September 12, 2025, | Vol. 1, Issue 28 (Approx. 1866 words â a nine-minute read
Whatâs Ahead? â Youâve Got a GM/JATCO Board. Now What? A Lesson from Missouri that Feels Too Close to Home, and
Rock County Set to Come to the Rescue — a Veteranâs Home Will Open Afterall!
No Clear rules, no stated mission, no clarity on authority and scope⌠go forth and do good but do it fast! Janesvilleâs new board comes with a big mission and a tight leash. A lesson from Missouri⌠it wonât happen here? Plus, A Veteranâs Home in Edgerton Should Open When the County Board Rectifies a funding Snafu!
Janesvilleâs New Redevelopment Board: They Got What They Wished for So What Did They Get?
Janesville – On Monday evening, the Janesville City Council approved the City Managerâs proposal to establish a special advisory committee for the GM/JATCO redevelopment site. The action confirmed the appointments and scope as presented, moving the project forward without a formal mission statement, written scope of authority, or defined statement of independence for its members.
GM/JATCO Site â Janesville WI
The Councilâs vote raises a critical policy question for the community: what role should appointees play once they are seated on boards and committees? It can go two ways most of the time. What path does Janesville follow? Whatâs the difference between how it can work? Whatâs at stake?
Letâs look at two approaches. You choose⌠let us know your preference.
The Representation Model in Practice
This model prioritizes speed, consistency, and accountability to the appointing authority.
How it Works:
Advocates of this approach argue that appointees are extensions of the appointing authorityâs policy direction.
Legal & Policy Justifications
- Delegated Authority. Appointees act under the power granted by those who appoint them.
- Unity of Purpose. Alignment maintains coherence in governance.
- Administrative Efficiency. Decisions advance more quickly when committees reflect existing policy.
So, in Practice âŚ.
- Appointees serve at the pleasure of appointing authority or officer.
- Voting positions should reflect the policy stance of that appointing authority or officer.
- Committees provide orderly affirmation, not independent deviation.
Magazine Note: This framing emphasizes coherence and predictability â committees as instruments of policy, not forums of dissent.
A Thought to Consider: âEfficiency without independence is just predetermination disguised as deliberation,â RH Gruber, et.al.
The Independence Model
This model makes the appointees, once seated, trustees of public duty, responsible to law and community, not simply to their appointer.
Legal & Policy Justifications
- Statutory Mandates. Many boards must apply criteria set in law, not instructions from City Hall.
- Public Confidence. Independence protects against the perception of rubber-stamping.
- Oversight Integrity. Independent deliberation ensures checks on administrative power.
So, in PracticeâŚ
¡ Appointees exercise their own independent judgment.
¡ Their role is to weigh evidence and criteria, not follow instructions.
- Independence is explicitly written into a committeeâs mission.
Magazine Note: This model prioritizes legitimacy, accountability to the public, to the law, and the integrity of deliberative democracy.
A Second Thought to Consider: âIndependence without efficiency is just chaos masquerading as freedom. Efficiency begs for a plan of action based upon solid direction, independence to weigh alternatives, and the authority to act.â RH Gruber, et.al.
The Councilâs Dilemma
By moving forward without clarifying mission, scope, or independence, the Council has left the GM/JATCO committee in a gray zone:
- If representative, it risks being dismissed as predetermined.
- If independent, members lack a clear mandate to justify their autonomy.
¡ The absence of clarity jeopardizes both efficiency and trust.
Conclusion: A Clearer Path Forward
The fix is within reach. The Council should revisit the committeeâs charge and adopt:
- A written mission statement
- A defined scope of authority
- An explicit declaration of whether members serve as representatives or as independent trustees.
This action would not undo appointments or delay the project. Instead, it would provide clarity, protect legitimacy, and preserve public confidence.
Hypothetically Speaking: What If?
- What if the committee proceeds without clarification? Its recommendations may be efficient but lack legitimacy.
- What if independence is affirmed in writing? The committee could emerge as a credible and trusted forum for input on one of Janesvilleâs most consequential projects.
The difference between those two paths may shape not only the GM/JATCO redevelopment but also the communityâs trust in the way Janesville governs itself.
Whatâs at Stake — Is St. Charles a Wake-Up Call?
St. Charles, MO – The debate over representation versus independence in Janesville is not unique. The same tension is playing out in municipalities across the Midwest.
In St. Charles, Missouri, a proposed data center development has ignited sharp controversy. There, too, the questions are familiar:
- Are advisory bodies expected to affirm administrative priorities?
- Or are they charged with exercising true independent judgment?
- And how does the answer shape public trust when millions of dollars and major land-use decisions are on the line?
Is this a Fait accompli?
Is this a precursor to the GM/JATCO Advisory Board in action? Can we avoid the same fate?
Hypothetically Speaking — When the Public Speaks: Lessons from St. Charles and the Case for Civic Advisory Power
Framing the Moment
St. Charles, MO — In August 2025, this city became an unlikely national symbol of civic resistance when residents successfully halted the development of a massive data centerâProject Cumulusâproposed for a 440-acre site near the Elm Point well field. The project, cloaked in nondisclosure agreements and expedited permitting, unraveled under the weight of public scrutiny, environmental concern, and a groundswell of organized citizen opposition.
But beneath the headlines lies a deeper lessonânot just about transparency or environmental stewardship, but about the structural mechanisms that either invite or exclude public wisdom from governance. The cityâs failure to meaningfully engage its citizen advisory committees stands as a cautionary tale, and a missed opportunity to transform conflict into collaboration.
Lessons Learned: The Limits of Secrecy, the Power of Participation
⢠Opacity Breeds Distrust: The use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) by city officialsâwhile legally permissible, eroded public confidence. Residents rightly asked: If the project is safe and beneficial, why secrecy?
⢠Citizen Engagement Was Reactive, Not Proactive: The city responded to public outcry only after opposition had reached critical mass. There was no early-stage consultation, no structured dialogue, and no advisory input from independent civic bodies.
⢠Advisory Committees Were Underutilized: St. Charles has standing citizen committees on environmental quality, planning, and public works. Yet no one was formally tasked with reviewing the data center proposal or advising the council on its implications. Their absence from the process was not just proceduralâit was philosophical.
The Case for Independent Civic Advisory Committees
Advisory committees are not ornamental. They are the democratic scaffolding that allows expertise, lived experience, and public conscience to shape policy before it calcifies into law. When empowered, they:
⢠Surface blind spots in technical proposals
⢠Translate public values into actionable recommendations
⢠Provide political cover for elected officials to make informed, sometimes unpopular decisions
⢠Build trust by demonstrating that governance is not a closed loop
In St. Charles had the Environmental Quality Commission been tasked with reviewing the data centerâs water and energy demands, the city might have avoided the backlash altogether. Instead, the public had to become its own advisory bodyâloud, uninvited, and effective. In Janesville there appears to be no committee of any kind to review. The City Manager declared that decisions regarding the Data Center proposal were outside the scope of even the newly established GM/JATCO Advisory Board. More specifically, they would have input over how that looks.â (See transcript, Kevin Lahner interview, Your Talk Show, 8/27/25)
A Prescription for Local Boards: How to Use Advisory Committees Well
To avoid future governance failures and elevate participatory democracy, local boards should:
1. Institutionalize Early Consultation
Require that all major development proposals be reviewed by relevant citizen committees before reaching council. Make this a procedural norm, not a discretionary option.
2. Diversify Committee Composition
Ensure committees include not just technical experts, but residents, educators, youth, and historically underrepresented voices. Expertise must be paired with lived experience.
3. Publish Advisory Findings
Make committee recommendations public, even if they differ from staff reports. Transparency in dissent is a sign of healthy governance.
4. Create Feedback Loops
After decisions are made, report back to advisory committees on how their input was usedâor why it wasnât. This closes the democratic loop and builds institutional memory.
5. Civic Literacy Fund
Provide training and resources for committee members so they can engage meaningfully with complex proposals. Advisory power is only as strong as its capacity.
Closing Reflection
Rendering of a possible Data Center project under construction in Anytown USA
The St. Charles episode reminds us that democracy is not just a systemâitâs a practice. It lives or dies in the space between public knowledge and public power. Advisory committees are where those spaces can be bridged. When we fail to use them, we force the public to shout. When we empower them, we invite the public to lead.
Let this be a turning pointânot just for St. Charles, but for every city that believes in governance by the governed.
Thanks for reading Hypothetically Speaking.
If this sparked a thought, a concern, or a counterpointâdrop me a line. Civic dialogue is the heartbeat of local democracy.
Rock County Board Supervisors:
đ° A Home for Hope: Rock County Steps in to Save Edgerton Veterans Housing Project
Rock County Courthouse — In a decisive move that blends fiscal responsibility with moral clarity, the Rock County Board of Supervisors on Thursday may approve a $300,000 allocation to Edgerton Community Outreach (ECO), rescuing a vital housing initiative for homeless veterans and community organizations from the brink of collapse.
The project, centered on the historic structure at 210 W. Fulton Street in Edgerton, was originally envisioned as a federally funded HOME initiative. Its goal: to transform the building into affordable housing for veterans and a shared space for local nonprofits. But when federal HOME funds fell through, the collaborative effortâanchored by ECO, the Rock County Home Consortium, and local partnersâfaced an uncertain future.
Rather than allow the vision to wither, the County Board stepped in. Supervisor Towns introduced Resolution No. R-2025-95, authorizing the County Housing Authority to redirect $300,000 from prior-year sales tax revenue to ECO. The funds will be used to renovate the Fulton Street property, preserving its historic character while advancing the Countyâs commitment to housing equity and civic infrastructure.
The budget amendment reflects a clear prioritization of community needs:
Beyond the financial commitment, the resolution directs the County Administrator and Corporation Counsel to draft a Memorandum of Understanding with ECO. This agreement will ensure that affordability standards and eligibility criteria mirror those of the federal HOME program, safeguarding long-term access and accountability.
This isnât just a budget line; itâs a statement of values. In choosing to invest in veterans, community resilience, and historic preservation, Rock County affirms that governance is not merely about legality, but legitimacy. Itâs about meeting people where they are and building structures literally and institutionally that reflect the dignity of those they serve.
Hypothetically Speaking — As Edgerton prepares to open the doors at the Veterans Home, the Countyâs action offers a blueprint for participatory democracy: responsive, collaborative, and rooted in the moral imperative to house, heal, and empower.
The remaining question to be resolved? What happened to create the shortfall in the first place and where did the originally promised HOME funds land? Stay tune!
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â Community Spotlight: Havana Coffee
Fueling Dialogue, One Cup at a Time
Looking for a space to connect and reflect? Visit Havana Coffee at 1250 Milton Avenue true Janesville gem where civic energy meets excellent espresso. With hearty food, warm service, and a strong commitment to local journalism, Havana Coffee proudly supports the Rock County Civics Academy and all who believe in informed engagement.
Welcome our newest sponsor, Nowlan Law Firm and Attorney Tim Lindau. Thank you for sharing our vision for the future with your support today.
We deeply appreciate the support and encouragement from Tim at Nowlan, Daniela at Havana and many others who ask with us:
đ Hypothetically SpeakingâŚ
What if transparency was standard in local government?
What if civic engagement became Rock Countyâs defining strength?
That is the mission of Hypothetically Speaking. And with your voice in the mix, it is closer to reality than ever.
đŹ A Call to Leadership
Every advancement in our community begins with someone choosing to act. If you have asked yourself when the right time to get involved isâthe answer might just be now.
Ways to contribute:
⢠Volunteer with a civic group
⢠Apply to serve on a local board or commission
⢠Run for public office and lead the change.
âIf not me, who? If not now, when? â Hillel the Elder
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