South Milwaukee Alderman Tim Backes has graciously volunteered to write regular updates for the blog coming out of the South Milwaukee City Council.
You can see his latest installment here. It focuses on the 2023 city budget.
Thanks, Tim, for bringing this idea to the blog! I am always looking for content to further our mission of keeping South Milwaukeeans informed on key issues, while also providing important context and depth where possible.
It is why I started this blog as an alderman in 2009, and why I continue it today.
Please note: All content is written by Alderman Backes, and shared verbatim through the blog. Any opinion offered is Tim’s and Tim’s alone.
I still remember when this was an abandoned gas station, an ugly, derelict property on perhaps our city’s most prominent corner. Then the city acquired it, led demolition, helped gain closure from the Department of Natural Resources, and put it up for sale.
That investment appears to be paying off. From BizTimes …
A vacant site near the former Bucyrus campus in South Milwaukee could soon be redeveloped as a $6.2 million apartment development with commercial space on the first floor.
Once occupied a gas station, the city had owned the 0.7-acre parcel at 2318 10th Ave., near the southwest corner of 10th and Marquette avenues, for several years before issuing a request for proposals (RFP) this fall for a mixed-use development.
After receiving two proposals, members of the city’s Plan Commission voted earlier this month to pursue a development agreement with Milwaukee-based AK Development. The other proposal the city had received – from a limited liability company led by Caledonia business Steven Hribar – called for a 45-unit apartment complex, and Patrick Brever, the city’s Assistant City Manager, and commissioners felt it didn’t meet the guidelines for the RFP.
Slated to be developed in partnership with Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. (WCS), Continuum Architect, Greenfire, JCP and CG Schmidt, the AK Development proposal calls for a four-story, 24,563-square-foot mixed-used development. The concrete and brick building would include 24 apartments, and a 2,750-square-foot commercial space on the first floor. The apartments would be comprised of eight studios, 12 one-bedroom, and four two-bedroom units. Rents would be between $650 for a studio to $1,500 for a two-bedroom unit.
Here is an update on an important infrastructure project for the city. Since the city announced this in the fall, I am told work on the first phase of the lining work wrapped up last week. A second project is planned for 2024.
Visu-Sewer has been contracted by the city to rehabilitate the mainline sanitary sewer that your property is connected to. The rehabilitation process will include high-pressure cleaning of the sanitary sewer, and then installation of a cured in-place liner inside the sewer main. The liner renews the existing sanitary sewer main to the condition of a new pipe without the inconvenience of conventional digging.
Schedule
The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase will consist of high-pressure cleaning and televising of the sanitary sewer. This work is anticipated to begin October 24th and will continue for approximately 4 weeks. The second phase is the installation of the liner. It is anticipated that the second phase will be completed by the end of the year.
Thank you to the South Milwaukee School District communications team for sending regular updates to share with the community!
I share them verbatim here … and you can find more stories on the district’s well-done (and updated) Latest News page.
Apollo Jazz to Carol in SM Dec. 22
Apollo Jazz, South Milwaukee’s elite student singers will be caroling around South Milwaukee for non-perishable food items on December 22. You can schedule time for the choir to carol for your block, organization, or business. It’s free, the group just asks that you make a donation or have non-perishable food items to donate. Here’s where they’ll be and what time slots are available. Contact SM Performing Arts Center Director Rachel Sorce to book a time.
9:009:30 – DB Tax & Wealth
10:00 –
10:30 –
11:00 – Howard Village
11:30 –
12:00 – Bucyrus Club & Event Center
1:00 –
1:30 –
2:00 – Parkway Floral
Hear a bit of their talent with a peek into a rehearsal (and their pitch for your canned goods) at https://youtu.be/6cuWbap-1FY
SM Schools Podcast
South Milwaukee schools now have a podcast! Join the more than 1,500 people who have downloaded an episode of the newly-launched #SMWay Podcast. In the first episode hear about School Improvement Plans and how South Milwaukee is changing how we educate our students.
The second episode is about an exciting new STEM class at the Middle School and how its designed to prepare students for classes in the High School technical education program.
Suggest a topic! The #SMWay Podcast was started as a way to answer questions from the community and to celebrate our students and staff. Email info@sdsm.k12.wi.us with your idea or question for an upcoming episode!
Launching a Legacy – Help Refresh SM Athletic Fields
Join businesses and members of the community who have pledged to help pay for new artificial turf fields for football, softball, and baseball and a new surface for our track and field student-athletes. A refreshed Bucyrus Stadium means hosting soccer games on the field, the possible return of marching band competitions, the use of the field for Physical Education classes, Cheer and Poms competitions, and even commencement ceremonies. Learn more at www.launchingalegacy.info
The South Milwaukee/St. Francis Health Department now offers free Lactation Support Services by appointment! Phone or in-person consults are available in our private Mother’s Room. Call (414) 768-8055 ext. 3 if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment.
Thanks, Tim, for bringing this idea to the Blog! I am always looking for content to further our mission of keeping South Milwaukeeans informed on key issues, while also providing important context and depth where possible.
It is why I started this blog as an alderman in 2009, and why I continue it today.
Please note: All content is written by Alderman Backes, and shared verbatim through the Blog. Any opinion offered is Tim’s and Tim’s alone.
A few weeks late on this, but the South Milwaukee City Council approved its 2023 budget on November 22.
It includes a 4.8% increase in the levy, to more than $12.6 million.
The tax rate — the amount of taxes per $1,000 of assessed valuation — is falling 26.9% to $7.58, reflecting a revaluation, as the total assessed valuation in the city is rising from $1.165 billion to $1.671 billion.
The Brooks family is proud to present a holiday tradition that continues to grow.
We’re again gathering toys, games, etc. and then delivering those Christmas gifts to several Milwaukee-area homeless/domestic violence shelters on Christmas Eve.
Our family will go shopping for toys around Dec. 22.
So here is the ask: If anyone wants to donate gifts for us to take, or donate money for us to spend on gifts when we go shopping, drop them off with Sarah or me any time before Christmas Eve.
New, unwrapped items, please.
And if you’d like to come with us on Dec. 24 — and show your kids the true meaning of the season — please join us. We’d love to have you. We leave from our house around 9 a.m. and will stop for lunch afterward.
Post a comment here, or feel free to email me at erikbrooks32@gmail.com for more information.
Thanks for helping make a child’s life more merry this Christmas.
Now, Scott Crawford has partnered with J. Jeffers Co. for a new proposal for the same space. South Milwaukee’s plan commission unanimously recommended the common council schedule a public hearing for Jan. 3, 2023 regarding a rezoning request. The council will review the project on Dec. 6 and consider scheduling the public hearing.
The proposal includes 92 mixed-income apartment and loft-style units. Plans show a mix of 33 one-bedroom units each approximately 688 square feet for $1,250 per month, 40 two-bedroom units offering approximately 900 square feet for $1,600 per month and 19 three-bedroom units with 1,300 square feet of space for $2,150 per month in the Technical and Corporate buildings already on-site. …
The Heritage building could see a vast transformation with aluminum windows replacing some of the brick to facilitate commercial use. The primary entrance would be the alley parallel to Milwaukee Avenue with parking in the east lot. The entire first floor, which includes a cafeteria, would be occupied by a yet unnamed commercial tenant requiring 50 parking spaces. The second floor could include two commercial tenants and more could be forthcoming, according to planning documents.
The project is estimated to cost $36.7 million. A tax incremental financing request of a $1.6 million over 22 years was mentioned in the submittal.
Additionally, the project would seek $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding, which aims to improve the quality of life for those with low to moderate incomes.
Other sources of funding listed include $1.25 million in Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation grants and $1.17 million in an affordable housing grant, to name a few per the plan submittal.
If approved, the developer hopes to start construction in October 2023 and the project is expected to take a full year to complete.
From the Events page on the blog … bookmark it for the most up-to-date information. And if I’m missing anything, shoot me an email at erikbrooks32@gmail.com.
Also, check out the Shop Local South Milwaukee Facebook page for more information on what local businesses are doing this holiday season. I’ll be sharing more on Moran’s Pub very cool plans soon …
Friday, December 2: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Saturday, December 3: Craft Fair & Cookie Walk, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Divine Mercy School. Also photos with Santa and Sant’s Secret Workshop. Details
Saturday, December 3: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Sunday, December 4: Breakfast with Santa, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Pat’s Oak Manor. Details
Thursday, December 8: Friends of Grant Park Historic Holiday Party, 7 p.m., Grant Park Clubhouse. Nels Monson, South Milwaukee historian, will talk about the Fowle family and their relationship to Grant Park. Details in flyer
Friday, December 9: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Saturday, December 10: South Milwaukee Christmas Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Salvation Army, 8853 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek. Details
Saturday, December 10: Santa and his reindeer visit South Milwaukee Ace Hardware for photos, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details
Saturday, December 10: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Saturday, December 10: Studio K presents “The Flamenco Nutcracker,” 2 and 7 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details
Thursday, December 15: Free Community Dinner, First Congregational Church. Details
Thursday, December 15: South Milwaukee Library Children’s Holiday Party, ages 10 and under, 5-6:30 p.m. The Grinch will be stopping by to spread Christmas cheer. Come and play games and make crafts! Full Schedule
Friday, December 16: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Saturday, December 17: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Sunday, December 18: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” 3 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details
Tuesday, December 20: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 6-9 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Wednesday, December 21: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 6-9 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Thursday, December 22: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 6-9 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Friday, December 23: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Saturday, December 24: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Tuesday, December 27: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 6-9 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Wednesday, December 28: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 6-9 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Thursday, December 29: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 6-9 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Friday, December 30: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
Saturday, December 31: Lights on Edgewood holiday show, 7 p.m., 1322 Edgewood. Details
During the period from December 1st to March 31st, no person shall park a vehicle on any street in the city of South Milwaukee between the hours of 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM.
However, vehicles may be parked during such hours if a permit is obtained from the Police Department after the filing of an application and the payment of $30.00 per month permit fee, $20.00 if obtained after the 15th of the month, or $100.00 for a 4-month permit. Hours: Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Excluding Holidays and Holidays observed (November 24 – 25; December 23 – 26; December 30- January 2)
Any vehicle parked according to (1) or (2) above shall only be permitted to park on the EVEN numbered side of the street on those nights when the calendar date before midnight is even (N and W sides of the street are even) and on the ODD side of the street on those nights when the calendar date before midnight is odd (S and E sides of the street are odd), *Where parking is normally permitted only on one side of the street this section (3) shall not apply.
SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARED The Mayor, if after consulting with the Street Department, finds that due to snow, sleet, or freezing rain, the street must be plowed or salted, may declare a SNOW EMERGENCY, which will prohibit parking on any of the Arterial Streets as named in Section 28.12 of the Municipal Code. Whenever such an emergency is declared, which will be announced on at least (3) radio stations (WTMJ, WISN,WOKY), it shall be unlawful to park any vehicle between the hours of 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM inclusive, or any of the Arterial Streets as mentioned above.
An image following November’s historic snowstorm in Buffalo, New York.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman who lost consciousness at a South Milwaukee bar and later died as Kim Mikulance. She was a 55-year-old Cudahy mother of four.
The cause of death is listed as undetermined. The Medical Examiner’s Office said it is pending.
South Milwaukee Police said Mikulance was at Powers on 10th with 52-year-old Timothy Olson when she collapsed. Surveillance video showed the two sitting together. The Racine Police Department has been warning the public of Olson, accusing him of meeting women through a dating app, drugging them and then using their credit cards.
The South Milwaukee Police Department is unsure if Olson is connected to Raina’s death, but they are calling him a person of interest.
Mikulance’s friends at Powers on 10th knew her as ‘Raina,’ and remembered her for her fun-loving personality.
“She was a karaoke girl. She loved to sing and she was a good singer, you know. So she was pretty good that way,” said Marc Gaidish, a friend of Mikulance’s.
The tight-knit community inside Powers on 10th said Mikulance was a friend to many.
It was a beautiful day for some World Cup soccer on Black Friday, as Drexel Town Square in Oak Creek played host to the Moran’s Pub USA vs. England viewing party. Hundreds joined the fun, family-friendly event.
It’s Da Crusher, of course! Shot the night of Crusherfest, as we unveiled this statue to the world. Do you have a photo you’d like to share on the blog? Send it along.
South Milwaukee Blog 