It was a busy City Council meeting Tuesday night, with robust debate on everything from the future of the International Cycling Classic to the granting of bartender licenses.
Here’s a brief update on a few of the items …
- July bike race. With Bucyrus International declining to sponsor year two of the event (at $15,000), that has left us looking for new partners as a deadline for the city to pull out of the 2011 race looms at the end of January. The council voted to extend that deadline to March 7, buying more time to find sponsorship dollars. Wheaton Franciscan Health Care has stepped up to pledge $7,500 toward the $15,000 “site fee,” and we’re looking for additional sponsors to make up the difference. If you know anyone interested in sponsoring this event, please contact me. Learn more about the 2010 race at our website and in this previous post.
- Bartender licenses. The council also had a good discussion about parameters around approving and denying bartender licenses, in response to a vote on one applicant who had three DUI-related offenses in his past. As you may know, I am a member of the Legislation & Permits Committee, and we are asked to approve dozens of these licenses each year. I and the rest of the committee take this responsibility seriously, and these are worthy debates. I am proud to say we are not a “rubber stamp” committee.
- School district planning. South Milwaukee School Board President Pat Bordak was on hand to brief council members on the district’s visioning and planning process. I am honored to be a part of the planning committee and am very happy with the progress we’ve made in developing goals and strategies around academics, communications and partnerships, and finances. Look for a post with more information on this process in coming days.
We also unanimously approved a motion to retain Nancy Pirkey of Buelow, Vetter, Buikema, Olson, & Vliet, LLC as legal counsel for Police Chief Ann Wellens regarding a personnel issue, with funds from the legal fees account. This was approved in anticipation of the chief bringing charges against an officer with the Police and Fire Commission.
South Milwaukee Blog 