Blame Parliament For The Confusion At Muskego Council, But Don't Lose a Good Idea

For most who sit through the average Common Council meeting in Muskego (remember those?), a certain rule of order needs to be followed and is really in place to ensure discussion is fair, public and open.

So, while it seemed like matters were buried at the Tuesday night meeting at Lake Denoon, it's actually done to meet open meetings requirements.

After public comment was over, the next agenda item was a discussion to reconsider the resolution which passed 4-3 on Jan. 24.

However, an item on the agenda first needs to be moved to the floor for discussion. And as the item was the reconsideration of a voted-upon resolution, only those who voted for that resolution have that ability. None of the 'yea' votes did so, and therefore a discussion was passed over, which then made the resolution stand as it did at the last council meeting.

After this, Alderman Tracy Snead asked to address the board, offering an idea to form an ad hoc committee which could address citizens' concerns over cost details. Alderman Keith Werner added to that idea, saying that funding for a study of costs would also need to be made available to allow the group to do a thorough job.

Several of the aldermen seemed concerned that they couldn't discuss the idea further. However, as the specific idea wasn't listed on the agenda for the evening, it will need to be placed on the next council agenda. This allows for public notice of the discussion, which many would agree is an important part of the process.

What may have unfortunately gotten lost in Tuesday's parlimentary polka was a great idea. It's been said people want details on cost, and even though parks director Craig Anderson has said that it will be up to residents what goes into this park, it may have seemed as a dismissive statement. The ad hoc committee that could form would represent residents from all sides of the issue to help establish a list of features that a park could offer, and from there, costs can be gathered. If people are really serious about wanting to give their input, the floor is yours.

A small group of residents on Little Muskego Lake have already gotten this concept and took it upon themselves to improve Idle Isle, having enlisted scout troops and garnering donations for materials, beautifying the shoreline in just a couple of weekends. They approached the parks department in part because they saw a need, but also because it was a great opportunity for the scouts to participate in a project and for them to assume some ownership over a resource that is there for them.

That's what small-scale participation can do. A more formal group, organized with the governance of the parks department, could likely assemble greater ideas and creative solutions to execute an area that everyone can enjoy, everyone can invest in, because really it's supposed to be everyone's park, and why not own a stake in it?