Lannon Lantern
THE
AN UNOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
“A LIGHT IN THE DARK” VOLUME 1, ISSUE 10
WHAT, ME WORRY?
The annual
Bu d ge t
process is here
again. This is
the time of the
year that our
Trustees tell us
that we have
Trustee Bartelt less money for
2011 and can’t afford to update
our aging equipment. Consider that
our fire trucks are near the end of
their recommended service lives.
The equipment is not quite ready
for hospice care, but close. Why is
it that some trustees don’t want to
spend the money or lease newer
equipment, based on the assump-
tion that we have had few fires
here in Lannon? That is all well and
good until a house is burning and
lives are at stake. We already had
the money (from previous years)
for a full-time firefighter, but that
money may be going to something
else. Perhaps we should invest in
something like the equipment be-
low. Will the Village Board say that
we can afford it? How about oats?<
WISCONSIN INVADERS
A butilon Theophrasti, also called the
Velvetleaf is a very common invasive
weed in our local area. The prolific seeds
are spread just about everywhere when
the many capsules pop open. The USDA
Please see page 2...
TM
FOR LANNON, WISCONSIN 53046
NOV 1, 2010
CRIME 1- COPS 0?
A majority of the village board
members think that we spend
too much on our police force and
their patrol hours. After all, there
is no crime in our fair village -
right? WRONG! Just listen to the
Police Report at the monthly board
meeting. Break-ins in the subdivi-
sions, assaults in the local mobile
home commu-
nity, and van-
dalism on our
streets. Check
out the local
communities -
murder, may-
hem and shootings. Do we believe
in deterrence or do we give in to
more crime? Now is the time to
provide money for more police pa-
trols - not after our lives are
changed forever. The more you
take from the police budget, the
more you give in to the criminals.
The bad guys know this. Come to
the meetings and tell your elected
officials that you want to be pro-
tected and safe, not victims of
senseless acts of violence. <
VELVETLEAF
WHOSE RULES?
R obert’s Rules. All of our
public meetings are con-
ducted under Roberts Rules of
Order. This establishes the order
and proper conduct of meet-
ings. Unless otherwise noted,
citizen comments are welcome.
However, our practiced rules do
not allow for debate between
the public and the board mem-
bers. The rules may be tempo-
rarily suspended to allow this.
We rarely see this allowable
procedure from our Trustees.
Why? Are they afraid that we
might put them on the spot or
they don’t have the answers?
We have questions and we
would like answers. We don’t
want to wait for weeks and
sometimes months for answers.
Debate is healthy and allows for
community involvement with
our elected officials. This two-
way verbal communication (not
yelling, throwing chairs or mak-
ing threats) ensures that we are
all on the same page. If you in-
sist upon censoring debate you
foster mistrust and animosity. Is
it too much to ask to give
Robert’s Rules an orderly break
once in a while and let the peo-
ple communicate with you? <
 PAGE 2 LANNON LANTERN

TIME FOR THE GLOVES? HERE COME DA JUDGE?

I s Lannon as a Village worth fighting for? Some

readers of this newsletter have brought up the
subject of Lannon becoming part of another com-
munity. Shared services have also been discussed
before. Neither of
these ideas gained
enough momentum
to become reality.
Recent village budget
workshops have high
-lighted the really
Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In had this famous line as
part of a skit by Flip Wilson.
But what about “Da judge”?
Do we need a part-time
judge and a municipal court
in Lannon? Do we need to
spend up to $55,000 in 2011
for municipal justice when
we only have a population
of 1050 or so? That figure is
nearly what our village

?
high rates that we clerk/treasure makes in salary! Other villages or
are paying for sewer towns use the court systems of larger communi-
and water, and the ties. This is an idea that needs to be explored fur-
fact they may double ther. With the new state laws requiring separate
or triple in a few years. In spite of our stalled econ- judicial offices, keeping the municipal court in Lan-
omy, our costs keep going up. When our natural re- non could become even more expensive. <
sources are depleted, businesses will cease to exist JAILBIRD?
and people will move on to more productive areas.
Residents and businesses are voting with their wal-
lets and pocketbooks now and starting to move T
he First Amendment
provides wide pro-
tection for citizens and
away from Lannon. Where is the glue that is holding
this community together? Is the current village the free press. Is this
board that cohesion we need? Who pulled in the your editor? A few peo-
Welcome mat? I think Lan- ple would like it this way.
non is worth fighting for, Would this “cell” rate the
and if you do, then at least Good Housekeeping Seal
four (4) residents must of Approval? <
come forward to oppose
those now up for re-election. Candidates can file PATRONIZE LOCAL BUSINESSES
their nomination papers in December for the April
election. If you need assistance with the forms,
please contact me at editor@lannonlantern.com
Can merging with another community be a solution
to our problems? I doubt it, but it may be an even-
tuality if we continue on our present course. <
The Lannon House - Featuring “Dobber”
INVADERS... From Page 1 20202 WEST GOOD HOPE ROAD, LANNON

designates them as weeds. One of Wisconsin’s Most

Wanted invaders is the Canada Thistle. It is consid-
ered a noxious weed under Wisconsin law and
should not be allowed to go to seed. Burdock is an-
other invasive weed. Although not considered nox-
ious, it should be strictly controlled as well. <
CANADA THISTLE
The Lannon Lantern is an unofficial publication for the residents of Lannon, Wisconsin. It is
TM

edited and published and paid for by Howard Hadley. To subscribe to this periodic newsletter,
send your email address to editor@lannonlantern.com. Your email address will not be used
for any other purpose without your express consent. All of the views and opinions expressed
in this newsletter are solely the responsibility of it’s editor. No paid advertising is accepted. BURDOCK