Category Archives: Uncategorized

Update: Be sure to register your vote on my new poll question below!

This coming Thursday, August 12, is another one of those great days to live in South Milwaukee.

Two wonderful events are planned for that night: Community Night Out and the South Milwaukee Downtown Market.

Community Night Out is the annual celebration behind City Hall featuring children’s games, food music, educational exhibits, prizes, raffles, fireworks and a host of other activities for everyone to enjoy. It runs from 5 to 9 p.m.

Of course, Thursdays are also Downtown Market nights, and we have a special event planned for August 12, as local band A Wall of Sound performs as part of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center Concert Series. The show is from 5 to 7 p.m. Learn more here.

So, what should you attend? How about stopping by the market for dinner and shopping, catching some of the concert and then heading over to Community Night Out? Or, how about start the night at City Hall and then head over to the market for a late dinner and shopping and some great music?

You can go wrong either way, if you ask me. See you there!

Milwaukee News Buzz, the daily news home of Milwaukee Magazine, has an interesting article on the blog-driven controversy over State Sen. Jeff Plale’s campaign finance reports.

(My take: I know and respect Jeff Plale and think some of these blogs are way, way out of line on this issue. Even suggesting a “quid pro quo” without proof is irresponsible.)

Read the story here.

And here are some other headlines of interest from around the area:

• A Wall of Sound Plays at South Milwaukee Farmers Market (South Milwaukee NOW)
• St. Francis City Administrator to Retire (Journal Sentinel)
• Oak Creek Hasn’t Narrowed List of City Administrator Candidates (Journal Sentinel)
• Hoan Bridge Lane Closures Start This Week (Journal Sentinel)
• Greendale Opts for Upgrades to Paramedics (Journal Sentinel)
• The Big Race (Bay View Compass)

A group of 11- and 12-year-old girls from South Milwaukee did the city proud in their attempt to qualify for the Little League World Series this week.

The softball team came up just two games short of that milestone after playing their way into the semifinals of the LLWS Central Region tournament in Missouri this week. The team lost 12-7 to Indiana on Thursday.

Learn more about their run in this story on South Milwaukee NOW.

From the NOW story:

The girls, ages 11 and 12, secured their spot in the prestigious tournament after winning both the Wisconsin State Tournament and the Wisconsin District Six Tournament. It has been seven years since a Major team has advanced to the Regional Tournament, and this is the first time a South Milwaukee team has reached the semifinals in the league’s history.

Follow the progress of the team on this page on the Little League Baseball website. The team is also on Facebook.

Congratulations, girls!

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing on the South Milwaukee Water Utility’s proposed 53 percent rate increase on Sept. 9 at the South Milwaukee Public Library. The hearing starts at 10 a.m.

Here is the complete meeting notice, and here is a document comparing current water rates with those proposed as part of the increase.

The Water Utility announced its proposed rate increase in May. Check out my blog posting from then, including a link to a document providing some background and perspective on the proposed change.

Indeed, while the proposed increase is significant, perspective is good here: Keep in mind that the average residential user’s bill, if the proposed increase remains intact, would grow from $59.18 to $91.85 per trimester, according to the meeting notice. That’s $8.16 more per month or $98.01 more per year. (And it’s actually a 55.2 percent increase for the average payer.)

From the hearing notice:

The increase is necessary because of an 83% increase in gross plant investment, and a 42% increase in operating expenses since our 2004 rate increase application.  The plant investment is our new state of the art ultra-filtration pressurized membrane system.

Declines in industrial and residential usage are another major driver of the proposed increase … and a number of other proposed increases from around the area. Here is a story from the Journal Sentinel on Saturday showing that South Milwaukee residents are not alone in facing large water rate increases.

From the story:

Water rates would rise by an average of 27% in Milwaukee, while changes for suburban residents would range from a 13% cut in Butler to a 47% jump in Mequon, under a recent recommendation from the state Public Service Commission staff.

For the average residential customer in the city, water bills would increase 30%, from $204 to $266 a year. In addition to Mequon, the biggest increases would be 39% for New Berlin and 53% for the County Grounds in Wauwatosa.

For those who can not make the South Milwaukee public hearing in person, you can submit comments in writing to the PSC. Do so here.

Former South Milwaukee state Senator and Assemblyman Richard Grobschmidt is retiring from his role as assistant state superintendent in the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning at the Department of Public Instruction.

Learn more in this release from the DPI and on the Wisconsin Library Association blog. And here is his Wikipedia page.

And check out these other headlines of interest from around the area:

• Jensen Resurfaces in Politics (Journal Sentinel)
• Oak Creek Council to Narrow Pool for Administrator Post (Journal Sentinel)
• Hearing in Oak Creek Football Case Postponed (Journal Sentinel)
• Cudahy Police Say Package Was Not Dangerous (Journal Sentinel)
• A Triumphant Racing Return (Journal Sentinel)

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik (who represents all of South Milwaukee) has published her August E-News Update.

The top item is one on the opening of the Warnimont Park dog park on Friday, August 6. The grand opening ceremony is at 10 a.m.

Read the entire newsletter here.

A 51-year-old West Allis woman was injured after falling down a bluff south of Grant Park this evening, according to a press release from the South Milwaukee Police Department.

Here is the release I received:

On 7/31/10, at about 5:16pm, SMPD received a 911 transfer call from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.  The caller, a 51 year old female from West Allis, said she had fallen down the bluff near Grant Park and was now injured and incapacitated.  Dispatch kept the caller on the phone and continued talking with her until officers were able to locate her, less than 30 minutes later, along a tree line, near the beach, about ¼ mile south of the South Milwaukee Yacht Club.  The woman was treated at the scene and transported by SMFD boat to an SMFD ambulance, which was waiting at the SM Yacht Club.  The woman, conscious and alert, was then transported to the hospital for treatment.  The extent of her injuries is unknown at this time.

I’ll post additional information if and when I receive it.

The numbers are pretty staggering.

More than 350 South Milwaukee homes, and counting, suffered flood damage as part of last week’s storms, according to the most recent tally from the city clerk’s office.

I say “and counting” because I’m certain there are residents who have not reported their flood damage to the city yet. I ask that you do so ASAP by calling 762-2222. Please be specific in explaining what happened.

Also, please report all damage to the county at 2-1-1 or via this online form.

Here are a few other notes from today’s flood update from the city:

• FEMA was in South Milwaukee on Friday assessing damage.
• The Street Department has reported picking up nearly 49 tons of flood-damaged debris July 26-29. If you still need a special pickup, please call the Street Department at 768-8075.
• Flood cleanup kits are also available at the Health Department and Fire Department.
• Repair work has begun on the 200 block of Hawthorne Avenue. The Common Council on Tuesday night approved emergency funding for repair of the street, which was damaged by flood waters pouring off the Grant Park Golf Course.

This is a depressing story from the Journal Sentinel …

Online court records indicate James Szuta lives at 1612 Manistique Ave.

A preliminary hearing is set for August 13. I’ll keep you posted.

Here is another story Journal Sentinel story about the case — one that certainly paints a different picture of the victim than the criminal complaint does.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is urging homeowners not to expect too much relief from the federal government following last week’s floods.

Learn more in this Journal Sentinel story about FEMA, which was expected in South Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Here are some other local headlines of interest:

• 4 Beaches Open, 7 Remain Closed (Journal Sentinel)
• Flood-Damaged Home in Franklin to be Razed (Journal Sentinel)
• The Ball’s Rolling — Vote or Not and Missing the Mark — and the Vote (New Kid’s View blog)
• Don’t Expect Quick Cash, Jefferson Flood Victims Say (Journal Sentinel)
• Will Donated Federal Land Lead to Airport Expansion (Milwaukee Magazine News Buzz)

Also, check out information on new principals for South Milwaukee High School and Blakewood Elementary on the South Milwaukee School District’s website.

Update: Here is another potential scam floating around.

Last fall, the South Milwaukee Police Department and Officer Mike Hill, working with then-Alderman Jim Shelenske, started a great email crime alert service for area property owners and businesses.

His most recent update included some tips on how to avoid being scammed following the floods. Check out the information here.

And to sign up for Officer Hill’s service, email him at mhill@ci.south-milwaukee.wi.us.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Tuesday’s Public Works and Public Property Committee meeting.

I understand the frustration in the room, and I sympathize. I am glad everyone who wanted to had a chance to speak their mind. Fifteen people spoke in all, 14 from the Parkway Drive/Hemlock Court area, and your message came through loud and clear: We need to take concrete action to address these flooding problems.

And we are. The committee expressed its support on getting the ball rolling on a larger study of some of the city’s problem areas from last week’s storm (Parkway Drive included). I expect the full committee will take a formal vote on moving ahead with this study in time for the issue to be brought up at our next City Council meeting on August 17.

The mayor made it clear that the city will find the money for this study, and I welcome it. We need to find some answers here, and we will.

I’ll keep you posted on this in the days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, I’ll reiterate my request the request that everyone report their flood damage specifics to both the city and the county. We need to know the full extent of the damage if we’re truly going to address this.

Learn more at the city website.

Still cleaning up from flood damage last week?

The city received a shipment of flood cleanup kits on Monday, and they are available for pickup from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Health Department at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.

Also, the Health Department is offering tetanus booster vaccinations for those who have not had a shot in the last 10 years. Call the Health Department at 768-8055 to learn more.

Here are some other updates:

• All flood damage should be reported to the county by calling 2-1-1 or 866-211-3380, or by filling out the online form found here. Also, please call the city at 762-2222 to report damage, so we can catalog the problems.
• To schedule a special curbside pickup with the city, call the Street Department at 768-8075.
• The foot bridge over Oak Creek at Beech Street has washed away, as it did in 2008. I am not sure of the timeline for replacement.
• Grant Park beach remains closed, as do all county beaches.

The only fatality from last week’s floods was a 19-year-old man from Cudahy, according to this Journal Sentinel story.

He was found in Lincoln Creek.

Here are some other headlines of note from around the South Shore:

• Home, Sweet “Deep Tunnel” Sewerage System and Slimed Again (New Kid’s View blog)
• Bucyrus Hopeful — But Still Awaiting — Loan Approvals (Journal Sentinel)
• Bucyrus Earnings Fall 11% (Journal Sentinel)
• Oak Creek Refuses to Pay Farmer’s Legal Bill (Journal Sentinel)

Update: We actually had about 1.2 inches of rain Friday night/early Saturday morning, according to Andy Bakalarski, the city’s wastewater superintendent. But it apparently was not intense enough to not cause any more flooding. With the new figures, we had about 7.7 inches of rain combined on July 23-24 … two days that I’m betting most won’t forget anytime soon.

The flash flooding feared overnight never materialized, and it looks like things are improving.

We had maybe a half inch of rain after midnight, according WISN’s Mark Baden. And Oak Creek’s levels are dropping. While the creeks remains at flood stage, it had fallen to 8.8 feet (flood stage is eight feet), down from nearly 10 feet on Friday. The forecast is also improving, and it looks like it will be a nice day for the Heritage Days parade and Lionsfest.

Of course, none of this is any solace for the homeowners so severely affected by Thursday’s record rains. I had a chance to speak with maybe a dozen flooded-out homeowners on Parkway Drive on Friday, and it was heartbreaking to hear their stories. My thoughts and prayers are with them.