South Milwaukee Blog

The results are in from Tuesday’s 2019 spring general election, and you can seem them on the city website here.

Some highlights …

• Turnout was strong, at more than 33 percent of registered voters. Of the 3,901 ballots cost, 601 were absentee.
• South Milwaukee Municipal Judge William Fenger won re-election with just under 47 percent of the vote, beating challenger Kelly Martyka.
• The South Milwaukee School Board race was not contested, and challenger Augie Vega will join incumbents Sophia Williams and Doug Perry on the board.
• In the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Brian Hagedorn won locally, with more than 51 percent, to Lisa Neubauer’s 47 percent.

Thanks to everyone who turned out at the polls today, and a special thanks to our pollworkers and clerk’s office for their efforts on this and every election day.

We expect a decision soon from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission on the city’s request to increase water bills by an average of 41 percent. I’ll share that news when we get it.

As we await their decision, I have heard the concerns raised by residents and other property owners loud and clear. You aren’t happy, and I get it.

This is a significant increase with significant impacts, especially on those who are already struggling to make ends meet — and that’s a lot of people in our community, from seniors to families. It’s real money.

For the Brooks family, it may mean a $63.76 increase in our $178.32 bill we received in February, on top of the 35 percent increase in sewer costs last year and 5 percent this year. Paid three times a year. Other bigger users will pay even more.

People are rightfully upset, but the rationale is clear: This is money we must spend to ensure safe, clean drinking water for South Milwaukeeans.

Our recently published Q&A on this topic dives into the “why” more, and I shared some insights with TMJ4 as they came to town last week. Of note …  

• The state is requiring us to make the investment driving most of the increase. We were told in 2008 about the need to replace our underground clearwells — where we store about a day’s worth of already filtered water before we pump it to users — with those above ground. More details on the project here.
• Usage is down, way down. This is a critical point. While water conservation is a good thing in many ways, we now have fewer large users (think, Bucyrus, among others) to share in the burden of increases. Of note, we sold 773 million gallons of water in 1997, compared with 480 million in 2018. That is a 38 percent decrease in consumption. Our largest user is now Southtowne Apartments. That reality makes increases more painful for homeowners.
• Costs go up. We had our last major increase in 2010, and our 3 percent increase in 2013 — our last one — is not enough to cover inflation during those eight years. That’s a flaw in the system, I’d argue. I’d prefer we have more regular, smaller increases to normalize rates and avoid huge increases like this, but the PSC does not allow them. We can do this with our sewer utility, and we are.

We are also not alone in seeking these large increases – and having to make big-ticket, state-mandated upgrades at our facilities — but that doesn’t ease the pain for the ratepayer. Nor does it soften this harsh reality: If these increases are approved, we will have the most expensive water in the county. And that is deeply concerning to me.

At the same time, we must invest in clean water, and we are.

The new lift station — which drove the sewer rate increase — is part of that, as are the clear wells. So is the work we’re doing to plan for, and eventually accomplish, a cleaner Oak Creek watershed – an effort that will assuredly outline millions of dollars in potential improvements in this critical community corridor.

Our urban forestry efforts help keep our water clean, as does the everyday work of our crews sweeping streets, and even picking up leaves. Add in community efforts like the Earth Day cleanup, the planting this spring of a new downtown community garden, the tireless work of our Friends groups … the list goes on.

South Milwaukee has long rallied around clean water and chosen to invest in preserving it. It’s a community commitment to the most important resource we have. This is the latest example of that.

Today is Election Day! Please do your constitutional duty and vote.

There are contested races for State Supreme Court, Branch 40 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, and South Milwaukee Municipal Judge. The South Milwaukee School Board race is also on the ballot, with three candidates seeking three seats,

Here is a sample ballot. And and here are additional voting details, including new polling locations for Districts 2 and 4 …

• Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• First District voters vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave.
• Starting with this election, Second District voters vote at the Divine Mercy Gathering Room, 800 Marquette Ave.
• Third District voters vote at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
• Fourth District voters vote at the Grobschmidt Senior Center, 2424 15th Ave.
• Not sure what district you live in? Here is a map.
• Please remember to bring photo ID.
• For information on voter registration, polling locations, and to request an absentee ballot for future elections, visit MyVote.

Check out more details on the city’s elections web page … and look for more information on local results from South Milwaukee Blog later tonight or Wednesday morning.

And while you’re out, please thank a pollworker. These dedicated citizens bring democracy to life through their too-often thankless work.

See you at the polls!

From the South Milwaukee Police Department, posted on their Facebook page Sunday evening …

Alexus and Caleb were located together in South Milwaukee this evening. They are safe and unharmed. Thank you for your assistance in trying to help locate them.

This story initially broke on Thursday with the disappearance of Caleb, with police providing this additional information on Saturday …

South Milwaukee Police have continued to follow up of the case of Caleb Mueller and at this point it is likely the Caleb Mueller case is that of a juvenile runaway. There has also been information that Caleb Mueller may possibly be in the company of another juvenile who is also reported as a missing juvenile reported by the Milwaukee Police Department. This juvenile is also a possible runaway. She attends school at South Milwaukee Middle School and she did not return to her place of residence in the City of Milwaukee after school on 03/28/19. This juvenile female is 14 year old Alexus Muniz. She is described as 5’00, 115lbs, Brown hair and Brown eyes. If anyone has knowledge of the whereabouts of either of these juveniles, please contact the South Milwaukee Police Department or the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-768-8060. Thank you.

Thanks to everyone who helped bring home these kids safely!

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

The SMPD is asking the public’s help in locating missing 13yr old Caleb Mueller from South Milwaukee. Mueller is described as a male white, 5’08”, 135lbs, black hair/brown eyes. Caleb was last seen on Thursday March 28th at his residence wearing a black zippered hoodie, gray sweat pants, and green camouflage shoes. Anyone having information on the whereabouts of Caleb are asked to contact the SMPD at 414-768-8060. Thank you.

It’s time for another Coffee with the Mayor! And this time I’m bringing the police chief.

Join me and South Milwaukee Police Chief William Jessup from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, at Avenue Coffeehouse, 911 Milwaukee Ave. for an open discussion on what’s happening in South Milwaukee. There is no set agenda, and pretty much anything is fair game. So bring your questions, comments or concerns for either the chief or me, or both, and grab a drink while you’re there.

Thanks to Sara and Aaron for hosting, and for Chief Jessup in joining me!

In-person absentee voting for the April 2 election is now open, and runs through Friday, March 29.

You can cast an absentee ballot at the clerk’s office at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave. Hours for voting are 7:30 to 4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, and 7:30 to 5 p.m. on March 29. More details here.

There are contested races for State Supreme Court, Branch 40 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, and South Milwaukee Municipal Judge. The South Milwaukee School Board race is also on the ballot, with three candidates — incumbents Doug Perry and Sophia Williams, as well as Augie Vega — seeking three seats.

Here is a sample ballot.

To apply for an absentee ballot to be mailed, please visit MyVote Wisconsin.

More details on the election information page on the city website.

Thanks to the Historical Society for all they do to keep the story of our proud past alive … and mark your calendars for the special events!

From the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors …

Milwaukee County is reaching a crisis point. For too long, Milwaukee County has been forced to delay necessary maintenance in our parks and facilities, and put off important investments in public infrastructure and popular cultural venues. In recent years, budget cuts have threatened public services that our neighbors depend on every day.

This is why Milwaukee County leaders have joined together with community leaders, advocates, and business leaders to propose a Fair Deal for Milwaukee County.

Everyone is invited to this town hall meeting at the Kelly Senior Center in Cudahy to learn more about the solutions Milwaukee County is proposing to protect public services and invest in our future.

Join County Supervisors Jason Haas, Steve Shea, and County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, Sr. for this important conversation.

More info about the Fair Deal proposal is at milwaukee.gov/fairdeal

This is the first in a series of town halls to be hosted by Chairman Lipscomb and County Board Supervisors that will take place across Milwaukee County.

Pretty soon, there may be a little bit of you in bags of Milorganite — and we’ll be saving money because of it.

That is thanks to a new partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, which will now be accepting solid waste from the South Milwaukee Wastewater Plant for use in making their slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

The South Milwaukee City Council approved the agreement on Tuesday, and approval is still needed by the MMSD board.

Check out the agreement. We are always looking for win-win partnerships that help us become more efficient while delivering cost savings, and this is one of them.

By simply trucking our solids to MMSD instead of to area farms as far away as Washington and Fond du Lac Counties, we will save an estimated $60,000 per year. It also delivers environmental benefits, helping produce a fertilizer that MMSD calls “one of the nation’s oldest recycling efforts.”

There is also a broader win here — a continued strong partnership with MMSD. I am proud of the relationship we’ve built in recent years, starting with their partnership on the Oak Creek Watershed restoration plan and now this. We’ll be looking at additional partnerships in the future.

As we state in the agreement …

In a spirit of cooperation and in an effort to reduce the burden on respective rate-payers while improving the level of service to customers, the parties are constantly exploring partnerships and opportunities for shared services.

Amen to that, and we’re not done yet.

Check out these South Milwaukee headlines …

• Closed Wisconsin Crossing Guard Contractor Owed More Than $90,000 in Unemployment Taxes, Records Show (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Water Rates in South Milwaukee Could be Going up by Almost 40 Percent. Here’s Why. (NOW)
• “Crusherfest” Coming to South Milwaukee (OnMilwaukee.com)
• Moran’s Pub Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day Like no Other (Milwaukee Record)
• The Hot Ham and Rolls are Outstanding at Milwaukee Sausage (Journal Sentinel)
• Three Cousins Turned an Idea for a Souvenir Milwaukee Map into a South Milwaukee Business (NOW)

By now, you may have heard the company we rely upon to provide school crossing guards has been put out of business, leaving us high and dry.

And we’re not alone.

The South Milwaukee Police Department is working hard to lessen the impact of this, and until we find a long-term solution it’s “all hands on deck” to keep our kids safe.

From the police department Facebook page …

We have been able to find secure staff for some of the crossing locations with the temporary hire of guards that were previously working these posts and a new hire. We are also continuing to cover some posts with help from a volunteer, other City employees and Police department personnel, when possible. If anyone is interested in a crossing guard position please contact Captain Jill Kallay at the South Milwaukee Police Department for information and details. We continue to ask that drivers use caution and be watchful in crossing locations.

Here was Sunday’s SMPD post …

The company that staffs crossing guards for the City of South Milwaukee is experiencing some issues and this may result in not having crossing guards at the normal locations. The City and school district are working together to find new crossing guards. While this is being pursued, please remind your children to use caution during walks to and from school. We will have police officers and other city or school district employees assisting in these duties but we ask all drivers to be watchful for children at crosswalks. As the City of South Milwaukee takes steps to resolve this issue, we ask all drivers to be watchful and use extra caution.

I’ll be volunteering at 15th and Lakeview each morning this week. Stop by and say hello, and stay safe, South Milwaukee!

If you want to find me, I’ll be volunteering as a crossing guard at 15th and Lakeview, pinch hitting through Monday as we join a number of other communities in dealing with the ceasing of operations of our provider.

Stay safe, South Milwaukee!