It’s Time to Act on Police Station
Focus on Sheboygan, James R. Schramm, Sheboygan Mayor

The Beacon, Tuesday, January 4, 2004

As our process of building a new police station continues, the importance of staying the course towards our goal of providing our residents with the safe community they deserve and our police officers the resources they need remains the number one goal. The debate is about public safety and the emphasis we choose to place upon it.

I am concerned about the efforts of a few people to cloud this issue and only further delay the police station from being built, one which we already have spent over 80 meetings discussing and reviewing 49 potential site locations.

To suggest that I have not been forthright with efforts of those opposed to the Sheridan Park site is nothing more than election year politics and an insult to those who place a value on the safety of our community.

All of you learned of Michael Muth’s efforts via a letter last weekend, which he sent directly to each of you. I was never asked to be a part of Muth’s meetings nor asked to present any information to this council. The only city officials who attended these meetings were some of the aldermen here tonight.

If Muth, Bruce Grover or anyone else has information to present to this council, then I welcome their attendance to do so. I value the input of citizens such as Muth and Grover and I appreciate the dialogue with all of our media outlets on this important issue. In the end though, it is my job as mayor to choose a course that is beset for our city.

So we are back to the issue of public safety. Do we stand with our police officers and stand up for the safety of our residents? Do we value the safety of our children, neighborhoods and playgrounds?

Our consulting firm has a proven track record and informed us that the shared services we desire can be incorporated into the site chosen. I am committed to shared services as a concept that can save our taxpayers hard-earned dollars. This project is a good first step in that direction.

The time for action, for courage and for the wisdom to lead is here. Rather than standing in the way, stand up for a safe Sheboygan.