Buying the Holy Land

Here's one way to get God out of your face, buy real estate. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Madison-based national state/church watchdog offered $1,200 for a 990-ft. bite of land on what is known as the "Star Hill" cross site in Holmen, Wis.

The foundation has contentions with the village for owning and lighting a cross (and a lighted star most of the year) on public property. The local Lions Club has maintained the site for almost 50 years. The village plans to sell the parcel to the Lions for $100, which the Freedom From Religion folks say is a sweetheart deal closed to the public.

"It seems the real intent behind the offer to sell the property to the Lions Club is to simply ensure that this prominent symbol of Christianity remains exactly where it has been. We believe the Village cannot lawfully limit bidders for the land only to those who will maintain the cross on the same spot," says Annie Laurie Gaylor of the foundation.

Old Hand Gets Dealt Again: A collective groan was heard throughout the Milwaukee tavern industry when Ald. Jim Bohl was appointed chair of the Common Council Licenses Committee. Bohl had been chair previously but was removed from that post by Common Council President Willie Hines and replaced by the more even-tempered Jim Witkowiak.

Bohl has earned a reputation for being sanctimonious, paternal and preachy when common folk who have run into trouble must appear before the committee in order to get a license.

Granted, a license is a privilege, but Bohl seems to enjoy playing God with the hoi polloi before him. His rants were one major cause behind the committee's seemingly endless meetings. He also relished scolding members of the audience for the infamous cell phone ring.

Joining Bohl on a committee that has the longest work hours per meeting are the two council newcomers, Milele Coggs and Nik Kovac, along with Tony Zielinski and Ashanti Hamilton, leaving Bohl as the only returning member to the committee.  This is his third stint there.

Returning chairs for other committees are: Ald. Robert J. Bauman, Public Works; Ald. Robert G. Donovan, Public Safety; Ald. Joe Davis, Community and Economic Development, and Ald. Michael J. Murphy, Finance and Personnel. Outgoing alderman Mike D'Amato was replaced as the chair of the Judiciary Committee by Ashanti Hamilton and chair of the Zoning Committee by Witkowiak.

A Road is a Road: Driving drunk in a gated community can still get you busted, according to the state court of appeals. Thomas P. Tecza was arrested for drunk driving on the roads of the Geneva National Community and argued that he was on private property not open to the public so he could drive at will. In his defense, he stated that the gate he had to go through to get to the community was proof he was not on a public road.

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen's office took a rare step in handling the appeal. The state contended that since the roads were essentially open to non-residents such as delivery people and the postal service, that public road laws should apply. For those counting at home, the relevant statute, section 346.61 of the Wisconsin Statutes, makes it illegal to drive drunk on "all premises held out to the public for use by their motor vehicles."

Paving the Way: Road builders everywhere are waging a full frontal assault on Gov. Jim Doyle's idea that the state needs to take a few hundred million dollars from the transportation fund to balance the state budget. In the last few weeks, several organizations connected to asphalt, paving and concrete have issued statements of outrage over the idea.

The latest is from the Transportation Development Association. The TDA's latest statement is that thousands of jobs would be lost if Doyle continues on his plan and the state Legislature goes along with it.

"To transfer that money elsewhere when our roads are in desperate need of repair and people are counting on these jobs would be wrong," said Craig Thompson executive director of the lobby group. "Wisconsinites are paying the price for these past mistakes today. To try it one more time at the expense of our entire transportation network and people's jobs is almost inconceivable."

Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that it would soon cancel $261 million worth of highway construction if the state Legislature and governor are unable to reach a budget agreement.

In what must be a rare management / union cooperation, the roadbuilders' lobby is joined by the workers' reps, as well. Unions representing construction workers have issued a statements opposing the budget shift, too.

"That would be just devastating to our members and their families," said Terry McGowan, Business Manager of Operating Engineers, Local 139. "We have already lost 800 highway construction jobs in just the past six years alone. We can't afford to lose any more."

Rising gas prices, however, have reduced traffic loads by up to 20 percent in places like Florida and the need for $1 billion road expansions such as the one proposed for I-94 from Milwaukee to the Illinois border seem to be the wrong priority. Filling potholes is probably a wiser use of the shrinking dollar.