Check out these headlines of interest from around the South Shore …
- New Fire Chief, Fire Station on Hold (Oak Creek Patch)
- Mayor Appoints Permanent Engineer (Oak Creek Patch)
- Man in Cudahy in Critical Condition, Apparently Beaten (Journal Sentinel)
Also, the Bay View Compass has posted a schedule for this week’s South Shore Frolics. Check it out here.
By the way, I do not have an update on the South Milwaukee fire consolidation talks, which you’ll recall did not include Oak Creek. I will keep you posted when I get word on any progress.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Perhaps Oak Creek should become a part of fire consolidation talks with South Milwaukee, Cudahy and St. Francis (and perhaps other suburbs). If I recall, it was Oak Creek that didn’t want to be involved in fire consolidation talks with the other suburbs a few years back when the study was done. It appears their opinion may be changing.
Is consolidation being considered for police and DPW as well? It would seem logical to investigate the possible efficiencies and cost savings. The only thing that shouldn’t be considered is consolidation with the city of Milwaukee as, similar with MMSD, the suburbs would have little if any control and costs would ultimately increase.
I’d be open to considering a broader fire consolidation — as long as the facts support the effort, as I posted before.
I don’t know of any effort to consolidate police and DPW, and I think this would be a harder case to make than with fire consolidation.
I agree that there needs to be a cost savings and the level of fire service should at least be the same as now. As far as the consolidation of other services, I understand everything can’t be investigated at one time. However I don’t understand why consolidating police and/or DPW would be more difficult. The premise is the same…to eliminate redundancies, increase efficiences and provide the same (or improved) services at a reduced cost. Additionally, as far as DPW, privatization of certain services (i.e. garbage collection) should also be an option looked into for potential cost savings.
Erik:
Has South Milwaukee looked into joining the following study with Oak Creek, Franklin, Hales Corners, Greenfield and perhaps Greendale? It seems like a low cost to determine if there are potential cost-savings implications.
http://www.franklinnow.com/news/sharing-fire-services-becomes-hot-issue-132106068.html
South Milwaukee, Cudahy and St. Francis had commissioned a study a number of years ago regarding fire consolidation. No action was taken on the matter at that time. More recently, discussions have begun among those three communities again as to whether it is worthwhile to study the consolidation of fire services. That discussion is still in its infancy this time around.
Indeed, that was the last update I had as well. I will ask to see if anything has changed in the past month or two regarding consolidation talks.
Perhaps a cost savings to combine these studies into one (assuming Cudahy and St. Francis are willing)?