by | August 20, 2012 · 8:46 pm

More On The South Milwaukee Fish Kill: “We May Never Know The Cause”

I’ve been in further contact with the DNR on last week’s Oak Creek fish kill in South Milwaukee, and I want to thank state biologist Will Wawrzyn for his continued help in providing information on the situation.

Here are his last two emails to me …

I am certain of one conclusion, the event was not caused by excessive heat or low flow conditions that the region experienced earlier this summer and contributed to fish kills throughout the state. …

There are some naturally occurring substances that may cause fish kills, most notably 4 relatively common algae species. However, these potentially toxic algae most often occur in eutrophic ponds, lakes and impoundments.

http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/bluegreenalgae/

They are often visibly present as green surface scum or along wind-blown shorelines. These conditions were not observed along Oak Creek.  Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is a recent infectious disease that can be fatal to fish.

http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/vhs/

None of the fish I inspected displayed any of the symptoms of VHS.

At this point, unless sample results show some definitive killing agent or we receive information from another source about an illicit discharge, we may never know the cause.

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | August 19, 2012 · 9:53 pm

Tommy Or Tammy: Who Gets Your Vote?

I just posted a new poll on the right side of this page.

Vote! And post your comments below.

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by | August 18, 2012 · 9:07 am

Debating The Budget: Key Dates Announced

The 2013 budget promises to be another difficult one, but residents will have plenty of opportunity to weigh in on the document in coming months.

Here is the just-published list of key dates for the 2013 budget process:

  • October 17: Executive budget review, providing a chance for City Council members and citizens to take a more detailed dive into the budget with department heads. Time: 6 p.m.
  • October 24: Additional budget review (if necessary). Time: 6 p.m.
  • November 1: Budget published.
  • November 26: Budget public hearing. Time: 6 p.m.
  • November 27: City Council meeting to adopt budget. Time: 6 p.m.

Here is a PDF listing those meeting dates.

Of course, I’ll keep you posted on the budget process as it unfolds.

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by | August 18, 2012 · 9:06 am

Even More Headlines

Check out these headlines from around the South Shore …

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter. It includes reports of a couple significant thefts — a car and boat — as well as this item:

A man was arrested for obstructing an investigation in the 1400 block of Marquette Avenue after leading officers on a four-block foot chase that began in the 1300 block of Milwaukee Avenue about 11:40 p.m. Aug. 5. Neighbors said the man and another man had smashed a beer bottle on the sidewalk and were loud and disorderly.

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by | August 17, 2012 · 2:30 pm

Was Oak Creek Fish Kill Due To “Illegal Discharge”?

Update: Our wastewater superintendent told me we have nothing to do with a discharge, and we are investigating.

A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologist says an illegal discharge of wastewater to Oak Creek could have caused the death of hundreds of dish in Oak Creek as it flows through South Milwaukee and the Fourth District.

Here is the upsetting Journal Sentinel story. From it:

There is evidence suggesting an unpermitted discharge.

Though there had been no rain Wednesday, a stream flow gauge downstream of the 15th Ave. bridge in South Milwaukee shows there was a sharp increase in the volume of water flowing in the creek around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, DNR fisheries biologist Will Wawrzyn said.

Stream flows surged more than 1 cubic feet per second between 1:30 and 1:45 p.m. that day – from 3.5 cubic feet per second of water to 4.6 cubic feet per second – before water levels gradually declined, according to gauge records for the day. Water flows in the creek remained elevated for six hours.

Shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday a local resident walking a dog along the creek near 16th Ave. and Rawson Ave. observed dead fish, Wawrzyn said.

I have exchanged emails with Mr. Wawrzyn on this, and he wrote me this earlier today (in line with what the Journal Sentinel is reporting) …

As of this morning, the bump or spike in the Oak Creek flow shown in the hydrograph that begins about 1:30 PM on 8/15 is not caused by a brief rainfall and runoff event. The MMSD provided precipitation data from their monitors on the south side.  Also, according to the instantaneous measures of water quality obtained by the MMSD just before noon on 8/15 at multiple sites along Oak Creek don’t indicate any obvious contributing pollutant factor leading up to the fish kill.

I really hope there’s a good explanation for this. I’ll keep you posted.

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by | August 17, 2012 · 9:56 am

“Not Easily Replaced”: Pat Jursik’s Reaction To Sue Black’s Firing

I can’t think of an elected official who more passionately supports the Milwaukee County Parks System than Pat Jursik, our county supervisor.

So I wondered what Pat had to say in response to the unexpected firing of Parks Director Sue Black on Thursday. Here is what she wrote to me …

Sue Black was recently given a raise by the county executive.  She was re-approved in her appointment by the board just last Spring.  With year-after-year budget cuts, Sue Black found ways to keep the parks dept. as vital and responsive as possible.  I talked to Sue Black often about more services for our South Shore Parks.  She always responded and, while reminding me of the budget cuts, she found ways to be responsive.  Sue Black has 10 years of community contacts, corporate contacts, sweat equity and a history built through hard work in our community.  Sue Black is not easily replaced.  The county executive owes our community a better explanation than he has given.  He has not shared his thought on a “new direction” with the board, but this damage is now done.  Chris Abele needs to be accountable for what he did and why.

Of course, I’d like to know what you think about this. Post your comments below!

 

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by | August 17, 2012 · 9:46 am

Studio 915 Summer Art Camp Next Week

There is still time to send your children (and you) to summer camp — Summer Art Camp.

Studio 915 is holding its weeklong camp all next week, with a variety of painting workshops offered. Space is still available for this unique education opportunity for adults and children.

Learn more here … and, if you haven’t already checked out this great downtown business at 915 Milwaukee Ave., please do so. You can also speak with Joe and Dawn at the South Milwaukee Downtown Market, where they have a booth.

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by | August 16, 2012 · 9:44 pm

Big Fish Kill Reported In South Milwaukee’s Oak Creek

Hundreds of fish were found dead along Oak Creek in South Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting.

Here is the story. From it:

The resident reported dead fish had accumulated late Wednesday in the creek near the Rawson Ave. bridge at S. 16th Ave.

Wawrzyn walked along a mile of the rain-swollen creek Thursday morning and counted up to 300 dead fish of all species and sizes, including white suckers, creek chubs, sunfish, minnows and others, he said.

None of the dead fish he inspected had lesions, parasites, tumors or other deformities that might explain the cause of death, Wawrzyn said.

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | August 15, 2012 · 10:16 pm

Thursday Night: Follow The Yellow Brick Road (And Turn Right On 11th Avenue)

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like … downtown South Milwaukee.”

The second of three Groovy Movie Nights is scheduled for Thursday night following the South Milwaukee Farmers’ Market, with The Wizard of Oz starting at dusk, around 8:15 p.m.

Come early to meet Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion! And bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

The weather looks good, after some rain early Thursday, so we’ll see you there … and the Downtown Market, too. Market hours are 3 to 7 p.m.

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by | August 15, 2012 · 10:00 pm

More Local Headlines

Check out these local headlines of note …

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by | August 14, 2012 · 10:19 pm

2012 Senate Primary: Hovde Edges Thompson In South Milwaukee

South Milwaukee voters in Tuesday’s Republican U.S. Senate primary chose Eric Hovde.

Hovde got 706 of the 2,219 votes cast in the Senate race locally, or 31.8%, to Thompson’s 672 votes, or 30.2%. Jeff Fitzgerald (438 votes, 19.7%) was third, and Mark Neumann (401 votes, 18.1%) was fourth.

Statewide, numbers were trending differently, as Thompson held a small lead over Hovde as of 10 p.m.

The winner of the primary faces Tammy Baldwin on Nov. 6.

See local primary results here. Among some key numbers:

  • Turnout was pretty high for a primary at 23.2%, as 2,874 voters (out of 12,393 registered voters) cast ballots.
  • More than 1,500 Republican voters went to the polls, compared with 462 Democratic voters. Of course, there were no contested Democrtic races in the primary, keeping turnout low.
  • Thompson and Hovde split the city’s four districts. Thompson won in the Second and Third, Hovde in the First and Fourth.

Of course, I’d like to know what you think of the results. Post your comments below!

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by | August 14, 2012 · 9:54 pm

Then There Was One: Funding Found To Fix Up Grant Park’s Seventh Bridge

As you’ll recall, earlier this year Kohl’s Corp. volunteers banded together to repair a crumbling South Milwaukee landmark: Grant Parks’ seven bridges.

But there was one problem: One important bridge was beyond the scope of the repairs. The “lakeside bridge” repairs were simply too big to be addressed by a group of volunteers, no matter how well intentioned.

Well, the Seventh Bridge is getting fixed up, too.

That’s according to Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik, who sent the following email today …

The contract has been let for repair of the lakeside bridge at Seven Bridges.  Stone Creek Builders was awarded the contract, having offered the best bid.  Although there is a $41,000 shortfall, it will be made up from other projects that were completed under budget.

It’s good to see progress here, and I thank Pat for her continued work on improving Grant Park — including the ongoing roadwork to repair the main park drive.

I’ll keep you posted on the projects.

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by | August 14, 2012 · 7:29 am

It’s Election Day!

As you know — and it’s hard to miss with the millions being spent on television commercials these days — today is election day.

Of course, the biggest (and only contested) race on the ballot locally is that for Republican U.S. senator.

Get local election basics from the city website here. Among them:

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Photo ID is not necessary, but you will need to sign the voter list.
  • Not sure where to vote? See a map here. Remember, all First District residents now vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave., instead of the South Milwaukee Library.
  • See a Fourth Disrict sample ballot here.
  • For a primary, you can only vote for candidates in the same party.

Be sure to check back to the blog for local election results Tuesday night.

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by | August 13, 2012 · 9:16 pm

Fire Department: South Milwaukee Car And Garage Fire Believed To Be Intentionally Set

Update: Here is another photo of the fire, and here is video.

Firefighters believe a car and garage fire in the 2800 block of Chicago Avenue on Sunday night was arson. Here are updates I got from Acting South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter … 

At approximately 9:22PM last evening, the fire department responded to a report of a vehicle on fire inside a garage to the rear of 2800 South Chicago Avenue.  Upon arrival of FD units, the interior of the garage was fully involved in fire.  During the extinguishment of this fire, SMFD was notified of a vehicle located in the alley next to 1208 Manistique Avenue that appeared to have an attempt made to light the glove box on fire.  Due to the suspicious circumstances of both fires, the PD called in the State Fire Marshall’s Office to assist in the investigation. … Damage to the garage and vehicle is extensive with little chance of salvage.  No injuries were reported.

After a very detailed scene investigation, investigators determined that the fire that destroyed the mini-van and garage late last night and the small fire that damaged the nearby car were intentionally set. It is my understanding that SMPD is continuing the investigation at this time.

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | August 13, 2012 · 9:01 pm

Reminder: Community Night Out Is Wednesday

Just a reminder to come and celebrate South Milwaukee this Wednesday night (August 15) at Community Night Out behind the Police Department and City Hall.

Food, games, music, info booths, a raffle and fireworks are planned.

Check out the flyer, and see you there!

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