robinson
The Kaukauna Lioness Club has nominated Robinson, who is very active in the community.
She has volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program for 14 years and is on the board for Catholic Family Insurance.
At Holy Cross Church, she works for funerals, cleans the church, holds the cup for Masses, and is involved in Oktoberfest.
She helps with Bingo at the St. Paul Home, has volunteered for the Kaukauna Athletic Club for events at Lambeau Field, and rings the bell for the Salvation Army.
At the Kaukauna Moose Lodge, she has cleaned and waited on tables.
She has worked with the women’s auxiliary in Little Chute and visits the sick in addition to playing cards with the elderly at the St. Paul Home.
Dallas Werner
Werner was nominated by the Kaukauna Kiwanis Club, of which he is one of the group’s charter members from 1959.
After several years of active membership, he stepped aside to focus on his coaching duties at Kaukauna High School, which he felt prevented him from being a good member.
Several years ago he rejoined the group and has been an outstanding member since.
Werner has served as vice president and president, and for the past six years has had the most demanding job of secretary.
In this position he’s responsible for the monthly newsletter, reports to the various offices of Kiwanis International, and contact with other clubs in the district.
His dedication to enriching the community has motivated him to become a moving force in any activity which will assist the club in providing service to the area.
The group’s principal fundraiser is the annual Christmas tree sale, which provides funds for its financial contributions. Not only does he put in more than his share of time on the scene, he does the scheduling in order to make the project go more smoothly.
It’s particularly through such efforts they serve the meals at the Special Olympics track and field meet each spring, have provided the Kaukauna Fire Department with lifesaving equipment such as “pediatric paks” for treating children when an ambulance is called, making donations to the two childrens hospitals, post-prom party, and more.
Werner is vitally interested in supporting the Kaukauna High School Key Club, which currently has approximately 70 members who do volunteer activities.
Werner received the George F. Hixon Award in 2004 for his Kiwanis activities, the most prestigious honor awarded by Kiwanis International.
He’s also been very involved in his church, Immanuel United Church of Christ, and was active outside of the classroom at Kaukauna High School prior to his retirement.
“I think Dallas has made significant contributions to the quality of life in Kaukauna as a result of his dedication to his teaching career, to the students, to his church, as an outstanding volunteer in carrying out the activities of Kiwanis to benefit the community,” said Joseph Walsh. “In addition, his dedication to his family serves as an outstanding example for the community.”

Kaukauna mayoral candidate profiles

Beckman thinks he can make Kaukauna a better place

Brad Beckman, a relative newcomer to Kaukauna, became interested in city government last year when the storm water utility was formed, causing concern among city residents and business owners. Now, he's running for mayor.
 "My wife and I built our house in Kaukauna back in 2002 and started living here in 2003 and I got very involved in the city when the storm water stuff all came up," he said. "There were a lot of city business people and citizens who were very concerned about that, so I got to see the inner workings of the city and go to more city council meetings."
While at those meetings, he wasn't satisfied with the leadership. After talking to other business owners and citizens, he felt he could make a change. "You can sit around and complain about the problem and decide nothing to do about it, or you can get involved and try to make a change," he said.
Beckman has had a homebuilding business since 2001 and moved in to specialized concrete with concrete countertops, desks, furniture, and polished floors, which has carried his company through the recession.
Beckman said Kaukauna is a great community between two large metropolitan areas, but he feels it should be flourishing, especially with the industrial parks.
"We have a number of parks, I think there are more than 14 parks, walking trails, biking trails, we are a green community, we've got great development for residential, huge potential for a downtown," he said.
Beckman feels the city should be able to improve its downtown area, and it should be a vibrant, energetic place.
"We're blessed with a river, so we have fantastic waterfront potential, and we don't have only one, but two, we have an upper and a lower," he said. "So there's a huge potential downtown that I don't think we're taking advantage of."
Beckman said it will take commitment to improve the city, and said his campaign will focus on three things.
The first is developing the downtown with a grant program, owners association, or city support of city businesses.
Secondly, he would aggressively develop Commerce Crossing and the NEW Prosperity Center. "I know there's been comments made and promises made, but still, the land is vacant," he said. "Time Warner has moved somewhere else, and other properties have come in and looked and been pushed out."
Beckman, who's been in the construction industry since the 1980s, wants the city to be more aggressive. "Through the '90s I worked for three major construction firms and traveled all over the United States," he said. "I've built RRD centers in Dallas, and the Whirlpool Distribution Center in Seattle and a 47-story high rise in Chicago," he said. "So I'm familiar with the construction process and familiar with that kind of negotiations."
He said larger companies will bring other businesses with them and the residual effects can help the city.
His third platform is to establish a stronger identity for Kaukauna. "Grand Chute's doing it right now and Little Chute's attempting to do it with the Dutch stuff. Kaukauna should be on the same path," he said. "That installs a community pride and a vitality to a community when they establish their own identity."
Beckman said if the city can do that, it will instill confidence in other businesses and small business drives the economy.
"Small business is the backbone of national, local, state, anything," he said. "If you can instill confidence in a small business owner that an investment in our community will pay a return back to them and you can return his investment, match it, and say if you invest in us, we'll invest in you, we're going to make you a success, you're going to drive small business back into the community."
He feels that will get the economy going, increase jobs, and give Kaukauna a chance to revitalize the downtown.
Beckman said he's honest, hardworking, trustworthy guy and knows how to get information if he needs to gather it to make an educated decision and is very good at seeing issues from multiple viewpoints.
"I can be convinced of something if someone has a strong enough argument for me," he said. "I do have strong opinions in what I think needs to happen and where the city needs to go and what the people want to do with it, but if I'm wrong and somebody can make a case to me I'm willing to change my mind."
The storm water utility issue drove him to run for mayor, and he thinks it's a huge issue.
"I think we now need to work with the businesses and the residents to get them some sort of tax credit, aggressively pursue a credit for the system," he said.
He would like to see the utility to set up a credit system including simple things like lot maintenance, rain barrels, and discharging water into a green space. "It gives them credits and eases the burden and lets them get involved in the process and helps us out," he said.
He wants the city to continue to work with the League of Municipalities and the DNR to relax the regulations, and believes the requirements will be eased.

Rosin running for re-election on past accomplishments

Gene Rosin has a lot of pride in the city, lauds the city employees as being top notch, and is confident that the city of Kaukauna is headed in the right direction in his attempt to win a third two-year term as mayor of Kaukauna.
Rosin said he had a good response while collecting signatures on his nomination papers. "People are telling me they feel the city is being run properly and they appreciate all the services we provide," Rosin said. "And they're hoping that's not going to change and as long as I'm mayor it won't change."
Rosin has almost four years experience after taking over for John Lambie, and he was an alderman for 16 years prior to that. For years, he was a Gustman car salesman.
"I've been through good times and I've been through bad times," he said. "You get to know what needs to be done, you get to realize that you have to make some decisions sometimes that aren't always popular, but the No. 1 goal is what is best for the city of Kaukauna."
No matter what happens, that will be Rosin's ultimate goal. Rosin feels that's it's easy to have all kinds of ideas of what the city should do, but it's not always possible to implement them.
"I think when a person makes a comment that the city should be doing this or the city should be doing that, then they should also be able to say, 'and here's how I would do it,' make a recommendation of how to implement something."
"It's easy to throw mudballs and hopefully something will stick because when you're on the outside, it's easy to do that, make accusations and things like that," he said.
Rosin said a lot of times he hears comments on the street and doesn't say it to people, but thinks to himself, "Don't you think we thought about that and we looked into that, and we probably spent tons of man hours investigating it and what is the most feasible way to do it."
Rosin also admitted once he got into the mayor's office he found everything's not always easy to do, and he's built some relationships that can help him get things done.
"If I'm going after something or wanting to get something done, I'm not afraid to jump in my car and drive down to Madison and talk to the people down there that I feel can help our little community here," he said. "I'm not afraid to do that at all, and it took me four years to build up a relationship that I can do that and that's been huge."
Rosin said a person can't just sit in the mayor's chair and think, "Let the good times roll, because that isn't going to   happen. Tomorrow the bottom can fall out."
Rosin takes pride in the continual growth of the city, both in the residential and commercial areas. The city's population has hit the 15,000 mark and one-famly and two-family residential home starts increased from 2008 to 2009.
Things come up that need immediate attention that has to be dealt with and there's not always an easy solution.
"And yet you're always trying to enhance the quality of life in your community," he said. "To provide our citizens with recreation such as building the outdoor archery range and Jonen Park  which is going to be a huge asset to the city."
The Catherine Street wall is another project that adds to the quality of life. "It's those types of things that increases pride in your community and I think sometimes people take that all for granted," Rosin said. "But they don't realize you have to line up volunteers and you have to look for donors to help offset the cost and you have to know people to talk to. That's huge."
Rosin said things like that don't just happen, they take hard work getting them done.
Rosin feels the city is "ahead of the game" regarding the future compared to many other communities.
"A lot of people look at that property out there (Commerce Crossing) where we have a huge debt on and other parks too, even though they're self sufficient, we're ready to go," he said.
The city has a multitude of shovel-ready lots and infrastructure in place when the economy turns around. "If somebody comes in and says, 'I want to start construction next month,' bring in the equipment, we're ready," Rosin said. "Not all communities can say that. You just don't build a park like that in a short period of time. That takes years of planning."
Downtown revitalization is an issue that people talk about, and Rosin feels the city can only do so much.
"I think your Chamber of Commerce was constructed and implemented to help businesses, and to come up with new ideas if they want to attract new businesses if they feel something that's missing. The chamber is a place where they go to try to do this," he said. "You're not going to run this by a city council, who are part-time people, who have lives of their own, and they do a magnificent job of assisting where we can."
Rosin said the city planner is on top of downtown issues and is always communicating with the chamber and visiting with small businesses downtown trying to come up with new ideas.
"We're always doing that, that's nothing new," he said. "If anyone can make that comment and say to me, 'well Little Chute's doing it and Kimberly's doing it, and all their stores are full, I'd like to hear that comment."

Vohs vows to bring extensive background to mayor position

Kaukauna mayoral challenger Gary Vohs believes his extensive background – strong in management — qualifies him for becoming the city's mayor.
He's been a journeyman steamfitter, division manager, project manager, project superintendent, and chairman of a union pension fund in addition to being the director of building and grounds for St. Elizabeth Hospital.
His experience includes budget management, and he sees a problem with the city's budget.
"What's concerning to me is that our equalized value in the city in the last 10 years has approximately doubled, and our debt has tripled in that same time frame," Vohs said.
Vohs believes his vast amount of experience in a variety of things would serve him well in the role of mayor.
"One of the reasons I'm running for office is that I believe that our last two administrations did not bring leadership and/or direction to the office of mayor," Vohs said. "I feel that with the background that I've had I can bring that and the city can be run more like a business."
He thinks people need to be challenged at various times, and it's concerned him that the mayor isn't vocal enough for him.
"There's no guidance, there's no suggestions, there's no information in addition to whatever's in the packet and I don't agree with that type of management philosophy," he said. "I think it's the mayor's responsibility to provide guidance, information, leadership to help those folks that are elected to make their decisions."
Working for a group consensus is something he strives for, but Vohs said if his idea is voted down, he moves on with how the group voted. "I don't believe you can be selfish and get hung up on an idea even though you may firmly believe in it," he said. "If you can't convince the others of it, then you've failed and you have to go with the group."
Vohs believes the city isn't even close to being brought up to its potential. "I think our debt has prevented us from moving forward in a lot of different directions," he said. "I think to service the debt we have has hindered us."
Vohs believes that projects like Commerce Crossing and Coffee Hill are primarily responsible for that. "We need to have a very, very aggressive debt reduction program, even if some other things have to be put on hold or postponed," he said.
Previous decisions made ended up with unintended consequences, he feels. "Recently it's been printed that it's the economy, and yes recently I agree, but prior to that no, it was just not a great idea," he said.
Vohs believes that if you run into a negative you have to turn it into a positive and the city needs to bring a positive force out of the negative. "We just can't continue to have a negative," he said. "I believe if we brought the realtors in that are involved and I don't hear what I want to hear, I suggest we bring in other realtors. It's a very competitive industry."
Vohs believes the most important resource anyone has is the human resource, and how you use that resource determines success. He thinks the employees are much more important than the trucks and tractors, which are also needed.
Vohs believes the city could come up with a consensus with the Gustman family on how to move forward with the family's property on Lawe Street, and it must be addressed.
Recently he did a survey of the business community and gave up counting after 28 vacant storefronts.
"That's just unacceptable," he said. "We have to come up with a plan, and I don't mean our planning commission sitting down, God bless them, they do good and they try their hardest."
Vohs suggests visiting cities that have been successful in developing their downtowns and learning how they did it. He believes those business people who have been in Kaukauna for a long time should be asked for their ideas as well.
Then, a viable, workable plan can be developed on a 10-year timetable or however long it may take.
Vohs has been active in attending city meetings since last summer, and he's seen positives and negatives.
"I feel by and large our government is trying to do the right thing," he said. "I think their efforts have been hampered by lack of leadership or input from people that aren't really leading for the right reasons."
Vohs thinks some things happening aren't in the best interests of the community but are in the best interests of an individual. "I don't think that's even close to being appropriate," he said. Vohs believes the city had good leadership in Ron VanDeHey, even though he didn't agree with everything he did.
Vohs vows that while he's 66 years old, he would serve as long as he's able. "If I were fortunate enough to win I would serve a term and I would serve a term or two beyond that, and hopefully, my goal would be to at least turn the corner that we're heading in a different direction with things that I've objected to, and then be more than happy to turn it over to somebody else who would hopefully have the same vision."
Vohs would also like to see the city taking advantage of the water. He's lived on the river since 1986 and loves it.

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