by | December 6, 2012 · 5:47 pm

Jursik Criticizes Ryan Rally, Sullivan Accused Of Conflict Of Interest And Other Headlines

Check out these headlines from around the South Shore …

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by | December 5, 2012 · 10:02 pm

Dredging Up Positive Memories: Debating The Future Of The South Milwaukee Mill Pond

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a story on the effort of former Alderwoman Mary Nelson — and many others — to “Restore the Magic” of South Milwaukee’s Oak Creek Mill Pond.

Check it out here. Among the new information in the article …

Cost of dredging the pond and disposing of the sediment starts at $830,400 and climbs as high as $1.5 million, according to preliminary estimates from the county’s Department of Administrative Services and released by Jursik. She represents the 8th supervisory district, encompassing St. Francis, South Milwaukee, Cudahy and a portion of Oak Creek.

State and federal grants could help pay part of the dredging costs, she said. …

The state Department of Natural Resources last week ordered Milwaukee County to complete some long-neglected dam maintenance and hire an engineer to evaluate the structure by June 2014.

The dam is made of dolomite stone blocks and it stands 18 feet tall in a ravine at Mill Road, according to DNR water management engineer Tanya Lourigan in Milwaukee. Water from the shallow pond spills over the top of the 35-foot-wide stone wall.

On Oct. 26 and Nov. 19, Lourigan inspected the dam and earthen embankments on each end.

An engineering analysis of the wall is needed since stones are missing on each end of the dam where it meets the embankment, Lourigan said in a Nov. 27 report to the county Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture.

Among the maintenance to be completed by June 2014: remove all trees and brush, including stumps, from the embankments and fill in holes; and repair an inoperable sluice gate needed to raise or lower water levels on the pond. A valve controlling the gate must be tested annually in the future to ensure it will work in an emergency, such as creek flooding, or for dam repairs, Lourigan says in the report.

She rated the condition of the dam as “conditionally fair” because of the extensive tree growth on the embankments, deterioration of the masonry wall and inoperable valve.

Where do I stand on this? My previous post on the petition effort sums up my position.

I feel strongly about this issue. I hate to see the Mill Pond and its surroundings in the state they are in. They could be so much more, and they have been so much more in the past.

We need a path to making the Mill Pond a recreational treasure for South Milwaukee once again, a community gathering place. That’s why I am 100% behind all of the work being done by Pat Jursik, Mary Nelson and others to find a solution here — one that involves the city, county, Friends groups and other parties. It’s complicated, and likely costly, but I think an investment in the Mill Pond is a good one — and one that is long overdue.

What do you think? Post your comments below!

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by | December 5, 2012 · 4:53 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Donn Powers Jeweler

In the market for jewelry this Christmas? You have lots of choices.

I encourage you to choose local.

From diamonds to colored stones, watches to chains, charm bracelets to decorative handbags, Donn Powers Jeweler is a full-service jeweler, and more. He’s also a master watchmaker, and he does repairs on-premise.

And by “he,” I do mean “he.” One thing I love about Donn Powers — unlike the mall big guys and others — is that there’s a good chance you’ll find Donn at the store greeting customers or working behind the scenes, if he’s not in Belgium picking out diamonds, that is.

This downtown anchor business says it best on their website …

This is where dreams become reality.  Here at Donn Powers Jeweler, we have been making dreams come true for over 30 years and we pride ourselves on knowledge and customer service. 

If you are in need of a repair, or would like something custom designed, you have come to the right place. We work with you to make sure you receive exactly what you want. You are the architect, we are the contractor.

Trust this contractor to deliver a great experience.

Donn Powers Jeweler

  • Location: 2110 10th Ave.
  • Phone: 762-2106
  • On the web: http://www.donnpowersjeweler.com/

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by | December 4, 2012 · 10:18 pm

South Milwaukee Council Weighs In On Two Multi-Family Housing Developments

The future of two multi-family housing developments got a bit clearer Tuesday night, as the South Milwaukee City Council weighed in on a 36-unit building proposed for 10th and Madison Avenues and a 24-unit townhouse development proposed for 9th and Menomonee.

Here is where we netted out on the two developments, both of which were planned for city-owned land in our tax incremental financing districts.

  • 10th and Madison. The City Council voted 8-0 to reject the project. It was a tough choice, but I voted no for several reasons. Most significantly, I was uncomfortable with the prospect of providing up to $635,000 in city financing — in the form of a $380,000 interest-free loan and $235,000 in additional tax incremental financing assistance — to Horizon Development, which had called for 83% of the 36 units to be affordable, available to working people at certain income levels or the disabled. The others would be rented at market rates. I was also hesitant to not take the recommendation of our Plan Commission, which weighed in strongly against the development at its meeting last week over a variety of issues, from density to parking to lack of green space.
  • 9th and Menomonee. The City Council voted 8-0 to refer this project, called The Mosaic, to the Plan Commission. This is a $5 million project proposed by the Vanguard Group and planned for the former home of the Lawson Airplane Company and the Continental Faience and Tile Company, just north of the Heritage Reserve condominiums. Half of town homes would be deemed affordable, while the other units would be at market rates. Vanguard is seeing $1 million in city TIF assistance — after removing the estimated $400,000 purchase price they would pay the city.

I’ll keep you posted on The Mosaic, which, like the Madison development, is also seeking funding from Milwaukee County and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

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by | December 4, 2012 · 9:39 pm

Honadel Again Named Committee Chairman And Other South Shore Headlines

Rep. Mark Honadel has been named chairman of the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities for the second straight session.

See the press release and Oak Creek Patch coverage.

And check out these South Shore headlines …

And Oak Creek Patch has an item on Saturday’s Holiday Stroll at Oak Creek’s Market Place Village. Stop there after you go to the South Milwaukee Christmas Market.

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by | December 4, 2012 · 5:07 pm

County Board Chairwoman Dimitrijevic To Hold South Milwaukee Listening Session

Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic is getting closer to her goal of holding a listening session in every county municipality … and her South Milwaukee stop is coming up soon.

Dimitrijevic will stop at the Grobschmidt Senior Center from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Learn more here … and welcome to South Milwaukee, Supervisor Dimitrijevic!

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by | December 3, 2012 · 9:15 pm

Good In-Depth Piece On Larson’s Ascendence And Other Headlines

Update: More details on South Milwaukee’s supporting role in fighting last week’s West Allis funeral home fire, from Acting Chief Joe Knitter: “As part of their MABAS Box Alarm response, we sent a fire engine to stand by at their station on 71st and National Avenue but never made it to the scene.  Our crew remained available for other responses, of which there were none, and were released within an hour.”

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, the South Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the West Allis funeral home fire last week.

And NOW has published a new police blotter, including this item from South Milwaukee …

A resident of the 1300 block of James Circle reported seeing a man in a camouflage jacket pointing what appeared to be a handgun at houses about 2:20 p.m. Nov. 28. Officers found a man in the area wearing such a jacket; he had a hawk on his arm. He had a device with a pistol-style grip that is a telemetry unit to track his hawk, which has sensor devices on it. The man had his hawk out hunting and was just trying to get it back when the resident saw him. He was advised to find a more rural area for this activity.

And this disturbing item from Cudahy …

A 47-year-old Shawano woman and a 52-year-old Cudahy woman were arrested for child neglect Nov. 23. The Shawano woman was responsible for caring for her 3-year-old granddaughter while her daughter was in the hospital. Just before 1 p.m., the 3-year-old rang a doorbell in the 5600 block of South Swift Avenue, and asked the residents if they could take her home. The residents saw she was accompanied by the Cudahy woman, who they said appeared to be drunk and at one point fell onto the child. They called police and the woman took the child and left. Officers found the child in a car with two strangers, pulled over on the side of the road. The motorists said the little girl flagged them down and was cold and inappropriately dressed for the weather, as well as scared and wanting to go home. The grandmother told officers she had fallen asleep on the couch with the girl on her lap the night before, and that when she woke up at 7 a.m. the child was gone. When officers went to the home the grandmother was staying, they found her 52-year-old Shawano boyfriend in another room with marijuana. He was arrested for drug possession.

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by | December 2, 2012 · 10:45 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Local Chains (Especially Ace Hardware)

Shopping local is about more than shopping at independent retailers. Chains can be part of your holiday plans, too.

In South Milwaukee, my favorite is Ace Hardware. “The helpful place” is always just that — helpful, and I find their prices reasonable.

Could I save a few bucks by going to one of the big guys on 27th Street? Occasionally. Can I get a better selection? Perhaps on some items. But when you factor in convenience and the friendliness and expertise of the people working the floor — someone is always there to help you through a project, often an owner — Ace is more often than not a huge bargain.

The Brooks family also shops from time to time at Pick ‘n Save, Aldi, Walgreens, Dollar General and others, not to mention any number of chains in Oak Creek, and they are all fine stores. But Ace is my favorite.

Ace Hardware

  • Location: 1009 Marquette Ave.
  • Phone: 762-8250
  • On the web: click here.

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by | December 2, 2012 · 5:03 pm

Calling Out An Innovative Education Solution

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a great story on the Connects Learning Center, an innovative partnership between the South Milwaukee, Cudahy and Oak Creek-Franklin school districts aimed at helping struggling students.

Learn more about the charter school here. From the article:

Connects is a charter school run by multiple districts that work together to provide a cost-efficient alternative path for students.

Last year, Kazmierski and a few other students commuted to Connects from Franklin High School; others came from Cudahy, South Milwaukee and Oak Creek-Franklin school districts.

Three of those districts – Cudahy, South Milwaukee and Oak Creek-Franklin – share responsibility for running Connects and a fourth – Franklin – pays for student seats.

The districts say it’s a successful example of offering services better by acting together than by going it alone.

Students say Connects helps them accelerate their path to graduation and improve their chances of success.

“You work at your own pace,” Kazmierski explained. “You don’t have to move with 30 other kids, and if you don’t understand something you can still stay on that same topic and work with the teachers here.”

And check out my previous post on Connects here.

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by | December 2, 2012 · 5:03 pm

Winter Hours For Self Deposit Station

From the city website …

December 1 through March 31, the Self Deposit station at 1108 Blake Avenue will be open winter hours.  The hours are Tuesday AND Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and  Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Closed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Learn more about station dos and dont’s here.

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by | November 30, 2012 · 11:05 pm

Why I’m Running For A Third Term

I’m seeking a third term as Fourth District alderman, and I humbly ask for your support.

Why? Because there is so much work left to do … and I am as energized as ever to do it.

  • I am proud of what we’ve done to help keep taxes and spending increases low, supporting sensible and conservative budgets each of my three-plus years in office. But budgeting won’t get any easier in coming years. And I look forward to doing what I can to preserve our first-class city services while being a trusted steward of taxpayer dollars.
  • I am proud of the investments we’ve made in our infrastructure, including significant investments in flood-control and road projects in the Fourth District. But there’s more work to do and more investments to make. And I’ll support those efforts.
  • I am proud of what I’ve done to spur downtown development, especially through the South Milwaukee Downtown Market. But we have a long ways to go in bringing new life back to our city center. And I want to be part of that solution.
  • I am proud of what I’ve done to improve resident communications, especially through the launch and growth of South Milwaukee Blog and my support of the redesign of the city’s new website. But we can do better. And I am as committed as ever to making that happen.
  • I am proud of the day-to-day constituent support I provide, helping residents get solutions for their problems and standing up for their needs at City Hall. But those needs are always there. And I look forward to doing my part.

So we’ve made progress. But we need to push harder, to continue to embrace positive change and position South Milwaukee for success in the years ahead. We can’t stand still. We must embrace new ideas and new approaches, now more than ever.

That’s why I’m running for alderman next April. And I thank you for your support.

Learn more on my campaign website at brooks4alderman.com and from my flyer … and let me know if you’re interested in helping with the campaign. Anything you can do — especially your vote — is appreciated.

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by | November 30, 2012 · 9:20 pm

Reminder: Winter Parking Restrictions Start This Weekend

So, what does that mean? Here is information from the South Milwaukee Police Department’s website …

During the period from December 1st to March 31st, no person shall park a vehicle on any street in the City of South Milwaukee between the hours of 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

However, vehicles may be parked during such hours if a permit is obtained from the Police Department after the filing of an application and the payment of $25.00 per month permit fee, $22.00 if obtained after the 15th of the month, or $80.00 for a 4-month permit.

Keep in mind the new “Holiday Permit” this year which runs from Dec. 15th  to January 15th….this is for college students or extended family visits (more than 7 days) over the holidays.  They are $25.00.

Any vehicle parked (with a permit) shall only be permitted to park on the EVEN numbered side of the street on those nights whose calendar date before midnight is even (N and W sides of the street are even).

Here is the city ordinance. See Chapter 28-10.

In other words, if you want to park overnight on city streets between now and March 31, get a permit. And, once you do get that permit, remember the alternate parking restrictions.

You can buy a permit at the South Milwaukee Police Department. Learn more here.

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by | November 30, 2012 · 6:04 pm

12 Days Of South Milwaukee Christmas: Sports Collectibles On Milwaukee Avenue

Some swear by Jimmie Johnson. Others love Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin. Tony Stewart has his share of fans.

We’re a Brad Keselowski house.

As an employee at MillerCoors, I guess I better root for Brad, and our family sure does. My 8-year-old is his biggest fan, which makes Brad’s 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship — clinched earlier this month — so sweet.

I say this because there is a unique business in South Milwaukee that allows us to celebrate our love of NASCAR (and Brad) every day. It’s Green Flag Racing, and it’s a really cool NASCAR collectibles store at 1218 Milwaukee Ave. downtown.

Diecast cars, clothing, signage and more … the store has everything for the NASCAR fan, no matter who you root for.

Then, when you’re done at Green Flag Racing, walk a few blocks and stop at Hometown Sports Cards, 916 Milwaukee Ave. I stopped by this new store recently and was impressed with its selection of sports cards and other collectibles. It’s worth a visit if you have a sports fan on your list.

Green Flag Racing

  • Location: 1218 Milwaukee Ave.
  • Phone: 764-6848

Hometown Sports Cards

  • Location: 916 Milwaukee Ave.
  • Phone: 394-5478
  • On the web: http://www.hometownsportscards.net/

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by | November 30, 2012 · 5:42 pm

Report: Prime Table Reopens

“The restaurant was shut down Tuesday after a customer complained of a cockroach in the food. The Health Department suspended the restaurant’s license and performed inspections all week,” according to this story from WISN.

Apparently, those inspections came back clean.

Still, ick.

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by | November 29, 2012 · 8:51 pm

Charges In South Milwaukee’s Summer Break-Ins

A 36-year-old South Milwaukee man suspected in local break-ins this summer pleaded guilty to several felonies this week.

Leonard Caruso, 401 Nicholson Ave., will be sentenced in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Jan. 4.

Caruso was charged with seven cases of felony burglary, six in Milwaukee County, according to online court records. He was convicted of three counts after his guilty plea, with the others being “read in.”

It’s unclear which counts he pleaded guilty to and which he didn’t.

But several of the charges stemmed from these South Milwaukee cases, police told me.

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