Milwaukee County Parks

[Jay Mills]

I am pretty new to all this and started 1/16/2007 and have about 75 caches found. I wanted to make my first hide and attempt to do it properly so I called the Milw County Parks office for permission or a nod of approval or whatever and was told they were working on coming up with a policy concerning geocaches. I was told that I would be called (left my name and #) along with all others who inquired when a policy was decided and approved though was given no tim eframe etc. I was told I should not place any caches until then. Anyone know anything about this? Incidently I placed a cache anyway and the listing is pending approval. I have to say I was a bit disappointed and more than a little miffed by getting put on hold 5 times in 10 minutes by someone who would be clearly better off selling pencils out on the corner rather than taking inquiries on the phone. I tried to play by the rules but I guess I will just do it my way as ole Frank would say. 👿 Anyway here endth my rant………

jAY miLLS

[Uncle_Fun]

There is a person at the Milwaukee County Parks system that I have worked with in the past. I will try to contact him to see what is up.
Uncle_Fun

[AuntieNae]

I was contacted by the Milwaukee County Parks two-three weeks ago. The staff member asked if I would do a Geocaching Basics Workshop next Fall. I was also told they are working on a geocaching policy but have not heard further. I did offer to review it and to post the information here.
Renee

[GrouseTales]

If this is true, we should probably give Sue Black a call. She is the Milwaukee County Park Director. The WGA worked with her in the past. She was the Director of State Parks when she was with the DNR. She was very open to Geocaching and was a pleasure to work with.

I’ll discuss this with the WGA Board of Directors.

[kbraband]

Right you are, Brian. Sue is a progressive leader who loves parks and encourages out-of-the-box thinking, so I bet she will be receptive to working with the WGA about a Milwaukee County Parks geocaching policy.

[Jay Mills]

I appreciate all of your input. I guess I just don’t understand why a “policy” has to be in place to begin with. Probably a newbie thing. It seems to me to be common sense that if you place a cache take responsibility for it. Groundspeak requires that they be placed no closer than .1 mile (528 feet or so) from one another to be listed so the caches don’t stack up, though it seems like they are anyway sometimes. As for environmentally sensitive areas, these are public parks and these areas should be clearly marked for ALL to avoid not just geocachers. What exactly are they concerned about? To many people using the parks? (tongue in cheek) Only thing I can infer is that Milwaukee county in keeping with tradition is likely trying to find yet another way (“Policy”) to bleed the tax payer by charging a fee to place a cache or maybe even to use a GPS unit in the parks. They have to find some way to pay all those pensions from that retirement fiasco after all not to mention paying fired police officers while they appeal. Absurd. Unless I am not seeing something here I can smell what is being shoveled. If I am not accurately understanding the situation please feel free to enlighten me.

[GrouseTales]

I don’t think Milwaukee County has any intention of bleeding the geocachers to help fund activities.

My guess, they probably get a lot of inquires. Having a published policy will get all the employees, staff, and geocachers on the same page.

I think Milwaukee County has a lot more things to worry about then geocaching :).

[AuntieNae]

I had a meeting this morning with the Waukesha County Parks Environmental Education staff regarding geocaching. The interesting tidbit I picked up was the perception that geocaching has on their Naturalist listserv’s. Pretty much it has to do with having knowledge of the placement of geocaches in the parks and knowing who put them there. I suspect Milwaukee county, since it was the nature center staff that contacted me there as well, that have the similiar concerns.

Renee
AuntieNae

[Hotdogs_Off_Trail]

[Jay Mills]

[Ray]

Jay Mills brings up a couple of sets of policy here that need a bit of historical reflection to understand. 1st – The Wis DNR policy was established through a cooperative effort of the WGA and the DNR. 2d – way back when we placed our first Milw Co Park Cache (3/03) Red Squirrel in Brown Deer Park, we sought the blessing of the Parks Dept. I sent an e-mail to the Parks Dept asking about their geocaching policy. They were prompt to reply that the “Parks are yours to enjoy” that we should stay away from the golf courses and that we should “replace the dirt” when we are through. We took this statement to mean that we should stay away from the golf courses, leave no trace and have fun.

To the best of my knowledge, that is the closest thing any geocacher has gotten to a policy statement from the Milwaukee County Parks Department. Since that time, geocaching has grown and Sue Black has joined the Parks Dept. It is that growth that makes the county reluctant to respond, but having Sue Black there may be a great advantage for us. For now, I would say let’s do our best to work with the county. There are good things on the horizon.

~tb

[PCFrog]

[Jay Mills]

Let the flaming begin then I guess, thats ok I can take it. I will just refer back to my previous post which you obviously didn’t have read to you. 👿 Just because a phone answerer (not the manager) says not to place a cache means absolutely nothing to me unless it is supported with some documented policy I can read that states the same thing. I want to be clear about this: Until Milwaukee county posts a policy I am going to continue to use and enjoy the Milwaukee County Parks that I pay taxes to help support and maintain. I practice CITO when I go out and leave the area in better shape than I found it. In case you missed it the first time around Mr PCFrog; I would like to point out that placing caches is not an illegal activity and until a policy is put in place I will continue to place caches in Milwaukee County Parks if that gives me (and others too I might add, maybe even YOU) enjoyment. Get over that fact. Now, if Milwaukee County Parks put a policy in place I will certainly honor the policy. Why would I call them to begin with if I wasn’t willing to follow a policy to begin with? Maybe you, MR PCFrog should get off your purist moral high horse. I challenge you to research the caches you seek to make sure they have all got the proper authorization to be put there before you “enjoy” going hunting for them. I am confidant you have many caches logged that aren’t approved and to say they are ALL grandfathered in some how is just plain naive. I am willing to play by the “rules” (my actions indicate this) but there has to be rules (policy) in place to follow. By extension I am also saying that if I want to place a cache in a surrounding community i.e. Greenfield, Waukesha etc I will certainly attempt to see if they have a policy regarding geocaching and to get the proper authorization and do whatever else the policy dictates. As I stated in a previous post “seeking the managers blessing is the best way to go”. What more do you want from me? Gawd I regret coming here with my original rant. Let’s just pretend that I am the only one that is placing and seeking geocaches in Milwaukee County Parks that aren’t authorized. Lets get real and honest about this point shall we. Now if you will excuse me I have a benchmark to locate. 🙄

Peace

jAY miLLS

[PCFrog]

@Jay Mills wrote:

Let the flaming begin then I guess, thats ok I can take it. ….
jAY miLLS

I was not flaming, just pointing out that it seems that you were being unforgiving. From your post and your take on mine, I would assume that you can’t take it.

Anyhow, I do find your remarks to counter what you said earlier. Yes I do read them all.

@Jay Mills wrote:

I appreciate all of your input. I guess I just don’t understand why a “policy” has to be in place to begin with. Probably a newbie thing.

You don’t know why but then later you say…

@Jay Mills wrote:

Just because a phone answerer (not the manager) says not to place a cache means absolutely nothing to me unless it is supported with some documented policy I can read that states the same thing..

So, I guess to answer your post about why, you can read your own post.

This was not a bash or a flame post I was as stated just making a remark about how abrupt you seemed to be and defiant about how things just turned out.

[Jay Mills]

“PCFrog’ wrote:

just making a remark about how abrupt you seemed to be and defiant about how things just turned out.

Actually I thought I presented a well thought out response except for maybe the original post which was just a self admitted rant more than anything. I wouldn’t use the word defiant as much as I would use the term “civil disobeince” in the spirit of Henry David Thoreau use of the term when he states “That government is best which governs least”. In any case, I am willing to abide by any policy set forth by Milwaukee County Parks if/when it is published. But I will not take the word of a secretary as golden without documention no more than I would let a receptionist at the doctors office diagnose an illness I have. That is just common sense.

LOL . . . I just received a call from the Parks Dept while writing this and they report that they have a meeting set and that an “official” policy will be coming soon. I should have wrote it down but I think she said the meeting will be on Monday but don’t quote me on that. They will call me (and others on the list of inquiries) when it is complete and they will post it on their website as well. I will followup here when that happens if someone else doesn’t post the information first.

Peace

[Author]

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