GREENDALE FORUM

The Greendale Historical Society is working with a well-known preservation architect as the society begins the process of renovating and preserving the landmark Grounds Building and Hose Tower in historic downtown Greendale. The Historical Society plans call for the conversion of the building into a Community Center for the Village of Greendale. Read More: http://tinyurl.com/l8k8wo

Click on the following link to view photo slideshow of the initial inspection of the Grounds Building and Hose Tower: http://tinyurl.com/mf8o48

Follow the Greendale Historical Society on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/lbl3ru or visit the Greendale Historical Society website at http://www.thegreendalehistoricalsociety.org

The Greendale Historical Society's Tour of Original Homes will be held on Saturday, September 19. Tickets are on sale now on the Greendale Historical Society website and at the Reiman Visitor's Center.

County Supervisor Joe Sanfelippo at Next Membership Meeting on July 16
Learn more about the Ground Building and Hose Tower project at our meeting on Thursday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Greendale Public Library Community Room (lower level). We will be joined by County Supervisor Joe Sanfelippo for a special announcement regarding a $40,000 grant awarded to the Society. There will also be a brief slide show on the history and status of the Hose Tower and our plans for Village Days and the Tour of Homes.

Wow, the slackers in the Historical Society are finally doing something to the building. Congratulations. Nice to see you can start plans for that, but can't even fix the rain gutter that's been hanging loose on the former police station since early May.

Now, on to the money matter. If anybody sees an error in my math which follows, let me know...

OK, in two years they have raised a mere $53,000. They will be getting this mystery grant for $40,000, so figure roughly $95,000 (I'll round it up).

That still puts them $1,905,000 short after over two years of fundraising. Figuring they can get proficient at raising $50,000 a year (based on their current lackluster efforts), it will take another 38 years to raise the $1.9 million.

At that rate (I didn't factor in inflation, though, to keep the math simple), we can expect it to be ready for the Village's 110th Anniversary celebration.

Finally, they were supposed to be giving quarterly financial updates to the Village board when they got the extension. Hasn't happened. I've heard some on the board are starting to question that (and I'm questioning them). At least one trustee has serious concerns about the health of the furnace in the former police station. If it goes, figure tens of thousands to replace it. Think that bill will fall on the historical society or the taxpayers? Yup, the later.

If the historical society is going to get that building, they should start paying towards its maintenance and not freeload off the taxpayers. Let the trustees know you don't want to be paying $10,000 annually for heat and maintenance (and a lot more if the furnace goes) while the historical society tries to get their act together.

I'd like to clear up some disinformation. Specifically...


This information would be inaccurate, as yearly financial reports are required per the lease. The Greendale Historical Society is in full compliance with the terms of the lease. The community can find our financial reports online at http://thegreendalehistoricalsociety.or ... ncial.html. This will include a financial review for 2008 by an independent accountant. The Greendale Historical Society will continue to provide our financial information to the citizens of Greendale on our website.

The initial phase of construction on the Grounds Building and Hose Tower will begin by the end of the year. The Historical Society plans call for the conversion of the building into a Community Center for the Village of Greendale.

The Greendale Historical Society's Tour of Original Homes will be held on Saturday, September 19. Tickets are on sale now on the Greendale Historical Society website and at the Reiman Visitor's Center.

Thank you for your support of the Greendale Historical Society!

I just realized I've been sitting on this reply a bit too long...


Well, I'm not exactly inaccurate. At the meeting in July 2008, the village board said they would like more frequent updates on the fundraising. I recall the Greendale Historical Society president saying they could submit quarterly updates. And so did at least one trustee when I talked to him in June as he was wondering where the reports were as well.

If you look back at the minutes of that meeting you will see that it was discussed, but since the minutes aren't verbatim, discussion on that is lost.

I'm betting that, knowing how lazy the historical society is, they just reverted back to the terms of the original agreement instead of going above and beyond to keep the village board informed (and we won't even get into keeping the public informed). Of course, I now know many on the board would avoid seriously questioning the Historical Society because they are members! William, would you care to share with everyone how many voting members on the Village Board are also members of the Historical Society? Or how many are not? Is it all but two, four, or five? I know the answer, and think many will be shocked as to how much conflict of interest there is.


It is a bit ironic that just four hours after I stopped by Village Hall to pick up a copy of the financial information the Historical Society presented to the village, you posted a message about it being available on the Historical Society's web site. Interesting coincidence.


But yet, up until now, they have neglected to do this since the start of the project. Interesting. I wonder what prompted you guys to get off your behinds and start now.

I've heard that between $7,500 and $13,000 (yes, I've heard two different numbers) was just for the architect from Madison ('cause apparently there aren't any in Greendale who are talented enough for such a project, and might donate their time???).

And reportedly the architect told them that they should be able to do the work for about $50,000. At least 15 contractors took copies of the blue prints, but only eight returned bids. The lowest bid for the project came in at about $90,000, and the second lowest came in at $100,000. Naturally they went with the second lowest (although now I'm hearing rumors the lowest bidder bailed). The work done so far is just to knock out the bricked-up windows and cover them with boards because you can't do masonry when it's this cold.

Now, the Historical Society got the $40,000 grant from Milwaukee County (which they had to use by the end of last year, and a signed contract for the work apparently sufficed for that), and another grant for $10,000 which I heard they got in August.

If my math is correct, it would seem the Historical Society has to double their fundraising efforts fairly quickly.

What Toyota executives get when they sell Kamikaze Kars in America.
Be American. Buy American. Drive American.

New Berlin Joe,

I find your above signature offensive. Most of the Toyota's built sold in America are built here by American workers (are you saying that we should take jobs away from US citizens?

In addition, the faulty parts that have caused the recall of US Toyota cars have been made in America. The Japanese parts for the same cars work fine. Buy American?

What vehicle do you drive by the way?

Since Granger's message was way off topic for the Hose Tower, I moved that discussion to a new topic in the Political section.