November 14, 2013
Optimist Club of Verona Optimist Bulletin 2013-14 Meetings – 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 6:30 PM Chartered June 2, 1955 PRESIDENT SECRETARY/TREASURER BOARD MEMBERS Nate Gordon Scott Krantz Andy Kreutzer - 2015 st 1 VICE PRES. IMMEDIATE PAST PRES. Ann Gleisner - 2015 Jerry Gleisner Jon Finseth Lisa Sailing – 2014 nd 2 VICE PRES. Grant Gintz – 2014 Tom Marks Website: www.veronaoptimists.org SOUTHERN WISCONSIN DISTRICT OF OPTIMISTS INTERNATIONAL GOVERNOR – George Breadon LT. GOVERNOR – Rochelle Robkin December 6, 2013 CHRISTMAS PARTY: December 12th, Roger & Louise Lambert’s, 6:00 PM. Once again Roger and Louise have graciously invited club members and their spouses or guests to a Christmas party at their home. This replaces our December meeting. All food and drink is provided by the club and will be available beginning at 6:00 PM. The Lambert’s house is always beautifully adorned in holiday décor. Their farm is located at 1879 Locust Drive. From Highway “M” just south of the Carnes Corporation turn south onto Locust Drive and go about one and one-half miles. The Lambert’s house and farm buildings are on the right (west) side of the road. Please save the parking area near the house for those who have difficulty walking. November 14th Meeting: Two guests and 24 members attended. President Nate Gordon presided. Grant Gintz introduced his son-in-law Jason Tennyson who is considering joining. Our other guest Mayor Jon Hochkammer was our speaker. Guests Jennifer and Nick Ricci arrived at the end of the meeting to provide blackjack dealers training for those interested in working on casino nights. The Mayor presented a handout showing existing and proposed developments within the city. These included the Cathedral Point and Scenic Ridge residential subdivisions, Velo City apartments and restaurant, Redden Soccer Park, a new fire and EMS station, Wisconsin Brewing Company, Fairfield Inn & Suites, 611 Hometown Circle, Vincenzo Plaza, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Liberty Business Park, and EPIC Systems. Jon said there is a huge demand for residential lots and, although Veridian will have 300 in Cathedral Point, construction is slow since Veridian will only permit a couple of specific builders. Jon pointed out that Liberty Park is a state certified site. Most of Jon’s other comments related to the 2014 budget and the five new Council members. State law limits the amount of property tax increase to the amount of net new construction. For Verona this would allow the levy to increase by 8.5% this time. The Finance Committee voted to limit it to 3%, however the new members, who constitute a majority of the Council, support a larger increase in the number of library positions than this will allow. The library director has requested 8 new positions. Jon said the money for such staff increases is not currently available but will be in two years when the EPIC TIF district expires.
Nate read a letter from the PTO for the Country View School requesting $300 to purchase a popcorn popper that they can use to raise funds. A motion was made and passed to donate the money. John Faber announced that the Chamber of Commerce board had voted that morning to assume operational responsibility for Hometown Days beginning with 2014. Ed Faber noted that he is now in his 50th year as a Verona Optimist. He spoke briefly about the Verona Historical Society. His “Memories” presentation noted that an English duke by the name of James Smithson donated 44 boxes of gold coins to the US Government. The money was subsequently used to establish the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. Patty Kreutzer announced that she celebrates her 63rd birthday in November. Bob Bovy won the Pot-of-Green on the first draw. Next Meetings: The January meetings will be on the 9th and 23rd. Bob Bovy
Nate read a letter from the PTO for the Country View School requesting $300 to purchase a popcorn popper that they can use to raise funds. A motion was made and passed to donate the money. John Faber announced that the Chamber of Commerce board had voted that morning to assume operational responsibility for Hometown Days beginning with 2014. Ed Faber noted that he is now in his 50th year as a Verona Optimist. He spoke briefly about the Verona Historical Society. His “Memories” presentation noted that an English duke by the name of James Smithson donated 44 boxes of gold coins to the US Government. The money was subsequently used to establish the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. Patty Kreutzer announced that she celebrates her 63rd birthday in November. Bob Bovy won the Pot-of-Green on the first draw. Next Meetings: The January meetings will be on the 9th and 23rd. Bob Bovy
