January 17, 2002
Desperately seeking David Rohl
by Laurel Menne
"I became involved when it became clear that those who were already on the school board were not being responsive to the public, nor respecting the views of the electorate, the very people of this community that elected them," David Rohl said in an interview with the Prescott Journal in the Thursday, January 18, 2001 edition. Rohl, who then had announced his candidacy for the Prescott School Board continued, "That horrified me, to the point that I felt that someone had to do something about this problem, and in the end I decided that it would be me."
Recently however, residents of Clifton Township have been wondering where their school board member is.
Rohl, elected in April, has missed the past two regular school board meetings, the annual meeting in August, one of the two negotiations meetings in the summer, both the safety inspection and the architect's tour of the Prescott Middle School, the grand opening of Malone Elementary School and one of the two survey meetings. (Rohl was on the committee to develop the survey.) He also missed the January 9 special meeting to evaluate employees and participate in the board's self-evaluation.
According to Rohl, his employment is the reason for his absence. "I'm just trying to make a living," Rohl said in an interview last week. "The way it looks, I'll start attending regularly shortly."
"I go through the material they send me. If there is something I don't approve of, I'd make sure my presence is there to make sure my constituency is represented. I'm always going to be the other guy because I'm standing up for people who don't get heard normally." He continued, "I'd sure hate to think the board hinges on me."
In addition to his absence at meetings, several accommodations have been made to get the board packets to Rohl before the meetings. According to Prescott School Superintendent Carroll Lehman, Rohl did not want the packets delivered to his home, like Lehman does for other members. When Rohl didn't pick up the packets in time to study them before the meetings, they were mailed to Rohl. After it was determined that Rohl didn't get the packets early enough through the mail, the meeting agenda was completed on Friday rather than Monday so his packet could be mailed earlier. When this was not satisfactory, Lehman began delivering Rohl's board packet to his mother at Prescott City Hall.
At the December 16 school board meeting, Clifton resident Debbie Nahorniak asked the board about Rohl's absence. Her comment to them was, "If all of the school board members had the attendance he does, you would never get anything done." Prescott School Board President Mark Helmer responded by saying, "Yes, as a Clifton resident, he is your representative." In an interview with the Journal, Nahorniak commented that she had attended several meetings and he had not been present.
Asked in an interview if he felt he was representing Clifton Township on the school board, Rohl's quick response was, "Of course! The issues come up and I try to read the issues and imagine alternatives."
When asked if he had visited the schools or attended any of the school events since his election, Rohl said he had not. He responded that his role was to "safeguard public treasury" not necessarily visit the schools. He continued by stating that the board often does, "nothing at meetings. It is totally procedural." He also remarked, "State mandates suck up almost everything, especially how we work as a board."
Rohl continued by pointing out that is was his suggestion the board used when deciding to have a survey done by Uw-River Falls rather than a consulting firm. "They wanted to spend $10,000 on a survey," he said. "If I hadn't gone to the meeting, you'd be spending $10,000. I make sure I'm there when it is something that matters to my constituency."
Rohl cited fiscal responsibility as the reason that he decided to run for the school board. In the January 2001 interview, Rohl said, "In essence, I want to bring fiscal responsibility to the school district, as well as down to earth honesty, which is something I feel the community is well short of." He still cites those concerns when he talks about the school district. "People are worried that their taxes are going up and their money is being spent friviously," Rohl said last week. "A big sector of the public probably can't afford a new school building."
"We are one of the few districts that doesn't have debt," Rohl said. "Somewhere along the way, someone has done something right." Rohl also said that it is important for the state and federal governments, "to come together to figure out how the districts get their financing."
"Once my work load lightens up, I'll attend every meeting,"
Rohl said.
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Indian cultural lessons
by Russ Dibb
Respect for each other, respect between men and women, respect between cultures: These are the attributes and the teachings that Nick Hockings brought to the students at Malone Elementary School last Wednesday morning.
Introduced by Prescott High School teacher Jeff Ryan as "One of the most influential people in my life," the gentle educator from Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation in northeastern Wisconsin began his presentation to the elementary students dressed in jeans and a shirt.
He introduced himself and his presentation first in his native Ojibwe language and then in English. "Biindigay Geeshik Giiwitahkamikonahn," said Hockings. "My Indian name means 'Enter the sky, circling the earth,' he explained. He continued on by stating that he is a member of the Eagle Clan in an area know as Wa-Swa-Goning.
He explained that his reservation was named by the French when they observed the Indians spearing fish at night, ringing the lake with torches. The name Lac du Flambeau means Lake of Fire.
Hockings challenged the young students to describe what they thought they would see if they were able to fly over his home reservation in a "magic bus". The children responded that they would see Indian huts made of sticks and animal skins and people in buckskins.
With a knowing smile Hockings accepted those answers and explained that the vision they had was true of the past, but today Indians dress and act just like everyone else. The one difference he pointed out was that many Native Americans still practice their cultural ceremonies and heritage.
Taking a short break, Hockings disappeared and returned in traditional "Indian clothes" and dance regalia. He began a spontaneous presentation of Indian history and beliefs by saying, "It is important to teach the things from the past to help us enter the future."
He explained the making of buckskin clothes and feathered headdresses. The fact that Native Americans are one with nature and all animals was mixed with the theory of a Nation within a Nation. (Hockings served in the U.S. Military for five years in the 60's).
Throughout the presentation and the story telling Hockings reiterated the high regard given to women and girls in his culture. "Boys stay with their mother until age six, and then go learn the ways of man," said Hockings. "This way when problems arise in their life, they can approach it in a more gentle way, with less aggressiveness," he added.
The large drum in Hockings' collection is one that he made himself. As he played a soft, steady beat on the drum, he explained to the audience that the drum is considered feminine...a woman, because of the heart beat.
Only males can be drummers, as it is necessary to combine male and female to bring forth life. Singers, Hockings explained, accompany the beating drum with words and chants in prayer.
Six volunteer boys were selected from the audience to be "drummers". Hockings joined them and warned them to follow his lead and not to speed up. As the apprentice drumbeaters performed flawlessly, Hockings sang,... filling the large gymnasium with a very spiritual chant from ancient times.
Near the end of Hockings' presentation he demonstrated the timeless skill of making fire by literally "rubbing sticks together". As he prepared his bits of cedar bark, cattail fur, and his fire bow, Hockings told the group, "Anytime we learn something new, it is important that we learn the story behind it."
He continued by explaining the ancient story of how the animals saved the "two-leggeds" from the cold of winter. A long, fascinating story that ended up with a tree swallowing the fire, which was stolen from the monster "Winddigo". "Now for all generations, it's just a matter of rubbing the tree's wood in the right manner and bringing the fire back to life."
With the end of the story, Hockings blew gently on the smoldering ball of tinder held in his hands and it burst into flames illuminating the faces of the young children who had just experienced their first taste of cultural diversity.
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Arson strikes at Prescott Middle School
by Russ Dibb
On Monday morning Kent Landman was letting his dog outside at about 6:00 a.m. and noticed something flickering in a window on the third floor of the Middle School, which is across the street from his house.
Landman grabbed his binoculars and verified that it appeared to be a flame. He thought it might be a Bunsen burner left on accidentally in the science room, however he hadn't noticed it on the night before.
Landman called 9-1-1.
"We arrived on the scene and observed no smoke coming from the building,"
said Prescott's Fire Chief Dan Conway. "We could see the flame in the
upstairs window, and laddered up to it first to see what it was. Once we
knew that it was just a gas burner flame we entered the room and shut off
the gas," he explained.
Piles of ash from burned school materials, black soot covering walls, windows and ceilings, and the acrid smell of smoke were left behind by a fire at the Middle School Sunday night. Photo by Russ Dibb. |
Inside the third floor science room, members of the fire department and police discovered that there had been a fire intentionally set in the classroom sometime during the night time hours.
It was reported that possibly two Bunsen burners had been lit and then a large amount of school materials and other paper and cardboard materials had been intentionally ignited.
The resulting fire melted some light fixtures out of the ceiling and did some physical damage to the surrounding surfaces, woodwork and window blinds. Large piles of ash were left behind and the entire interior of the large science room was covered in thick, black soot.
Prescott Police Investigator Scott Brownell conducted a thorough investigation of the crime scene and surrounding area. Due to a teacher's inservice day on Monday there were no students at the school to deal with during the investigation.
Brownell said that he spoke with the State Fire Marshall's office during the day on Monday and they concurred with his investigation and since there was minimal damage and no injuries they didn't need to respond.
Brownell is developing a lot of information and is confident that the perpetrators will come to justice in a short time.
Middle School Principal Pat Hall said that they hope to have the room usable again within a couple weeks, however a lot of the teaching materials were destroyed in the fire.
"For now Mr. Hover's classes will be moving around the building, utilizing space wherever it can be located from hour to hour," said Hall.
There was no estimate of damages as of press time, however the Service
Master Cleaning, a business that specializes in fire cleanup, was at the
school and hopes to restore the room within three weeks time.
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Council praises police
by Russ Dibb
On a unanimous vote, the Prescott City Council, at their regular meeting Monday night, passed a resolution commending several Prescott Police Officers for excellence in 2001.
The resolution stated in part: The City of Prescott recognizes that its police officers regularly go above and beyond the call of duty in responding to the needs of the citizens of Prescott and it is the desire of the City of Prescott to give recognition for the service its officers perform.
Recognized were:
Officers Bryan Massman and Jason Kenesie for a narcotics arrest with firearm involved on July 26, 2001.
Officers Jackie Ryden and David Kuether for a narcotics arrest in which the offenders ran and hid from officers, necessitating a search for the offenders on October 2, 2001.
Officer James Van Dusen for his diligence in investigating the misuse of a private boat launch permit by a business, the failure of that business to obtain proper licensing and the prevention of said business from transporting oversized loads on city streets and state highways without the property transport permits on October 10, 2001.
Officer Jonathan Grass for his assistance in recovering the property of a business owner on July 6, 2001.
The resolution, 01-02, was signed by Mayor Sheila R. Wojtowicz.
In other business, Alderman Randy Hendrickson raised a question about the hiring of a "Beach Manager" as listed in the minutes from the Parks and Public Property Committee.
City Administrator Lloyd Matthes explained that Erin McNiff, a summer intern, had been hired as the Beach Manager. She is an EMT with lifeguard experience but will not have lifeguard duties. Rather, she will be responsible for maintaining the property in a safe kept manner and enforcing the beach rules and applicable codes of the City of Prescott. She will be in direct radio contact with the ambulance and police departments, and will respond to medical calls as needed.
Matthes also explained that she will work a flexible schedule of 32 hours per week, although the exact hours have yet to be determined. McNiff will be paid $10.50 per hour, with the possibility that some of the salary may be compensated by her internship program.
Alderman Jim Vick brought up the subject of the "sprinkler credit" problems and possible resolutions, and wanted to know why there hadn't been any reports or solutions from the Public Works Committee.
Alderman Randy Hendrickson, the chair of the Public Works Committee, stated that the issue is on their agenda, but with the holidays they weren't able to discuss it yet.
Public Works Director Jeff Kittleson was present at the council meeting and interjected. He said that on Wednesday, January 16, at 9:00 a.m. there is going to be a round-table discussion about this problem with a dozen surrounding communities. It is hoped that some type of universal solution can be discovered.
Rounding out the night's discussions was the approval of an animal control contract for 2002 with Top Dog, Inc., of Hastings.
The City will pay $1000 per month for the service. It was explained that the service will respond within 30 minutes any time it is contacted by the Police department. It will capture and impound the animals and hold them for at least the mandatory seven days, investigate reports, issue warnings or citations at the direction of reporting officers, ensure public compliance with all animal related city ordinances and state laws, maintain records and histories of offending and suspected animals, provide complete reports each month and will serve the City of Prescott as the facility designated for impoundment under Wis. Stats. Sec. 95.21 (am).
It was also explained that under this set up, people must appear at city hall to pay for their animal's truancy before they can go pick it up.
The fees include: $50 for the call, $35 for impoundment, $15 per day boarding, plus licensing if not currently licensed. Tickets for animal-at-large and non-licensing of an animal are also a possibility.
"We've had much better luck collecting our fees with this system," said Zoning Administrator Jayne Brand. "We've used the Top Dog Service since October and have had no problems," she added.
After the regular meeting, the City Council went into closed session for union negotiations for the Public Works Department.
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Workers' grievance resolved
by Russ Dibb
A volunteer group in Prescott called "Ice is Nice", has been meeting since November in an effort to resurrect the public ice skating rink on the corner of Linn and St. Croix.
On January 3rd the volunteers flooded the rink for the first time. Within 24 hours a union grievance had been filed by the city's Public Works Department employees.
The employees stated that they had always taken care of the flooding of the ice rink in the past and now the job was handed over to volunteers, and they wanted the duties returned to them.
A meeting was held between the union and the City on Wednesday, January 9th. As a result of the meeting the grievance was dropped by the employees and a mutual understanding was established.
Teamsters Union Representative Dan Alexander said, "We met with the city and it appears that the communication problem between the workers and their supervisors has been resolved. The grievance was dropped."
Union steward Larry Fischer stated "I think we made our point and hopefully the communication issue is resolved." He also said that they will begin having regular staff meetings with their supervisor to handle questions and problems in the future.
City Administrator Lloyd Matthes said that even though this was a situation that he wished hadn't happened, it might have turned out for the best. "We have definitely improved communications and this will be important in light of all the upcoming state mandates involving safety issues."
Matthes also said that the issue with the "Ice is Nice" volunteers was settled. The public works department has no issue with them continuing to work on the ice rink.
John Carlson and Bard Webster of the Ice volunteers were flooding on Monday night, and hope that Mother Nature let's them make ice.
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