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Posted August 16, 2006

Letters: Thanks to those who stood up to Wal-Mart

It was truly a sad day in the Town of Sheboygan on Tuesday when the Town Board gave the go-ahead for the WalMart Supercenter.

I'm with the SOS (Save our Sheboygan) group that tried to get our Town Board to keep Wal-Mart out of our quiet community. We don't need the extra traffic on county Highway J (access road) or the headaches of the supercenter in our residential area.

If you live on Highway J, say good-bye to your quality of life because Wal-Mart isn't happy with just the blood from a turnip. It wants to eat the whole thing and then destroy the entire garden. Three Supercenters within 12 miles of each other is too much.

Very few communities have been able to stop these mega-stores from coming in, let alone delaying the process or affecting restrictions or conditions on them. Our SOS group has helped accomplish some of these things. It is because of our dedication and overall care for our community.

I'm glad we have stood up to the powerful Wal-Mart. So I wanted to thank everyone who had called the Planning Commission and the Town Board or sent in letters to the editor in opposition of letting this cold-hearted corporation into our peaceful neighborhood.

JEAN DUMONTHIER

Town of Sheboygan

Story Chat

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Town Board	Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:00 pm
You are sadly mistaken if you think those low prices aren't attached to a higher cost in the long run. Why do we want low paying, part-time jobs with no benefits brought into Sheboygan? What happens when current businesses that pay living wages and provide health-care can't compete and those people lose their good jobs? Who will pay for their health care and unemployment??? WE will! Don't fool yourself into thinking that once the competition is gone that the prices won't be raised. It has happened in many communities across this country. Also, the Town Board is clearly to blame for this situation and allowing Wal-Mart to push its way into this community. If the board had been successful in obtaining village status, annexation wouldn't be an issue. Also, what have they done to establish a cooperative boundary agreement with the city??? At the pre-election forum at Town & Country all of the candidates stated that they would work with the city to resolve the on-going threat of annexation. What have they done? Nothing. They continue to put our town in the position of being threatened by big business and they are failing to protect the rural setting that makes our town special. When will they learn? When will they be proactive rather than reactive? Where will the next threat come from? The board has set a precedent. Threaten annexation and get what you want. The board was unable to successfully negotiate any of the points that were important to the residents. Restricted hours? No access to J? Do you think they'll actually abide by the restricted delivery hours when the Wal-Mart representative responsible for the project didn't even know they agreed to the condition? What will the board do when the conditions are violated? My guess is that they'll look the other way, otherwise Wal-Mart will pursue annexation.
Reader Comment	Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:31 pm
So, if you think the Town Board would have stopped Wal-Mart, then the land be annexed into the city, guess who would have allowed Wal-Mart to build without your conditions? The city would have allowed Wal-Mart to build without conditions and the Town residents would have no say because you wouldn't live in the same city. Not only that but all the land along Hwy 42 up to the Wal-Mart would go to (you can’t annex an island from what im told), which would devastate a tax base that those commercial businesses bring. This Wal-mart is bringing more jobs into the community, and offering products at a lower price. Why is that bad? I will shop at Wal-Mart as it is the most economical choice you could make. I am glad we have two right in Sheboygan because it should easy the over-crowded situation we currently have. What other large center would have even listened to the Towns conditions? What would be better, the land being used to create a center which will bring in jobs, or a new housing development that would still add to your traffic situations without moving the schools main entrance? So, a hill with trees or a view of a bunch of houses? What do you have to look at right now? A gas station with the interstate behind it? There are to many positives to say no to.
Wal-mart	Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:02 am
I feel sorry for you Town of Sheboygan people. I will help you all I can by never stepping foot inside that store.
Wal-mart	Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:13 am
I think of all the changes that have occurred in Sheboygan over the years. I've lived away for over 20 years now but visit constantly, therefore I notice it more than a resident would. The lakefront and riverfront have all the buildings, restaurants, etc. that have taken away that open land from simple appreciation. Which is better for that change and others? More taxes. Some may appreciate the lakes more, many others less. I remember explorations through woods near the beaches, woods that are gone now. What's more important -- a child's memory or perceived visual improvements? Wal-Mart will bring jobs and taxes that benefit a community. Rather than ill-treated, Wal-Mart should be welcomed for that. Wal-Mart has a reputation of being a hard-hitter in inserting itself where it wants, sometimes taking land from private individuals -- a process the old Supreme Court authenticated and made easy to do. There's also a public campaign against Wal-Mart that's unfair, too. There are always tradeoffs. Some are worth it and some are not.
Walmart is taking over	Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:06 am
Sheboygan has made a huge mistake by allowing two Super Wal-Marts into our community. I am certain Wal-Mart will crush many of our local businesses. It certainly destroyed Mirro when it came to Manitowoc. The good news is that we still have the choice to NOT shop at these stores and if we cared at all for our local businesses, we wouldn't shop there. Even Wal-Mart can't make a go if no one buys their products. I know I won't be shopping there and I suggest you do the same.
Wal-mart	Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:23 am
One word, boycott!

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