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Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.

Franklin taxpayers, are you asking for a big fat tax increase?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on March 17, 2010 | 11 comments


This is why I strongly support Franklin Alderman Steve Olson. He’s the only member of the Common Council that has any measure of common sense.

DISCLAIMER: I know all the Franklin aldermen. I met Steve Taylor once and gave him the benefit of the doubt, but since being elected he’s been a major disappointment, masquerading as a conservative, but making constant liberal statements and votes. My alderman Kristen Wilhelm is a lost cause. She hasn’t met a tax increase or new spending proposal she doesn’t like. But then, as she once told me, “Kevin, you’re just one constituent.” Wrong, Kristen. I am “a” constituent. “Kevin, you are just one constituent.” Translation: Screw you.

My feelings about tornado sirens for Franklin are well documented. They are too expensive and totally unnecessary.

News bulletin to Franklin residents: The city is flat broke. We are in a deficit. We don’t have extra cash to toss around to spend willy nilly. And even if we did, warning sirens in this day and age are not necessary.

Bravo to Franklin Alderman Steve Olson for making this statement Tuesday night at the Common Council meeting:

"I'm going to make this statement, (and) I'm sorry if it offends people: I don't need the government to tell me when to come out of the rain. Just because we have the cash doesn't mean we have to spend it."

Amen.

Do we have to depend on City Hall to tell us to run inside and hide under our beds?

Olson was 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999% right.

FRANKLIN MAY HAVE SET THE MONEY ASIDE FOR POSSIBLE SIRENS, BUT THE CITY IS OUT OF MONEY.  IF THE CITY DOESN’T ROB YOU (AND IT WILL) THEN THE SCHOOL BOARD IS POISED TO STICK THE REVOLVER IN YOUR RIBS.

Is it any wonder they keep taxing and spending when people keep asking for new taxing and spending and then, when it’s far too late, moan and groan every December? They gaze at their property tax bills and wonder out loud, “Gee, how in the world did this happen?”

Franklin taxpayers, when you’re being fleeced and are bending over saying take more, please take some more, you have yourselves to blame.

11 COMMENTS

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  1. ddorsan - Mar 19, 2010 11:40 AM - Report Abuse

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    Seriously, Good passionate debate is always healthy. Thank you for providing the forum.

  2. Kevin Fischer - Mar 19, 2010 8:18 AM - Report Abuse

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    That's fine, Don.

    We move on.

    Thank you for reading and writing in.

  3. ddorsan - Mar 19, 2010 7:49 AM - Report Abuse

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    I appologise for my error, Kevin.

  4. Kevin Fischer - Mar 18, 2010 11:02 PM - Report Abuse

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    No.

    Not Kevin, Fred, whatever.

    If you don't have the common decency to treat me with respect, then why should I have the same for you.

  5. ddorsan - Mar 18, 2010 10:49 PM - Report Abuse

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    Kevin, your writing not talking. Should I take up half my response on your error? How typical for you to obscure the issue by capitalize on an unrelated inconsequential error to conceal the fact that you don’t have a leg to stand on.

    Yes, Barneveld was 25+ years ago. Is minimizing the deaths in Barneveld the best you got?

    Kevin, Fred,…. whatever, Since you want statistics here’s some. Wisconsin has had 851 tornados between 1950 and 1995 that’s 19 tornadoes a year. 94 deaths between in that period. That’s 2 deaths a year. Wisconsin ranks 17th in the number of tornado related deaths in the country. I could just as easily find the number of sirens recommended for a community our size. But that’s not the issue any more than me getting your name wrong and by the way, sorry about that. Fact is that we live in a tornado prone area. It is irresponsible not to have a warning system. Oh, and even my failing memory is good enough to recall that we did have a tornado in Franklin a few years back. It is likely to happen again.

    How many sirens should we have? Ok I’ll offer an opinion. One would be better than none, two would be better than one. No, I’m not an expert in tornado siren placement any more than you are an expert on why not to have them. Does your argument carry any more weight despite complete lack of facts?

    Apparently you’re the one with a crystal ball cause your willing to gamble people’s lives on not being adequately protected. I'm glad that the majority of our common council is not willing to take that bet.

    Its been fun. Have a safe night.

  6. Kevin Fischer - Mar 18, 2010 10:48 PM - Report Abuse

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    Alderman Olson has responded to Don Dorsan as well. But his comment may have been too lenghthy to be accepted by this website that has word/length limits

    You can read Olson's comment here:
    http://www.franklinnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/88513647.html

  7. steveo8091 - Mar 18, 2010 10:31 PM - Report Abuse

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    Kevin has me banned. I have a response for Don and Kevin but after 4 attempts, frankly, I have better things to do.

  8. Kevin Fischer - Mar 18, 2010 9:53 PM - Report Abuse

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    Fred?

    Fred?

    Do you even know who the hell you're talking to?

    Fred?

    Who the hell is Fred?

    If you're going to respond to someone you should at least get their name right. Don, that's called common courtesy.

    Fred?

    Are you talking about the Franklin blogger that nobody reads anymore because he's become such a joke?

    At least you didn't confuse me with that idiot Franklin blogger you think so highly of, the tax and spend lover. You know who I'm talking about.

    Back to your response. If you admit you have no idea how many sirens we need than your opinion has no credibility. You have no facts to back up your argument other than to say to me, go find the experts.

    That's not how I want my Common Council to vote. Duhhh, gee, I'm sure there are experts out there. I haven't found them, but I'm sure they're out there nad they'd support me if ony I could find them.

    Don, your argument is that Barneveld, and yes, it's Barneveld, once had a tornado? Are you serious? That is ridiculous. With your crystal ball, you should be in Vegas, not commenting on FranklinNOW.

    Oh, Jennifer...Don Dorsan says Barneveld had a tornado 20, 25 years ago. We better hide in the basement!!!

    No, Don. You are not a fiscal conservative. Not if you're willing to spend money we don't have willy nilly on a huge expenditure we don't need.

    And next time you write, the name is Kevin.

    K-E-V-I-N

    AM

    I
    TALKING

    TOO

    FAST

    FOR

    YOU

    DON?

  9. ddorsan - Mar 18, 2010 9:28 PM - Report Abuse

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    Fred, I will gladly respond.
    How many tornado’s hit Barneville Wisconsing before 1984 where 9 people were left dead in its wake? They aren’t predictable and don’t strike in the same place frequently. To say we shouldn’t have this basic protection because we haven’t had a tornato is like aruging against smoke detectors because your house hasn’t burned down yet.

    How many do we need. I have no idea. There are experts easily found for that. You could probalby find basic calculations for this on the internet.

    Where should they go? Again defer to the experts but I hope they go close enough to my house to wake me up at 1 am if a F 5 tonrnato is bearing down on Franklin as was the case in Barneville.

    How are we going to pay for it? Stop funding things like the boondoggle in Boomgaard where we spent $370,000 to hire a consultant to come up with that gem of a name. Yes I’m fiscally conservative, thank you, but there is money well spent and then there is money thrown down the drain.

    My position on tonato sirens has not recently changed for some political advantage as you imply. I brought this issue forward way back when I was Alderman. It was voted down. Thank God we haven’t had a tornado since then. And thank God there was only one grand stander vieing for politial points on the council this time!

  10. Kevin Fischer - Mar 18, 2010 8:53 PM - Report Abuse

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    Tell me, Don.

    How has Franklin managed to survive all these years without the warning sirens?

    On previous blogs of mine, you have preached fiscal responsibility. On this issue, you break open the empty bank.

    Why?

    We know why, don't we Don.

    If Steve Olson voted no, the answer obvously is yes, right?

    Don, please write back with your plan on how many sirens Franklin should erect, where they should go, why we should put them up (how many tornadoes have actually hit anywhere near Franklin the last 30 years) and how would you pay for them?
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