Hallie Starts Playing with Big Boys

The Village of Lake Hallie was once considered a thoroughfare, full of auto dealerships, a few office buildings, retail stores and service stations. Although the economy in the village was vibrant, many motorists passed through the area on their way to their final destination. However, with the opening of the new freeway, the Village of Lake Hallie has become an important cog in the region's economic development growth.

Lake Hallie Village Chairman Pete Lehmann is a busy man these days. No less than a dozen potential projects are either under construction or are on the drawing board for future development. An associate who specializes in real estate recently told me that Lehmann is "doing the job of about four people...and he is only a volunteer". Unfortunately, from an administrative standpoint, the Village of Lake Hallie has not upgraded its methods to provide proper notice about issues affecting the municipality.

I have often requested an advance copy of a meeting agenda for either village board or planning commission meetings. State statute requires that a public body give 72 hours notice to the public and the media about what will be taking place at its next meeting. It appears, though, that the village has not adopted a practice of finalizing its agendas prior to any given meeting. Consequently, there is a very good probability that items not listed on the meeting agenda are being discussed in open session. One village employee told me that meeting agendas are often changed right before the meeting begins.

It is time for the Village of Lake Hallie to start playing like the big boys. In my opinion, Lake Hallie is the centrifuge of economic development for much of the Chippewa Valley for the next few years. It is crucial that the village leadership start to inform the public and the media in a timely manner as to what will be discussed at future meetings. As a property owner and future homeowner in the Village of Lake Hallie, I have a vested interest to see the municipality grow and mature at the proper pace.

There is no doubt that Lehmann needs help from others. I encourage intelligent people to assist Lehmann with the village's development efforts. I will be happy to volunteer my time once I officially become a Lake Hallie resident. In the meantime, I look forward to receiving meeting agendas like I do from every other city, county and municipality in the Chippewa Valley