"Thank You"

Dear Fellow Caledonians,

I would like to take a moment to thank all of the citizens that came out, and cared enough to vote.

I would also like to thank all of the people that supported me and have entrusted me with the responsibility and opportunity to represent them. I want you to know that I take this role as Trustee very seriously, and I look forward to working hard to make the fair and balanced decisions that will help Caledonia to become a more financially stable community.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and your vote.

Sincerely,

Kathy Burton, your Caledonia Trustee #1

Campaign Update

Dear Fellow Caledonians,

It has come to my attention that a gentleman is exercising his right to launch a write-in campaign for the same open seat for which I am currently running.

I would like people to know that I respect the process, followed the proper procedure, and worked to turn in the maximum number of 100 signatures allowed to secure my name on the ballot (instead of the 20 minimum signatures required). This is just a small example of how hard I am willing to work, and how serious I am about the prospect of serving this Village as a Trustee.

Community is my passion! As sewer, water and border agreements are enacted, this becomes a crucial time for Caledonia and its long term financial future. If elected as your Trustee, I will work to maintain a quality level of services, make sure infrastructure needs are met, and try to keep residents' taxes low by actively pursuing commercial development to ease the burden on the property owner. I will listen to all concerns, and do my homework so that I can make fair and balanced decisions that will benefit the VILLAGE AS A WHOLE - not just a select few.

Please remember that EVERY vote counts. Right now, I need to count on YOU to vote for ME on Tuesday, April 7th so that we can continue to move forward toward the goal of making Caledonia a great place to Live, Work and Play.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Kathy Burton

A New Day...A New Year...and A NEW CAMPAIGN

Dear Friends,

Last year I ran my first campaign. The support I received was overwhelming. That support gave me the courage to stay involved after I lost my race by a mere 40 votes.

Looking back, I am proud of the race that I ran. I am proud that the message to "make Caledonia a great place to Live, Work and Play" was so well received.

That message still holds true for me today.

I have kept busy this past year. I have attended countless meetings. I was appointed to the Open Space Management Oversight Committee; and I have volunteered time as a member on the Caledonia School District Steering Committee.

In spite of the challenges that Caledonia faces, I am very excited to serve Caledonia on the Village Board. I look forward to continue working hard to make Caledonia a great place to Live, Work and Play.

Please remember to vote on Tuesday, April 7th!

Thank you for your time and support!

Respectfully,

Kathy Burton

P.S.- On a personal note: I would like to thank Howard Stacey (current Trustee#1) for his years of service on the Village Board. I wish him luck in all of his future endeavors. "Thank you Mr. Stacey!"

"Thank You"

To all of my supporters:

Its been a long, hard, yet fantastic three months! Now that I've taken a little time to rest; I wanted to take this moment now to say, "Thank You" to everyone who has shown their support for me during and after this campaign. It means a lot to me to know that there are many people that feel the same way I do about our community.

I want to let people know that I do plan on staying involved. I believe that I most likely will run again, although I am not sure when.

"Thank You" again for all of your support.

Kathy

Question #7: "Why should I vote for you?"

On February 23rd, 2008 the Village Board held their Strategic Planning Session for Caledonia. The following are the strategic planning priorities of my opponent, Wendy McCalvy:

"I want to preface my concerns with the comment that I am not uninterested in other concerns that have been mentioned by other board members, but I am stressing concerns that may not be mentioned by anyone else and are of great concern to me.

1. Plan for a future highway department replacement building

2. Integration of a)ecologically-based drainage projects with b) open space
preservation in subdivisions and c) creation of more park and recreational trail
corridors. To accomplish this I recommend:
* The Village hold the open space easements on new subdivisions
* A Village representative (consultant) go on original walk of land with engineer
and subdivider to cooridinate between developer and drainage commission how to
plan meaningful open space and natural drainage techniques and a stewardship
plan that allows coorination.
* Same representative attend Open Space committee meetings so that continuity
from the front end to the finished product is achieved.
* When development picks up, I would hope fees from developers could support a
Village employee who would also be a grant write

3. Increase Park space and passive recreational trail space by the methods below:
* Identify a Village employee or consultant who can apply for grants to
accomplish much of what follows
* Have consultant incorporate together elements from Parks Plan, existing parks,
connecting waterways, woods and other natural features to create a map of
desired parks sites and recreational corridors
* Add these features to Village Map
* Change Conservation Subdivision Ordinance to require developers to donate areas
appearing on this Village Map. These areas will be open to the general public,
but count toward required open space in the subdivision.
* Change zoning ordinance to create separate category for trails so that:
a. There is no "frontage" requirement (this will not be a buildable lot)
b. The split does not require a CSM
c. The division will not count as one of allowed land "splits" triggering
possible minor subdivision costs like a deposit with the Village until it
reviews the project (Review would be unnessary. No building will take
place)

4. Look for areas where business can be encouraged where sewer and water already
exist.

5. Contract for DNR-required stormwater public information and education program.
(See handout for sample offering.) Our permit renews in 2008 and, to receive our
renewal, we must tell DNR what the Village plans to do to meet this requirement."

Question #7: "Why should I vote for you?"

Answer:

"This year Caledonia had to cut staff to balance the budget, and there's a projected shortfall for next year. Knowing that, it is my opinion that Ms. McCalvy has lost sight of her role as Village Trustee, is out of touch with much of her community, and has most of her PRIORITIES mixed up.

I believe that you should vote for me because I understand that the job of Trustee is: to maintain a quality level of services for residents; to ensure that infrastructure needs are met; to help Caledonia become a more financially stable community while working to keep taxes low. Those are MY PRIORITIES!"

Question #6: "Why are you running?"

Answer:

"It is an important time for Caledonia as we are trying to define ourselves and determine how we will grow as a community. As practically a lifelong resident of Caledonia, I would love to be heavily involved in that process. I am running because my community is my passion. I am interested in all of the aspects that encompass my community, and I'm very excited at the prospect of serving my community on the Village Board."

Question #5: Are you running because you want Caledonia to secede from Unified?

The Answer:

"No."

It is true that I circulated an informal petition asking the Village Board to move forward with a feasibility study regarding our schools.

I want to be very clear here...This petition has always been about the people having a voice.

The subject of Caledonia leaving Racine Unified comes up every so many years. When the subject recently resurfaced, many of us were hoping for some answers. We wanted facts, not assumptions. But when the idea of holding a referendum to gauge the people's interest in this matter was terminated by the Village Board, I felt like the people were shut out. So, I collected 500 signatures and presented them to the Village Board. The Village Board in turn, voted to move forward with this study.

“ We need to know the answers ... that’s what the people are saying,” resident Kathy Burton said. “There is a want for this study to happen. Let’s do this study and figure this out.” From Journal-Times 10-24-07

When the results of this feasibility study come back (and let me stress, this study will only give us financial information) I understand the Village will hold public hearings to disclose the results of the study and determine how to proceed. IF the study results appear favorable, the good PEOPLE OF CALEDONIA, not the elected officials, should be allowed to determine, via a referendum, if we will take the next step to forming an independent school district. If I am elected, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the PEOPLE make this decision, not elected officials, and I will support the People's decision 100%!

In the event that it is NOT feasible for Caledonia to move forward with a school district, then the subject will be "put to bed" for the foreseeable future. Caledonia then needs to actively collaborate with Racine Unified to help to improve the schools for our Caledonia kids (which they should be doing regardless).

The bottom line here is that: "One way or another, the children and taxpayers are entitled to good schools. Good schools attract good development. Good development makes for a sustainable, quality community - which is my goal for Caledonia."

My position on Caledonia's Parks

In my previous post I mentioned that Caledonia is a unique community. One of the things that makes us so unique is our blend of rural and urban spaces. We have recreational parks with ball diamonds, soccer fields, playgrounds, etc., and we have passive parks that are open spaces with trails. Both types of parks are important to this community.

However, the Park and Rec Department, and the value of parks and programs, is an area in which my opponent (Ms. McCalvy) and I have distinctly different views.

Ms. McCalvy is the Village Board representative on the Park and Rec Commission, yet openly criticizes this Commission saying that it doesn't do anything except work on Crawford Park (for the past 10 years). She believes that Caledonia should place priority on investing in open space parkland and trails, and has decided to sidestep the Park Commission and the Village Board to accomplish this.

I couldn't disagree with Ms. McCalvy more. Although trails are nice, the children of Caledonia need places to go and things to do! Our recreational Parks are the only "quality of life" feature that Caledonia has to offer our kids!

The programs that the Park and Rec Department offer serve as an avenue to community involvement. The money generated by these programs stays within the Park and Rec Department so that it can sustain those programs that it offers to the community.

In 2007, the budgeted amount for the Park and Rec Department was $117,298. For 2008, the proposed budget for the Park and Rec Department is $ 67,939 (basically half of what it was the previous year). The Village of Caledonia itself finished out the year with about $1800 left from a roughly $12,000,000 levied budget. Currently, Caledonia cannot afford to buy more parkland, but if we could, it would be irresponsible (in my opinion) to buy more parkland that we need to maintain before existing parks like Crawford are finished. We need to finish the projects we've started before we take on any new projects!

Recently, the Village approved their official map giving them statuatory rights to about 12 new miles of proposed recreational trails, on land the village doesn't own. Ms. McCalvy has already made an unauthorized visit to the attorney to discuss these trails. Who's paying for all of this?(trails, maintenance, and attorney)

I think that Caledonia needs to seriously examine how we view our Park and Rec Department. We need to hire an enthusiastic Park and Rec Director (not an on-staff ecologist) that can develop this department that has tremendous potential; and work to expand upon and enhance it for a quality of life that everyone in our community can enjoy.

Question #4: "Why is it that Mt. Pleasant is growing and Caledonia isn't?"

Answer:

"The answer to this question is a relatively simple one... ATTITUDE.

Caledonia is definitely a divided community. There are those that want to see responsible commercial development settle into Caledonia to help to keep our taxes low. Then there are those who are very open about the fact that they do not want any more growth in Caledonia.

However, Caledonia is at a point where we need to start cutting expenses or we need to start making money. We've already begun the cutting, but there's only so much we can cut before we fail to provide the essential services the taxpayers of the village have paid for. We now should look at how we are going to make money. This could be accomplished by raising our taxes, or by attracting and retaining commercial growth.

I've heard it said somewhere that, "If you're not growing, you're dying." Caledonia has spent a great deal of time and money on neighborhood planning. In this planning there are places that are designated to be developed: Hwy 32, Hwy K, I-94, and the Franksville Industrial Park. Caledonia needs to get serious, take action to attract commercial development, and take the time to work WITH developers to retain these developments before we are forced to raise taxes.

Mt. Pleasant is obviously very serious about development. They have taken action, and have done a good job at attracting quality commercial development to their community. They do not have the development requirements, inconsistency in regulations as they apply to development, or the unwelcoming demeanor that Caledonia has; but Mt. Pleasant, instead is apparently willing to work with companies looking to locate in their community, rather than making it as difficult as possible. (I have learned that some contractors charge a higher fee to do work in Caledonia to compensate for the hassle and headache they encounter here in Caledonia. This is shameful to Caledonia, and not acceptable to me.)

In the end, Caledonia is Caledonia and Mt. Pleasant is Mt. Pleasant. Caledonia is unique and shouldn't necessarily want to be Mt. Pleasant, but we can learn a thing or two from them when it comes to attracting and retaining a commercial taxbase."

Question #3: "What could Caledonia do to attract these commercial developments?"

Answer:

I would like to see Caledonia take on a marketing initiative to shed the "unfriendly" reputation that we have established for ourselves.

To attract the responsible commercial growth, I would like Caledonia to: update their website with accurate information promoting Caledonia, exercise some flexibility with some of the design standards that they have set in place, offer some incentives, and be more welcoming to development in our community.

Establishing commercial growth, particularily along Hwy K, may also help Caledonia to inch sewer and water out to the interstate; which is one thing that Caledonia needs to get serious about. Until we can accomplish this task, the I-94 corridor will remain largely undeveloped, and we will continue to lose out on development opportunities and the commercial taxbase that we need to keep resident taxes low.

These are just a few of the things that I think Caledonia could do to attact commercial development to our community.

Question #2: "Where would this development happen here in Caledonia?"

Answer:

"No one wants to see Caledonia completely paved from one end to the other. That is why I would like to follow the Land Use Plan that Caledonia currently has, and encourage commercial development in the areas that are slated to be developed like: the Hwy K, I-94, and Hwy 32 corridors, as well as the Franksville Industrial Park."

A Lesson For Caledonia (Camping World, con't)

I know that some people are unhappy when I talk about Caledonia's recent "black eye" known as Camping World, but it is an important issue.

Had I been a Board Member at that time, I would have made a special effort to attend meetings dealing with the proposal to try and welcome them to our community. I would have asked our Board to reexamine the policies in place that lead some on our Planning Commission to give Camping World the impression they were not welcome; and I would have made an extra effort to work out any differences we may have had with Camping World's building design.

Had I been a Board Member at that time, I would not have wasted my time trying to impose Caledonia's standards on Raymond, making it more difficult for Camping World to develop there; rather, I would have tried everything within my power to get Camping World to give Caledonia a second look (to my knowledge that didn't happen).

Unfortunately, the Camping World proposal came and went so quickly, it never even made it to the Village Board, but as a Village Trustee, when you have a $50,000,000 a year business looking to bring taxbase to your community, you can't afford to sit on the sidelines and wait for a proposal to come to you - you need to be proactive to find out what it will take to bring that business here. If I am elected Village Trustee, I will do everything within my power to try to prevent this type of mistake from happening again.

I know that we cannot go back in time, but we can learn from our mistakes. Camping World should be a very important lesson... a lesson that we will need to carry with us as Caledonia moves into the future.

Question #1: "What kind of development do you want in Caledonia?"

Answer:

I would like to see responsible commercial development happen here in Caledonia to help keep the taxes of the residents low.

When I say "responsible" development, I'm referring to development that reflects the values of the community and makes sense for Caledonia.

Camping World is a great example of a responsible development that Caledonia could have had, but doesn't.

Caledonia currently has two campgrounds: Cliffside Park, and Jellystone. It makes sense that Caledonia would have a Camping World here.

Camping World would have been located in our I-94 corridor, beckoning campers passing through to stop here in Caledonia.

Hostility not hospitality caused Camping World to leave Caledonia and take its $50,000,000 a year business with it. What a loss for Caledonia; not only financially, but it also reaffirmed Caledonia's reputation as a community not open to development (making it harder for businesses to want to come here). That is a shame.

The following posts will address questions and issues that I've been asked about during this campaign.

My name is Kathy Burton

My name is Kathy Burton and I would be be honored if you would consider me for Trustee #2 on Tuesday, April 1st.

I have grown up in Caledonia and am now raising my children here as well. Caledonia to me means family, friends, and community. It is the place that I call "Home".

As much as I love Caledonia, it is not without its challenges. This year staff positions had to be cut to maintain our budget. If we do not aggressively pursue commercial development to help ease the burden on the taxpayers, I fear that we may be facing not only cuts in staff, but services as well; or an increase in our taxes to maintain the services that we do have. It's time to be proactive before we are forced to be reactive.

I firmly believe Caledonia should be an affordable community in which to raise a family! As a fiscal conservative, I will never raise taxes simply for the sake of raising taxes, but will work to keep taxes low. To achieve that end, my focus will be an aggressive campaign to attract responsible commercial development as designated in the Land Use Plan which will not only add to the taxbase, but provide jobs. It is also essential that sewer and water services are extended to the I-94 corridor - sooner, rather than later.

I will work diligently to communicate and connect with the community. Since most of our Park and Recreation programs are financially self-sustaining, I would like to see us enhance and expand those programs to serve as an avenue to community involvement.

I will work very hard to do my homework so that I can bring a fair, balanced, common sense approach to make the best decisions that benefit ALL Caledonians.

I am very excited at the prospect of serving the Village and working hard for its residents to make Caledonia a great place to LIVE, WORK and PLAY!

In closing, I would like to let you know that I will be expanding on these ideas in a series of posts yet to come, so check back often and feel free to leave comments or questions. In the meantime, I would like to say, "Thank You" to all readers and I'm asking you for your vote on Tuesday, April 1st.