Author Archives: Erik Brooks

In many ways, the story of South Milwaukee is the story of Bucyrus, and vice versa.

Fortunately, there is a dedicated group of retirees and others focused on making sure that story can be told for generations.

The group — South Milwaukee Industrial Museum (SMIM) — has already stepped up to preserve many of the artifacts previously displayed at the former Bucyrus Heritage Museum, keeping them in South Milwaukee as they raise money for a new museum to celebrate the mining company’s heritage locally and across the world.

I stand behind this work 100%, and look forward to partnering with this organization to make this a reality. Learn more on the group’s GoFundMe page — and please join me in donating to this worthwhile effort.

You can also check out their work at City Hall in the next few weeks, through a display showcasing many familiar South Milwaukee faces and families, along with some historic Bucyrus artifacts and models of the machines they were famous for.

From the group …

If you’ve not heard of SMIM before, here’s some background. In December of 2016, without notice, the Bucyrus Heritage Museum was suddenly closed by Caterpillar. Caterpillar moved a few of the museum items into storage and shipped a couple of other items to their Mining HQ in Tucson, AZ. They planned to leave 90-95% of what was on display in the museum behind.

With the uncertain future of the collection covering 130+ years of Bucyrus history in South Milwaukee, a group of current and former CAT and Bucyrus employees, some who served as Museum Docents, started discussions with Caterpillar in January 2017. The objective was to keep as much of the archive collection intact as possible. In late March of 2017, an agreement was reached with Caterpillar, and the South Milwaukee Industrial Museum (SMIM) was formed and took control of the remaining assets of the former Bucyrus Heritage Museum.

SMIM received sufficient funding through a grant from the Bucyrus Foundation to cover the cost of hiring the professional movers Caterpillar required. The assets are currently held in private storage. The plan is to continue as a non-profit educational museum and eventually reassemble the original collection of the former Bucyrus Heritage Museum, hopefully in South Milwaukee, which will be open to the public.

They estimate the current funds will support costs through September, and fundraising efforts are underway toward raising enough funds to be able to locate a home and open later this year or early 2019. They efforts currently consist of a GoFundMe campaign, and a mail campaign (PO Box 84, So. Milwaukee, WI 53172) to receive private donations from individuals who wish to support the museums effort. 

Future public archive displays and fundraising efforts are already planned for this year. We hope they are successful in restoring the museum that will once again showcase the history of Bucyrus as the cornerstone of South Milwaukee’s early days.

Proud past, promising future, indeed.

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• South Milwaukee Dollar General Corrects Recent Rodent Problem, Health Department Says (NOW)
• Fire Damages Home on Holmes Avenue in Cudahy (Fox 6)
• Cudahy Tenant Charged in Murder of Landlord, Said he Was ‘Upset’ Over his Rent Being Raised $30 (Fox 6)
• Weightlifting Coach Charged with Sending Sex Photos, Video of Himself to Cudahy Student (NOW)
• Oak Creek Power Plant’s Neighbors Still Unsettled After Black Dust Found in Their Neighborhood (TMJ4)
• St. Francis Recall Election Still Set for March 13, but Mayor Still Fighting it (NOW)
• Our Kingdom for One of These Personalized South Milwaukee Love Songs from 1985 (Milwaukee Records)

Update: Another option for March 17, a 7:30 p.m. concert at the Legion Post. 

And it is a full weekend …

• Thursday, March 15: Crusher fundraiser at The Tap Room. Enjoy some good times as Tap Room, 130 Milwaukee Ave., will donate a percentage of sales for the day to the effort to build a Da Crusher statute in South Milwaukee (which now stands just shy of $35,000 raised). T-shirts and photos with a life-sized Crusher cutout will be available.
• Friday, March 16: Pullin’ o’ the Green. It’s the Friends of Grant Park’s annual St. Patrick’s fundraiser. Details below.
• Saturday, March 17: Several local pubs are going big on St. Patrick’s Day, and none bigger than Moran’s Pub, which is adding a pop-up container bar in a parking spot in front of its building at 912 Milwaukee Ave. (see the photo), as well as bagpipes, Irish music, Irish dancing and a Crusher statue fundraiser, as well as live sports. Full schedule here. Also, check out The Tap Room — which opens at 6 a.m. for breakfast; details here — and Casey’s on the Ave, 1220 Milwaukee Ave., or Tracker’s Pub and Grub, 1401 Rawson Ave.
• Sunday, March 18: I can’t think of a better way to end the weekend, than with the South Milwaukee Spring Market, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at South Milwaukee High School. Details here.

Drama, comedy, music, even some old-school wrestling … it’s another busy month at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, and that’s great for our city.

It starts this weekend with the South Milwaukee High School Theatre Co. production of “In the Heights.”

Here is a schedule … see you at the PAC!

• March 9-11: South Milwaukee High School Theatre Co. presents “In the Heights”
• March 24: SMPAC FUNdraiser: Tom Sorce Group special guests Janet Plaent and Warren Wiegratz at South Milwaukee Knights of Columbus. 7 p.m.
• April 6: Legends Roundtable: The Life and The Legend of ‘Da Crusher Lives On. 7 p.m.
• April 7: Matthew Oak Creek presents John McGivern. 7:30 p.m.
• April 13: 4 Guyz in Dinner Jackets: Now in Technicolor. 7:30 p.m.

More details on all performances here.

It was an honor honoring Trey McKinney Jones before Friday night’s game, as we showed the dozens of local kids in attendance the value of hard work and dedication in achieving their dreams. My son included.

Trey’s humility shone through — he visited with us for 20 minutes, signing every autograph and posing for every picture.

He’s a class act in every sense of the word, someone who clearly respects where he came from and what it took to get to this point.

Maybe he’ll stick with the Indiana Pacers, maybe he won’t. Either way, getting to the NBA is a huge accomplishment we all should celebrate. Go Rockets!

Some news from the past couple of days …

• Security Guard Kills South Milwaukee Man Trying to Rob Bank in Madison (Fox 6)
• Cudahy Police Investigate First Homicide Since 2016 (WTMJ)
• Cudahy High School Coach Accused of Exposing Student to Sexually Explicit Materials (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Welcome back, Trey McKinney Jones!

We’ll be handing out the proclamation at tonight’s Bucks game. Look for pictures this weekend. Should be a fun night.

CONGRATULATING SOUTH MILWAUKEE’S

TREY McKINNEY-JONES ON HIS NBA CONTRACT

Whereas, Trey McKinney-Jones attended South Milwaukee High School, graduating in 2008. Trey was a two year starter for the South Milwaukee Rockets basketball team, was a first-team All-Conference pick in the Southeast Conference, and he led the Rockets to a co-championship in the SEC North Division; and

Whereas, in addition to his basketball career, Trey was also a long and triple jumper for the Rockets, winning two state titles in the triple jump. He still holds school records in both the triple jump and the long jump at South Milwaukee High School; and

Whereas, after graduation Trey attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Miami, from where he graduated in 2013; and

Whereas, Trey spent time in training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013 before going on to play professionally in Hungary, Israel and France. He has played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the G-League since 2013, and this year was averaging 11.4 points, 2.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game; and

Whereas, Trey’s hard work and determination has paid off with the Indiana Pacers signing him to a contract on February 21, his first NBA experience. In doing so, he becomes the first NBA player from South Milwaukee since Kurt Nimphius retired in 1990; and

Whereas, it is with great pride the City of South Milwaukee pays tribute to Trey McKinney-Jones on his success.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Erik Brooks and the Common Council of the City of South Milwaukee, do hereby declare March 2, 2018, as “Trey Day” in South Milwaukee, and extend our congratulations to the Trey on his NBA debut and wish him continued success on and off the court.        

Dated at South Milwaukee this 2^nd day of March, 2018.        

From the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission …

We have scheduled a Stakeholder meeting for Thursday, March 8, 2018, in the multipurpose room of the Oak Creek Civic Center (8040 S 6th St., Oak Creek).  The meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 pm. There will be two presentations, one by SEWRPC staff reviewing plan progress and the second by WDNR staff summarizing a recent aquatic evaluation of the watershed. Please register for the meeting using the link here so we may plan accordingly. A light supper will be served.

More details on the plan here, and you can get an update on plan schedule here.

Here is a letter sent to the city recently with a more detailed update.

As you’ll read, significant progress has been made — although the plan completion date has been pushed back. First, the progress …

Following execution of an intergovernmental cooperation agreement (ICA) between the City of South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, MMSD, and SEWRPC on January 5, 2016, the SEWRPC staff collected extensive field data during 2016 and 2017, characterizing the physical and biological properties of the main streams in the watershed, including the Oak Creek main stem, the North Branch of Oak Creek, and the Mitchell Field Drainage Ditch. That data collection effort also included deployment of 25 water temperature sensors within those streams. In that same general time period, under programs coordinated with the WRP, the City of Racine Health Department collected water quality data and WDNR staff collected data on aquatic life throughout the watershed. Analysis of the data collected by the SEWRPC staff has now begun.

During the 2016 through 2017 field data collection period, the SEWRPC staff also worked to finalize the structure of the report documenting the plan, developed an online survey for the plan, and collated the numerous comments identifying problem areas that were obtained during the August 2016 stakeholder meeting.

The initial watershed stakeholder meeting at South Milwaukee City Hall on April 12, 2016, was attended by 50 people. At that meeting, those in attendance were provided with an overview of the issues to be addressed by the plan, and they had an opportunity to ask questions of the SEWRPC staff.

The second stakeholder meeting was held at the Oak Creek Civic Center on August 30, 2016. That meeting was attended by 37 people. Following a brief overview of the plan presented by SEWRPC staff, the attendees broke out into five groups organized by subwatershed and facilitated by SEWRPC staff members. Those groups helped identify problems related to the focus areas of the plan and suggested potential projects to address those problems. Problem areas and potential projects identified by attendees were noted on large-scale color orthophotographs of the subwatershed areas.

On April 26, 2017, at South Milwaukee City Hall, the SEWRPC staff presented an update on the progress of the plan and on information collected to date. That presentation was part of a Root-Pike WIN informa-tional session on green infrastructure.

The first Advisory Group meeting was held at the Oak Creek Civic Center on February 7, 2018. That meeting included a discussion of the role of the Advisory Group in reviewing and guiding the plan, an overview of the plan, and presentations by SEWRPC and WDNR on the extensive field work conducted in the watershed for the plan.

Also, from the letter …

The planning effort was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2018. As we have discussed with you, Milwaukee County, and MMSD, the date for completion of the study has now been extended to the end of 2020. We anticipate completing report Chapters 1 (introduction) and 2 (previous studies) in the summer of 2018. All report chapters will be reviewed in detail by the Advisory Group formed to guide the plan. Chapter 3 (characterization of the watershed) will be completed and reviewed by the end of 2018. Chapter 4 (inventory), and Chapter 5 (goals), will be completed and reviewed by the end of 2019. Chapter 6 (recommendations) and the plan summary will be completed before the end of 2020. Chapter 6 will include recommendations for the Mill Pond and dam. During the course of continuing plan preparation and review, we anticipate holding four more stakeholder meetings and six more Advisory Group meetings.

As frustrating as the delay is, it doesn’t change the fact this is still the right thing to do for the watershed, the right approach to take in bringing about significant and necessary investments.

We need to do this right, developing a scientific case for investment, with projects clearly identified, in priority order. And if it takes longer to do it, I can live with that. The watershed has been in decline for decades. Waiting on the study is a small price to pay for bringing new life to this important local resource.

Also, investments continue to be made in the watershed, in the interim. Among them …

• The city, through our stormwater utility, has invested in improving city-owned outfalls into the creek and streambank repairs.
• Milwaukee County last year rebuilt the streambank below the Mill Pond waterfall, and work on the adjacent bridge on Oak Creek Parkway continues. Also, the county actively manages and conducts research at 18 different natural areas locations in the watershed. Ecological activities include wildlife habitat management, invasive species control, wetland monitoring, wildlife surveys and plant inventories.
• Also, MMSD is seeking grant money for flood control in Oak Creek this year.

While I’m happy to see this continued work, significant, big-dollar investments will require the study to be completed first. Simply, funding agencies won’t spend large amounts of money without this comprehensive, scientific approach.

I’ll share more updates as they become available, and will hold SEWRPC accountable to the new timeline. Please do the same.

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• Pick ‘n Save to Close Cudahy Store (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Challenger in South Milwaukee School Board Race Tells Students to Turn off Their Cell Phones (NOW)
• Referendum to Raise Taxes to Hire More Police, Firefighters Mulled in Greenfield (NOW)
• On the Record Episode 122: The Crusher Statue (Milwaukee Record)
• Cudahy Townhouses Biggest Winner in This Year’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit Awards (Business Journal)
• National School Walkout: Waukesha, Greendale and Oak Creek-Franklin School Districts Regulate Student Participation (NOW)

And NOW has published a new police blotter.

“There are too many bad buildings in South Milwaukee. The city needs to do more to hold these property owners accountable.”

I have heard a variation of this statement countless times in recent years, and I’m happy to say we’re stepping up our efforts in this area.

First, I say this: We have taken, and continue to take, this issue very seriously. One example: We have created the code enforcement officer position, and Dave Krey is devoted to this effort. He’s done terrific work. In 2017 alone, he issued 499 orders and advisory letters on properties for issues ranging from debris and parking vehicle issues to permit, interior and exterior violations.

But you’ve told us that’s not enough. We have listened.

With that in mind, here are some of the things we’re tackling around problem and vacant properties (often one and the same) …

• First, the South Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday gave final passage of a vacant property ordinance that requires owners of vacant commercial property to register with the city and maintain a higher minimum standard of upkeep, inside and out, for their buildings, or risk paying a fee. See it here.
• South Milwaukee is also receiving $18,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding from the federal government (through Milwaukee County) for additional code enforcement in 2018. This is the first time we sought this money through block grants, following the lead of other communities. We are looking to use these funds to increase our enforcement staff and capabilities, and we’ve already posted the job. See it here.
• We have also added a new “re-inspection fee” as a tool for our code enforcement officer. This is a $100-200 fee that will be charged to property owners who do no adequately address orders issued by the city, and require a re-inspection. The fee will be charged every time we need to re-inspect.
• Speaking of orders, to ensure more of those orders are followed through upon, our city attorney has recently stepped up his involvement in these cases from the start, getting regular updates on problem properties instead of waiting for owners to arrive at Municipal Court. It’s work that will pay dividends over time. We’ve already taken two owners to court in the past year.

Of course, this is about much more than enforcement. It can’t be all punitive measures. Those can only go so far.

We, as a city, must also be part of the solution, offering tools and other support for property owners who are willing into invest in their buildings. We’re doing that, including partnering to bring to the table three initiatives focused downtown:

• Additional funding, through the Bucyrus Foundation, for the newly named Bucyrus Downtown Revitalization Grant Program;
• Working with Project ReStore — the South Milwaukee Community & Business Association’s downtown workgroup — on the Mount Mary University student project to redesign certain vacant downtown buildings; and
• Again with Project ReStore, activating our membership in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s Connect Communities program, which provides resources for building rehabilitation in city centers.

That is in addition to the significant investments the city is making in economic development (hiring a director in November, tasked in part with bringing new life to our vacant and underutilized buildings), beautification and downtown streetscaping. All of these efforts, and more, will help improve the look and feel of our city, and its properties.

In other words, we’re doing our part.

We need our problem property owners to do theirs.

The South Milwaukee Police Department reports they have found the missing 11-year-old boy safe, about three hours after he went missing. 

Here is the original press release …

The SMPD is looking for a missing 11yr old male. He is a 4’11” male black wearing a black jacket. Was last seen running SB on N Chicago Ave from the Walmart parking lot located at 222 N Chicago Ave. at about 1:52pm.

On Friday, 2/23/18, at about 2:19pm, South Milwaukee Police were dispatched to the Walmart at 222 North Chicago Ave, City of South Milwaukee, for a missing child report.

Jayden T. Jones, male/black, 3/22/06, was last seen waiting in a vehicle for a family member to come out of the store.  Jayden was observed on Walmart security video running south from Walmart, southbound on N. Chicago Ave.

Jayden was last seen wearing a dark colored hooded jacket with tan pants.  He is about 4’11” and weighs about 100 lbs.

Jayden has no ties to the South Milwaukee area.

Jayden has a medical condition and is in need of his medication.  He has a history of running away from home in the past, and of leaving class.

Anyone who locates Jayden is asked to contact the South Milwaukee Police Department at 414-768-8060. Attached is the picture of the subject.

Exciting news from Dr. Steven and Dr. Shinners … thanks for investing to grow in South Milwaukee!

A South Milwaukee institution for over 33 years will be undergoing their biggest move yet – literally. South Shore Family Chiropractic has built an office building on College Avenue and will be moving into the new location on March 5th, fulfilling a long-time dream of owner and chiropractor, Dr. Steven  Scheuing.

The clinic, originally called Potisk Chiropractic after its founder, Dr. Tom Potisk, started on Milwaukee Avenue in 1984. It quickly outgrew its store front location and moved to its present site at 1333 College Avenue in 1988. Steven Scheuing purchased the practice in December of 2009, when Dr. Potisk retired from day-to-day operations.

As the clinic has continued to grow and add staff and providers, it became clear to Dr. Scheuing that they would eventually need a new space to care for their patients. Building from scratch meant the ability to add new technologies and custom touches to the new clinic.

“We’ll have a little over 4,000 square feet in our new location,” reports Scheuing. “Larger patient care areas, more space for retail, massage, and diagnostics with the goal of improving patient experiences.”

The new office will be located at 1113 College Avenue, across from the Walgreens. The building will also contain the new offices of Dr. Michael Shinners and South Milwaukee Family Dental. Shinners, another long time provider in the south shore, has relocated his practice from the South Milwaukee Professional Building.

This is a terrific event for a great cause I hope to see you there!

More details here. From the press release …

The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center (SMPAC) announces its 11th annual fundraiser, Soirée: A Party for a Purpose, on Saturday, March 24 at 7 pm.  The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Council is hosting the event, which is sponsored by Classic Cargo International. “The word Soirée literally means a party for a purpose,” says Cyndi Kieck, president of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Council.  “Our purpose is to bring people together in celebration of the arts and raise the funds necessary to provide programming that makes a positive impact in education, recreation and the vibrancy of our community.”

The Soirée will feature live musical entertainment from Tom Sorce Group with special guests Janet Planet and Warren Wiegratz, live and silent auctions featuring Wisconsin trip packages, Milwaukee-area arts and entertainment destinations, artwork, a wine pull, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. This year’s venue is the South Milwaukee Knights of Columbus located at 732 Badger Avenue in South Milwaukee. Festivities will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75/pair and $40 for a single and may be purchased at www.southmilwaukeepac.org or at the door. Reservations are recommended. All proceeds support South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center’s mission of providing affordable creative, innovative and diverse performing arts and lifelong learning opportunities to people of all ages.

Last year, funds raised by Soiree attendees helped more than 1,000 students participate in residencies, workshops or our growing Summer Youth Theatre Program. Funds also helped support the rental of wireless microphones for our high school In the Heights musical cast.

“Performing arts have the power to educate, inspire, lift spirits and even change lives. We see these things happening for people of all ages at SMPAC, and it’s why the performing arts play a vital role in the community.” says Rachel Sorce, SMPAC’s Executive Director.  Most not-for-profit arts organizations like South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center rely on charitable contributions for a substantial portion of their programming or operations.

Headlines from Tuesday’s primary election …

• The South Shore will have a new Milwaukee County Board supervisor, as South Milwaukee resident James Davies scored a big victory in the three-man race, followed by challenger Steven Shea and incumbent David Sartori. Davies tallied 45 percent of the vote in District 8 to 29 percent for Shea and 26 percent for Sartori. In South Milwaukee, Davies had 45 percent to 21 percent each for Shea and Sartori.
• In the First District aldermanic race, challenger Brett Breisemeister scored 419 votes, or 27.8 percent, to 304 votes for incumbent Craig Maass. Incumbent Frank Van Dusen had 119 votes, and challenger James Leavens had 110. Frank Mill Pond Gratke and Andrew Buckner do not advance to the April 3 general election.
• In the Supreme Court race, Michael Screnock tallied 46.1 percent of the vote in South Milwaukee to 38.6 percent for Rebecca Dallet to 13.8 percent for Tim Burns. The result was similar statewide.

Turnout was high in South Milwaukee, with 23.9 of registered voters heading to the polls. Turnout was nearly 30 percent in the First District.

Check out full local results here.

Congratulations to all of those advancing to the April 3 general election!