Good evening.

I now call to order the Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 public hearing on the 2024 proposed executive budget.

Roll call of Alders.

Looks like all are represented with the exception of Alderperson Del Toro and Alderperson Schultz is joining us virtually.

Thank you.

Roll call of officers and department heads.

And all are represented.

Right.

Good evening and welcome.

This is a public hearing on the proposed 2024 executive budget and service plan.

We did have a sign-up sheet uh in the back, but uh and it looks like everybody's here had a chance to sign in who who wish to speak, but uh we'll we'll make sure to leave uh an opportunity if any anyone else arrives and would like to speak.

And we'll just take this up in the order that folks signed up.

First, looks like Ed.

I think Ed Perkins, you're up.

Welcome.

Please state your name and address for the record.

And the address 4486 North White Hawk Drive.

I'm in Grand Chute.

Um I want to a few comments here that are directed at the I believe um, some here don't, I think, but the need maybe to re-evaluate the need for additional police.

I should comment maybe first that I'm really to a great extent a representing Fox Valley Initiative here tonight.

That's an organization some of you may not be acquainted with.

Came into existence about 15 years ago.

They have a little over 500 members, many of which reside within the city of Appleton.

I want to start by just making this quick statement.

Um Grand Chute, where I live.

Year ago in referendum, roughly a year ago, but put out the referendum for the grand chute residents to vote on whether they should add additional police.

And they had specified in that referendum five.

That referendum passed with a good majority.

However, as of today, in spite of the fact it passed, I don't believe they've been able to hire one additional policeman.

That says something that I think is important for many to understand.

Um I look at almost any community today, certainly true of ours.

Uh, the drug issue is growing.

It's having an impact not only in our city, it's having an impact in our schools.

I'd say to you that Greg Harchie recently, maybe some of you are aware of this, uh, was concerned with the increase, dramatic increase in absenteeism from school.

I forget the high percentage number, but it's it's I think in the 20 to 30 percent range, something in that area.

I don't can't hold me to that, but it's it's it's very it's concerning.

Um the um other issue I'm just gonna touch on.

A friend of mine happened to be on a phone call with a friend of his who manages the CVS pharmacy in this community in Appleton.

My friend is observing, it's late at night.

He's observing in the background a lot of people talking.

So he says to my friend the manager, you must be very busy tonight.

The manager said no.

And then he goes on to point out that this policy at CVS, which hopefully many of you are aware of, is growing around our nation.

Their policy is unless per day.

There was in the range of a thousand dollars per day stolen, there would be no action taken by CVS.

That concerns me.

Um you and I cannot control corporate management, but it begins to see something about how we're looking upon the issue of stealing and possibly the relationship that sometimes comes back in terms of law enforcement, especially if there are not sufficient people to enforce that law.

Um so I think you know, for me living in Grand Chute, I see Grand Chute and Appleton sort of as a almost a joint, we are a joining communities, obviously.

And um I'm concerned about crime in the general area, not just where I live.

So I'm gonna encourage you to reconsider what I understand is sort of coming before you no increase in your police.

My last comment is going to be with the former police chief.

I did talk with him some years ago, about four years ago.

And he told me at that time there had been no additional police hired, and I forget what the number of years was, but I'm gonna say it was in the area of seven to ten years, and that that goes back already now a few years.

So I think with that, I'm gonna conclude and just encourage you to give serious consideration of this.

And thank you for letting me speak.

Thank you.

Next is Mike Thomas.

Welcome.

Hello, Mike Mike Thomas, one Hill Ock Court, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Most of you know who I am.