City, County Commissions in Naysaying Mood

...and some people say the Madville Times is a force of negativity...

It's been a rough month for organizations in Madison trying to boost our economic profile. First, a couple weeks ago, the City Commission rejected a request from the Chamber of Commerce for an increase in funding. Now this week, the Lake Area Improvement Corporation, our county's economic development agency, takes a hit from the Lake County Commission [see Elisa Sand, "County Reinstates LAIC Funding at 50%," Madison Daily Leader, 2007.09.05, pp.1, 3]. Having received no formal request from the LAIC for funding, the county's provisional budget zeroed out the $15,000 it has handed out to the LAIC each of the past few years. LAIC chairman Jim Iverson hustled over to the county commission meeting Tuesday to say there'd been a misunderstanding about whether the LAIC needed to submit a formal request to receive the same funding as before.

Apparently that's not the only misunderstanding. Commissioner Shirlee Leighton said the city is skimming an "administrative fee" off the community development fund that it uses to fund LAIC projects. City Finance Officer Jeff Heinemeyer said there is no such fee.

The County Commission seems a bit cranky with the LAIC. They did agree to shell out some money, but only $7500. LAIC Executive Director Dwaine Chapel says the funding cut could delay work on the housing development program the organization says it wants to work on. (No word on whether the LAIC could get creative and move some money out of its business loan ledger to help potential homeowners.)

The County Commission's new stinginess toward the LAIC might make Iverson and Chapel feel like they need a drink. Alas, they won't be able to get one at Dakota Jam. The City Commission remained true to form in denying one-day malt beverage licenses. The Jaycees couldn't get one for their street dance; now Dakota Jam can't get one for its rescheduled DSU women's athletics fundraising concert on September 29 [see Chuck Clement, "City Denies Alcohol License for Dakota Jam," MDL, 2007.09.05]. City Commissioners Jerry Johnson and Karen Lembcke expressed concerns about underage concertgoers getting their hands on hooch. (For good measure, Johnson threw in some concerns about the downtown armory having been built for athletics, not concerts, although MDL does not elaborate.)

The lack of booze may disappoint some Dakota Jam VIP ticket-holders, who were surely savoring the prospect of waitresses bringing them beer during he show. Dakota Jam's organizers, however, seem to have a little more stick-to-itiveness than the similarly disappointed Jaycees. While the Jaycees cancelled their street dance plans when the city commission refused to let them tap the kegs, Dakota Jam point man Jeff Dittman says he'll meet with his fellow concert organizers and make this show work without beer. Dittman and his comrades may well demonstrate that we don't need spirits to show community spirit.