Muskego Proud Says Research Supports Lake Development

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My name is Robert Lucas.  I am the spokesperson for Muskego Proud, an organized non-political group of Muskego citizens working to encourage a sense of community pride by promoting common sensed, quality enhancement of our main streets, lakes, neighborhoods and schools.

Muskego Proud organized last summer and came out in support of the common sensed, cost effective development of the lake property into a park, because they wanted to be "FOR" and Proud of Muskego, its growth and improvement of the downtown business area, our parks, our schools, and Muskego as a whole.  The committee consists of taxpaying Muskego  citizens, Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Tea Party members, conservatives and liberals. We are of all ages, come from all walks of life, white collar professionals, business owners and blue collar workers, educators and retirees.  We were able to unify as a group and stand up for Muskego and the development of this incredible asset to our community.

Information was obtained regarding the proposed lake park that is available to all residents of Muskego.  Muskego Proud members researched information from public records, spoke to elected representatives, as well as the sellers of the properties and their representatives and then gave their public input at four Common Council meetings in favor of the lake property purchase, based on actual facts, not misinformation about taxes rising significantly and other misconceptions raised by others.  We do so without complaint of, "the lack of transparency"  that others have coined as a catch phrase.

Public input about the proposed lake park has been received at FOUR prior common council meetings and several informational meetings were held as well since the proposal was made by the developer last August..  Reports of those meetings have been on Muskego Patch, in the Muskego Now and the Muskego Chronicle as well as other city web based resources. A four-page article outlining the proposed park is posted on the City of Muskego's  website (www.ci.muskego.wi.us) explaining everything in detail and announcing the January 24, 2012 Common Council meeting.  It is entitled, " Lake Property Acquisition for Park Purposes.”

Muskego Proud’s combined vision for the lake park is to have it help identify a downtown area simultaneously with the road construction on Janesville Road, the largest road project in the history of Waukesha County, over 40 million dollars .  We see the park as a catalyst for development and a gathering place for ALL CITIZENS OF MUSKEGO,  with a large quality beach and swimming area (over 400'), picnic areas, volleyball courts, a playground and a gazebo, where citizens old and young can bring their families, children, and grandchildren and enjoy our cities greatest asset, our lakes. 

The list of possibilities is endless because the final decisions regarding the park development will be made by the Park and Recreation Department along with the important and valued input of the citizens of Muskego after it is purchased by the city .  

We did our research and found this to be a quality investment in our community and one that made fiscal sense.  Our taxes in Muskego have not been raised in several years.  Current taxes proposed by the 2012 budget shows no increase in our tax levy.  In fact the levy was decreased by .5%.  (We currently have the lowest tax rate of any city our size in all of southeastern WI.)  Existing funds are available for this lake park and money can be borrowed at a rate of ~ 1.5%.  The 3.55 million dollar proposed purchase offer for the property is well within our means and a very fair price for this lake property, significantly less than the assessed value.  This property will only go up in value and will be an appreciable asset adding future value to our city.

Muskego 's debt is well below its legal debt capacity of 5% of equalized value.  Legal debt capacity in dollars is $131,714,990.  Current debt is only at 27.34% or $36,010,000.  The city currently has its debt structured to be paid off in full within the next few years. This RESPONSIBLE fiscal policy has led to Moody's Rating for Muskego Aa(2) for Outstanding Obligation Debt. 

This project has overwhelming support by our citizens and business community.  It is what is right for the community and those that oppose it are primarily lake home owners who do not wish to share "their lake" with the rest of us and those they have frightened into speaking out because of the non-existent and inflated fiscal issue, their claims about transparency and other untruths.  

This opposition only came to the forefront within the past few days, urged on by those with personal agendas and political aspirations, and there only goal is to delay the process so the developer pulls the offer to sell and goes ahead with a plan to develop the entire property.  This will also be opposed by these same individuals.  Their resolve should be questioned since they only picketed long enough to get on Fox 6 camera's yesterday and the fact that this proposal has been a matter of public record and debated by the city council since last August.

Where have they been?