I count more than 20 events in the city in the next few weeks. Not bad.
This weekend, it’s the Oak Creek cleanup on Saturday and Grant Park Trek ‘n Treat on Sunday. And it only picks up from there, as we head to Halloween.
Happy Rocketober! Follow the Rocketober Facebook page for the latest updates.
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Congratulations South Milwaukee Police Department!
From the city Facebook page …
On October 2, 2017 Captain Jaske, South Milwaukee Police Department Accreditation Manager, and Chief Wellens met with the Governing Board of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group regarding the On-Site Assessment of the South Milwaukee Police Department which occurred in May 2017. At this meeting the South Milwaukee Police Department was awarded Accreditation Status on the 5th Edition of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group Standards.
The South Milwaukee Police Department was one of three law enforcement agencies in the State of Wisconsin in 1998 to be awarded this status. This is the 6th Re-accreditation for the South Milwaukee Police Department. The South Milwaukee Police Department is the first agency in the State of Wisconsin to be accredited under the 5th Edition.
Accreditation offers the South Milwaukee Police Department several benefits: providing “norms” against which agency performance can be monitored and measured over time; increased cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies; increased effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services; and demonstrating to the community that the South Milwaukee Police Department is committed to continuing these standards through accreditation.
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From the city website …
The City of South Milwaukee will be hosting informational sessions on the South Milwaukee 2017 Public Safety Referendum and the special election that will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7. City officials will be available to answer your questions, listen to your concerns, and hear your comments. This is an open house format and representatives will be available throughout the session. It is not necessary to arrive at the designated start time. Please attend as your schedule allows. Click on the image to see the full-sized fact sheet, and for additional information about the South Milwaukee 2017 Public Safety Referendum, please visit our website. http://smwi.org/2017-referendum/
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An informed citizenry is a critical part of crimefighting.
Please consider attending one of these upcoming events.
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With planning well underway around the Oak Creek Watershed, it’s easy to forget that much of the southeast portion of South Milwaukee doesn’t even sit in that watershed at all. It is in the Wind Point Watershed.
That watershed has been the subject of its own restoration plan in recent years, and there is some good news on that front: The federal EPA has endorsed the work, and implementation has already begun. The South Milwaukee Common Council adopted the plan at its meeting this week, with other communities to come.
You can see the plan here. Please take a look — and, as you do, recognize that this is the kind of plan that is being built for the Oak Creek Watershed.
This is what we are working towards.
Like the eventual end result of the Oak Creek plan, it is more than words on a page, and it won’t sit on a shelf. This is a broad roadmap for priority projects that is already guiding revitalization in the Wind Point Watershed — and serving as the foundational documentation necessary to obtain funding for those projects.
From the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network …
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) is pleased to announce that the Wind Point Watershed Restoration Plan has been deemed “consistent with” (or approved according to) the Environmental Protection Agency’s Nine Key Element standards for watershed restoration. Nine Key Element plans provide research, results and recommendations that drive the reduction of flooding and runoff pollution, improve and expand habitats and create places where people want to be.
Having a plan that is consistent with Nine Key Element standards allows watershed stakeholders with specific recommendations in the Plan to be eligible for grants using federal section 319 funds. Projects in the Plan may also qualify for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding as determined by EPA and GLRI staff. Root-Pike WIN is working with the Department of Natural Resources, landowners, municipalities and other stakeholders to get the Plan implemented.
Nine Key Element Watershed Restoration Plans are based on comprehensive EPA guidelines for watershed planning that include exhaustive research, significant water quality testing, numerous public stakeholder meetings, municipal and landowner input, and alignment with DNR means and methods.
Planning for the Wind Point watershed began in 2013 as a strategic directive from Root-Pike WIN and was completed with significant technical assistance from Applied Ecological Services. Julie Kinzelman, Laboratory Director and Research Scientist at the City of Racine’s Health Department, provided extensive water quality monitoring data and insight. The Wind Point planning effort was made possible by grants from the Fund for Lake Michigan, SC Johnson Fund, and WE Energies Foundation.
Mike Luba, Root-Pike WIN’s Board President, commented, “This is a great step for the watershed as it allows for more funding of projects that will have a positive effect on water quality and reduce the impacts of flooding events. Root-Pike WIN has already been meeting and partnering with local communities to implement projects identified in the plan over the last 18 months.”
Key municipal stakeholders involved in the creation of the plan include Racine County, the Village of Wind Point, the Village of Caledonia, the City of Racine, Milwaukee County, the City of South Milwaukee, and the City of Oak Creek. The first year of the two-year development of the plan focused on engaging people from all reaches of the watershed through a series of meetings and online surveys culminating in a visioning session, where participants selected the priority areas for the plan. In the second year, an advisory group of interested citizens and public officials met regularly with Root-Pike WIN and Applied Ecological Services to advise and direct the development of the plan.
The Wind Point watershed is threatened by phosphorus and nitrogen from farming practices and storm water runoff, E. coli and other pathogens from agriculture and storm water runoff, suspended solids from storm water runoff and streambank erosion, loss and fragmentation of open space/natural habitat, reduced water infiltration and increased water use, invasive/non-native plant species, chlorides (salinity) from road salt, and low dissolved oxygen in waterways that lead to Lake Michigan.
“We’ve written a dozen or more of these Nine Element plans in the Midwest,” said plan author Steve Zimmerman, Senior Ecologist with Applied Ecological Services, “and they are always a catalyst for future grant funding of on-the-ground implementation projects. So these plans are really the first step to actual habitat improvements in the watershed.”
As of this month, 26 projects are already in preliminary discussions with stakeholders, eight projects are in planning, one project is in construction, and two have already been completed. With the plan now being consistent with EPA standards and DNR guidelines, projects will have more opportunities for federal funding.
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South Milwaukee’s future will be built on the foundation of small businesses like South Shore Family Chiropractic and South Milwaukee Family Dental.
That’s what made today’s groundbreaking of their new facility so special — we were celebrating a successful investment in their growth, and ours.
With today’s ceremony, the $1.5 million project on 11th and College, just down the road from the leased spaces both businesses currently occupy, is now officially underway. And, weather permitting, it will move quickly.
The 6,300 square-foot building, being developed by Dr. Steven Scheuing of the chiropractic clinic, is expected to open in February. It is being built on a combination of previously city-owned land and an adjoining previously privately owned parcel that once housed Sahagian Auto Body.
The project is years in the making.
I remember meeting several years ago with Dr. Steven to discuss his future in our city, and it’s exciting to see him bring this from dream to reality. He had other options. He chose to stay in South Milwaukee, and grow in South Milwaukee.
Today, we celebrate that, and the fact that this is just the latest example of the positive redevelopment we’re bringing to this city.
There are more to come.
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From Rita Wiskowski, who is organizing this event …
We’re celebrating South Milwaukee’s Bird City designation!
Join us at 3 pm on October 21, as Bryan Lenz, Director of Bird City, Mayor Erik Brooks, other city officials, birders, Park Friends representatives, and community people come to Grant Park Picnic Area 5 for a brief presentation of SM’s newly designated Bird City Status. After the presentation we’ll do a little birding, so bring your binoculars and wear comfortable shoes.
Following the bird walk, at about 4:30, we’ll be headed to Moran’s Pub (912 Milwaukee Ave, South Milwaukee). Moran’s has a great selection of beers and offers a menu of sandwiches and soups. This portion of the celebration is known as a “Birds & Beers,” a gathering of birders where we discuss all things birds, over food and libations. Come and meet the birders who know that Grant Park is a great place to bird.
Hope to see you for this fun celebration on the 21st.
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Check out these South Milwaukee headlines, including coverage of a native son returning home to share his success story with students …
Learn more about the Oct. 20-21 Violent Femmes shows at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center here.
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What’s happening with the ongoing Oak Creek watershed study? A lot.
From completion of field surveys to gathering voluminous amounts of water and sediment quality data to launching a watershed survey, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission continues its work toward giving us the roadmap we need for a cleaner and revitalized watershed.
Read the full update here. Take the survey here.
From the update provided last week by SEWRPC …
Field efforts completed include the following:
Work is also underway to analyze available information related to the Mill Pond and Dam in Grant Park. Historical information related to the Mill Pond and Dam has been collected and reviewed. An evaluation to quantify the amount of sediment that has accumulated in the Mill Pond as compared to its original volume when constructed in the early 1930s has been started.
We will be discussing this at our city council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
The council will also consider adopting the Wind Point Watershed plan — an important document for us, as a portion of the city lies in that watershed. You can see that plan, recently endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency, here. Consider it a preview of what you can expect to see with the ongoing Oak Creek watershed work.
Expect more public meetings on the Oak Creek watershed plan beginning in early 2018, with a focus on individual topic areas in the report. I will keep you posted.
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For Rawson Elementary School families, those who live in the area or those who travel in and around Rawson during the early morning or mid-afternoon, changes are coming on Monday around student dropoff and pickup.
Here is a video of what is happening, as school officials seek to increase safety in and around the campus. The city is also making some changes to parking zones around the school.
I thank new Rawson Principal Nicole Horsley and other school district leaders for driving these changes, and working to improve a challenging situation — something I have seen firsthand as the parent of one current and one former Rawson student.
Please be patient!
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Honored to declare Wednesday, Sept. 27, Virginia Cimbalnik Day in South Milwaukee, in honor of her 100th birthday.
It was a pleasure to join in the celebration with her friends and neighbors yesterday evening, and I’ve already marked my calendar for her 101st.
Happy birthday, Virginia!
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The City of South Milwaukee will be hosting two informational sessions on the South Milwaukee 2017 Public Safety Referendum and the special election that will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
The dates are …
Both are from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
Representatives will be available to answer your questions, listen to your concerns, and hear your comments.
For additional information about the public safety referendum, please visit our website.
This is in addition to the Meet the Mayor sessions set for Sept. 28 (tomorrow) and Oct. 28. Also, you can submit questions on the referendum to referendum@smwi.org, or by calling 414-768-8051. Or just shoot me an email.
Check out a list of frequently asked questions here.
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I’m excited about the new development happening across this city.
The latest example: A $7 million medical office building proposed to replace the former home to Aurora Healthcare/Lakeshore Medical at 15th and College.
The story broke in today’s BizTimes, after city officials met with the developer last week. From the story …
William Ochowicz, of Pewaukee-based Healthcare Real Estate Solutions, is planning the 26,000-square-foot speculative medical center at College and 15th avenues. The building will include underground parking for 28 cars.
Ochowicz’s partner in the $7 million venture, New York-based property owner Amir Wasiullah, is hoping to lease the space to independent physicians.
“We are targeting physicians who do not have an affiliation, like allergists, optometrists and psychologists,” Ochowicz said.
As hospital systems have merged over the years, more and more physician groups have affiliated with systems there are fewer independent doctors. Still, the Milwaukee-based Independent Physicians Network provides services for about 900 independent physicians in the Milwaukee area, according to its website. The building might also end up being purchased by one of the health care systems wanting to have or expand its presence in the South Milwaukee/Cudahy market, Ochowicz said.
This is exciting news for South Milwaukee, and the proposal comes as ground is expected to be broken soon on a $1.4 million facility on 11th and College to house South Shore Family Chiropractic.
And that’s just the start. More significant (re)development news is coming soon.
Promising future, indeed!
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Congratulations to all of the winners at Thurdsay’s South Shore Chamber of Commerce – WI Awards Dinner: Howard Village (St Francis), TiPrint (Cudahy) and our own South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
All are richly deserving, none more so than the SMPAC. It’s an honor to join with my mayoral colleagues, County Supervisor David Sartori and State Sen. Chris Larson to honor this terrific institution, one the entire South Shore should be proud of.
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Come support our local law enforcement professionals … and bring the family!
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South Milwaukee Blog 