Open meetings

To the Editor:

I am tired of only being able to voice my opinions and those of a number of residents called the C.A.R.E. Group (Citizens Against Railroad Excesses) to you [Plymouth Mayor Don Pohlman] through the press. You have denied any requests for information to back up your rail line plan or the reason that you have decided the only place for your anonymous company is east of the city.

You have been saying for some time now, that it is a “done deal.” Yet when I unsuccessfully requested information from you through the Open Records law, you say you have no records of meetings, notes or any other documentation related to this project. How can this be?

A $9.5 million project is a “done deal” with no meetings, notes or other data available. I know you are a man of many talents, but a deal like this with only the information being in your head? C’mon.

As you are aware, you have not provided an arena where the residents have been able to get any information on your $9.5 million “done deal.” Mr. Mayor, you might be interested in the following information when you hold your “Open Meetings” for the public this week and next.

Two lawsuits leveled at the WisDOT by citizens groups have both been decided in favor of the community groups. Among the things the judge ruled on was the type of meetings that were held before the WisDOT stated their work on State 164 and County J, in Washington County.

`Open house’ format illegal: The judge ruled that the DOT “open house” format for public hearings on funded projects violates federal law. Rather than providing for a public exchange of views regarding a proposed project, the format required citizens to individually review project plan displays and then dictate their views to a court reporter or submit written comments. “The open house afforded no direct opportunity for citizens to make their views generally known. It offered no opportunity for one citizen to learn about the views of another.”

And, Judge Lynn Adelman found many serious legal deficiencies with the WisDOT’s State 164 expansion project including: “The failure to hold a proper public hearing where everyone who speaks can be heard by the other citizens and elected officials who attend this hearing.”

We can only hope your two scheduled meetings will allow all residents and the council to voice our opinions when we find out what you are up to. We can only hope your rail-roading job will finally come to light.
Jim Bordeau
The C.A.R.E. Group (Citizens Against Rail Excesses)