Legal Issues

Attorney's sure know how to bill.

All Money Ain’t Good Money

Dorothy Burton is a four-term councilmember for the City of Duncanville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. She is a member of the National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government Board of Directors (WIMG), an assistant regional director for the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) and attends Dallas Theological Seminary where she is pursuing a Master of Biblical Counseling. Her first book,
Why We Fall (Dailey Swan Publishing, Inc.) will be released in Spring 2011. Her e-mail address is dorothy@dorothyburton.com.

I found this article of her's appropriate for today.
http://www.dorothyburton.com/uploads/publishedsamples/AllMoneyAintGoodMoney2010.pdf

There It Is

Ethical Neutrality is following the rules, codes and laws of the organization. In practice, the principle of ethical neutrality has substantial disadvantages. First, no matter how much detail there is in the law, the administrative code and policy directives provide, I usually face numerous choices and wide discretion in carrying out my responsibilities on a daily basis. Second, there are no readily available mechanisms for me to voice my concerns or raise ethical questions regarding the organization's procedures or processes. Therefore, the I had only four rather unattractive options--obey, resign, go public, or go underground and undermine the unethical practice from within. (Hirschman:1970) The Ethics Board failed as an option because two of the three members ended up with conflicts; behind the scenes efforts failed and Council review was the the only option left.
There was little choice left, my potential acts of omission would be no different than his acts of commission when assessed from an ethical perspective. Actions and results must count for more in the public arena than motive or intent (which are quite difficult to measure). And, public officials must exercise foresight regarding the outcomes of their actions. (Thompson, 1990; p. 263)
"In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousand fold in the future. When we neither punish no reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations."
Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn (The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956)

Today I thought that

“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Public Market

The City has authorized the Lake Mills Main Street Program to establish, supervise and maintain the Wednesday open air public market in the Commons. The Lake Mills Main Street Program is considering hiring or contracting for the actual operations of the market.
The Lake Mills Main Street Program is proposing to setup stalls and require seasonal or daily stall permits. The payments will pay the cost of a Market Manager who will supervise the market during hours of operation, site management and financial management.
The selling of permits means the City should require the Lake Mills Main Street Program to run the market in compliance with all pertinent health and regulatory codes of the City, State and United States. The Market Manager should encourage the County Health Department, Building Inspector and Fire Inspector to make inspections on a regular basis. If any of these Departments finds any violations the Market Manager should revoke the sellers permit.
The stalls should be setup to not block the normal use of sidewalks during the event. The Market Manager should be responsible for maintaining a neat and clean commons area. The City may want to consider requiring the Lake Mills Main Street Program provide proof of Liability Insurance indemnifying the City.

Public Notice

This is a paragraph in the Rock Lake Advisory Committee minutes.
“Discussion of ‘Last Minute’ Additions to the Agenda: Bob raised the question of if these were legal. They are legal when they meet all the stipulations of notice. Stan discriminated between acting on items versus simply discussing items added at the last minute based on if they were controversial.”

I’m not their legal counsel and although it is a joint committee – the Town of Lake Mills has primary oversight of the committee. But this is the statutory requirement.
Every public notice of a meeting of a governmental body shall set forth the time, date, place and subject matter of the meeting, including that intended for consideration at any contemplated closed session, in such form as is reasonably likely to apprise members of the public and the news media thereof. The public notice of a meeting of a governmental body may provide for a period of public comment, during which the body may receive information from members of the public.

I do not believe that anything can be added to agenda without meeting the statutory notice requirement. Emergency notice requires 24 hour prior posting and notification of the press. I can not see how adding to the agenda at a meeting meets this requirement. Members of the public can bring things up during the allowed public comment section where members may ask questions regarding the issue but not act or add to the agenda.

Convening body members are expected to properly prepare for a meeting and provide the proper notice. Adding items at the meeting is unacceptable. The conditions that the Supreme Court set in the plain meaning standard are about the wording of the notice, not whether it needs to be notice.

The Supreme Court has determined that “the plain meaning of Wis. Stat. § 19.84(2) sets forth a reasonableness standard, and that such a standard strikes the proper balance contemplated in Wis. Stat. §§ 19.81(1) and (4) between the public’s right to information and the government’s need to efficiently conduct its business.” This reasonableness standard “requires a case-specific analysis” and “whether notice is sufficiently specific will depend upon what is reasonable under the circumstances.” In making that determination, the factors to be considered include: “[1] the burden of providing more detailed notice, [2] whether the subject is of particular public interest, and [3] whether it involves non-routine action that the public would be unlikely to anticipate.”

Whether a meeting notice is reasonable, according to the Court, “cannot be determined from the standpoint of when the meeting actually takes place,” but rather must be “based upon what information is available to the officer noticing the meeting at the time the notice is provided, and based upon what it would be reasonable for the officer to know.” Once reasonable notice has been given, “meeting participants would be free to discuss any aspect of the noticed subject matter, as well as issues that are reasonably related to it.”
However, “a meeting cannot address topics unrelated to the information in the notice.” The Attorney General has similarly advised, in an informal opinion, that if a meeting notice contains a general subject matter designation and a subject that was not specifically noticed comes up at the meeting, a governmental body should refrain from engaging in any information gathering or discussion or from taking any action that would deprive the public of information about the conduct of governmental business.

This information available from the Attorney General seems pretty clear to me.

Site Plan Review

Role of Staff is to ensure that development meets the applicable codes and regulations of the State, Federal Government and City of Lake Mills. The City of Lake Mills has one of the easiest site plan review systems in the State. The plans are submitted to one office and reviewed by a planner and an engineer who prepare memos noting the site plans failure to meet the codes and regulations. These memos are returned to the developer who can then improve the site plan as required by code. The developer can also request a meeting to discuss code and regulation interpretation and site issues. Once the site plan review is complete – the building Inspector is notified that he is allowed to issue a permit under his conditions.

This system has turned out site plan reviews in two weeks and two years. The major problem is developer’s expectations. Developers that have worked with Madison or Waukesha usually have substantially complete plans at the first review and are complete by the second. People use to dealing with Ixonia or Milford can’t figure out why a drawing on a napkin doesn’t meet code requirements. There are also some internal problems that can cause delays in the process, first is conflicting regulation. I’m hoping the new code will resolve this issue – I can always hope. The second is failure to follow through, emails get lost – plans get sent to the wrong locations and vacations result in all sorts of disjointedness. The problems are part of a small office and third party review.

Developers who require multiple reviews use to cost the city thousands of dollars. Now, after the first review, they have to pay the cost of each additional review. There are still other issues that have to be resolved, but development has slowed, the third parties are working hard to reduce costs and planner changes affect the ability to make changes. Having to learn a whole new code will also cause problems.

Computer Trojan

My trojan was in the window prefetch and not system 32. The trend micro caught the system 32 problem, but the prefetch continued to cause problems. Once the prefetch was cleared, the problem went away.

Computer

Man, I hate malware. I wish these people had more constructive activities. I suggest coaching 4th grade basketball. It provides all the stress you need and takes every weekend you have.

Due Process

When someone speaks of due process, or receiving their "due", they are usually talking about something that they feel is rightly entitled to them. In fact, that is precisely the historical meaning of due process. Ever since antiquity, every society has had some concept of it. That's because the notion of due process varies from society to society. The basic idea remains constant, but how much a person feels rightly entitled to depends on the historical and cultural context in which they live.
In United States law, due process (more fully due process of law) is the principle that the government must normally respect all of a person's legal rights instead of just some or most of those legal rights when the government deprives a person of life, liberty, or property. Due process has also been frequently interpreted as placing limitations on laws and legal proceedings, in order for judges instead of legislators to guarantee fundamental fairness, justice, and liberty.
Text in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
“No person shall be ... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law....”
“No State shall ... deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law....”
Procedural due process basics
Procedural due process is essentially based on the concept of "fundamental fairness". As construed by the courts, it includes an individual's right to be adequately notified of proceedings involving him, and the opportunity to be heard at these proceedings. Procedural due process has also been an important factor in the development of the law of personal jurisdiction.
Fairness is the idea of doing what's best. It may not be perfect, but it's the good and decent thing to do. It requires being level-headed, uniform and regular, when all around you is prejudice, corruption, or the desire of an angry mob to see justice done. Fairness requires breadth and depth. Not only does the outcome have to be fair, but so does everything along the line such as evidence gathering and presentation.
Substantive due process basics
Most courts have viewed the due process clause, and sometimes other clauses of the Constitution, as embracing those fundamental rights that are "implicit in ordered liberty." Just what those rights are is not always clear. Some of these rights have long histories or "are deeply rooted" in our society.
Judicial review of substantive due process violations
When a law or other act of government is challenged as a violation of individual liberty under the Due Process Clause, courts nowadays use two forms of scrutiny, or judicial review. This inquiry balances the importance of the governmental interest being served and the appropriateness of the government's method of implementation against the resulting infringement of individual rights. If the governmental action infringes upon a fundamental right, the highest level of review—strict scrutiny—is used. In order to pass strict scrutiny review, the law or act must be narrowly tailored to a compelling government interest. When the governmental restriction restricts liberty in a manner that does not implicate a fundamental right, rational basis review is used. Here a legitimate government interest is enough to pass this review. A law is more likely to survive constitutional challenges under rational basis scrutiny than under strict scrutiny.
Define the Problem
The City Council makes decisions which fall within one of the following categories: legislative and adjudicative/administrative.
In the legislative category, the City Council makes decisions relating to general rules, regulations and procedures without rendering a decision relating to a particular policy. In taking a legislative action, the City Council will usually conduct a public hearing and thereafter determine an addition, deletion or change to the standards contained in the Municipal Code.
In the adjudicative category, the City Council considers a particular issue, usually in response to a complaint. In rendering an adjudicative decision, the City Council must apply the provisions of the law in accordance with the City Council’s authority and make determination relating to the individual’s rights.
Procedural and Substantive Requirements In making adjudicative decisions, the City Council must satisfy the requirements of procedural due process and substantive due process. Procedural due process requires that the City Council give reasonable notice of the hearing to people who have a significant interest that may be impacted by the adjudicative decision.
Further, interested persons must be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. The hearing to consider the charges must be conducted in accordance with procedures that are fair to all persons. The length of the process should also be paced so as to be fair to all persons.
Substantive due process requires that when the charges are being considered, the City Council is fair, impartial and unbiased. Each Council member should avoid saying or doing anything that may give the appearance that the Council member has made up his/her mind prior to the close of public input portion of the process. Conclusionary statements regarding the proposed project should not be made until the City Council is deliberating the matter at the proper point in the process as set in the law.
Also, substantive due process requires that the City Council’s adjudicative decision not be arbitrary or unreasonable. An adjudicative decision is justified if it has a substantial relationship to a public interest (such as health, safety or welfare) and correctly applies the standards of the City. If the decision impacts the exercise of a First Amendment right (speech or religion), the City Council must demonstrate that the impact of the decision is justified by a compelling public interest and is no more impactful on the First Amendment right than is absolutely necessary.
Select the Criteria
In order to protect persons from the unjustified deprivation of life, liberty, or property by the government, there must be some method by which they can contest the means by which the government proposes to deprive them of protected interests; i.e., they must be afforded procedural due process. Questions may arise concerning the adequacy of the procedures provided to contest the deprivation of a protected interest. While the exact procedures appropriate to one set of facts may not be required under differing circumstances, there are certain fundamental or basic aspects of procedural due process that should be considered:
1. Notice. Sufficient notice should be given in order to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action, afford them an opportunity to present their objections, and enable them to determine what is being proposed and what must be done to protect their interests.
2. Hearing. Individuals cannot be deprived of property or liberty interest unless they are provided some form of hearing in which they will have the opportunity to be heard.
3. Impartiality. In order to provide procedural due process to an individual who may be subject to a deprivation of his or her interests, it is important not only that a hearing be provided, but also that the tribunal or decision maker not be predisposed against the individual. An impartial decision maker is considered to be essential.
4. Counsel. An individual should be permitted to be represented and assisted by counsel, although it is not necessarily required that counsel be provided to one unable to afford his own. Generally speaking, an indigent has an absolute right to appointed counsel only where he may lose his physical liberty if he loses the adjudication.
5. Evidence. Especially in cases where a decision rests on questions of fact, it may be necessary to provide an individual not only with the ability to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, but also the opportunity for discovery, i.e., investigation and accumulating evidence, in order to give him or her a chance to show that the facts upon which the proposed deprivation is based are untrue.

Title 11 Review

Zoning and subdivision regulations are the primary tools the City uses to implement long-range comprehensive land use plans and policies. With the City’s new plan, these regulatory documents have become vague or out of date and we need to formally adopted policies governing land-use development and review procedures that match the plan.
The amount of change in the zoning and subdivision regulations between 1990 and today is quite eye opening. The lack of land and water use planning used than is totally insufficient planning for today and can result in inappropriate development, land use conflicts, contamination and over use of surface and ground water, erosion, increased flooding, gut and drainage fillings, uncontrolled and excessive exploitation of natural resources, destruction of plant and animal habitats, declines in productivity of the marine environment, pollution, etc.
There is general agreement among staff and community leaders that the current land development regulations are deficient and need to be update to match the plan. There is, however, agreement that the zoning and subdivision laws that we currently use are a substantial improvement over the 1990’s regulations.

All The Changes

My world feels like it is coming to an end

But I’m not afraid

I’ll be happy again tomorrow

and today I may shed a tear

But it is just the beginning of the end

so let it rain today

Tomorrow will be here soon

PAR

Get ready - countywide property tax assessment is coming. There is a lot of information out there and you should be reading up on it. I think it's going to be a good thing overall. I know there are a couple issues with the change, but overall it should make property taxes more equitable.

Donation

The Disabled American Veterans are generously donating $200 for flags to the City for use at our facilities. The flags may be sited on existing flag poles in locations approved by the Parks & Forestry Director. Flags deteriorate quickly when exposed to the elements and the size of a flag is determined by the type, size and configuration of the pole on which it is to be mounted. Consequently, donated flags must be of a size and quality suitable for the site and the environment in which it is to be located. The cash dontion allows the Parks and Forestry Director to select the best flags. Flags need to be replaced regularly and we appreciate them being paid for by the donor.

Spring

The weather tells me spring is coming, the construction activity tells me spring is coming, the WIAA basketball tournaments tells me to get ready for a big snow.

The Job

The Council President is responsible for preserving order, conducting the proceedings of the council, and be its parliamentarian. If a member does not follow the council's rules, the Council President may, on his or her own motion, or shall, at any member's request, call the offending member to order. The council, if appealed to, shall decide the matter.
The Council President is responsible for the overall actions of council members. The Council President may request that the Council review the conduct of a council member for possible removal by a majority vote of the City Council at a public meeting.

On Line Payments by Paul Hermanson

OVERVIEW
The ability to shop and pay bills via the internet is certainly popular, if not efficient and beneficial for many people these days. So, we have been looking at offering an online bill payment option for utility bills, and possibly other bills owed to the city.
We have identified one main objective online bill payments - make it easier for customers to make payments. This objective also includes things such as more convenient payment channels (24x7 online, automated phone and mobile), more convenient payment options (credit card, eCheck and debit) with real-time payment confirmation, the ability to make payments 24x7 avoiding the need to walk-in or call-in during business hours to make a payment, and make a payment from the comfort of home.
If instituted, customers could go online through the LML&W website and make a payment by credit card, debit or echeck, or call a dedicated toll-free number to make an automated phone payment by credit card, debit or echeck, or use their mobile phone to make a payment.
There are an increasing number of people who have a strong desire to use credit cards to pay bills. Perhaps they are facing a late fee or disconnection and need a real-time payment option, or are looking for another convenient payment option (automated phone or online) for after hours payments. Reasons for credit card payments include:
· Rewards, loyalty points
· Habitual, they pay all their bills by credit card
· Cash management (better option than being late or taking out an expensive cash advance)


BENEFITS
· Customer: More convenience, make it easier for customers to pay their bill. Customers receive convenient options to pay their bills anytime, 24x7, using any payment method (credit card, debit, e.check) allowing them to avoid the need to call during business hours or walk-in to make a payment. Payments can be made online or by automated phone from the comfort of their own home.

· Customer Service: Our staff will securely access an “Agent Dashboard” allowing the ability to look up and confirm payments, resolve calls faster (typically within one call), easily and securely accept payments over the phone, and access real-time reports.

· Finance: We receive an enterprise payment platform with modern functions including detailed transaction and payment reporting, reports to simplify reconciliation (G/L), simplified returns, dispute and NSF management, with no negative impact on our budget.

· Late Payments/Disconnections/Shut-Offs: Customers get a real-time credit card payment option to avoid last-minute disconnection/shut-off. Some utilities have their field staff provide a toll-free number to the household facing disconnect, to call and make a credit card or check payment, giving them an option to avoid the disconnect and expensive reconnection fees.

COST
We have spoken with two online payment providers to this point – Paymentus and Payment Services Network. Both operate similarly, but have some significant differences. Both provide services by charging a convenience fee. Paymentus has set their fee at $3.50 per transaction and Payment Services Network has set a fee of $2.099 per transaction.
This fee can be paid by the customer or the utility or a combination. One of the main discussions is who pays this fee. At this time most utilities in Wisconsin pass the cost on to the customer, while some utilities absorb this fee. The practice of charging a convenience fee to the users of this service is common in many Cities, Utilities and Municipalities across the US.


NOTES
For the purposes of discussion I am including bulleted notes from presentation from both providers we are researching. We are still in the process of examining both companies and getting feedback from other utilities using their services.


Paymentus (demonstration February 18, 2010)

· Provides an “e-bill”
· PCI compliant – 3rd party hosted – no CC information is stored – site is secure
· Harris Northstar preferred partner – seamless interconnection
· Credit cards, savings or check payments accepted
· Provides a toll free number for phone payments
· All payments deposited to our account within 48 hours
· Checks are compared to a “bad check writer’s list” prior to accepting online
· Customer receives confirmation email of payment accepted
· Some marketing materials are provided
· No cost to LM for user based model
· Cost per transaction is $3.50

Payment Service Network (demonstration February 24, 2010)

· Provides an “ebill”
· PCI compliant – some information is stored, but site remains secure
· Does not link directly to Harris Northstar – requires working through an FTP, this is provided by WPPI
· Credit card, savings, or check payments accepted
· Provides a toll free number for phone payments
· CC payments deposited within 48 hours, checks on 3rd business day – notification of NFS checks 2-3 days
· Customer receives email notification of payment accepted
· Some marketing materials are provided
· No cost to LM for user based model
· Cost per transaction is $2.99.

I can do it.

Today I become dead man walking, but it's the right thing to do. I can't in good conscience sweep this under the rug.

Summer Timeline

MAIN STREET SANITARY
· Complete survey and preliminary design the week of March 8. This seems possible since the weather looks like it will be at or above freezing the next week or so.
· Revise design based on comments from City Staff the week of March 15.
· Prepare DNR permit and wage rage application the week of March 22.
· Advertise April 1 and April 8.
· Open bids April 15.
· Award project at the April 20 council meeting. This project is assumed to be bid out by the City with bidding assistance by Strand.
· Be under construction by May 3.
· This project should have a deadline of no later than June 18 so that it does not interfere with Town and Country Days.
· SAI or WWTP staff would perform full-time construction observation during the sanitary sewer installation, and part-time during the restoration operations.

AZTALAN ENGINEERING SEWER EXTENSION
· DNR Sanitary permit received.
· Wage rates have been received.
· Bid tab and advertisement are ready to go.
· The next step is to drop off plans and specifications to you, send in the advertisement to the paper, and assist you with the bidding process. This project has been setup for the City to perform the bidding themselves and use your own contract. Advertising can begin as soon as you would like to.
· SAI or WWTP staff would perform full-time construction observation during the sanitary sewer installation, and part-time during the restoration operations.

FERRY DRIVE ROADWAY AND UTILITIES
· The next step will be to meet with you and the department heads to discuss the limits and budget of the project.
· Our next step would be to create the plan sheets and finish the bidding documents to get this project ready to go.
· The design elements that we have included right now are:
o Pulverize pavement and base course from Lake Street to Fremont Street.
o Spot curb and gutter and sidewalk replacement
o Reconstruct Ferry Drive from the mill pond bridge to Lake Street, including the parking stalls.
o Reconstruct sanitary sewer and laterals from Campus to Fremont.
o Line sewer and manholes from Bartle’s Beach to Campus. This area cannot be replaced because the existing sewer is almost flat, and the connection point at Lake Street is too high to allow for the proper slope to be installed on the new pipe. After speaking with Bob and Bill, this may be something that could be part of a separate City project since it may be cheaper to go directly to the lining company to do the work than through a general. Down the road, the sewer on Lake Street can be lowered to allow for the future replacement of this sewer to towards Bartle’s Beach.
o Replace lead services between Bartle’s Beach and Fremont. The lead services, if any, will be discovered during the sanitary sewer work and marked for replacement.
o Two new 6-inch water valves will be installed at College Street and two more at Fremont Street. The installation of these valves will eliminate the long stretches of un-valved water main. 6-inch valves are proposed because the rest of the water main in this area is 6-inch and 4-inch diameter. Also, if the water mains in this area are replaced in the near future, these valves can be salvaged and used for hydrants or other connections.
o There is 4-inch water main on Ferry between Tower Street and Fremont Street. Currently there is no plan to replace any water main on Ferry.
o Storm sewer laterals near the Campus intersection since this is a low point in the project.
o New inlets at Campus. This is work that John said his department might do depending on the timing of construction.
· Repairs to the southwest stream bank of the Ferry Drive bridge at Bartle’s Beach, and concrete repairs to the bridge itself could be made.
o The bank could be stabilized with new curb and rip rap.
o The loose concrete on the side of the bridge would be chipped away, and repaired with a polymer-modified concrete mix.
o We will need to survey this area to complete the design, calculate quantities, and submit for permits.
· A Chapter 30 permit needed for the new storm sewer outfall at the Bartle’s Beach parking lot, and for the bank stabilization work near the bridge.
· DNR sanitary sewer permit and an NOI are also required. At this time, no DNR water main permit is needed.
· A milestone will be put in the project specifications that requires the contractor to only open up as much street as they can put back with binder asphalt by June 18. The contractor will then need to be shut down for a week until Town and Country Days has passed and the equipment is removed. This will allow Ferry drive to act as the detour route.
· Advertise April 15 and April 22.
· Open bids April 29.
· Award project on May 4.
· This project should be complete by September 1.
· SAI would perform full-time construction observation during the sanitary sewer installation, curb & gutter, and paving; and part-time during street grading and restoration operations.

CIRCLE DRIVE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
· Chapter 30 permit has been submitted to the DNR for the new outfall to Rock Lake.
· An NOI is not needed since the disturbed area is less than 1 acre.
· A wage rate application will need to be submitted.
· There are DNR work time restrictions on the storm sewer outfall. This work cannot take place between March 15th and May 15th.
· Advertise May 27 and June 3.
· Open bids on June 10.
· Award project on June 15.
· This project should be complete by August 6.
· SAI would perform full-time construction observation during the storm sewer installation, and part-time during the grading and restoration operations.

MUNICIPAL ALLEYWAY BY FORD COURT
· After Friday’s site review, the drainage on Water Street has become more clear.
· Our next step is to check the capacity of the 43x68 inch DOT storm sewer along side City Hall. If there is capacity available, we can show new storm sewer on Water Street that will drain the parking lot, alley way, and Water Street. If capacity is not available, we can look at a new outfall to Rock Creek. Either way, it appears that the pipe under City Hall can be abandoned at Water Street.
· Once we have the capacity information, we can meet with you, the department heads, and Jill Nadeau to determine the preferred utility routing. We will also have to discuss the design of the walkway to Main Street, and the storm laterals to all the buildings on how close we should get to the downspouts.
· We are working with Bob and Bill to get more televising information for the sanitary sewer behind the buildings near Ford Court. We think it goes under these buildings, but we don’t know if there are any laterals hooked up. If possible, this line will be abandoned during construction, or we can try to reroute the laterals.
· DNR sanitary sewer and water main permits will need to be submitted.
· Wage rate application will need to be submitted.
· An NOI may not be needed, as long as we stay under 1 acre of disturbed area. Currently, it does not appear likely that an NOI will be needed.
· Advertise June 10 and June 17.
· Open bids June 25 (Friday). I am opening bids this day so that we have time to get the bid tab ready and letters sent out prior to the July 4th holiday weekend.
· Award project on July 6.
· This project should be complete by October 1.
· SAI would perform full-time construction observation during the sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main, concrete, and paving installations; and part-time during the grading and restoration operations.

Who and What

This week I get to help select the winners of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award. The winners get to participate in a leadership training opportunity this summer. I prefer the term leadership experience, but the process is to select the best and brightest sophomores willing to participate.
The process involves an interview where we discuss the students’ views and attitudes about leadership. I have always enjoy listening to students discuss the topic. But, sometimes I become a bit concerned about the difference between training and indoctrination. RYLA is training with the hope of building a strong group of volunteer leaders in the future.
The issue is what passes for training with youth at this level often is used with passive and sometimes not so passive indoctrination intent. As a parent, I would have concerns about the social content of some leadership courses and would be inclined to do some investigation. Many of these students are great doers and still lack the ability to think freely. They are not thinkers trained in the mode of Einstein or Galileo; they cannot break free of the rules established for them.
I truly hope to find students who can learn the elements of leadership and avoid the rules of the game.