Category Archives: Milwaukee County

Public Hearing On Lake Parkway Extension Set For South Milwaukee

Posted on by Erik Brooks

You’ll have your chance to weigh in on the potential extension of the Lake Parkway south to Highway 100 at a public hearing and informational meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

The meeting, which is planned from 6 to 8 p.m., specifically seeks comment on whether or not the project should be included on the regional transportation plan — a key step in actually helping this project become reality one day. It will also include a chance to view maps, ask questions and hear a presentation about recommendations from a committee studying the extension.

There are several ways to submit comments: verbally or in writing at the Feb. 29 meeting, via mail or at this SEWRPC website.

Learn more about the Lake Parkway project here on County Supervisor Pat Jursik’s website.

Jursik is chairing the Advisory Committee of the Lake Parkway Extension Study. The committee is working with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to analyze the project.

Of course, I’d like to know what you think of the extension. Post your comments below!

Jursik Publishes February E-Newsletter And Other Local Headlines Of Interest

Posted on by Erik Brooks

South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her latest E-news update, and it includes information on a public hearing for the Lake Parkway extension project, transit changes, Family Care and Grant Park improvements.

Check it out here.

And check out these other local headlines of interest:

Also, South Milwaukee NOW has published a new police blotter, including information on a snowblower theft on Lakeview Avenue, tire slashings on Sycamore Avenue and an underage drinking party on Marshall Avenue.

New Look To South Milwaukee Bus Service: Route 15 Changes Take Effect Sunday

Posted on by Erik Brooks

The changes to Route 15 — South Milwaukee’s only bus line — take effect Sunday morning.

As you recall, a new Route 52 will replace some of the 15′s service in the South Shore, including South Milwaukee.

  • Route 52 will now operate on Pennsylvania and 15th Avenues, looping on to Rawson, 10th, Chicago, Drexel Boulevard and 17th.
  • Route 15 will continue to operate down Chicago Avenue and make a loop starting at Madison Avenue, continuing down 5th, west on Columbia and back north on Chicago.

This Milwaukee County Transit System publication describes the new routes in more detail and includes a color map. This document lists all of the new Route 15/52 bus stop locations.

You can also learn more about the system-wide changes in this Journal Sentinel story and on this MCTS web page. 

Of course, I’d like your thoughts on these changes. Post your comments below!

A Local Connection To The John Doe Charges

Posted on by Erik Brooks

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has an in-depth look at Tim Russell and his role in the “inner circle” of Gov. Scott Walker and local Republican politics — including his alleged work to defeat Pat Jursik in her run for the Milwaukee County Board.

Check out the story on Russell, one of three people charged in the ongoing John Doe investigation, here. From it:

Russell played a role in County Board campaigns, as well. Olen managed the 2007 board campaign of Chris Kujawa and said Russell was an adviser to the campaign. Thursday’s criminal charges against Russell said he had control over Kujawa’s campaign bank accounts and took $3,000 for personal use. Then, the complaint said, Russell used money intended for a county-run military appreciation day to repay Kujawa’s campaign.

Olen said he never became aware of any problems in the campaign’s books and was shocked by the charges.

Russell wasn’t listed in county records as treasurer for Kujawa’s race or the County Board candidacy of Larry Spicer in 2007, from whom Russell is charged with stealing $550. It was Pierick who held the formal title as Kujawa’s treasurer. Russell’s name, however, is attached to a copy of a bank statement for Kujawa. …

Pierick and Russell were referred to Kujawa at a time Walker was hoping to pick up a seat or two for conservatives on the County Board. Kujawa said Russell had offered to help with things like establishing a campaign account. Kujawa said he didn’t know Pierick well and seldom spoke to him.

“I really don’t recall the exact circumstances” of how Russell’s help came about, Kujawa said.

Supervisor Patricia Jursik, who defeated Kujawa, remains upset at what she views as the intervention of Walker and Russell in the County Board race.

“I was incensed by the whole way it was going down,” Jursik said.

New Enews From Jursik … And Where To Find Future Editions

Posted on by Erik Brooks

State election laws prevent Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik from sending her monthly email news blast out during her campaign.

But it doesn’t stop her from publishing eNews.

You can check out the latest edition (and all editions through April) here.

It includes updates on the South Shore transit, Seven Bridges repairs and Grant Park roadway construction. It also details a Friends of Grant Park meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, where a Department of Natural Resources conservation warden will be on hand to discuss suspected poaching in the park. The meeting is at the Grant Park clubhouse.

Route To A Smaller County Board

Posted on by Erik Brooks

Update: The City Council on Tuesday decided not to move ahead with putting either question on the spring ballot. A motion to do so was not seconded — essentially killing the proposed referenda. 

Should South Milwaukee voters weigh in on the size and full-time status of the Milwaukee County Board?

The City Council will consider that issue on Tuesday night, when we discuss and potentially act on two potential advisory referendums that several other communities are adding to their local April ballots.

One asks voters if supervisors should be part-time, instead of full-time, positions. The other under consideration would ask voters if the board should be reduced from its current 18 members to nine.

Five other local councils have already voted to bring these questions before voters next spring, and the County Board had considered calling for a similar countywide referendum — an effort that now appears dead.

Where do I stand? Let me start by saying I think we have a terrific county supervisor in Pat Jursik. She is smart, hard-working, passionate and focused on positive change, and she truly cares about her constituents.

Even so, I absolutely support a smaller county board, and nine seems about right. (I’m not sure about the part-time issue.)

I am just not sure these local referendums will make any difference toward this end.

With only a handful of the county’s communities planning to ask the questions, their effectiveness is limited, and the message they may send would be severely weakened. And with these questions only being advisory in nature, you have to ask: How seriously will county supervisors take the results? My guess: Not very.

Any referendum on this issue should be countywide. Only then would it carry significant weight with the people who need to hear the message the loudest: the county board.

While I am open to hearing other arguments, I am hesitant to support putting this on the ballot only in South Milwaukee. It strikes me as a waste of time.

What do you think? Post your comments below!

Golf In December? Grant Park Reopens

Posted on by Erik Brooks

It’s mid-December. Why not break out the golf clubs?

Four Milwaukee County Parks golf courses, including Grant, have reopened, weather permitting, according to the Milwaukee County Parks system.

Learn more here, including course conditions. Rain is expected later this week, so you might want to get in a round on Tuesday …

Following Up On The Milwaukee County Budget

Posted on by Erik Brooks

As I’m sure you heard, the Milwaukee County Board successfully overrode most of County Executive Chris Abele’s 2012 budget vetoes last week.

The end result: A county property tax levy increase of 2.15%, with still-steep cuts in certain areas like the Sheriff’s Department.

Probably the biggest direct local impact is the looming reduction in funding (albeit less of a cut after the County Board’s action) the county provides to municipalities (like South Milwaukee) who operate paramedic service. How we deal with this remains to be seen.

You can learn more, including see a list of who voted for what, in this press release. And check out the Journal Sentinel story here.

I also asked South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik for her opinion. Here is what she sent me …

I am proud that we were able to preserve some funding of Emergency Medical Services.  I also advocated to preserve the EMS contract which includes a funding distribution formula important for our communities.

I voted to preserve public safety by lessening cuts to the Sheriff’s Department.  The Sheriff’s Targeted Enforcement Unit has worked to keep negative activity out of Grant Park, Sheridan Park, and our other wonderful parks in the South Shore.  We have made great progress, so this program must continue.  I did not support the board’s wellness initiative because it would have added to the tax levy; I do think we need to look at a wellness program, but I’d like to see a strong review by our entire benefits team and then design an appropriate program, not just design one from the board’s review.

Thanks again to Supervisor Jursik for her responiveness on this and every issue, and for her continued diligence in watching county spending — while also trying to fund core county services.

Of course, this is only the county portion of your tax bill. Don’t forget that the city budget public hearing is set for Monday, Nov. 28, with the City Council expected to vote on the budget the next night. And I’ll be posting something on the school budget and levy soon.

College Avenue To Reopen Friday

Posted on by Erik Brooks

Update: Here is the Journal Sentinel story.

Finally!

College Avenue from Pennsylvania/Nicholson to Howell will reopen Friday. The new, four-lane road includes a roundabout west of Nicholson and an overpass to accomodate the lengthening of the major north-south runway for Mitchell Interational Airport.

The ribbon cutting is set for 11 a.m. Friday at the new overpass, followed by a reception at the former site of the 440th Air Reserve Station at 300 E. College Ave.

Learn more in this press release from Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik here. From it:

“College Avenue is the new front door to the MKE Regional Business Park which is emerging from the former 440th facility,” said Supervisor Jursik. “College Avenue is a key corridor for economic development along the South Shore and Aerotropolis area.”

Milwaukee County Board Passes Budget … And Supervisor Jursik Weighs In

Posted on by Erik Brooks

The Milwaukee County Board passed its 2012 budget on Monday.

Barring vetoes, it would increase the county property tax levy 2.3% while requiring employees to pay more their health care and significantly cutting funding to the Sheriff’s Department, cultural institutions, parks and other programs.

For the South Shore, it brings some measure of (relative) good news, as it maintains bus service to South Milwaukee and restores some funding to local communities (like ours) that operate paramedic service.

Still, the cuts are deep. And the levy increase is not the 0% County Executive Chris Abele proposed.

The vote was 12-7, and South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik voted no. I asked her for her thoughts on the budget, and here is what she wrote me:

I did not support the budget due to the increase of 2.3%.  I voted against many amendments that added unnecessary spending.  I am awaiting the county executive’s budget vetoes to see what will ultimately survive.  The county executive does have a line item veto.

This being said, I did support retaining a number of sheriff deputies.  The targeted enforcement unit which was gutted in the county executive’s budget has been very important to Grant Park in terms of rooting out drug use and vandalism as well as other south shore parks.  I also supported the emergency medical services restoration which was 1.5 million.  This money helps to subsidize the EMS for South Milwaukee who also serves the City of Cudahy.  I supported transferring early debt payments to the funding for a facilities assessment that was part of the Strategic Planning directives.  This necessary assessment should allow the county to ultimately reduce the ownership of vacant or partially-vacant buildings and determine what the county should sell.
The final tax levy in a total budget of about 1.3 billion is $275,805,499.

The good news regarding transit was the grant money from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant funding which allowed us to retain all of Rte. 15, all of the school routes and the para transit rides county-wide.  All of the senior centers will continue to be funded and the county continues the mental health redesign which seeks to serve more citizens in the community and reduce the need to house patients in the mental health hospital.  The bad news is the Parks dept. took additional cuts of about 3M and lost some seasonal employee hours..  The cultural institutions such as the museums, zoo and others received 15% across the board cuts.

Our county employees took the greatest burden of the cuts.  A full 22 million was realized by reductions in health care benefits and requiring employees to pay more for their pensions.  The sheriff’s union agreed to also take cuts (this remains as one of the few bargaining units regarding work rules and other non-salary items).  This concession by the sheriff’s union will additionally allow the county to retain a number of deputies that would have been laid off.  As of this writing, no number is currently available but will be finalized by the end of the year.

I thank Pat for her thoughts on this and for her continued and strong commitment to keeping residents informed on key issues. I also support her hard work in fighting to maintain vital services like our parks and transit.

Post your comments below!

Progress Report: Updating College Avenue Construction And Seven Bridges Repair

Posted on by Erik Brooks

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her latest eNews update, and it contains updates on the progress around the reconstruction of College Avenue and repairs on Grant Park’s Seven Bridges.

Check it out here. The long and short of it …

  • College Avenue west of Pennsylvania is expected to open by Nov. 18.
  • The Seven Bridges will be repaired over the winter.

The update also includes some good information on the reconfigured Route 15 bus line, Hoan Bridge bike lanes and other topics.

Pat Jursik Weighs In On Abele’s Budget Proposal And Other South Shore Headlines

Posted on by Erik Brooks

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik has her reaction to County Executive Chris Abele’s proposed 2012 budget in her most recent email newsletter.

Check it out here. From it:

I think the County Executive hit the correct priorities while still holding the line on property taxes, which are too high. Of course, the devil is in the details, and we will spend all of October reviewing. I do not agree with the County Executive’s proposal to remove support for Emergency Medical Services. I look forward to a productive budget session in which the Executive works with the Board for the good of Milwaukee County residents.

The newsletter contains some good updates on what Abele is proposing — and its imapct on the South Shore. It’s worth a read.

And also check out these headlines from the South Shore:

Be Heard And Take Action: Transit Meetings Set For Sept. 13 In Cudahy

Posted on by Erik Brooks

As I’ve written about, the Milwaukee County Transit System is proposing major service cuts in 2012, including several that would directly impact South Milwaukee and the South Shore.

The biggest impact locally? The end of Route 15 in South Milwaukee and all Freeway Flyers.

Learn more about what’s planned — and share your feedback — at several community meetings presented by Transit Now, a transit advocacy group. Two are on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Cudahy Family Library. One meeting is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and the other is from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.

Other meetings are planned Sept. 7-8 in Brown Deer.

County Supervisor Pat Jursik, Milwaukee County Supervisor Jason Haas and Kerry Thomas, executive director of Transit Now, will present at the Cudahy meetings, which are also sponsored by The Gateway to Milwaukee, South Suburban Chamber of Commerce and the Milwaukee Aging Consortium.

The goals of both meetings?

  • Learn about the proposal to reduce and restructure Milwaukee County Transit System, including how changes could impact businesses’ access to workers and customers and individuals’ access to jobs, shopping, health care and other critical destinations.
  • Share your insights and feedback.
  • Find out ways that you can have a voice in the plan.
Learn more here.

The South Shore Option: Economic Development Forum Set For Sept. 7

Posted on by Erik Brooks

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik is teaming with South Shore officials to host an economic development forum on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at the Cudahy Family Library.

Hours are 6 to 8 p.m.

The event is being called “a unique, one-stop forum for constituents and the development community to hear from economic development staff and the Community Development Authorities of each city regarding the economic development plans taking place throughout the South Shore.”

According to the press release:

Jursik will provide updates on the Hoan Bridge, 794 Lake Parkway extension planning, lakefront development and College Avenue repair.  The Aerotropolis concept will also be explained.  Additionally, each city will staff booths displaying aerial maps, mock-ups, elevations and planning materials of current or planned projects for public viewing and inquiries in an open-house setting.

I hope to see you there!

 

Not Five Or Six, But Seven Bridges

Posted on by Erik Brooks

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik has an update on the repair of Grant Park’s Seven Bridges in her most recent eNews newsletter …

Restoring Grant Park’s Seven Bridges Bridge repair funding was secured in May with a capital fund transfer (providing the matching funds to satisfy the FEMA funding requirements).

The Parks Department hopes to complete repair of the small bridge in August.  The larger bridge may undergo a formal bidding process with construction anticipated in September.

Check out Pat’s complete August newsletter here.