Letter: Petition organizers thankful for public support

To the Editor-

The Southside Business Association, Inc., on behalf of the more than 2,000 citizens who signed its Petition for Direct Legislation, is pleased to announce that the City of Stevens Point certified the form of the proposed ordinance and found that it contained 2,011 valid signatures to fully comply with the legal standards under state law.

See: Mayor pauses part of Bus. 51 project; Council to consider referendum petition next week

The grassroots group of citizens moved into action after their voices were ignored at last December’s Common Council meeting when the elected officials refused to schedule a binding referendum citizen vote on the Business 51 road diet design.

Concerned that the issue exposed a problem with the Common Council that ran deeper than just the Business 51 design, the group used a right under state law to draft a new local ordinance to require the City to present all public roadway or transportation projects of $1 million or more to the voters for a binding referendum vote prior to proceeding with such projects.

In just 16 days, the group collected over 2,000 signatures in support of the proposed ordinance.

The Common Council will now have another chance to hear what a growing number of citizens have been saying. The proposed ordinance can be adopted directly by the Common Council vote at its next meeting to be held on February 21.

With so few second chances in life, we call on all of the Common Council members to listen to the citizens listed on the petition and many more who have registered their support, and this time vote to support the citizens through the proposed ordinance that will allow everyone to be heard in the future when road projects of $1 million or more are being considered by our city government.

Finally, we thank Mayor Mike Wiza as one of the few elected officials who has listened to the citizens and we appreciate his prior commitments to halt any further design work on the Business 51 road diet design since the proposed ordinance may be approved by the Common Council or instead sent to the voters, after which the road diet design will go to a binding referendum.

Every taxpayer dollar is essential during these critically important times for the City of Stevens Point so it is laudable that Mayor Wiza will halt the spending of any additional money on design work until after the public votes.

Kevin Flatoff
Southside Business Association, Inc.
(715) 340-1236 [email protected]