Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Leadership Team
The combination of an ESFP and an INTJ and the search for reality. The one who wants to handle unknown situations on a moment-by-moment basis and the decisive, planned and orderly thinker.
Monday, July 16, 2012
A Myth?
Every once in a while we get a council member who thinks we can cut staff and add tasks. If it were possible to do more with less eventually we would be doing everything with nothing. The real question for us in determining if we can do more with less is; “are our processes efficient”?
Just downsizing would result in one person having a significant increase in their workload to carry the wood for those who are no longer here. So the dynamic of what happens when those who survive pick up the load of those who don't survive becomes an increasingly important concern. If people really were lazy and slackers, as many think, and were only doing real work 2 hours a day, then it should not be a big deal. But if that proves to be a myth, the long term ramifications could be significant in terms of stress related physical and emotional health conditions. This is where the rubber will meet the road when it comes to good organizations. The really good organizations, and leaders, will let their managers deal with this and their organizations will excel, and the average organizations, those who just plod through each day and never have an original thought, and never challenge and reward the creativity of their people, will fail.
Just downsizing would result in one person having a significant increase in their workload to carry the wood for those who are no longer here. So the dynamic of what happens when those who survive pick up the load of those who don't survive becomes an increasingly important concern. If people really were lazy and slackers, as many think, and were only doing real work 2 hours a day, then it should not be a big deal. But if that proves to be a myth, the long term ramifications could be significant in terms of stress related physical and emotional health conditions. This is where the rubber will meet the road when it comes to good organizations. The really good organizations, and leaders, will let their managers deal with this and their organizations will excel, and the average organizations, those who just plod through each day and never have an original thought, and never challenge and reward the creativity of their people, will fail.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Was Today Worth It
I don’t think I’ve ever exchange a day of my life for today, I did technically, but I didn’t live it that way. I have survived my life. I’ve worked hard almost every day and my family has probably had a better group of opportunities then I had growing up. The feeling still exists that not every opportunity was lived to the fullest. I don’t feel that anyone caused my life to be this way other than me. I now know there were so many things I could have done.
From the time I can remember, my fullest attention was on self-protection. I just had to survive the day. No one could be trusted enough to release my ability to live fully – everyone is eventually going to disappoint me. Being stoic has its emotional advantages; you understand that ennui was the eventual result. You have been prepared for this outcome and are insouciant. You have avoided all the emotional distressed of a changed relationship.
Changing this emotional response is difficult.
From the time I can remember, my fullest attention was on self-protection. I just had to survive the day. No one could be trusted enough to release my ability to live fully – everyone is eventually going to disappoint me. Being stoic has its emotional advantages; you understand that ennui was the eventual result. You have been prepared for this outcome and are insouciant. You have avoided all the emotional distressed of a changed relationship.
Changing this emotional response is difficult.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Issue for July 2012
It's to bad a burning ban is really only a suggestion to people. The firefigthers are working a lot of hours as volunteers and they have other jobs they need to work at. There is no relief in sight for the dry weather and everything outdoors is tinder ready to burn.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Issue for July 2001
We have received a proposal from Strand and Associates regarding providing more detailed plans which would be prepared to help the Council make a decision regarding the upgrade of the Fire Department facilities. The previous study determined that larger facilities were need and gave several rough concepts for meeting the Departments future needs but failed to provide enough information to make the Council feel comfortable deciding which option to choose. I asked Strand to prepare a proposal that would provide the information needed to assist with that decision. The Council may want to have a study session or a regular meeting agenda item with the representatives of Strand and the Fire Chief and Deputy Chief to discuss the proposal.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
OOPs
The salesman from a firm with locations in Waukesha, Osseo and DePere participated in public comment at the last meeting was concerned about an equipment purchase made by the Light and Water Utility. The following will explain the conditions around the purchase and related information.
The definition of “public contract” has been previously interpreted by the Wisconsin Attorney General not to include equipment. Attorney General opinions have stated that farm machinery, a police car, and a heavy movable engine constitute equipment, are not supplies or material, and therefore are not subject to competitive bidding requirements.
Although the city has no formal standard for purchase of equipment, it has followed similar purchasing standards to the public contract. There are exceptions to this standard for equipment bidding when the equipment is used the equipment is considered unique/one-of-a-kind and this makes the vendor a sole source provider. The John Deere plow/mower and the ladder truck were purchases of this type.
Sole-source purchases are goods and services available from only one supplier. There may be just one vendor because of patents or copyrights or simply because the vendor is the only one which supplies the good or service. These purchases are exempt from the standard bidding equirement.
There are a number of reasons the city may occasionally use sole-source purchases. Sole-source purchases must be strictly controlled, since they do not follow a competitive process.
Under most conditions, a sole-source purchase should be the subject of a certain amount of negotiation. The lack of competition may otherwise result in a severe case of seller’s market, where the seller can charge unreasonably high prices. The purchaser should prepare a detailed list of requirements relating to delivery, quality, performance and other conditions, and be prepared to withhold the purchase to ensure compliance. The buyer should do everything possible to strengthen his bargaining position.
The purchasing Utility brought in five similar models of the vacuum trailer and demonstrated each for several days. A price and performance comparison was made and reviewed before the decision was made to select the used piece of equipment. The documentation is included in the packet.
Its’ unfortunate that a quality vendor was missed in the process and staff will attempt to review the vendors list closer in the future, but the process was within both the state and city legal requirements for this type of purchase.
The definition of “public contract” has been previously interpreted by the Wisconsin Attorney General not to include equipment. Attorney General opinions have stated that farm machinery, a police car, and a heavy movable engine constitute equipment, are not supplies or material, and therefore are not subject to competitive bidding requirements.
Although the city has no formal standard for purchase of equipment, it has followed similar purchasing standards to the public contract. There are exceptions to this standard for equipment bidding when the equipment is used the equipment is considered unique/one-of-a-kind and this makes the vendor a sole source provider. The John Deere plow/mower and the ladder truck were purchases of this type.
Sole-source purchases are goods and services available from only one supplier. There may be just one vendor because of patents or copyrights or simply because the vendor is the only one which supplies the good or service. These purchases are exempt from the standard bidding equirement.
There are a number of reasons the city may occasionally use sole-source purchases. Sole-source purchases must be strictly controlled, since they do not follow a competitive process.
Under most conditions, a sole-source purchase should be the subject of a certain amount of negotiation. The lack of competition may otherwise result in a severe case of seller’s market, where the seller can charge unreasonably high prices. The purchaser should prepare a detailed list of requirements relating to delivery, quality, performance and other conditions, and be prepared to withhold the purchase to ensure compliance. The buyer should do everything possible to strengthen his bargaining position.
The purchasing Utility brought in five similar models of the vacuum trailer and demonstrated each for several days. A price and performance comparison was made and reviewed before the decision was made to select the used piece of equipment. The documentation is included in the packet.
Its’ unfortunate that a quality vendor was missed in the process and staff will attempt to review the vendors list closer in the future, but the process was within both the state and city legal requirements for this type of purchase.
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