Tuesday night’s South Milwaukee City Council meeting started off with some fun — and some big money for the Susan B. Komen for the Cure — but also included some newsworthy business items. On the agenda …
- The council voted 8-0 to approve a 3% increase in water rates effective Jan. 1. The increase is a “simplified” one as defined by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and does not require PSC approval. It “is necessary to reduce the existing deficiency in present rates and allow the Utility to build some cash reserves so as not to get in a financial bind while trying to replace some aging infrastructure,” according to a letter from Water Superintendent Douglas Fischer. The average residential user’s bill will increase $7.56 annually, with the largest residential user’s bill going up $10.80 annually, due to the increase. I am OK with the modest increase. Our rates remain competitive, and our water utility infrastructure is truly state of the art — a real point of difference for South Milwaukee. I support investing in this advantage.
- The council also agreed to award a small contract for the study of a potential traffic signal at 15th Avenue and Oak Creek Parkway near South Milwaukee High School. This “warrant study” will help determine if traffic counts support installation of a light, or perhaps other changes to this intersection, which gets quite chaotic (and unsafe) before and after school. In recent months, I and other city officials (including our city engineer and police chief) have been a part meetings with school leaders to discuss traffic safety concerns around the high and middle school campuses, and we’ve identified this as one potential improvement for that area. I’m interested to see what the study finds.
- The Legislation & Permits Committee also discussed allowing residents to keep chickens in South Milwaukee. Some balked at the idea. My thoughts? This is just the start of the debate, but I’m glad we’re having it. As it stands now, I’m inclined to support this, with clear restrictions around number, proper containment, and other measures included in ordinances in place with other communities (including Milwaukee). Of course, I’d like to know what you think about this as the discussion continues. I would hate to run afowl of my constituents. Post your comments below!
South Milwaukee Blog 
For my own convenience, I’d rather not have a signal there, but student safety is far more important. I’m not aware of any accidents there. On the other hand, should we wait until someone is hurt or worse. Best to let officials with expertise and who have a bigger picture than I do decide.
Jerrianne Hayslett Anatomy of a Trial
Hmmm…how ’bout a study regarding a light somewhere along North Chicago…perhaps @ Oak. Kids walking to school in the morning often take their lives in their own hands trying to cross amid folks speeding to work while putting on make up and checking their smartphones. There have already been several notable accidents between cars along that stretch, particularly as folks back up coming from the parkway. It seems a shame to wait until someone tags a kid to consider the benefit of a light.
I vote ” Y E S ” For having 5 hens, No rooster..
It’s so healthy to have your own Organic eggs.
All the other citys allow it.
Yes to chickens. No to roosters. Registration required. One issue I envision is the interaction between humans and wild predatory mammals and raptors that are naturally attracted to a free meal like chicks and smaller chicken breeds. Cooper’s Hawks, for instance, are finally on the increase after DDT played a part in nearly destroying them and most raptor species. It might be a requirement that anyone raising chickens, must provide proper overhead screening and well-enclosed overnight roosts. This protects the hawk as much as the chicks, as often we see hawks or owls or possum or raccoons killed by frustrated urban farmers for naturally preying upon an easy meal. Volunteers would also provide start-up and hygiene info to prospective urban farmers, so that the health dept is not overtaxed. Plenty of local communities have developed guidelines from which So. Milw. could work.
Something needs to be done about the crazy traffic in the morning around the middle school/high school… I tried taking the Parkway as a “shortcut” one day to avoid the 15th Avenue traffic – but found it almost impossible to cross 15th Avenue to get to the HS parking lot due to all of the traffic going both ways. Fortunately, a kind motorist let me out or I would have been there much longer. A light would solve that problem… A bigger issue is the parents who stop in the middle of the street and let their kids out in traffic. That is really dangerous… I see police there in the morning most days, but they seem to be more concerned with illegal left turns out of the middle school driveway.
When the new High School was built, the School Board indicated they would stagger the start and ending times of the high school and middle school to alleviate traffic. To my knowledge, I am not sure this was done. I am opposed to spend tax dollars (possibly up to $150,000) to provide stoplights at an intersection when the problem is a short time in the morning and afternoon, and nine months out of the year. There are restrictions regading turning off the parkway onto 15th avenue which may require futher study or enforcement. Possibly a four way stopsign at the intesection that can be unfolded during the peak traffic times by an officer or school office employee. Maybe a round-about is the answer.
CHICKENS – Limit them to 10. Will this require a special license??