To What the professionals are like wrote on Sep 30, 2008 7:34 AM:
" Those would be professional thugs. Not professional debt collectors. The people at ICS don't leave the office except to go home or maybe lunch. It never ceases to amaze me how many nitwits we have in a town our size. "
To What the professionals are like wrote on Sep 30, 2008 5:13 AM:
" You have too much time on your hands and watch too many 'tough guy' movies. The 'reality' is that typical collection service use tools of communication, credit reporting services and the court system in effort to get debt paid. Maybe the "Two heavies" you thought you saw actually were from the "gestapo or mafia", but not likely from a reputable collection service. "
What the professionals are like wrote on Sep 29, 2008 3:16 PM:
" I saw this as a customer waiting in a waiting room in a business in Onalaska: Two heavies (male debt collectors) came in to harass and employee there who owed money to another business. While waiting for him (they did not arrive on an agreed upon hour) they leaned on the counter and got in the way of customers, swearing and talking how this guy has nothing to his name so that we, customers of the business but strangers to them, hear what's going on. Finally, he arrives and the three of them meet in a back room. Then the two vacated the premises. They disgusted me and were anything but professional. They acted more like the gestapo or mafia. These are the kind of people who will be working out of that Onalaska location in Center 90. "
A needed service wrote on Sep 29, 2008 11:20 AM:
" I am a business owner. When I provide a service, I expect to be paid for it. The costs are up front and by choosing to receive the service or product, the individual is accepting responsibility to pay for it. The blogs here are touting a 'collection agency' as a bad thing. I view the need for this service unfortunate however without it, many businesses would not be able to stay in business. The dark side of this whole situation is not the collection agency, but individuals not taking responsibility for their debts. "
To hello wrote on Sep 29, 2008 1:45 AM:
" Yes, most people in Onalaska know that the Skogen family owned both the original Onalaska Skogens stores and the Festival chain. There are those who don't realize this, however. (Skogens don't just "manage" Festival, they own the entire chain of stores.) No one can tell me that the Skogen family did not give their blessing to this debt collection agency deal either. They have done a lot of good but also like to keep out the competition from the city. "
hello wrote on Sep 28, 2008 12:40 PM:
" Did you people not know that the owner of skogens is the same owner of festival? "
Skogens is the most successful grocery operation around wrote on Sep 28, 2008 9:33 AM:
" Let's get real here. For decades they were the ONLY operation in the city with a captive consumer group. Just like Kwik Trip. They donate a small percentage of the money they have extracted from the citizens and get awards for it. Break out the lipstick, and line up the pigs, but in the end... "
Computer skills wrote on Sep 28, 2008 8:42 AM:
" Do our elected officials and non-paid city committee persons and meeting attendees actually know how to use a computer? I thought all they had to do was grab the rubber stamp handed out to each of them and slam it down on a piece of paper. "
I dont like the idea wrote on Sep 28, 2008 1:08 AM:
" It's not a good location for a business like that. As far as a "successful" grocery store goes, that would be Wal-Mart. Have you people checked the prices at Festival lately? Perhaps the wealthy enjoy being seen shopping there. It's a status thing no doubt. I wonder if these same Festival shoppers will be seen walking into the debt collection agency, perhaps to protest the heavy-handedness of its employees. Oh, and by the way,what out-of-town, out-of-state vistors think of Festival Foods: They are astounded by the outrageous prices. Where to they end up grocery shopping? Wal-Mart. "
What I think wrote on Sep 26, 2008 5:03 PM:
" I think you shouldn't be allowed to own a computer unless you can show that you have attended at least 50% of the city government meetings held every year in Onalaska. And that is what I think. "
Look out Conspiracy nuts crossing wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:13 AM:
" The former tenant couldn't care less if another grocery store went there. They know it would fail. Skogens is the most successful grocery operation around and they couldn't make it work; why would anyone else be able to? I know for a fact that another store operator looked at it and realized it won't work. Wishing for the past is a pretty useless exercise. "
Pay attention wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:10 AM:
" The city didn't "bring this type of business" here. They looked for years to find a suitable spot and chose that location. It fits under the current zoning. The city would have to change the existing zoning to keep them out. Did it occur to you geniuses that maybe having 200 people working there would spur development of a restaurant or other shops? You act like these people are a bunch of mob leg breakers. "
Thoughts wrote on Sep 26, 2008 2:56 AM:
" I know someone who does this type of work. It is true about the benefits and such. Still, I find that sort of thing distasteful. What kind of business is being brought into Onalaska? What kind of reputation is the city getting? Does the current regime at City Hall think money is the most important thing, no matter what the social and psychological consequences to city residents? "
Mike wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:20 PM:
" I see the Village idiots are at it again. "
Big El wrote on Sep 25, 2008 7:51 PM:
" I'm okay with the company going there. It's a clean office operation.....Looking at the bigger picture, it's pretty sad that business is booming, since that means people are falling further and further behind on bills!!!! "
A conspiracy wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:02 PM:
" Is this plan really the end result of a conspiracy between city government and the former tenant of the site to keep a grocery store competitor to Festival Foods out of Center 90? "
Yes a city should have a say wrote on Sep 25, 2008 5:58 PM:
" Yes, a city should have a say as to what business goes where. It's called zoning and planning. If any one can't see that then they have not been to many places where proper zoning and planning takes place. And any one who doesn't realize that the Center 90 area was once a thriving business district with a grocery store and family restaurant hasn't lived in the town too long. There was no planning going on in this recent turn of events. It was a quick fix scheme perpetuated by a mayor who has no sense of place. His time as a public servant is very limited as is that of a former mayor who gave his blessing to this nonsense. In upcoming elections, both Giese and Stellner will be removed. "
Well Mr Unbelievable wrote on Sep 25, 2008 5:43 PM:
" Considering that Onalaskans have given the city the power over how high their very own grass grows, yes, I do believe many nosy do-gooders really want the government to have that much say. Do I understand it? Nope, but the answer is yes. "
To Unbelievable wrote on Sep 25, 2008 2:02 PM:
" Are you folks a bunch of closet Soviets? What do you mean ALLOW a business of that type to be there? It is an approved use under the zoning there and a legal business. Do you really think the city should have a say in exactly what business goes where? No wonder so many people are willing to cede so much power to the government. Enjoy your "state" comrade. "
What?? wrote on Sep 25, 2008 11:03 AM:
" What kind of dumbass tourist would go to Center 90? There's nothing else there of any interest. There's no need for a neighborhood retail center that close to Crossing Meadows, or at least there's no need for something the size of a grocery store. What else would you put in there?
Obviously there wasn't enough local support to keep a grocery store there. An employer with 100 workers per shift will be a boon to the remaining businesses. "
Unbelievable wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:20 AM:
" It would be nice to have this type of business in Onalaska, but we certainly don't need it in a retail area of the city. Onalaska, are you falling back on your old ways? Allowing any business (or house) anywhere as long as the city gets taxes off the property? And thank goodness that joke of a coffee shop disappeared from Center 90. Hardly a tourist or resident draw, I for one am glad that thing is long gone! "
Or ... wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:15 AM:
" That really doesn't need to be retail space. In fact, I think it will be better for Center 90 and surrounding merchants if it's not. This business has the potential to bring in a lot of employees who will support businesses like restaurants, florists, fitness centers, and drug stores ... Hey, all that stuff is already there. Maybe if this business had been in place instead of Skogen's (which employs mostly kids and old folks at subsistence wages), Cafe Diem and the wine shop would still be there.
This is going to be a good thing. "
Get a grip wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:07 AM:
" Do you really think the Common Council has that much power? As long as this operation is an approved use under the current zoning the city has nothing to say about it. "
Okay wrote on Sep 25, 2008 12:44 AM:
" The bad point: That should be retail space, period. We lost our centrally located grocery store and now are to have a debt collection agency there? Does that make sense? What happened to zoning in Onalaska? That whole Center 90 area should be a draw for tourists and other retail shoppers. A debt collection agency is not the type of business that belongs in that area of the city. What were you thinking, Onalaska Common Council? Stop congratulating yourselves over this move. "
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