South Milwaukee Blog

One reason I love the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is that it’s about more than the performances themselves. Often, in bringing terrific acts to our city, they also give an opportunity to grow the next generation of talent.

This time, the SMPAC is partnering with the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field to make that happen on Saturday, Jan. 21. From the press release …

What happens when you combine Milwaukee and one of the hottest vocal trends in contemporary music? You get Milwaukappella!

Milwaukappella is a day-long a cappella workshop for high school and college students followed by an evening concert featuring students from the dayside classes plus a show-stopping performance by the 2017 festival’s headline act, the sensational Vocalight.

Vocalight has been called “the next generation of a cappella.” A tight and talented group of award-winning vocalists and performers, Vocalight is inventing the future of contemporary vocal music. Combining elements from pop, jazz, rock and electronic dance music, Vocalight creates a unique blend of groove and soul for a cappella fans.

Milwaukappella 2017 offers a unique opportunity for aspiring a cappella students to attend sessions on vocal percussion, arranging, vocal technique, presentation, choreography and taking the next step in a music career – getting into college a cappella and even going pro!

At the end of the day, students apply their skills by opening the evening performance. Seminar tickets are $40/student in advance, $50/student the day of the event. The price includes classes, lunch, dinner and a great seat for the evening show. …

Advance tickets for the evening performance start at $15 for student and seniors, $19 for adults. Family-savings packages are available. Children 4 and under are free but still need a ticket. Go to South Milwaukee PAC website. Follow “BUY” links. Workshop tickets will be offered on the same page as show tickets. …

Proceeds from the performance will be used to support charitable efforts of The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field. … A portion of Milwaukappella proceeds also go to South Milwaukee Music and South Milwaukee Music Parents Association to support the district’s music programs.

More details on the SMPAC website.

When it comes to revitalizing the Oak Creek Watershed, we’re just getting started.

With that in mind, last week I received an update from the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission on the ongoing watershed restoration planning effort. From it …

A significant portion of the Oak Creek mainstem has been surveyed, 82 bridges and culverts have been assessed in the watershed, and temperature data is being gathered at 25 distinct locations. This information will all contribute to the watershed restoration planning process for Oak Creek.

The Stakeholder Group will continue to assist the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) staff in development of the Oak Creek Watershed Restoration Plan in 2017. It is anticipated that the Group will hold 4-5 more meetings during the approximately 2.5-year plan preparation period.

As with the first two meetings, the Stakeholder Group meetings are open to the general public and will be held in the early evening with a light supper available. Notices of the Stakeholder Group meetings will be sent out by the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, which is an outreach partner for the study.

Here is the full update, with a lot more detail.

I’ll keep you posted on upcoming meetings … and the continued progress on this critically important work.

Earlier this fall, I also had the chance to see firsthand this progress, and it’s significant. SEWRPC team members are literally walking every foot of the creek’s main channel, digitally mapping the creek’s key features using GPS. The detailed information they are gathering is pretty impressive — and will be crucial in determining the restoration plan. Thanks to the SEWRPC staff for the wading tour of the creek. It was an experience I won’t soon forget. That’s where the picture in the post came from. 

A woman was injured on Sunday as she attempted to cross the street at 15th and Rawson Avenues, police said. Here is the press release ..

On Sunday, December 25, 2016 at about 5:33 p.m. the South Milwaukee Police Department along with South Milwaukee Fire Department responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic accident.  The adult female victim was struck while crossing the road at the intersection of 15^th Ave. and Rawson Ave..  The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation.  Initial investigation indicates the pedestrian was crossing the street against a red light/don’t walk signal.  The pedestrian suffered injuries which required transport to the hospital.

Check out coverage on Fox 6, WISN and WDJT.

And check out these other headlines …

• 5th-Graders Write Biographies for Veterans (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Donn Powers Jeweler Closing Business (Journal Sentinel)
• 57-Year-Old Homeless Man Found Dead in His Snow-Covered Vehicle (Fox 6)
• Trial Date Set for Man Accused in Crash That Killed Two Bicyclists (Fox 6)
• Arrested After a Child Enticement Inciddent in Cudahy, Man Now Faces Sexual Assault Charges (Fox 6)
• Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore Staff Sponsors 54 Children for Christmas (NOW)

And NOW has published a new police blotter.

There is momentum building downtown, and there has been for a while.

Want proof? Look at what’s happening on the 900 block of Milwaukee Avenue.

Let’s start with an exciting new business. The property at 903-905 Milwaukee Ave. – and the vacant lot next to it, west of Azteca Restaurant — has been sold to a business owner who is no stranger to South Milwaukee: Mari Cucunato.

Mari opened her first business, Mari’s Flowers, in South Milwaukee in 1995, and would move to 1220 E. Brady St. in 2003. She is moving back to South Milwaukee this spring.

I’ve met with her and left incredibly impressed with her passion and desire to help revitalize downtown. She sees great potential in South Milwaukee.

As she wrote me, “I hope to start a trend to encourage other businesses and start ups to follow their dreams.”

As for her specific plans for the property, stay tuned.

“I approach every business with a fresh and optimistic adventure,” Mari told me. I can’t wait to see.

Let’s head next door, to Jen’s Sweet Treats.

Their expansion and renovation – supported by a Downtown Revitalization Grant – is looking terrific, and nearing completion. Jennifer tells me they are hoping to reopen in the first week of January, with an expanded retail bakery and new community room. In the meantime, be sure to stop by their Cudahy location for holiday treats.

And down the block, we head to Styled Aesthetic.

The guys at the Rocket Shop (they also do screen printing and design work) are remodeling and refurbishing their show room to improve the shopping experience, and reorganizing and remodeling their office area for a more professional look. They’re also improving their work spaces and adding an break area. This is in addition to their expansion in 2015. They will have a grand-reopening and holiday party on January 16th, and are currently open for walk-in holiday orders now through their website or by calling ahead at 414-304-5733.

And there is more on the horizon in that block, and beyond …

There has been strong interest in the former Home State Bank building recently – I’ve personally met with and spoken several times with someone who has big plans for this historic gem downtown — and Aurora Healthcare is exploring building renovations and adding services to its clinic on the corner of 9^th and Milwaukee.

Much more to come on both of those soon.

Indeed, we’re just getting started on Milwaukee Avenue!

“I don’t mind getting arrested in South Milwaukee because it’s so cheap.”

Our police department has heard that troubling statement more than once over the years. They’ll hear it less going forward, with action the city council took on Tuesday.

Officially, the council voted to amend the South Milwaukee Municipal Court deposit schedule. Put more simply, they voted to increase the amount of money lawbreakers may have to pay for their crimes, if convicted.

I strongly support these efforts. They are long overdue.

Dozens of deposit amounts have been amended. They include the amount for disorderly conduct, which moves from $187 to $439. Resisting/obstructing an officer goes from $376 to $565. First offense retail theft is now $376, from $187. Second offense is $565. Possession of marijuana goes from $313 to $439, and possession of drug paraphernalia goes from $187 to $376. Having liquor in a park goes from $187 to $376, and a park closing violation goes from $92.50 to $187. The deposit for carrying a concealed weapon goes from $313 to $533.50.

These and other changes bring us much more in line with other local communities. (We studied Oak Creek, Cudahy, Franklin, West Allis, Greenfield and others for comparisons.)

To be clear, those arrested for the municipal ordinance violations may never pay the full deposit amount. In fact,  if they show up for municipal court, they may be able to, and often can, get those costs reduced as part of a plea deal. But, by increasing the starting point, our city attorney has more flexibility in potentially adjusting those amounts to get to a point where the punishment better fits the crime.

Our hope is word spreads and that these new, higher deposit requirements act as a deterrent. And, for our officers, it will alleviate frustration they’ve rightfully been feeling that their arrests are sometimes not leading to appropriate consequences.

Thanks to our new city attorney, Chris Smith, and Chief Ann Wellens for their persistence in getting this done — and to Municipal Judge Bill Fenger for signing off on the changes.

We have spent more than a decade trying to fix this. Now, we have. Potential lawbreakers, take notice.

We’ve accomplished a lot in 2016, making changes inside and outside City Hall that will impact how we serve our customers – you, our residents.

Yesterday, I wrote about our work to explore partnering with the Oak Creek Health Department on sharing of services. And we’ve already begun contracting with Oak Creek for IT services.

Among the other actions we’ve taken in December …

• New Street Department leadership. We recently named Dan Ratajski as our new Street Department superintendent. He replaces Rich Davidoff, who is retiring effective Jan. 5 after 32 years with the department, 22 as superintendent. I wish Rich the best, and thank him for his service. I’m excited to welcome Dan to his new role as well. Dan has been with us 12 years, including four years as the assistant superintendent at the department. We are also using this as an opportunity to take a closer look at the structure and operations of the department and see what, if anything, we can do to enhance what I consider a really strong service; we’re hiring a firm to study this into 2017.
• New assessment firm. The council also hired Tyler Technologies as our new outside real estate assessment firm, with a five-year contract being approved at the Dec. 6 council meeting. They also handle assessor duties for the cities of Franklin and Oak Creek, and the Village of Greendale. I want to wish outgoing contract assessor Dan Walker (and his company, Ad Valorem) well, and thank him for his 28 years serving this city. It’s not easy work, but I’m confident Tyler will be an able replacement.
• Benefits changes. We have also made changes to our benefits for civil service employees – about 70 employees who are not in the police or fire unions, and not in managerial positions. The biggest: We have reduced the city’s liability for retiree and disabled employee health insurance contributions. For example, we will no longer offer retiree health insurance to employees hired into civil service roles after Jan. 1, 2017. The liabilities communities like ours face with this legacy cost have been well-reported, and while we won’t feel the effect of this change for many years, it’s simply too high of a cost for us to continue. (Instead, we are exploring offering employees another vehicle that will allow them to save for retiree health with pre-tax dollars.) We are also working to get our current-day health costs better under control – you will recall we were faced with a 25% increase this year at one point – by requiring employees to pay more for health insurance (80% of the cost, compared to 88%) if they do not take part in the city’s wellness program.

Change is hard, and these are tough choices, especially around those to some of our benefits.

We need to remain competitive, both with other communities and private employers, and I think we are. But we also need to make sure we’re offering benefits that are sustainable for the long term, especially in this era of increasingly constrained budgets. We will continue to look for ways to better strike that balance.

We have 19 communities in Milwaukee County, often with services being delivered 19 different ways. In this era of increasingly constrained budgets, that is not sustainable.

We need to creatively look at ways to work together, and I’m hopeful we can do that with public health.

On Tuesday, the South Milwaukee and Oak Creek City Councils took a major step toward that potential sharing of services.

First, the councils voted to extend for six months our “loan” of our health administrator, Jackie Ove, to lead Oak Creek’s department. This is on an interim basis, as they have been without a full-time administrator since earlier this year.

At the same time, the councils voted to partner with the Public Policy Forum on a “white paper” study of potential additional sharing of health services between the two communities.

I have been a part of discussions with Oak Creek on this for several months now, and leaders in both communities feel this partnership is worthy of exploration.

My goal in this and every potential partnership: Find ways to not only deliver the service more efficiently and perhaps save money, but also enhance the service. I am confident we can do that in this case. At the very least, I want to try.

I want to learn about our options, see how others have done it, and what issues and challenges there are for us as we embark on this. In other words, this effort will give us the information we need to make an educated decision, even if that decision is status quo.

We are already partnering with Oak Creek on IT services for 2017, and hopefully beyond.

I look forward to exploring more ways we can work with other communities to make all of us stronger. We have to.

The substance abuse problem in this country, state, region, county and even city is real … and we think education is one of the ways we’ll solve it.

A program planned for January 23 at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is a great step. Mark your calendars!

I thank all of the planning partners — the South Milwaukee Unite Against Drug Abuse Coalition — for their work on this event. It will make a difference, starting with me.

As the parent of two young children, I look forward to learning more about substance abuse, and sharing that information in the community. I encourage you to do the same.

We will only solve this by working together. It starts now.

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• Simuncak Dazzled in Unique Role for South Milwaukee (NOW)
• Caterpillar Confirms New Round of Layoffs Wednesday (Peoria Journal-Star)
• Fire at Cudahy Condo Complex Leaves 5 Homeless (Fox 6)
• St. Francis Man Accused of Child Enticement in Cudahy (Fox 6)
• Can You Help Cudahy Police ID Suspect Who Burglarized JC’s Blue Collar Pub (Fox 6)
• Pizza Man Opens This Weekend in Oak Creek (OnMilwaukee.com)
• Apartment Developer Seeks St. Francis Funds (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.

The South Milwaukee Community & Business Association has a pretty amazing post on their Facebook page that I wanted to share here …

Can we just talk about how cool #SoMKE is for a sec?

According to the polls on Milwaukee A-List, in our membership alone, South Milwaukee hosts EIGHT of Milwaukee’s top dogs.

• Parkway Floral ranked 2nd best wedding flowers
• Jen’s Sweet Treats ranked 2nd best bakery
• Ninth Ave Autobody ranked 2nd best body shop
• South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center ranked 3rd best theater
• Emerald City Catering and Events ranked 3rd best caterer
• Pink Bunny Games ranked 7th best place for kids activities
• Sorce Martial Arts ranked 9th best martial arts studio
• Barbiere’s Italian Inn South Milwaukee ranked 10th best wine

Check these A-listers out @ www.visitSM.org.

I’m excited to announce the We Energies Foundation has awarded the South Milwaukee Police Department a $10,000 grant to support our student bike safety program.

The pledge – $2,500 per year over four years – will help fund Basics of Safe Bicycling, which has educated more than 5,600 local third-graders since its inception more than 30 years ago, providing a state-approved bicycle safety curriculum that gives kids the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe on the road heading into the summer riding season.

Activities are held during the normal school day at each of our local schools, public and private. This includes students riding bicycles, provided by the police, through several practical exercises designed to reinforce basic lessons and traffic safety rules taught in the classroom by the teachers. The program also emphasizes helmet usage. Students write essays on what they have learned and participate in other fun activities to reinforce the safety theme.

The program has unique and inspiring history. More than 30 years ago, SMPD Officer John Stoll developed the Bike Rodeo program, which allowed kids to come to the “rodeo” on their own bicycles and participate in bike safety events at the department. Officer Stoll was tragically killed in the line of duty in 1987.

In 2002, the current program started, and it grew to include all third graders, and officers brought it into the schools. The department used money from the John Stoll Memorial Fund, along with money from community sponsors, to help fund its revival. A separate grant funded the purchase 30 BMX-style bikes and a trailer to house them. Officers now bring bikes to each school to ensure everyone can participate in the program.

Three officers staff the program, and it takes about five hours to complete each one. That cost adds up – we spend more than $10,000 from the department operating budget on the bicycle safety program each year. Most of those costs are overtime costs.

The We Energies Foundation funds will help defray those costs.

Despite its clear benefits, in an era of increasingly tight budgets for municipalities, it is getting harder and harder to fund this program. That is why we sought support from the We Energies Foundation – and are so happy they stepped up to help sustain this program.

The foundation’s mission is to create brighter futures for the communities in which you do business. This donation brings that mission to life.

Police are the good guys. They are here to help. And it is programs like this that teach those lessons to our children, building stronger and safer communities along the way.

Thanks, We Energies Foundation, for standing behind that.

I also want to thank the Rawson Elementary students who submitted essays about what they learned from the bike safety program. Well done, kids!

With our first significant storm of the season winding down, here is a reminder of the responsibilities of property owners around clearing snow from public walkways.

From Chapter 12 of the municipal code …

12.20 REMOVAL OF SNOW AND ICE ON SIDEWALKS. It shall be the duty of every property owner of each and every parcel of real estate abutting on or bordering upon any street, avenue or highway or other public place to remove or cause to be removed all snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of or adjacent to such premises to the full-paved width of such sidewalks within 24 hours after such snow or ice shall have fallen or accumulated thereon. Determination of the ending of such twenty-four hour period shall be made by the Police Department. Rep. & Recr. 01/02/85, 1284, Rep. & Recr. 2/2/16, 2121 12.21

USE OF SAND OR SALT ON SIDEWALKS. In case the snow and ice on the sidewalk shall be frozen so hard that it cannot be removed without damage to the sidewalk, the owner of every parcel of real estate shall, within the time specified in the preceding section, ensure the safe traversing of the sidewalk abutting or adjacent to such premises by applying an abrasive material such as sand or salt and as soon thereafter as the weather shall permit, thoroughly clean such sidewalk. Rep. & Recr. 2/2/16, 2121

And if you don’t do this?

12.26 CITY MAY REMOVE SNOW. Whenever any property owner shall fail or neglect to remove snow and/or ice from any public sidewalk or roof as provided in this chapter, the Street Superintendent may without notice to the property owner, have the ice and/or snow removed. The fee for the City removing the snow and ice shall be set by the Common Council and included in the City’s Administrative Fee Schedule. The Street Superintendent shall keep an accurate account of the occurrences of the City clearing the snow and ice in all cases where property owners of abutting lots fail to do so and report the same to the City Clerk who shall prepare at least annually invoices for the affected property owners. If the property owner fails to pay the invoice, the amount therein charged to each lot or parcel of land shall be entered in the tax roll as a special charge against said lot or parcel of land and the same shall be collected in all respects like other taxes upon real estate. The imposition and collection of any fine or penalty prescribed for violation of Section 12.20 and 12.26 inclusive of the South Milwaukee code shall not bar the right of the City to collect the cost of the removal and cleaning of snow and ice from the sidewalk as herein provided. Repl. & Recr. 2/2/16, 2121

See the entire code chapter here. There are also rules around use of sand and salt; throwing snow on railroad tracks or into city streets; and removal of snow from roofs, canopies and awnings. Report violators to the South Milwaukee Police Department, non-emergency line, at 414-768-8060.

One addendum to the “giving back list” I published the other day …

The Brooks family is continuing a holiday tradition started four years ago.

We’re taking the kids shopping for toys, games, etc. in the next couple weeks and then delivering those Christmas gifts to three local homeless/domestic violence shelters on Christmas Eve: Hope House, Milwaukee Women’s Center and the Salvation Army Emergency Lodge. We’ll also donate toys to South Milwaukee Human Concerns before the holidays.

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.

Already, Thrivent Financial has stepped up with a $250 grant for this effort, which we’ll use to buy dozens of toys for kids. Anything you can provide is appreciated.

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.

South Milwaukeeans always step up to help those in need — and that’s especially the case around Christmas.

Don’t know where to start? Here are some opportunities to give back.

• I always start with Human Concerns, and they are serving more people than ever. I’m told they can especially use food, kids’ clothes and toys this time of year, but please consider giving money, too. I know they can use it not only during the holiday season, but all year long. And why not give your time?
• Interfaith is a great organization aimed at serving our seniors that just happens to be based locally at my church. Their mission: “help older adults in the neighborhood remain living in their own homes in a safe and dignified manner.”
• “We serve.” That’s our motto as South Milwaukee Lions. They can use your support throughout the year, financial and in man and woman power, to in turn give back to local organizations in need. The impact they have is real.
• The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field — serving five cities, including South Milwaukee — and Bay View — is also doing some great things, from serving Thanksgiving dinners to needy families to providing college scholarships to high school seniors, and much, much more.
• South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Support the terrific performing arts in South Milwaukee!
• Want to support classroom and other projects in our terrific local schools? Start with South Milwaukee Legacy.
• Get behind local athletes by donating to the local sports booster clubs, or give the gift of music by donating to help the South Milwaukee Music Parents and various needs in the school’s Music Department.
• Or maybe help one of the groups supporting our terrific green spaces: Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse, Friends of Grant Park or Restore the Lagoon. And how about the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network? They are the nonprofit leading the public information efforts for the ongoing Oak Creek watershed restoration study.
• Help the South Milwaukee Historical Society preserve our proud past, for our promising future.
• Maybe you’d like to donate to the Andrew Wszelaki Memorial Foundation, which honors the legacy of Andrew by sponsoring wishes of children who have life-threatening conditions and providing scholarships to students.
• Our businesses are getting involved too. For example, Jen’s Sweet Treats is looking for volunteers for a Community Christmas Dinner at Cudahy United Methodist Church on Dec. 25 (and to help wrap gifts on Dec. 19).

Did I miss any? I’m sure I did. Send your favorite local charities along, and I’ll add them!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• Aurora QuickCare Clinics Moving into Eight Walgreens (Business Journal)
• Recount Enters Day Five with no Significant Issues (WDJT)
• Power Outages Affect Thousands in Milwaukee Area (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Froedtert Oak Creek Health Center Takes Shape (Journal Sentinel)
• Value Cinema in Oak Creek Being Sold to Church (NOW)
• Oak Creek Set to Create New TIF District at Lake Vista (NOW)
• Retail Development Planned Along I-94 Across from Ikea Site in Oak Creek (Business Journal)
• Caterpillar CEO Likes Trump’s Business Focus, but not Anti-trade ‘Rhetoric’ (Chicago Tribune)

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.