by | August 31, 2010 · 10:16 pm

Summer is Over … Sigh … and School Starts on Wednesday

As the proud parent of a 5-year-old entering full-day kindergarten at Rawson Elementary, here is a fact that I know all too well: School starts on Wednesday.

I say this with a tinge of sadness — he is growing up so quickly — but with an even bigger amount of excitement, for I know how much Christian will learn this year. I say often that one of the biggest reasons we moved to South Milwaukee in 2002 was its first-class school system. And my experience with Rawson and the district so far has borne this out.

Christian, I know, is in good hands … and it will be a great year.

You can see the hours of each school at the South Milwaukee School District website here, and here is a list of other important dates.

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by | August 31, 2010 · 9:50 pm

Bridge Work on Track for Completion Friday

Work is progressing on the Beech Street foot bridge over Oak Creek.

A crane has lifted the span back in place, and the remaining work on the railing and asphalt is expected to be completed by the end of the week — making for an easier walk to the South Milwaukee Middle and High School.

Thanks to Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik and her staff for the update.

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by | August 29, 2010 · 11:17 pm

Plale-Larson Debate on Thursday

State. Sen. Jeff Plale, a 4th District resident, is facing a strong challenge from Milwaukee County Supervisor Chris Larson in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary.

Learn more about both candidates on Thursday, Sept. 2, at a debate presented by the Bay View Neighborhood Association. The event starts at 7 p.m. at the Humboldt Park Pavilion, 3000 S. Howell Ave.

Learn more in the Bay View Compass.

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by | August 26, 2010 · 9:46 pm

New Connection: Beech Street Bridge Should Open by End of Next Week

Work on repairing the Beech Street foot bridge over Oak Creek is expected to be completed by the end of next week, according to Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik.

That means students may have to find another way to school for a couple of days, but given the amount of work necessary on the bridge, it’s understandable. The bridge was washed away in the July 22-23 storms.

From Supervisor Jursik’s email:

A crane will pick up the bridge downstream and reset it at Beech Street.  Staff will anchor the bridge.  Forestry has found a path for the crane that will minimize damage to the rich vegetation. We must replace two support beams and the entire deck.

Also, putting to bed some of the rumors floating around, there are no plans to relocate the bridge to Pine Street or any other street, Supervisor Jursik said. However, there may be a need for more substantial (long-term) bridge improvements at Beech some point soon.

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by | August 26, 2010 · 9:38 pm

Bucyrus Equipment Order One Step Closer to Reality and Other Headlines

As expected, the Export-Import Bank voted Thursday to reverse course and approve loan guarantees for an Indian company looking to purchase $400 million of equipment from Bucyrus International.

The decision is expected to save hundreds of jobs in the area that were in jeopardy after the bank originally voted against the guarantees.

Read the Journal Sentinel story here and check out these other headlines of interest from around the area …

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by | August 25, 2010 · 11:07 pm

Another Reason to Believe the KRM is Dead and Other Headlines of Interest

When you have even Democratic lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore speaking out against the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line, you can say with some confidence that the project — and all of its potential benefits for South Milwaukee — is irreparably off-track.

You can read more about her unfortunate and misguided comments — and the other factors working against the KRM project — in the Journal Sentinel here.

And here are some other headlines of interest from around the area:

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by | August 23, 2010 · 5:06 pm

Beech Street Bridge Update: Quite a Bit of Repair Work Needed

So, it appears the amount of repairs needed on the Beech Street foot bridge over Oak Creek is more than meets the eye.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik got back to me today with an update on the scope of the project to fix the bride, which washed away during the July 22-23 storms — the second time in two years this has happened.

Apparently, the entire deck of the bridge needs to be replaced as well as two of its crossing support beams. County engineers are working on this, and this work must be completed before the bridge is put back in place.

Supervisor Jursik has asked that the work be done by Sept. 1 to accoomodate the dozens of students who use that bridge to get to school everyday, but there are no promises it will be in by that date.

“Parks knows of the target date and is working to get it in,” Supervisor Jursik said in an email.

I’ll keep you posted when I hear more. And you can learn more about the issue in my post below.

In the meantime, there is another point to keep in mind here. From Supervisor Jursik’s email:

I want to remind you that our AFSCME 48 employees which includes Parks must take one furlough day per pay period, this translates into 2 off days (unpaid) every month.  It also translates into less work being done.  While no one is looking for excuses, this is the reality we live with. Taxpayers must understand that reducing taxes equals reduced services and/or longer time periods to accomplish tasks. This is the reality of life in the county.

Indeed, we can’t have it all, can we?

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by | August 22, 2010 · 8:23 pm

Washed Away: Update on the Beech Street Foot Bridge to Nowhere

My wife, two kids and I took a pleasant walk along the Oak Creek Parkway tonight, and we solved a mystery along the way.

We found the Beech Street foot bridge.

OK, so it wasn’t much of a mystery. I knew it had washed away during the July 22-23 flooding, and I heard it was sitting, relatively intact, in the river near the lift station at Oak Street. And that’s exactly where we found it, a block from its normal location. (see photo).

You’ll note that it’s laying across the creek at an odd angle, creating a dam of sorts, although water was still flowing past it Sunday. You may also notice that part of the bridge was damaged as it washed away in the storms.

So, what’s next for the Beech Street bridge? It’s a question I posed to Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik.

The foot bridge is an important link between the “tree streets” on the west side of the creek and the South Milwaukee High School and Middle School and Rawson Elementary School on the other. And with the start of school a week and a half away, that connection is in jeopardy.

Supervisor Jursik nows this, and that’s why repairing and/or replacing the bridge is a priority.

Here is an excerpt from her email:

I have gotten many comments about the bridge and especially concerned parents getting plans ready for school.  I know how important that bridge is for many children walking to school as it is the only cross over from Rawson all the way to College.  I have been in touch with our Parks Dept. several times and have asked them to get it in place before school reopens.  They have been working to do this.

She notes one issue, however. Unlike in 2008, when the bridge was also washed away and set back in place shortly after the storm, this time it was damaged. So those damages will have to be addressed before it is re-erected. Plus, Supervisor Jursik argues, and rightfully so, that because of the number of washouts with the bridge, wider footings may also be needed to prevent these in the future.

So, what does this mean as to timing for a replacement? It’s unclear at this point. Supervisor Jursik is going to check with the Parks Department and seek another update. I will post more information when I get it.

(And thanks to Supervisor Jursik for responding so quickly to my inquiry. As a strong supporter of the parks system and even stronger advocate for the 4th District, I know she takes this issue seriously.)

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by | August 20, 2010 · 9:07 pm

Court News: South Milwaukee Aldi Robber Going to Prison

The 26-year-old Oak Creek man who robbed the South Milwaukee Aldi’s store in December is going to prison.

Jason Peterson was charged and pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery after his arrest, and he was sentenced this week to eight years in prison, with another eight years of extended supervision, for the crimes, according to police and online court records.

Peterson was also sentenced to eight years in prison for the other robberies, and he will serve those concurrently with the first.  

Read about the robbery here.

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by | August 19, 2010 · 10:25 pm

“Rocket John”Memorial Set for August 27 and Other Headlines of Note …

The South Milwaukee School District has scheduled a memorial on August 27 for “Rocket John” Bogadi, who passed away earlier this month.

The event for the South Milwaukee superfan will take place before South Milwaukee’s season-opening football game against New Berlin West. Festivities start with a tribute video being shown at 5 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

Learn more on the school district website here.

And here are some other headlines of local interest:

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by | August 17, 2010 · 10:46 pm

Council Approves Both Flooding Studies; Vote on Condo Garbage Pickup Delayed

As expected, the City Council unanimously approved spending more than $40,000 on two studies to determine some potential fixes to our sanitary and stormwater sewer system.

I believe that these votes are an example of the commitment of city leaders to not just talk, but act, in response to the flooding disaster of July 22-23. As I’ve said, there are no silver bullets to this complex issue, nor no quick fixes. But I feel strongly we’re doing all we can, even if FEMA isn’t.

Learn more about the studies in my post below, and cast your vote on the new poll question on the right-hand side of this page.

I’ll keep you posted on what the studies find … and the options they reveal. Indeed, it is at that point that another, more substantive debate, will have to happen here. We’ll then need to answer this question: Just how much should the city spend to address these problems?

In a separate vote, a vote on a condominium garbage collection policy was pushed off to our next meeting on Sept. 7 after a parliamentary maneuver kept the issue from coming to an actual vote Tuesday. (It likely would have passed 4-3).

I’ll blog  more about this issue as the meeting approaches.

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by | August 17, 2010 · 10:25 pm

Police Chase Ends in Crash and Other Headlines You May Be Interested In …

As if you needed another reminder about how dangerous it is to be a police offer, this story is that reminder.

Click here to read more about a police chase that began in South Milwaukee and ended in a three-car crash in Cudahy. And here is the press release.

And here are some other headlines of note from around the area:

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by | August 16, 2010 · 10:38 pm

Flood Update: Committee Unanimously Endorses Two Studies

The sewer studies are one step closer to reality.

The Common Council’s Public Works and Public Property Committee voted unanimously Monday night to recommend moving ahead with two separate studies of our sewer system, in light of the July flooding:

  • One, to be done by Applied Technologies, would evaluate the sanitary sewer system at specific areas and make recommendations to reduce inflow and improve system capacity during big rains. The study, which is expected to cost just shy of $30,000 and take four to six months to complete, will specifically look at areas like Parkway Drive/Hemlock Court, Brookdale Drive and Blakewood Court.
  • The second, to be done by R.A. Smith National, pertains more specifically to the 4th District. It would evaluate the stormwater system around the Parkway Heights area (the broader neighborhood around Parkway/Hemlock). This study is expected to cost around $12,000.

The full City Council will consider the studies at its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

The committee (in front of about 10 residents) had a good discussion about the scope of these studies, and everyone is anxious to get some answers here. These reports will certainly help.

As to the Parkway-area stormwater study, the study will focus on the area between Hemlock and Walnut streets and essentially be an extension of the 2008-09 study work done by R.A. Smith for the area west of Hemlock to 15th Avenue.

According to a memo from our city engineer: “There are numerous intersections that flooded during the July 22 storm, but this area has reported flooding during even minor storm events, and water from the street is ponding to a level where it is entering homes.”

Of course, this is not the only area of the city where this is occurring, and our engineering department continues to investigate and assemble information for other areas of significant flooding, including Blakewood Court and the intersection of 6th and Marion. Some of this analysis may be done internally, without the need for a formal third-party study.

Indeed, I have been impressed to hear about the ongoing work of our engineering and wastewater departments, who continue to do their own analysis of problem areas by going neighborhood to neighborhood, basement to basement in many cases, to learn more about specific issues faced by property owners.

In other flood-related news, new numbers from the city released Monday showed that 416 property owners have reported damage from water and sewer backups related to the July 22 storms, and the Street Department has picked up nearly 89 tons of flood-damaged debris since July 26.

Repair work in the 200 blocks of Hawthorne Avenue is “substantially completed,” with one lane opening soon.

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by | August 16, 2010 · 10:24 pm

Work on 15th Avenue Nearing Completion

There’s some good news for 4th District drivers: Construction on 15th Avenue should be wrapped up in about two weeks.

Cornerstone Pavers has started the last phase of construction: the intersection of 15th and Oak Creek Parkway. That means 15th is now open from College Avenue to Parkway Drive and from Rawson Avenue to Beech Street.

Paving should be complete by Wednesday, with the street fully open to through traffic by August 24, barring unforeseen circumstances or weather. That’s great news for area students, who return to school the following week.

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by | August 13, 2010 · 1:18 pm

Previewing Tuesday’s Council Meeting

Update: Here is the link to the actual agenda. You’ll also note an item about condominium garbage pick-up — a discussion about if, and when, the city should pick up trash for condominium owners. We currently do for some and not for others, with factors like density and whether or not the development is on a public road driving our practice. A formal proposed policy will be discussed be on Tuesday.

It promises to be a busy City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Expected to top the agenda is consideration of two different studies aimed at getting to the bottom of what has caused ongoing flooding in several problem areas in the city, including the areas around Parkway Drive and Hemlock, Blakewood Court and Brookdale Court.

Two of the expected agenda items are:

  • Discussion/motion regarding proposal and engineering services contract with Applied Technologies to evaluate sanitary sewer system at specified areas and make recommendations to reduce inflow to sanitary sewer and improve system capacity during high flows.
  • Discussion/motion regarding authorization for City Engineer to contract with R.A. Smith National for storm sewer analysis at various locations.

The goal of both studies is the same — to see what can be done to limit future flooding problems like those in late July. I emphasize “limit,” as I’m not certain any potential solution, no mater the scope and cost, can completely prevent flooding, even basement backups, during certain record rain events like the one we experienced on July 22.

Still, these studies may provide some answers for residents desperately seeking, and deserving, them.

I and other city leaders are committed to keeping residents posted on this issue and what these studies find.

(In the meantime, here is a copy of a letter with more information on the flooding and next steps being sent this week to hundreds of residents who called to report damage, ask for special pickups, etc.)

The meeting start at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Among other items expected on Tuesday’s agenda are consideration of ordinances restricting “convenient cash establishments” and portable storage units like PODS. Click here to see my previous post on this.

And one other note on the flooding studies: They will also be discussed at a Public Works & Public Property Committee meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday at City Hall. I expect the committee will make a recommendation to the Council at this meeting.

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