Author Archives: Erik Brooks

South Milwaukee’s busiest downtown street, 10th Avenue, is getting 50 new trees.

From the memo by our city engineer …

As part of various public works projects starting in 2008, 54 tree grates were constructed around existing green ash trees planted circa 1988. Given the age, size and condition of the trees, and EAB, replacement has been contemplated for several years, with the exception of 2 oak trees, 2 ginkgos, and 1 maple. Removal was considered earlier this year, however the dry weather conditions hampered any planting. Asplundh Tree Expert Company was able to proceed much quicker than expected to remove trees and perform stump grinding.

A contract has been authorized with Johnson’s Nursery for installation of 50 trees within the existing tree grate locations. Seven varieties of trees have been recommended by Johnson’s. (State Street Maple, Autumn Fantasy Maple, Kentucky Coffeetree, Tuliptree, Japanese Tree Lilac, Cathedral Elm and New Horizon Elm.) …

Planting a variety of species is common practice so all trees are not affected if a disease or insect becomes prevalent (such as ash borer). Planting during the dormant period is also common practice, and trees are scheduled to be planted by the week of November 28th.

I am happy we’re able to make this investment in the look and feel of our downtown — and this investment in our urban forest.

Our current budget includes funds for continued removal of trees affected by emerald ash borer, and others that are dead or dying, and  the proposed budget — the subject of a public hearing tonight and more council debate on Tuesday — includes $25,000 to develop a plan for an improved  urban forestry program.

This downtown planting is a good start. I wonder when the last time the city planted 50 trees at once — if ever.

I never experienced this before last year, at my 40th birthday party, and now I’m hooked.

Professional wrestling is part of our proud past. Remember Da Crusher?

This continues that tradition. It’s good, clean fun. Emphasis on “fun.”

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …

At approximately 11:01PM last evening (Nov. 17, 2016), SMFD received a 9-1-1 call from a female caller stating that her upstairs apartment was on fire and two children were trapped.  SMFD responded and, upon arrival, discovered a fire in the kitchen of an upstairs apartment at 1300 Manistique Avenue and that all occupants had evacuated the 3-family dwelling.  The fire was quickly extinguished and extensive overhaul ensued as the fire had extended into the attic of the building through an above-range exhaust fan and duct system.  As a precaution, all power was shut off to the building as the fire exposed parts of the electrical system.  The cause of the fire was accidental as the occupant left a pot of melting candle wax on an active burner as part of a candle making process that eventually ignited and caused the surrounding cabinets to ignite and extend upward into the attic area. No one was injured and the American Red Cross was contacted to assist the 10 occupants of the three apartments.

Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

We heard you, and we’re acting. Here is the note we’re sharing on the city website and social media channels …

We appreciate your continued patience with leaf collection.

Our Street Department crews have been working as hard as they can to collect leaves, and will continue to. We are also announcing changes to help in the collection process.

• First, through the end of the year, we will be waiving the $2 usage fee for our self-deposit station for residents disposing of leaves. If you are disposing of items other than leaves, you will still have to pay the fee. There is no per-bag fee for leaf disposal.
• We are also adding crews to the process. We typically have two leaf crews out during normal hours, but we are now aiming for three when possible.
• We have also authorized overtime this weekend, with eight employees focused on leaf collection and disposal, and we will have crews working on overtime until 7 p.m. on weeknights for the time being, starting Nov. 18.
• Also, we are extending leaf pickup until the first snowfall requiring plowing, as we have done in other years. Of course, this is weather dependent, but we are committing to picking up leaves for as long as we can until snow season starts.

We hope these measures will help reduce the number of leaf piles along the streets, and make it easier for you, our taxpayers, to dispose of leaves.

We continue to make our pass through the city, meaning that each street will be processed over the next couple of weeks. With that in mind, we continue to ask that you not put new leaf piles out, as our original Nov. 15 cutoff date has passed, and we can no longer guarantee we will pick up leaves left out after that date. And please do not park on leaf piles, as this hinders collection. 

 Also, while we will continue to collect, please be aware that if a snowfall occurs requiring plowing and there are still leaves on the street, the leaves will be plowed along with the snow and end up in yards.  This cannot be avoided if the weather does not cooperate.

Again, we thank you for your patience. This is a very costly and time-intensive service that is an annual challenge to deliver. We also continue to ask you to consider to mow or mulch, when and where possible. This will reduce demand on our city crews, and it’s better for the environment.

I want to thank the Street Department for their hard work in collecting leaves so far this year. It’s hard, sometimes tedious, work.

We’ve already collected more than 27 truckloads of leaves. But there’s a lot more to go. These steps will help us get more of them, quicker.

Please note that yesterday (Tuesday, November 15) was the last day to rake leaves into the street for collection by city crews.

Please do not rake leaves into the street the rest of the fall.

Great partnership with a local business … mark your calendars!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• I Hung out with the Mayor of South Milwaukee (Milwaukee Record)
• Rodriguez Wins Re-Election to Represent State Assembly District 21 (NOW)
• All-State Cross-Country Teams Announced (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• 9 Milwaukee Frozen Custard Stands we Miss (Milwaukee Record)
• Oak Creek’s Lake Vista Begins to Grow (NOW)
• Aurora Renovating New Location in Oak Creek for $17 Million (NOW)
• Waukesha, Oak Creek to Extend Water Deadline (BizTimes)
• Update: Man Killed in Industrial Accident in Cudahy Was Struck in Head by Piece of Metal (Fox 6)
• Police Investigating After Vehicle Goes Over Bluff in Cudahy (Fox 6)

Also, check out this feature on South Milwaukee High School’s Allison Osell, who is hoping for a podium finish at this Saturday’s WIAA state diving meet. The article appears on the Wisconsin Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association website, a pay site, but the editors allowed me to repost it here. Good luck Allison!

Thanks to Julie Swanson and Ante Udovicic for the terrific images.

I love Christmas — and how we celebrate it in South Milwaukee.

Here is the rundown of events. Did I forget one? Please let me know!

• Saturday, November 12: Holiday Bazaar. Crafts, baked goods, raffles and more. Lunch will be served.9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Grobschmidt Senior Center, 2424 15th Ave.
• Saturday, November 26: Downtown Tree Lighting. Meet Santa, purchase the SMCBA’s annual ornament, donate to the Human Concerns food drive and listen to live music and grade school choirs. 4-5:30 p.m., Heritage Place (10^th and Milwaukee).
• Sunday, November 27: South Milwaukee Old Fashioned Christmas
  • 1 p.m. South Milwaukee Lions Christmas Parade from 12^th and Milwaukee to City Hall.
  • After the parade at City Hall: Pictures with Santa, arts, crafts, food and more.
  • 4 p.m. Enjoy a free show by South Milwaukee High School a cappella groups Delta V and the Pop Rockets, as well as the madrigal singers, and a special guest to light the tree.
• Saturday, December 3: South Milwaukee Christmas Market. Enjoy more than 100 vendors and live music, and meet Santa.9 a.m. to 3 p.m., South Milwaukee High School, 801 15^th Ave.
• Sunday, December 4: Christmas Choir Concert. 4 p.m., Sts. Peter & Paul Polish National Catholic Church, 1308 15th Ave.
• Thursday, December 8: Cantus: “We All Will be Together.” The premier men’s vocal ensemble in the U.S. comes to South Milwaukee. 7:30 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC, 901 15^th Ave.
• Saturday and Sunday, December 10-11: Ye Old Christmas Feaste. Pre-dinner music at 4, dinner (prepared by students) at 4:30 p.m., South Milwaukee High School
• Saturday, December 10: Live reindeer visit and photos. 10 a.m. to noon, South Milwaukee Ace Hardware, 1009 Marquette Ave.
• Sunday, December 11: Breakfast with Santa. 9 a.m., American Legion Post 27, 920 Monroe Ave.
• Thursday, December 15: South Milwaukee Library Holiday Party. 6-7:30 p.m. Family fun for all ages.

Photos are from the Feaste last year. If you haven’t yet attended this event, you should. And if you have, it’s worth a return visit.

The results are in, and South Milwaukee split its votes among the major parties on Tuesday — supporting a Democrat for president and Republicans for U.S. Senate and state Assembly.

From the local results …

• Turnout locally was 84.9 percent. That included 2,414 people who voted early as in-person absentees, just shy of 20 percent of all registered voters — a significant increase from 2012.
• In the race for president, Democrat Hillary Clinton tallied 4,817 votes in South Milwaukee to Republican Donald Trump’s 4,758, or 46.3 percent to 45.8 percent.
• In the race for U.S. Senate, incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson beat Democratic challenger Russ Feingold, 48.4 percent to 46.3 percent.
• In the 21st Assembly race, incumbent Republican Rep. Jessie Rodriguez defeated Democratic challenger Jack Redmond, 51.9 to 43 percent, in South Milwaukee.
• U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore also won re-election with 47.9 percent of the vote in our city.

I want to congratulate all of the winners of these races, and I look forward to working with them where possible to advance Wisconsin cities, the South Shore and South Milwaukee.

And I want to reiterate my thanks for all of the people who made today’s election happen.

I start with City Clerk Jim Shelenske and the clerk’s office staff for their months of preparation and weeks of execution, to lead the way in ensuring a smooth election day and good experience at the polls. I thank our pollworkers, all 112 of them — more than double the number from 2012. And I thank our volunteers, especially all of the South Milwaukee High School students who witnessed democracy in action today while helping us out.

It takes a village to run an election, and our people delivered. Please take a minute and join me in congratulating all of these folks on a job well done.

This will come as a surprise to no one, but today is election day, and I ask everyone to get to the polls, do their duty as citizens and vote.

Here is the ballot, and here are additional voting details …

• Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• First District voters vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave.
• Second District voters vote at Lakeview School, 711 Marion Ave.
• Third District voters vote at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
• Fourth District voters vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
• Not sure what district you live in? Here is a map.
• Don’t forget: Voter ID is now in effect.

Check out more details on the city’s elections web page … and look for more information on local results from South Milwaukee Blog later tonight or Wednesday morning.

And while you’re out, please thank a pollworker. These dedicated citizens — we have 112 of them this year, more than double than four years ago, including South Milwaukee High School students working throughout the day, to help ensure an even smoother process at the polls this year — bring democracy to life through their too-often thankless work.

Jen’s Sweet Treats does business the right way, and the Clarks are tireless in their efforts in supporting local charities.

A great example is this weekend, as they look to raise money for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight with three days of activities held in and around their Cudahy location.

Details below. Check it out … and thank Jennifer, Cortney and the family for their support. Then, when their newly renovated and expanded downtown South Milwaukee location opens in a few weeks, show your thanks by patronizing their terrific business.

The event on Friday begins at 10:40 a.m. with a walk from the Van Eimeren-Kolonka American Legion Post #27 to the South Milwaukee War Memorial on 10th Avenue. A brief ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the memorial. Lunch will be served afterwards at the Legion post.

I offer a sincere thanks for everyone who makes this event possible — and to all of our veterans. I will never take for granted their service and what it meant in protecting our freedom and way of life.

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …

At approximately 4:29PM this afternoon (Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016), SMFD was notified of a garage on fire at the rear of 1621 Rawson Avenues. Arriving units discovered a detached garage with fire involving most of the interior. Assistance was provided by the Cudahy and Oak Creek Fire Departments. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation as units remain on the scene. An adult occupant of the residence suffered minor smoke inhalation and burns attempting to extinguish the fire and was evaluated by EMS personnel, but not transported for further care. No injuries to fire personnel were reported. The interior of the garage, including the contents, suffered significant damage from the fire.

I live only a few blocks from here and was on the scene not long after firefighters arrived — and saw firsthand their terrific work in getting this fire under control quickly. Well done, gentlemen, and thanks, as always.

We have published the proposed 2017 South Milwaukee budget, and I’m proud to say it preserves the city services you have come to expect while investing in some critical areas — this despite being one of the toughest budgets in many years.

More than ever, we are feeling the effects of more than a decade of state-imposed levy and spending limits.

Costs go up. But with constraints put us on by the state, it’s increasingly difficult for our budgets to keep up, leaving us to make hard choices to hold the line on expenditures.

This proposed budget does that. The bottom line in the published budget, summarized here …

• Expenditures are projected to be $19,716,658.
• Revenues are expected to be $8,952,205.
• The total tax levy is projected at $10,764,454, a 2.73 percent increase.
• As for tax rate changes, those will be determined at or after the Nov. 22 city council meeting where budget passage will be discussed. I’ll share those figures then.

Of course, all of this demands context for the complete picture.

First, it must be said the published budget is not the final word. In fact, we have already updated health insurance and other projections (both revenue and expense) that will force us to make additional changes, including potential cuts, in the version that goes before the council for approval on Nov. 22.

It’s also important to note what we were faced with this year, and why this year is shaping up to be worse than others in recent memory.

Our biggest constraint continues to be levy limits, which cap levy growth at net new construction growth. For us, that figure is 0.19 percent; therefore the city’s levy (excluding post-2005 debt service payments and refunded taxes) can grow by just 0.19 percent.

Our levy growth, minus exceptions, has been capped at below 1 percent 10 of the last 11 years. For small-growth cities like us, those in redevelopment mode, this is a significant handcuff and needs to be addressed by state lawmakers and the governor. I hope they have the courage to do so, and give power back to local governments in this most important of responsibilities.

With this in front of us, we then faced these new challenges for 2017 …

• Of biggest concern, our initial health insurance renewal came back with a 25 percent increase for the existing plan due in large part to poor claims performance in 2016. This is obviously not sustainable. So we went back to the market to shop for a new plan, and found one that significantly increases the deductible and other employee costs, but brings the city premium increase to 3 percent. That’s still a $100,000+ hit.
• We also had to deal with an approximately 4 percent increase in Wisconsin Retirement System rates for protective service employees – or about $200,000. The increase for protective service employees was primarily due to existing disability claims, and is out of our control.
• We also continue to refund Caterpillar property tax overpayments. In 2017, we will be paying them back $94,000, based on the findings from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue in 2013.
• Revenues are also off by about $71,000. A couple key drivers to this small decrease are a decrease in water utility tax equivalent due to depreciation of their building and a decrease in the sewer enterprise fund reimbursement, as they are performing their road repair work rather than the street department.

Faced with these and other challenges, we set out to balance the budget, and we have. It hasn’t been easy.

First, the proposed budget does not include any across-the-board salary increase for non-union employees. Those not at the maximum step of their pay grade would be advanced to the next step. Others who have exhausted their steps would not get an increase. There will be a 2 percent across-the-board salary increase plus step advancement for police and fire union employees, as negotiated in their current contract, which expire on Dec. 31, 2017.

In addition, the decision to not do a cost-of-living pay adjustment for non-union employees comes as our new health plan adds more out-of-pocket expenses.

We also shifted some employee costs from the operating budget to the Storm Water Utility and Insurance Reserve Fund to rightfully account for their time spent on these efforts.

So, it was a challenge, as big as we’ve had in recent years.

Still, we have found ways to reinvest. We need to.

Investing to enhance our city services can’t stop, even in tough budget times. In fact, some would argue that is exactly the time to do it, stepping up to drive growth, deliver efficiency and move our city forward.

This budget does so in several key areas …

• We have earmarked $25,000 in Storm Water Utility funds for a consultant to develop and execute an urban forestry work plan. Doing so will get us on the path to building a sustainable urban forestry program and planting more trees. This aligns with the 2014 study we commissioned, which recommends we bring on a consultant (recommended level: $50,000) to manage our program.  We found the additional funding in the existing utility budget, so we do not anticipate this will lead to an increase in the existing fee.
• We also committing an additional $25,000 for economic development consulting work, money we anticipate spending on projects that will help to grow our tax base, as continue to make this a top priority.
• We have approved a deal with Oak Creek on partnering on the delivery of IT services inside City Hall and city departments. While we do not project this to save money immediately, we will see an increased service level for the same cost as the third party with which we have been working. I expect it to save money over time.
• We are also continuing to move toward LED lighting inside city buildings and, potentially, with some streetlights. We do not project budget savings in 2017, but we are confident this initiative will do so in years ahead.

So, where does this leave us? I feel this budget continues with our tradition of being responsible stewards of taxpayer money, balancing difficult realities like state-imposed limits, rising costs, and the desire to drive efficiency and innovation with the need to adequately fund the city services taxpayers have come to expect from us.

Of course, I welcome your thoughts on all of this, as always, either in this forum or at the budget public hearing set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, at City Hall. The city council will take up the budget for passage at its Nov. 22 meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

As city leaders, this is one of the most important things we do every year. Be heard.

My philosophy on consolidations and partnerships is pretty simple: In an era of constrained budgets, we need to explore these more than ever — especially when, in doing so, we can get a service that is less costly, more efficient and of better quality.

That’s why I’m excited about the action the city council took Tuesday night, approving an intergovernmental agreement with Oak Creek for the delivery of information technology services. The Oak Creek City Council still must approve the deal.

Under the two-year deal — driven and negotiated by South Milwaukee City Clerk Jim Shelenske and Oak Creek Information Technology Manager Caesar Geiger — Oak Creek will provide us network management; server, software and computer maintenance; backup and security services; upgrades and joint purchasing.

Previously, a third party provided these services for South Milwaukee. For the same amount of money we had spending, in 2017 we will get more hours of weekly service (approximately 20 hours per week at $80 per hour) from a natural partner that is responsive, knows our systems, and has already informally partnered with us a number of times on IT projects. Over time, I expect this partnership will save us money, too.

The partnership was made possible by the investments in fiber optics we have made in the past year, connecting our City Hall and Police Department with Oak Creek’s City Hall through high-speed cable. Phase two of that project will connect our City Hall with the fire department, street department and South Milwaukee Library. Among other benefits, these connections will make it possible for Oak Creek employees to provide IT support remotely.

I’m most excited by this formalized relationship because I see it as a first step. I look forward to exploring other options with our neighbors around service delivery, and we are. We have to.

There are 19 communities in Milwaukee County. Too often we are providing the same or similar service 19 times in 19 different ways. That’s not sustainable for any of us.