Occupy Madison, coming soon to a neighborhood near you? Yeah, here we go again! Do you hate this as much as I do?
BACKGROUND
So, on November 20th, the county spent over $11,000 to move people from Lake View Hill to Token Creek Campground and essentially abandoned 20 – 25 people out there without running water. They did, however, provide electricity, allow fires and provided ports-potties. And they provide transportation at 9:30am and 4:00pm in and out of town – on the days they are working – not during blizzards or holidays or weekends. All essentials to surviving the winter out there. And there are still 20 – 25 people camping out in this miserable weather. Through the snow and the cold – retreating indoors in only the worst of the weather – with the help of private individuals and churches who are their allies.
However, February 17th will be the last night that are allowed to stay at the campground, unless there is an extension. From the letter they sent us last fall:
In the next 90 days your group needs to identify legal private properties should you desire to continue an encampment. It’s our understanding that you have identified and are pursuing options in this regard. County parks need to be available for the enjoyment of all our nearly half million citizens and our taxpayer have made an enormous investment in these lands and facilities. That is why the parks have rules during normal operating months about lengths of stay.
This one-time special and temporary exemption is being allowed by special permit only at Token Creek County Park while additional services approved in the 2013 Dane County budget become reality in the days ahead.
That’s about the last we heard from the county. I’m not really even sure if this is still the deadline they are using. There has been very little communication except when there was a blizzard and private citizens were urged to get people out of there. The cold weather didn’t bring the same warnings.
THE COST
The county moved people on the 20th of November. We finally found out how much it cost. At least the part they are telling us about:
Chair Basford asked that I send along the Sheriff’s Office cost estimate for the camp site relocation effort at Lake View Hill, along with his apology for not getting it to you at Tuesday’s meeting. I’ll enclose the Parks Division estimate as well so you have them both in one place.
Tim
Message from Chief Deputy Hook to Sheriff Mahoney which was forwarded to Chair Basford:
—–Original Message—–
From: Hook, Jeff
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 4:41 PM
To: Mahoney, David
Subject: Occupy CostsDave,
Our overtime costs for the November 20, 2012 assistance to County Parks for the Occupy in Lake View County Park was $5,431.97 .
Jeff
Message from Land and Water Conservation Department Director Kevin Connors which was sent to me:
Hi Tim
The salaries and fringe was $4,890 and supplies was $830. Total cost was $5,720
Let me know if you need anything else.
kevin
$11,151.97 to move people off Lake View Hill. When they could have worked with us to move ourselves.
THE NEW DILEMMA
I sent this to everyone below except all alders and all county board supervisors and sheriff Mahoney last week, just added the rest of them yesterday.
from: Brenda Konkel
to: kostelic@countyofdane.com, marsh , parisi@countyofdane.com, “connors.kevin” , “Green, Lynn”
cc: psoglin , “Gloede, Carl” , “McLay, Cam” , “Wray, Noble” ,
Heidi Wegleitner, EKuharski, Craig Spaulding,
BRUCE WALLBAUM, om , All Alders , county_board_recipients@co.dane.wi.us,
mahoneydate: Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 3:31 PM
subject: 27 days and counting . . . .
It’s been nearly a week and I haven’t had a reply. I’d really like to come up with a plan so the county doesn’t spend another $11,000 plus relocating people unnecessarily. People are growing concerned about what is going to happen, I believe they deserve an answer.
Brenda
On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 10:51 AM, Brenda Konkelwrote:
By my calculations, it looks like the 90 day stay at Token Creek will end February 17th. As you know, the soonest any other campground opens is Lake Farm on April 16th and Mendota and Token Creek on May 2. That leaves us at least a 2 month gap. I’m curious if the county is going to entertain an extension and if so, for how long? If not, anyone got any suggestions? This is getting tiresome.
If you are wondering the OM House timeline, it continues to shift, our current goal is to get people inside by
thisnext winter.Yes, this means we will have another summer of camping in the campgrounds and moving every two weeks. It would be awesome if we can figure out a way to not have to do that! Also, it sounds like we will have to raise another:
28 weeks x 16/night x 3.5 sites (expect fluctuation but about 20 people) = $10,976
If we charge and collect $2 a night again, that will make up $7840. Reducing our fundraising to $3,136. Assuming we don’t get forced into using electric sites when there are reservation snafus and that the group stays around 20 people.
TSo, to review, I’m looking for answers to the following questions.
1. Is the county going to entertain an extension at Token Creek?
2. If there is an extension at Token Creek, how long will it be?
3. If no extension, any suggestions about what to do between February 17 and April 16?
4. Any suggestions for help paying for the campgrounds this summer?
5. Any chance we can make any of the regulations at the campground more sane for us?I look forward to your reply. Thanks again!
I got the usual response the first time. None.
I expect the same this time, tho I think I will send an email every day til I get an answer. Or . . . we resort to more drastic measures.
In case you’ve forgotten. There are several people camping at the campground that cannot go to shelters for various reasons, even in the worst of weather. Also, last summer 17 people moved on to housing from the campgrounds, we expect the same thing to happen again this summer. Jobs, housing, ssi applications, applying for benefits, etc. It all takes time and people need somewhere to live in the meantime. The 60 days in shelter runs out quickly each year and the cold weather exception only works a few months of the year, then people are back on the streets. Better in a tent with friends and community that supports and encourages you and where you are legal, instead of hiding in the woods and getting all kinds of tickets – which people can’t pay.
