Learn more about the candidates for Milwaukee County Board and Cudahy mayor.
Thanks to the South Shore Chamber of Commerce for holding this event, and to the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center for hosting it.
Candidate Forum Set for March 24
Filed under 2016 Elections, Cudahy, Milwaukee County, South Milwaukee
School District Plans Prescribed Prairie Burn
The South Milwaukee School District is planning a prescribed burn for the prairie grass around its high school and middle school campuses later this month.
Applied Ecological Services will do the burn, weather permitting, March 28-April 1.
Check out the school district letter here.
And here is more information on the schools’ prairie, and images from the previous burn (including a few shown in this post). This is a story about the benefits of prescribed burns.
Filed under Fire, Schools, South Milwaukee
Headlines: Car Chase Ends with Crash, Puppies Thrown Away and More
One person was hurt following an Oak Creek Police chase that ended in a crash Monday in South Milwaukee.
Check out CBS 58 coverage here, and these other headlines …
- Newborn Puppies Found in Trash Can in South Milwaukee (CBS 58)
- St. Francis Brewing Co. Made Nearly $230,000 at Humboldt Park Beer Garden in 2015 (BizTimes.com)
- Oak Creek Police: 25-Year-Old Man in Cudahy After “Shots Fired” Call Near 13th and College (Fox 6)
- Renowned Painter Patrick Farrell Was Self-Made Man, Self-Taught Artist (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.
Filed under South Milwaukee
Important Work Ahead: Kicking off the Watershed Plan
The work to restore the Oak Creek watershed begins now. April 12, to be exact.
That’s when the kickoff meeting for the Oak Creek Watershed Restoration Plan has been scheduled. It will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at South Milwaukee City Hall.
The public is welcome to attend the meeting — the first of at least six of these “stakeholder” meetings throughout this potential two two-and-a-half year process.
Your participation and input are welcomed to ensure this plan considers a range of perspectives, as the stakeholder group will assist Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission staff in development of the plan.
As I’ve written about numerous times, this is vital work for the long-term health of the watershed, and I’m proud to have helped drive it. According to SEWRPC …
The watershed restoration plan will provide a guide for addressing the water quality impairments that have been identified in the watershed, and it will include specific, targeted recommendations to address a set of focus issues related to conditions within the watershed.
The Oak Creek plan is designed to maximize funding opportunities for plan implementation by addressing the nine elements of a watershed-based plan as identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
The following four major focus areas are being addressed by the watershed restoration plan:
- Water quality,
- Recreational access and use,
- Habitat conditions, and
- Targeted stormwater drainage and flooding issues.
In addition, the status of the Mill Pond and the associated dam located on Milwaukee County parkland within the City of South Milwaukee are being addressed considering their relationship to multiple focus issues.
SEWRPC has created a web page with more information on the project. Check it out.
Funding is coming from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Milwaukee County, the City of South Milwaukee and grant sources. In fact, the Fund for Lake Michigan announced just last week that it had awarded $25,000 for the effort.
So, lots of good momentum here. I can’t wait to get started. Nor can the watershed.
Filed under South Milwaukee
Sweet News for Downtown South Milwaukee
When it comes to the future of our downtown, to me, it’s all about sustainable small business. That’s why I’m so excited to share this sweet news …
Jen’s Sweet Treats is opening a second retail location at 907A Milwaukee Ave., starting May 1.
They will sell cupcakes, cookies, donuts, cakes, and other treats from the South Milwaukee store, while continuing to bake at their Cudahy location, 4745 S. Packard Ave.
This is a great addition to our city center, and joins Grillworks — the new restaurant opening at the former Grebe’s and Nona’s in April, I’m told — as two new local eating options.
Jennifer Clark opened Jen’s Sweet Treats, a family business in every since of the word, in 2014. A year later, the store was named the South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Cudahy Business of the Year.
One reason why: its commitment to doing business the right way. The store gives back in so many ways, and you get a good sense of it from their Facebook page.
Here is a message from Jennifer …
We are excited to bring all that we do to South Milwaukee. We are looking forward to not only providing amazing sweet treats but continuing our “give back attitude” in our new neighborhood! South Milwaukee here we come!
And we’re excited to have you. Welcome to South Milwaukee!
Learn more on their website. The photos are from the store’s Facebook page.
Filed under Cudahy, Downtown, South Milwaukee
Traffic Alert: Marquette Avenue (Highway 32) Closure Looming
This will cause some headaches, to be sure.
The city has been informed that Marquette Avenue will be closed between 10th and 12th Avenues starting Wednesday, March 16, for a Union Pacific Railroad bridge rehabilitation project. The closure is estimated to last into May.
Traffic will be detoured on to 12th and Milwaukee Avenues during construction.
If this is your normal route of travel, please plan on an alternate route. This is obviously a major route through the city, and we thank you ahead of time for your patience.
I will keep you posted during this project.
Filed under Construction, South Milwaukee
Do Your Part! Earth Day Cleanup Set for April 30
A previous version of this post had the incorrect date. The event is April 30.
This event keeps getting bigger every year, and I love it. Organize your groups, round up your family and friends, and we will see you there!
Filed under Comprehensive Plan, Events, South Milwaukee
On Crossing Guards
You may have seen that the South Milwaukee City Council voted last week to enter into a contract with a firm to handle school crossing guard duties.
I agree with that decision.
In working with Twin City Security Inc., we are joining communities like Cudahy, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Waukesha and Shorewood who have decided that the best way to deliver this service is by partnering with a third-party firm to do it.
For South Milwaukee, it was a difficult choice, but the right one as we continue to look for more efficient ways to deliver our services.
There are seven school crossing guards in all, and, until the new contract, all were hired and managed by the South Milwaukee Police Department. The city funds four of them. The school pays the city back for the services of the other three. Going forward, Twin City will supply the guards, removing the burden of managing the program from the police department.
The SMPD has long managed to do more with less. The numbers don’t lie — on a per-resident basis, we have the smallest department in the area. And we must manage those resources closely, ensuring the department is delivering on its core responsibilities in every way possible. Managing the crossing guard program took away from that.
Day-to-day oversight of the program — from hiring to firing to payroll to dealing with absences and the like — has proven more and more time-consuming. The program literally has taken patrol officers of the street; at times, officers have had to man crossing guard stations to fill in for guards away from work. That is not acceptable to me.
No one is saying crossing guards are unimportant. However, when balanced with the other duties our police department performs, we feel this is the right move, especially with contracted program costs being similar to our internal costs.
I want to thank all of our guards for their service.
I know some have become local institutions, and we are honoring one of them — Helga Allen, stationed near E.W. Luther for many years — during our police awards ceremony at our May 17 council meeting.
All have also been offered a chance to apply at Twin City, and I hope they do.
Filed under City Council, City Services, Police, Schools, South Milwaukee
Headlines!
Check out these South Shore headlines …
- Cudahy Burger Joint: New Restaurant Where the Burger is King (Fox 6)
- Chick-fil-A to Open This Week in Oak Creek and Racine (CBS 58)
- Oak Creek Police Chase Ends in Crash (WISN)
- Fire Damages Home in Cudahy (WISN)
- REV Group Moving Headquarters to Milwaukee Center (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Filed under Headlines, South Milwaukee
Celebrating Interfaith
Interfaith’s South Shore Regional Neighborhood Outreach Program does so much good for so many people — more than ever, in fact. But don’t take my word for it.
I just received their annual report. Look at the numbers …
- The number of clients receiving services increased by 40% from the previous year.
- 111 new clients were welcomed.
- 41 new volunteers were recruited and trained.
- 910 more rides were provided than last year, a 21% increase.
- 897 more cards, food and gifts were delivered than last year, a 58% increase.
- 107 more in-person or telephone visits were made than last year, a 7% increase.
South Shore Regional has more than 900 clients in southeast Milwaukee County. We serve older adults in Bay View, St. Francis, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek and southeast parts of Milwaukee.
- 78% of our clients are female.
- 56% of our clients live alone.
- 41% of our clients are 85 years of age or older.
- 61% of our clients have annual household income of less than $15,000.
Services Provided: In 2015, our volunteers put in nearly 14,000 hours of service for older adults in our community. With the generosity of our volunteers, we were able to provide:
- 5,233 rides to medical appointments, shopping and errands;
- 2,456 greeting cards, food and gifts to our clients;
- 1,668 in-person or telephone visits; and
- 518 trips to the grocery store for clients.
Download the entire annual report here. And thanks to this terrific South Milwaukee-based organization and all of its volunteers for making a real difference in our community.
Here is their website. Like them on Facebook, and get on their mailing list.
And here is how you can help …
- Give: Making a financial donation to South Shore Regional allows us to continue our program of providing rides and support to our clients, free of charge. We are committed to growing to meet the increasing needs of our older adults.
- Stamp Out Loneliness: South Shore Regional sends out hundreds of Birthday, Christmas and other greeting cards every year, letting our clients know that someone cares. Consider contributing stamps or making a donation for us to buy stamps.
- Volunteer: The beauty of our program is that we work with the volunteer’s schedule. We have openings for drivers, grocery shoppers, friendly visitors and more! Call us now to get more information and sign up – 414-762-1998.
Filed under South Milwaukee
Spring Market Set For Palm Sunday
The second indoor farmers’ market is almost here, and note the new date and time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Palm Sunday. See you there!
Stay on top of all market news on their Facebook page.
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, South Milwaukee Farmers' Market
Capital Plan: Putting Dollars Behind Our Priorities For A Promising Future
Our biennial capital plan is much more than numbers on a sheet of paper. It’s a chance to show real commitment to investing in priorities for future growth.
The borrowing approved by the South Milwaukee City Council Tuesday night is no different.
The council voted unanimously to borrow more than $7.9 million for a variety of projects ranging from road repairs and equipment purchases to energy efficiency and downtown revitalization. Among the items where money has been earmarked the next two years:
- More than $2.5 million for road and other engineering projects, including $450,000 to be put toward the nearly $1 million cost to completely rebuild — roadway and utilities — the stretch of Chicago Avenue from north of the Oak Creek bridge to Pine Street. Work is expected to take place this summer.
- Almost $2.5 million for various water, wastewater and stormwater utility projects, as we continue to upgrade our aging underground infrastructure;
- Up to $340,000 for the purchase of LED lighting for municipal buildings, and for a pilot program in partnership with We Energies to use LEDs in select streetlights across the city — a significant investment in energy efficiency that has the potential to yield big savings over time;
- $250,000 for Milwaukee Avenue streetscaping, allowing us to hit the ground running with a significant investment in our city center once our downtown plan in delivered in coming months;
- $150,000 for the next round of fiber optic connectivity;
- $75,000 for urban forestry — money that we’ll use to invest in tree replanting efforts and the start of our long-range tree planting program; and
- $70,000 for rebranding work, as we look to partner with an outside agency to develop a new visual identity for South Milwaukee — and then look to bring that identity to life through opportunities like websites, new street signage and more.
It’s worth noting that each of the projects contemplated in the borrowing will still need council approval, but passage of this plan is significant because it funds them. Without borrowing the money now, it would be another two years before we could even think about undertaking some of this important work. And we don’t have time to wait.
Of course, we’re doing this responsibly.
At the same time we’re borrowing these funds, we’re retiring another approximately $6 million in debt. And we’re getting this money cheaply — our strong Aa2 bond rating, the result of years of sound financial management and responsible budgeting, allows us access to very low interest rates (just over 2% on a 10-year note in this case).
As always, we will spend this money wisely, and make key investments in better days ahead. That starts now.
Filed under City Council, South Milwaukee
Saying Farewell To A Community Servant: City Attorney To Retire
South Milwaukee is blessed to have many people who have dedicated their lives to serving their community. No one fits that description more than Joseph Murphy.
That’s why it was sad, albeit not surprising, to hear that Joe is retiring after serving more than 34 years as South Milwaukee city attorney. The Common Council accepted his retirement letter, effective May 31, on Tuesday.
Joe leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, hard work, dedication and wisdom — and a commitment to doing what’s right. He was a trusted adviser for me, and I will miss his counsel and guidance on issues big and small.
The Murphy family legacy is even greater. Joe’s mother was among the founders of Human Concerns, and I can’t think of a better example of the family’s desire to make South Milwaukee a better place for all people.
Now, we begin the search for Joe’s successor. We will start by exploring hiring a firm to perform these services, and I’ll keep you posted as we move forward.
You will recall that the city attorney position is no longer elected. The council made that job, and those of the city clerk and treasurer, appointed, effective in 2017, although we accelerated that date last year, when Joe informed us he was moving out of South Milwaukee. Then came word of his pending retirement over the weekend.
I wish Joe nothing but the best, and I can’t think of a better message than this: Thank you.
Filed under City Council, South Milwaukee
Snow Removal Reminder
While Tuesday’s snow wasn’t as much as expected, property owners still have a responsibility to clear 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
Report violators to the South Milwaukee Police Department, non-emergency line, at 414-768-8060.
Filed under South Milwaukee
Man Pronounced Dead At Scene Of Car Crash
From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …
At approx. 1:50 this afternoon (Tuesday), SMFD rec’d notification from SMPD Dispatch of a car that struck a building in the 3600 blk. of South Chicago Avenue at the Lakeshore Medical Clinic. SMPD officers arrived on scene first, broke out a window to gain access and pulled the unresponsive male driver from the vehicle. As evidenced from the (picture), the vehicle did not strike the building and, in fact, missed several objects including a for sale sign, a fire hydrant, and a row of bushes before coming to rest near the clinic on the side of the small hill. SMFD arrived on scene, moved the patient into the clinic and began advanced life support resuscitation efforts. Unfortunately, the patient was pulseless and non-breathing nearly the entire time, only gaining a pulse for brief periods before the Doctor at Medical Control ceased resuscitation efforts. The driver was pronounced deceased on the scene. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office was contacted and the patient was transported to their location.
Please keep this man’s family in your prayers.
Filed under South Milwaukee
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