Doug Oitzinger - Letter to Editor

I would like to clarify a story that appeared in the Peshtigo Times regarding the City of Marinette Common Council meeting. At issue was amending the 2022 budget to transfer money from one account to another. A proposed budget amendment would have taken all the remaining funds from the Waterfront Development fund to partially pay for the purchase of the Fleet Farm property on County T. This amounted to a transfer of $157,033. The money in the Waterfront Development fund came from. the annual and daily launch fees collected at the City’s boat ramps prior to 2017.

I felt that it was inappropriate to take that money in order to buy vacant land for development across from the Holiday Gas Station. The Waterfront Development fund has been untapped for six years, and yet many waterfront projects remain in need of funding, such as rebuilding the dock wall at Red Arrow Park. I know the history of how launching fees came into existence. It was with the explicit understanding with the local sports fisherman’s club that this money would be used to maintain and improve access to the river and the bay and make our waterfront more useable for our residents.

Yes, those fees collected today are going into a different fund, one mixed with other monies that could be used to fund waterfront projects. But to me, it was wrong to take what had been saved up over many, many years from user fees to buy vacant land miles away from the waterfront. I lost that vote seven to two.

On another issue, the City received money from a Wisconsin Opioid lawsuit settlement. I requested that we look at using that money for specific Police Department activities like our Crime Prevention Fund, or K-9 Unit Fund, and also to consider donating some of the settlement to the new Bridges to Recovery facility on Shore Drive, and the Healthy Youth Coalition. I am hopeful that my proposal will get further examination in the future.

Doug Oitzinger,
3rd Ward Alderman,

Marinette

 

 

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