From our readers Letter to Editor:
I have watched the events surrounding the Crivitz School District for some time. Most who know me will readily admit that I am among the first to criticize public servants and that I am not bashful or reluctant to stand up against mismanagement, waste, fraud or abuse of the public trust. I have seldom commended or recognized public servants but that time has come.
Parents of students in the Crivitz School District have a quality facility which is led by experienced, dedicated professionals. I am a parent with four children who have attended, or are attending, the Crivitz High School. All of my children attended Crivitz Elementary School. I find the faculty to be professional and positive. More to the point, I believe that we have been the beneficiary of well-meaning experienced leadership from the administrative level. I am also familiar with the school from another perspective, as a substitute teacher. I am retired, I teach out of a sense of service and to gain a better understanding of the District.
For too long there has existed a sort of campaign of negativity which has detracted from the image of an otherwise fine school system. Crivitz Schools need and deserve the support of our community, and from the leadership elements within it. The School Board should support the administration, the administration should support the Board and we should all support the school, it as as simple as that. This forum should not become a tactical battlefield for espousing rhetoric or disseminating false information or worse, slander!
We can disagree or argue a point, that is a fundamental right. It is a good process to make our system work the way it is supposed to. We should participate and ask questions. The Board and the administration are made better in an environment which promotes a healthy exchange of ideas. However, no one benefits, especially the students, when there is acrimony, distrust and an atmosphere of petty politics.
I believe that it is time for cooler heads to prevail! For all of us to feel enabled in making suggestions and presenting ideas without being labeled or targeted. It is the responsibility of our elected School Board representatives to denounce those who would divide and create destructive factions and to proffer a harmony where each of us has the right to an opinion without fear of reprisal or retribution. This absence of leadership from the Board concerns me and I am hopeful that it can be corrected.
John Downs, Lt. Col., USAR, Ret.
Crivitz
Letter to Editor:
Tri-City Area United Way participation in the nationwide Day of Action started on April 1, challenging the tri-county area to volunteer 6,219 hours by June 21, the United Way America Day of Action. They made the challenge and more by volunteering over 12,000 hours.
The estimated dollar value of one hour of volunteer time for 2008 is $20.25. That would mean the tri-county area volunteer dollar value would be over $243,000. We are definitely proud here at the Tri-City Area United Way in the way our community responded to this challenge. It takes everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future.
Rose O’Hara,
Tri-City United Way
Editor:
On June 15, the Crivitz Board denied the appeal of a class “B” malt beverage liquor license to VTC Tavern LLC. The reasons the board stated for the denial were 1) economic concerns for the already existing businesses and 2) the location of the business. What the Crivitz Board refuses to understand and accept is that competition promotes and pushes the economy. This fact was stressed fervently by board President John Deschane, trustee Jodi Volk and trustee Richard Kaminski. The basis for the appeal was that the original reasons for denial of the liquor license application were illegal, which by the way, were for the exact same reasons again. The board members that refuse to give any valid reason for the denial were trustee Duane Swanson, trustee Shirley Keller, trustee Kurt Kostuch and trustee Janis Portfillio.
Competition is not a valid reason for denial and the business property is three times the legal distance from any structure of concern. In fact, the Village of Crivitz does have four reasons in their village ordinances they can use for denying a class “B” liquor license and the requesting LLC meets every requirement. Village attorney, Frank Calvert, did nothing to prevent the trustees from using the same illegal reasons for the denial.
The true tragedy of this story is that I, Vito J. Congine Jr., the agent for VTC Tavern, approached the board in October 2008 at a meeting of the whole prior to the purchase of the building and doing the subsequent renovations to the building. They gave their full support of his intentions of opening a new supper club in the downtown area of Crivitz, with a vote of five for and two against. I and my family put our entire life savings into this venture believing the word of the Crivitz Board. Then on Jan. 20, 2009 the Crivitz Board pulled the rug out from under me, a 14 year U.S. Marine Veteran, just back from Iraq, by denying the license with a vote of 2 for and 5 against.
My wife and I have contacted attorneys and local and state government officials seeking help to correct this illegal action by the Crivitz Board, only to have attorneys charge for empty promises and not accomplishing anything. When I asked the Marinette District Attorney to look into the matter, the officials replied that they don’t look into anything that isn’t referred to them by law enforcement.
In today’s economy, when this country needs jobs and private citizens are willing to put their life savings on the line in order to create jobs and make for a better community, we need local state and federal governments to support these risk-taking individuals. Those same governmental bodies also need to act with integrity and follow the same laws that they create and expect the citizens to follow.
What a sad town that allows for a local Board that does what is best for the individuals on the board instead of what is best for the town. The public needs to voice there opinions to the Crivitz Board and take charge of its local governments and make them remember it is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Contact the Crivitz Board at 715-854-2030.
Vito J. Congine, Jr.,
Crivitz
Editor:
Thanks to everyone who attended the Peshtigo Blood Drive at the Faith Baptist Church in Peshtigo on June 12, the American Red Cross staff, Peshtigo Woman’s Club members who volunteered time and baking, Faith Baptist Church staff, Red Thompsen, and Culligan for their donation of bottled water. Also, businesses who allowed us to put up signs and for supporting this important event.
Our next Peshtigo Woman’s Club sponsored blood drive is in December.
Cindy Hagert,
Coordinator
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