In response to an entry I wrote a couple of days ago that noted a flip-flop by Oak Creek Mayor Dick Bolender on the issue of a funding compromise on the proposed Drexel interchange at I-94, Mayor Bolender emailed me a response (originally sent to Greg Kowalski of Metro Milwaukee Today):
Subject: Drexel Interchange reply
Greg, It was brought to my attention by a concerned citizen of Oak Creek that you stated that you have emailed me, however, I was unable to find this email at my office. Evidently the information that you received was not factually correct. I will give you some background information that you have neglected to include in your blog entitled “Bolender Plays Games in Oak Creek.” Assemblyman from the 21st District, Mark Honadel, has been talking to the City about a resolution that would be one of two choices…one would be 0% backing by the City of Oak Creek or the other would be 25% backing by the taxpayers of Oak Creek. Mr. Verhalen wanted the 25% backing and was in the City Administrator’s office the week before the Council Meeting, not the 19th. When I happened to pass the Administrator’s office while in the building, I was called into the Administrator’s office. Mr. Verhalen proposed the resolution which eventually went to the Council floor (the 25%). There was never a “deal” cut with Mr. Verhalen. At that time, I explained to Mr. Verhalen that I had a problem with the funding. I could only back this resolution if it was funded with a TIF, not an increase in taxes. That is the position that I maintained for the entire meeting and still maintain. The January 19th meeting was actually held between Mrs. Grabowski and the City Administrator. On January 20th at the Council meeting, from the very start of the discussion on this resolution, I preached “TIF District.” Let the developer in this area pay for this. There never was a compromise with Mr. Verhalen. I have never talked with the press prior to the meeting of January 20th. Any information that they acquired must have come from some other source. At the end of the discussion and vote at the Council Meeting on January 20th, I stated to the Council that I would veto this. There has never been a “flip-flop!” on my part. You stated that I am hoping that there will be no information regarding this issue from City Hall. I personally want and have always been open to the information that is coming from City Hall. Residents can contact me at any time at City Hall at 768-6548. This number is openly listed. They can also call my home at any time! If you have any other information or questions that you would like to discuss, please contact me at my home or office.
Dick Bolender
Mayor of Oak Creek
Looks like someone might want to call or email Tom Kertscher from OakCreekNOW.com and let him know his article on OakCreekNOW.com had some major factual errors, and I’d like to apologize to Mayor Bolender for assuming Tom Kertscher had done some basic fact-checking before posting his article. It certainly appears, based on what Mayor Bolender is saying, that there never was an agreement between he and Mark Verhalen, and hence, there wasn’t a flip-flop by Mayor Bolender.
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