No comment on this one.
More On The Oak Creek Mayoral Race + Other Headlines
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Oak Creek NOW have more coverage of the intriguing Oak Creek mayoral race, as a sitting alderman goes up against a member of the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board on Tuesday.
And Oak Creek Patch has a great summary of all the races happening with our neighbor to the west and south.
There’s also going to be a new mayor in St. Francis come Tuesday night. The Journal Sentinel article has more on that race too.
And check out these local headlines of interest:
- I-794 Extension Into Oak Creek Endorsed (Business Journal)
- Waukesha Responds To Lake Michigan Mayors’ Water Application Questions (Oak Creek Patch)
- Noodles & Company Continues Area Expansion (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Steel Warehouse To Expand, Add Jobs At Oak Creek Facility (Oak Creek Patch)
Filed under Headlines
Sullivan Turns Focus To Worker Training
Former Bucyrus CEO Tim Sullivan has long championed worker training as a key issue for growing Wisconsin’s economy.
Now, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he is “drafting set of recommendations that will change how Wisconsin allocates hundreds of millions of dollars each year in federal job training funds and simultaneously reform the state’s education system.”
“It’s a big task with a lot of moving parts,” he told the newspaper.
Is it ever.
One key part of Sullivan’s work is taking a fresh look at high school curriculum, better matching student skills with companies’ needs — something that I know the South Milwaukee School District is already focused on as part of its long-range planning process. From the newspaper:
He cited a study by Georgetown University that found that Wisconsin will need an estimated 925,000 skilled workers by 2018 just to replace those on the verge of retiring or meet the creation of new jobs. At least 588,000 of those jobs will require a minimum of a two-year technical training degree.
But the state’s schools don’t produce those numbers – which is all the more troublesome in a state that leads the nation in per-capita manufacturing employment, Sullivan said. Starting in the 1980s, many high schools discontinued shop classes, industrial arts, and trade and technical schools. Educators, parents and students focused on curriculum that prepared students for four-year college degrees, even though a degree in the humanities will not land anyone a job on a production line, he said.
That will require a new approach to the way high schools structure their curriculum. It also means a renewed educational push in grade school to supply high schools with students that have basic math and reading skills.
Filed under Local Business, Schools
Panel Backs Lake Parkway Extension Plan
A Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission panel has formally backed a plan to extend the Lake Parkway from Edgerton Avenue to Highway 100.
Check out the story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and here is a press release from County Supervisor Pat Jursik.
Now, the hard work starts: securing the political will, and money, to actually get the $207 million roadway built. It probably won’t happen until at least 2022, and probably longer.
But at least it’s on the drawing board — and I thank County Supervisor Pat Jursik and others for leading the charge to get us this far.
I also credit the SEWRPC panel in using the passage of this plan as an opportunity to call for a more sustainable solution to transit funding. The Lake Parkway should be just one part of a comprehensive transportation plan for the region. Mass and bike transit must be others — giving commuters a variety of transportation options that involve not just cars.
To quote Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and others, the Department of Transportation is too often the Department of Roads.
Absolutely, let’s build new roads, and fix old ones. But let’s also not neglect the other elements necessary for a strong, and diversified, approach to getting people from point A to point B.
Filed under Transportation
Another Honor For South Milwaukee Children’s Book Author And Other Local Headlines
Noted South Milwaukee children’s book author Janet Halfmann has won another award — this one for her book “Star of the Sea,” which the Brooks family proudly has in its library.
Check out the press release here, and Jerrianne Hayslett also blogged about this.
And check out these headlines from around the area:
- Man Faces Maximum Penalty For OWI (Fond du Lac Reporter)
- Absurd Changes To The YMCA Taekwondo Program (The Way I See It! Blog)
- Drug Charges Filed Against Two Oak Creek Men (Oak Creek Patch)
- Two Charged In Burglary Of Hein Electric Supply (Oak Creek Patch)
Also, check out this press release on South Milwaukee’s Paul Steiner winning a writing and illustration contest offered by L. Ron Hubbard.
And state Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report. The top headline: Using Power For All The Wrong Reasons.
Filed under Headlines
Second Write-In Candidate For South Milwaukee Mayor
A second South Milwaukeean is running as a write-in candidate for mayor.
Todd Lorino announced his candidacy this week and has a number of yard signs around town. He joins Michael Moeller as write-in candidates against incumbent Mayor Tom Zepecki, who is seeking a fourth term.
Lorino has launched a Facebook page about his candidacy. On it, he explains his reasons for running as this:
Why run for mayor? After attending many common council meetings, I became concerned about the lack of communication and collaboration. I decided that if I expectd changes, I would have to get involved in the process. The goals for our city are well defined in South Milwaukee’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan. These goals of having a strong business district, maintaining the parks and improving the schools are all ones with which we can agree. Reaching these goals given our current debt will be a challenge. We need to curb the TIF spending that puts the tax burden on the citizens to make up lost revenue.
Lorino has also been an outspoken critic of the Walmart development.
Filed under 2012 Elections
More On Moeller For Mayor (And Alderman)
Mayoral and aldermanic write-in candidate Michael Moeller has launched a campaign website. Check it out at www.michaelmoeller.org.
Moeller also put out a press release about his candidacy on Friday. See it here. From it:
Long-term South Milwaukee resident Mike Moeller has officially announced his intent to run as a write-in candidate for South Milwaukee’s upcoming regular election for Mayor and special election for 1st District Alderperson scheduled for April 3. This is a historical event in local politics to have both elections occurring at the same time and one man running for both positions.
“South Milwaukee is an ideal community, and my family and I are proud to call it home,” Moeller shares. “But we are missing out on key opportunities that can make our city stronger and move us in the right direction for a more promising future.” He adds, “South Milwaukee must strengthen its name and have a clear direction as to where the city wants to be in the short and long-term. As the country and state works to pull out of the recession, we need to have a solid plan in place to attract new businesses and residents.”
Filed under 2012 Elections
Prison Time For Church Secretary Convicted Of Embezzlement And Other Headlines
Check out these local headlines of note:
- Prison For St. Matthew Secretary Who Embezzled Money (Oak Creek Patch)
- Aldermen Voice Support For Lake Parkway Extension (Oak Creek Patch)
- Fabricated Metal Products To Expand Cudahy Plant (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Noodles And Company Opens Monday (Oak Creek Patch)
- MATC Oak Creek Campus To Reopen After Power Failure (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Filed under Headlines
Write-In Candidate Surfaces For Mayor, Alderman
Mayor Tom Zepecki will have write-in competition on April 3.
Michael Moeller is running as a write-in candidate for both mayor and First District alderman, he announced this week.
You’ll recall that Moeller ran unsuccessfully for the First District aldermanic seat in April of 2011, losing to Mike Karbowski and Craig Maass. Karbowski passed away later that summer and was replaced by Frank Van Dusen III. (Moeller also applied — and was ultimately not selected by the City Council — for that role.)
Van Dusen is already on the April 3 ballot to fill the one year remaining on Karbowski’s term.
Zepecki is seeking his fourth term and will still be the only name on the April 3 ballot for mayor.
I’ll keep you posted on this as the election draws nearer. Of course, I’d like to know what you think about this. Post your comments below!
Filed under Headlines
Council Update: Walmart Borrowing Put Off With Procedural Maneuver
Approval of the city’s planned borrowing of $1.5 million to fund cleanup and other costs related to the Walmart development will have to wait.
On Tuesday, Aldermen Craig Maass and Frank Van Dusen III endorsed a motion to “hold over” the agenda item calling for the introduction of a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of $1.5 million of bonds.
This is a little-used procedural play that requires, with a simple motion and second, an end to all debate about an issue and forces the item in question to be considered at the top of the next council meeting. Our next meeting — a special meeting called to approve some public works contracts – is April 4, although it’s unclear if this measure will be heard then, or if it will wait until our meeting on April 17.
I’ll keep you posted.
I am disappointed in this procedural move — which is truly the “nuclear option” when it comes to local legislating, an option I’ve seen used just once before in my tenure as an alderman — because I support the borrowing, just as I support the Walmart plan. And I’m concerned that putting off the issuance of the promissory notes could cost the city additional money in interest and time spent by our financing firm working on the new timeline.
Of course, I’d like to know what you think. Post your comments below.
One additional note: The other items relating to city borrowing on Tuesday’s agenda all passed. I’ve posted about these in the past. Learn more here and here.
Filed under City Council, South Milwaukee Walmart
Community Shredding Event March 31
If your house is like mine, you’ve got plenty of old (and formerly important) papers laying around that are begging to be shredded.
You have your chance to do it on Saturday, March 31.
That’s when the South Milwaukee Public Library is holding a community shredding event from 9 a.m. to noon. Learn more here.
Filed under Community
Lake Parkway Extension Bike Lane? That, And More Local Headlines (And New Police Blotter)
The Lake Parkway extension, under the current plan introduced last month, would inlude a pedestrian and bike path — a detail explored in much greater detail in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel blog item.
Learn more about the extension in my previous blog post.
And check out these other local headlines …
- Motorcyclist Charged With 4th OWI (Oak Creek Patch)
- One Killed In I-94 Crash At 7 Mile Road (Oak Creek Patch)
- Oak Creek Girls Fall Just Short Of State (Oak Creek Patch)
- Whitnall Rolls To Fourth Straight Powerlifting Title (Greenfield Patch)
Also, NOW has published a new South Shore police blotter, which includes a number of burglary and theft reports in South Milwaukee in recent weeks.
Filed under Headlines
Updating 4th District Construction
Spring is here … and that means it’s construction season.
As you probably know, a couple of the highest profile projects in 2012 are occurring in the 4th District. Here’s what’s happening at 17th Avenue/Parkway Drive and Nicholson Avenue.
- 17th Avenue/Parkway: This project includes a variety of stormwater and sanitary sewer work, as well as the resurfacing of 17th Avenue from Rawson to Hemlock. The sewer work is already under way and will continue well into April. This part of the project includes the installation and rerouting of stormwater pipes in the 500 block of Parkway Drive, as well as adding new inlets and manholes. We’re also adding a new storm sewer along Oak Street. We’re opening bids for the road resurfacing on Tuesday and expect that work to begin in May and be wrapped up by mid-June. Keep in mind that the project will require the complete closure of impacted stretches of road and intersections at various times. The goal is to get all of this work done so it handle an anticipated increase in local traffic due to this project starting this summer …
- Pennsylvania/Nicholson Avenue. Work on this project is expected to begin in July, as the street is widened from two to four lanes between College and Rawson. The project will require the relocation of a variety of utilities – primarily on the west side of Pennsylvania/Nicholson in Oak Creek – and this work is already underway. (For homeowners along this stretch, this may mean various lawn markings in coming weeks, even if no actual utility work is planned in their yards.) Once the widening project truly begins in July, keep in mind that the street will be completely closed for a period of time. Construction is expected to last through September. The South Milwaukee City Council also recently approved acquisition of property on the east side of Pennsylvania/Nicholson south of Beech to allow for construction of a stormwater retention pond.
I’ll keep you posted on both of these projects, and others, in coming weeks and months.
As always, we appreciate your patience. It’s no secret the city’s infrastructure is aging. These are significant investments to address that.
Filed under Construction
More Local Headlines
Check out these local headlines:
- Bill That Would Shake Up MATC Board On Docket For Assembly (Fox 6)
- America’s Songbook Presented At South Milwaukee PAC (NOW)
- South Milwaukee Lions Vision Screen Children And Parnter With The Community! (NOW)
- Tale Of Two Home Repairs (New Kid’s Blog)
- What Could Oak Creek High School Expansion Look Like? (Oak Creek Patch)
- Henkel Corporation Planning Oak Creek Expansion (Oak Creek Patch)
- Oak Creek Vehicle Inspection Station Closing (Oak Creek Patch)
Also, State Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report. The headline: “Job Creation Delayed in Wisconsin.”
Filed under Headlines
Walker Signs Honadel’s “Wisconsin Wins” Bill, Posthumous Award For Buddy And Other Headlines
Check out these local headlines:
- Gov. Walker Signs Worker Training Bill In Oak Creek (Fox 6)
- Judge Chooses Buddy As First Runner Up In Dogs Of Valor Awards (WISN)
- Woman Charged With 3rd OWI After Hitting Mailbox, Landing In Ditch (Oak Creek Patch)
- High Water Forces Closure Of College Ave. Near Airport (Oak Creek Patch)
- School Board Signs Off On Land Swap (Oak Creek Patch)
- Field Turf At OCHS Football Field On Track For 2012 Season (Oak Creek Patch)
And here is the Walker press release on the signing of the “Wisconsin Wins” legislation.
Filed under Headlines
