The K Report

  Kronenwetter Village treasurer John Jacobs seems to be everywhere this weekend making post after post after post, in a blizzard of false and/or misrepresented information, misdirection, and personal attacks. There is an apparent reason for that, which I'll get to later, but for now, let's get straight to some of the fallacies he has been presenting. I will have a separate article detailing a number of questionable items within in the budget itself, called "The Return of the Bad News Budget Bloaters". Misrepresented Information "Low Mil Rates" Jacobs talks about a "dropping tax mil rates" below 3%; he is even quoted in a news article about it. However, his comments are "based on 100% full market valuation", which is merely a theoretical estimate by the state of current value. Why is this number even mentioned, other than for the psychological effect that they "sound good"?  The mil rates that he says are "d...

  This is an Oct 28 follow up to the original article below, on the proposed special ordinance change to benefit one of President Dan Joling's buddies. Monday night the Kronenwetter Village Board voted to deny an ordinance change apparently presented at President Joling's request, to absolve and accommodate Alex Vedvik's 6-month run of unlawfully holding a position on the Police and Fire Commission. The first thing Joling said about it was "I think everyone knows the history here..." Why do they already "know the history here"? Because these things are apparently discussed among themselves prior to the meeting , which seems inappropriate if not a violation of open meetings law. The idea of "open meetings" is for the public to "know the history", as well as the insiders on the Board. The purpose of the packet report is to inform the public every bit as much as the Board members. So, there is that little observation for ...

Back in March of 2026, a reporter's questionnaire for trustee candidates included this question -" What do you see as the most important issue facing Kronenwetter over the next five years, and how would you address it as a member of the village board?" My answer was (with added emphasis): "I guess that since we have covered a lot of topics already, I would have to say that what Kronenwetter needs is a fundamental upgrade in ideals and PRINCIPLES to operate by. We have had at least three ethics codes, and they have failed because they were created for unethical and politicized reasons. Fundamental principles are not like an "ethics code", or mission statement. A good set of principles embedded into a code of conduct would be a guide to decision making. not a political weapon. Clear basic principles makes decision making better and easier because it eliminates all the mind clutter of typical politics, factions, etc."    Kronenwetter's government, b...

  Code of Conduct for Village Officials and Officers  Below is the draft of a set of standards proposed for all Kronenwetter Village officials and officers that is based partially on the text of the thesis I wrote and presented to the Board in 2019 called "Fundamentals of Village Government".     I worked on this code with trustee Tim Shaw, converting the ideas of that original writing into this Code of Conduct.      This Code at least sets some classic, noble standards to try to maintain.   Village of Kronenwetter Code of Conduct for Village Officials and Officers The Village Board of Kronenwetter recognizes that the Wisconsin Constitution is the basis for all local government authority in this state.Article I section 22 of that constitution defines the ethical standards necessary to maintain a free government. “Article I, Section 22 states - “The blessings of a free government can only be maintained by a firm adherence to justice, moderatio...