by | November 15, 2011 · 10:10 pm

Council Backs Walmart Extension

Walmart has its extension.

The retailer will have until Feb. 16, 2012, to close on the purchase of the city-owned land it wants for its new store on North Chicago Avenue following 6-2 vote of the city council Tuesday night.

Similar to the previous votes on the project, 1st District Ald. Frank Van Dusen III and Craig Maass voted no on the 90-day extension. The other aldermen, including me, voted yes.

Read my previous post on this for more details on what Walmart was seeking.

While I wish they didn’t need the extension, this was a pretty easy vote for me. My support for the overall project hasn’t changed.

I asked at the meeting if they expect this will be the last extension to the agreement, and an attorney for the project said yes. She said they hope it will take far less than 90 days to obtain necessary approvals from the Department of Natural Resources and Union Pacific railroad and close on the deal. I hope she’s right.

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | November 15, 2011 · 10:33 am

Stabbing In Cudahy, Oak Creek Death Investigation And Other Local Headlines

A stabbing was reported in Cudahy this morning, and an arrest has been made after a standoff, according to media reports.

Check out the Journal Sentinel story here, and here is coverage from WISN.

And check out these other local headlines:

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by | November 14, 2011 · 9:48 pm

Walmart Seeks Extension On Purchase Agreement

Walmart is back on the City Council agenda for Tuesday night.

Specifically, attorneys representing the Walmart Real Estate Business Trust are asking the city for a 90-day extension of the purchase agreement for the 3.6-acre city-owned parcel at 222 N. Chicago Ave. – site of the proposed 115,000 square-foot store.

They want council to extend the agreement’s “feasibility period” to Feb. 16, 2012, to allow Walmart more time to obtain permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (related to cleanup of the land) and easements from the Union Pacific Railroad. You will recall that the westernmost part of the property – the privately owned parcel west of 11th Avenue – abuts the UP railroad tracks.

Of course, the city council voted on Nov. 1 to give final backing to the project. Check out my post on that here.

Check out the full council agenda here.

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by | November 14, 2011 · 1:32 pm

College Avenue To Reopen Friday

Update: Here is the Journal Sentinel story.

Finally!

College Avenue from Pennsylvania/Nicholson to Howell will reopen Friday. The new, four-lane road includes a roundabout west of Nicholson and an overpass to accomodate the lengthening of the major north-south runway for Mitchell Interational Airport.

The ribbon cutting is set for 11 a.m. Friday at the new overpass, followed by a reception at the former site of the 440th Air Reserve Station at 300 E. College Ave.

Learn more in this press release from Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik here. From it:

“College Avenue is the new front door to the MKE Regional Business Park which is emerging from the former 440th facility,” said Supervisor Jursik. “College Avenue is a key corridor for economic development along the South Shore and Aerotropolis area.”

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by | November 13, 2011 · 12:27 pm

Studio 915: Welcome To Downtown South Milwaukee

I had the pleasure of attending on Friday the opening of the newest downtown South Milwaukee business, and I came away impressed.

Impressed because this is unlike any business now in our city center … and maybe unlike any business Milwaukee Avenue has ever seen. Impressed because this business decided to take a chance on opening in our fair city vs. what were surely trendier options. Impressed because its strorefront is simply beautiful, with its hardwood floors, cream brick and huge picture windows. Impressed because its owners seem committed to becoming active in their community.

And impressed, of course, with the unique and beautiful works of art that fill its space.

Yes, welcome to South Milwaukee, Studio 915.

The city’s new art gallery and studio could be a downtown game changer.

Here its mission statement: “Studio 915 is committed to showcasing the talent of new and aspiring Artists.  We also offer a diverse range of  classes and workshops designed  to promote passion and awareness within the art community and beyond.  We are committed to the development and advancement  of the Artists we represent.  Studio 915 promotes growth and wellness through a love and appreciation of the arts.”

It’s a grand mission — one that I’m excited to see come to life in downtown South Milwaukee.

Learn more about Studio 915 at its under-construction website, and be sure to stop by 915 Milwaukee Ave. and see for yourself what I’m talking about. They’ll also be at the Dec. 3 and 10 South Milwaukee Christmas Markets at Caterpillar.

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by | November 11, 2011 · 11:56 pm

Enjoying A South Milwaukee Christmas

Update: Be sure to check out SouthMilwaukee.org for information on community events year round. And here is a Christmas Feaste flier.

I love Christmas, and I love South Milwaukee during the Christmas season.

There is always plenty going on around this time of year, and there’s more happening than ever in 2011 to celebrate the season. Among the Christmas-related events coming up …

  • Saturday, Nov. 12: Get some Christmas shopping done early from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Holiday Bazaar at the Grobschmidt Senior Center. A variety of homemade items and baked goods are available for purchase. A raffle and lunch are also planned.
  • Saturday, Nov. 19: Join Santa and enjoy some hot cocoa and cider at the South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce tree lighting at Heritage Park, 10th and Milwaukee Avenues. You can also pick up Chamber coupon booklets at the event. Hours are from 3 to 5 p.m. Also planned for Nov. 19 is the annual South Milwaukee Historical Society bake sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the society headquarters at 717 Milwaukee Ave. A variety of home-baked goods, books, ornaments and other gift items are for sale.
  • Sunday, Nov. 27: The city’s Old Fashioned Christmas celebration returns starting with a parade at 12:30 p.m.. The route takes it from 12th and Milwaukee Avenue, west down Milwaukee and south down 15th to City Hall, where a variety of special events and activities (including a visit from Santa) are planned. Hour are 1 to 5:30 p.m., when the tree will be lit outside City Hall. To enter the parade or for more information, contact Jim Shelenske at 651-2221 or at jim@southmilwaukee.org.
  • Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4: Ye Olde Christmas Feaste returns at South Milwaukee High School. Learn more in this flier.
  • Saturday, Dec. 3 and 10: The South Milwaukee Downtown Market is holding two indoor Christmas Markets at Caterpillar’s Heritage Building, 1970 10th Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Learn more in this post. The Friends of Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse are also holding their holiday tea from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Grant Park clubhouse.

Mark your calendars, and let me know if I missed anything!

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by | November 11, 2011 · 11:52 pm

Caterpillar Wants To Bring 1,000 Jobs To New North American Plant And Other Headlines

Caterpillar continues to focus on growth in North America (and China too).

The company said Friday that it wants to open a new manufacturing facility in North America that will ultimately employ more than 1,000 people. The location of the plant is to be determined.

The production work it wants to bring closer to home is currently being done in Japan.

Check out The Business Journal story here … and this one about another acquisition Caterpillar is seeking in China.

And check out these other local headlines of interest.

Also, State Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report, and the South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce has published its November newsletter.

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by | November 9, 2011 · 8:37 pm

Oak Creek’s Planning Priorities And Other Local Headlines Of Interest

Oak Creek reportedly has a pretty long to-do list when it comes to public works and other planning projects in coming years.

At the top of the list: developing the Delphi site and the city’s lakefront, as well as improving Drexel Avenue to make way for a new freeway interchange. Not so high on the list? Widening Pennsylvania/Nicholson Avenue south of Rawson.

That’s according to a story in Oak Creek Patch. From it:

As for Pennsylvania Avenue, the stretch from College to Rawson will still be expanded next year. Officials said that congestion south of Rawson is “not as pressing for the city as are the Drexel Interchange and Drexel Avenue reconstruction projects.”

Check out the full story here … as well as these headlines from around the South Shore:

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by | November 8, 2011 · 8:55 pm

Milwaukee County Board Passes Budget … And Supervisor Jursik Weighs In

The Milwaukee County Board passed its 2012 budget on Monday.

Barring vetoes, it would increase the county property tax levy 2.3% while requiring employees to pay more their health care and significantly cutting funding to the Sheriff’s Department, cultural institutions, parks and other programs.

For the South Shore, it brings some measure of (relative) good news, as it maintains bus service to South Milwaukee and restores some funding to local communities (like ours) that operate paramedic service.

Still, the cuts are deep. And the levy increase is not the 0% County Executive Chris Abele proposed.

The vote was 12-7, and South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik voted no. I asked her for her thoughts on the budget, and here is what she wrote me:

I did not support the budget due to the increase of 2.3%.  I voted against many amendments that added unnecessary spending.  I am awaiting the county executive’s budget vetoes to see what will ultimately survive.  The county executive does have a line item veto.

This being said, I did support retaining a number of sheriff deputies.  The targeted enforcement unit which was gutted in the county executive’s budget has been very important to Grant Park in terms of rooting out drug use and vandalism as well as other south shore parks.  I also supported the emergency medical services restoration which was 1.5 million.  This money helps to subsidize the EMS for South Milwaukee who also serves the City of Cudahy.  I supported transferring early debt payments to the funding for a facilities assessment that was part of the Strategic Planning directives.  This necessary assessment should allow the county to ultimately reduce the ownership of vacant or partially-vacant buildings and determine what the county should sell.
The final tax levy in a total budget of about 1.3 billion is $275,805,499.

The good news regarding transit was the grant money from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant funding which allowed us to retain all of Rte. 15, all of the school routes and the para transit rides county-wide.  All of the senior centers will continue to be funded and the county continues the mental health redesign which seeks to serve more citizens in the community and reduce the need to house patients in the mental health hospital.  The bad news is the Parks dept. took additional cuts of about 3M and lost some seasonal employee hours..  The cultural institutions such as the museums, zoo and others received 15% across the board cuts.

Our county employees took the greatest burden of the cuts.  A full 22 million was realized by reductions in health care benefits and requiring employees to pay more for their pensions.  The sheriff’s union agreed to also take cuts (this remains as one of the few bargaining units regarding work rules and other non-salary items).  This concession by the sheriff’s union will additionally allow the county to retain a number of deputies that would have been laid off.  As of this writing, no number is currently available but will be finalized by the end of the year.

I thank Pat for her thoughts on this and for her continued and strong commitment to keeping residents informed on key issues. I also support her hard work in fighting to maintain vital services like our parks and transit.

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by | November 8, 2011 · 10:08 am

What’s New With The Farmers’ Market? A Lot … Including Two Indoor Christmas Markets

The South Milwaukee Downtown Market remains a labor of love for me — a chance to take an active role in revitalizing our downtown while at the same time delivering a fun and unique community event.

And our momentum continues.

Following a successful third summer season, we’re holding a pair of indoor Christmas Markets at Caterpillar on back-to-back Saturdays in December.

The markets are planned for Dec. 3 and 10 inside Caterpillar’s Heritage Building and museum, 1970 10th Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

The events will feature more than 40 regular market vendors – and some new faces – selling arts, crafts, organics, baked goods and other prepared food. Live Christmas music from local acts that played the summer markets is also planned.

The newly remodeled and expanded History Museum, located inside the Caterpillar Heritage Building, will also be open during both markets, giving customers a chance to experience this one-of-a-kind South Milwaukee attraction.

We’re also starting the summer 2012 season a bit earlier, the Downtown Market Committee decided at its meeting on Monday.

Markets will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Thursday from May 24 to Oct. 11 on and around 11th Avenue south of Milwaukee Avenue. This is the earliest the market has opened since its inception in 2009, and the 21-week season is its longest to date.

Learn more about the market at our website: www.smdowntownmarket.org.

And I’ll keep you posted as the Christmas Markets and summer season draw nearer.

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by | November 8, 2011 · 9:44 am

Celebrating South Milwaukee-Oak Creek Interfaith And Other Local Headlines

Oak Creek Patch has a good news story about the role volunteer drivers play with South Milwaukee-Oak Creek Interfaith.

Check it out here. From it:

South Milwaukee-Oak Creek Interfaith Director Jennifer Rundell calls them the “bread-and-butter of the community.” The people in the passenger side of Maletta’s vehicle have an entire lifetime’s worth of stories. Many lived through the Great Depression, a World War, a moon landing and more. But they’re now left with nowhere else to turn – many of their friends are gone, and a lot of them don’t have family that live in the area.

Not only does Maletta and some 60 other Interfaith volunteers help older residents get from Point A to Point B, the relationships often extend far beyond the drive itself.

Many of them, simply needing someone to talk to, form a strong connection with volunteers, Maletta said.

“I have a motto – we should plant some trees we will never sit under,” she said. “If the nicest thing you can say at my funeral is that my house is spotless, I have not lived a good life. People are more important than things and you realize that (volunteering with Interfaith) and at the end of the day, you feel really good.”

And check out these other local headlines of note:

You can find the latest NOW police blotter here. Also, State Sen. Chris Larson has published a new Larson Report.

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by | November 7, 2011 · 4:24 pm

Packed Agenda: What Else Happened At Last Tuesday’s Council Meeting

Walmart wasn’t the only item on the agenda at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The meeting had a few other interesting topics that came up for debate after the Walmart vote.

  • For starters, the City Council unanimously denied a liquor license to a Cudahy man interested in opening a bar at the former Frozen Rope — and to not entertain any license applications for the tavern at 1815 10th Ave. until the end of the 2011-12 license year on June 30, 2012. You will recall this is the same bar location that was the site of two shootings earlier this year — incidents that led to the revocation of the liquor license from the previous bar owner. I was strongly supportive of that punishment, but torn on this issue. This building will mostly likely be a bar again some day, and I believe our responsibility to neighbors is to find the right operator, not necessarily give a blanket “no” to anyone interested in opening there. And the prospective operator in question seemed like a good fit, with his plan for a bar catering to an older crowd. Aldermen, however, were concerned that not enough time had elapsed since the license revocation, and the previous troublemakers could return to the new establishment. Ald. Frank Van Dusen III — a spokesman of sorts for neighbors in their fight against The Frozen Rope, before he was an alderman — agreed, saying neighbors “need a break.” Hearing that was enough for me to change my mind. He’s right.
  • The council unanimously denied a request from JD Shooting Sports for a variance to city code to allow for a retail storefront at 1436 Michigan Ave., which is currently zoned residential. Business owner Jason Dziedzic was seeking permission to sell guns out of his home, going beyond an appointment-only business and into one with regular hours and other (albeit minimal) trappings of a storefront. It is part of an interesting debate about the definition of “home occupation” — what type of businesses the city should allow people to run out of their residences. I voted no not necessarily because it was a gun shop. I would have similar concerns with any retail business owner seeking to operate out of a home. Retail businesses should operate out of commercial zones.
  • The council also voted unanimously to impose a moratorium on new pawnbrokers and dealers of second-hand items like gold and jewelry. The goal: Give the Plan Commission and council some time to review zoning regulations regarding these businesses. Obviously, there are concerns about a proliferation of these types of establishments — be it “cash for gold” or otherwise — and I think it’s good to be proactive in considering restrictions on them now vs. later. How tight those restrictions should be is up for debate. Police are concerned about criminals stealing items and reselling them to these businesses. Greenfield, however, drew strong criticism for how it approached this problem, and its ordinance was ultimately rescinded. I hope for a more balanced approach here.

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by | November 7, 2011 · 12:11 pm

Going Pink Raises Big Green

South Milwaukee raised $7,142.91 as part of its “Going Pink” efforts to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

You’ll recall the effort included the sale of specially designed t-shirts and other activities across the city and school district spearheaded by South Milwaukee students, Police Chief Ann Wellens and others.

Congratulations on the success, and thanks to everyone who played a role in this!

The money raised this year is almost twice as much as what was raised in 2010.

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by | November 6, 2011 · 10:11 pm

Oak Creek We Energies Bluff Collapse Update

Cleanup is under way, and the scope of this week’s bluff collapse at the Oak Creek We Energies power plant is just now becoming known.

Check out the Journal Sentinel story here. From it:

An estimated 2,500 cubic yards of coal ash and soil – enough to fill more than 208 large dump trucks – was pushed into Lake Michigan in Monday’s bluff collapse and landslide at the We Energies’ Oak Creek Power Plant, a state environmental official said Friday.

The slide carried 25,000 cubic yards of ash and soil down the slope and about 10% of the load washed into the lake, said Ann Coakley, director of the waste and materials management bureau for the Department of Natural Resources.

Samples of coal ash and lake water were collected this week for testing to determine the environmental impact of the ash slide, officials said. Tests will show the levels of heavy metals and other contaminants in the ash.

Test results were not available Friday, Coakley said.

Here is a WISN 12 story on the cleanup.

I also asked South Milwaukee Water Superintendent Doug Fischer about the potential impact of the bluff collapse to South Milwaukee, and he said he was not concerned given our filtration processes and because the debris made its way south of Oak Creek, not north to South Milwaukee.

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by | November 4, 2011 · 11:37 am

Concealed Carry In South Milwaukee

The sign above was posted on the front door of my church, Trinity Lutheran of South Milwaukee, last week, with the advent of the concealed carry law in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

The city, too, has also banned concealed weapons in city-owned buildings, including the City Hall complex and the library.

I’m wondering what other businesses, churches and organizations are doing to react to the law. Are weapons banned at your church or favorite restaurant or shop? Let me know what you’re seeing. And do you agree with the decision? Also, are you carrying, or expecting to carry, in the near future? If so, when and where? And why?

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