Tag Archives: Cherry

October 31, 2009 · 11:02 am

Busy Council Meeting Deals with Labor Agreements, Road Projects, Sewer Rates

It’s a full plate for the South Milwaukee Common Council at its November 3 meeting. Among the agenda items:

  • Discussion and possible motions on new labor agreements for our firefighters (South Milwaukee Firefighters Protective Association Local 1633) and police officers (South Milwaukee Professional Police Association Local 201).
  • Discussion and a possible motion regarding plans to be submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for 15th Avenue improvements from College Avenue south to Rawson. We had a Public Works and Property Committee meeting about this issue on Wednesday, and I’m really happy with what our engineering department came up with here. You can learn more about the project in this earlier post. The proposal we’re going to debate is expected to include, among other safety improvements, the addition of medians and left-turn restrictions at Beech, Walnut and Cherry. A median at Maple near Rawson Elementary is no longer under consideration.
  • Discussion and a possible motion on the submission of an application to the state for funding to improve 11th Avenue south of Milwaukee Avenue . I feel this is an important project for our downtown, as it would allow for some much-needed work on the stretch of road that houses the South Milwaukee Downtown Market. The market was a huge success in 2009, and we’re planning to make it bigger and better in 2010. Making 11th Avenue a first-class roadway, as opposed to the current potholed mess it currently is, will help achieve that goal.
  • Discussion and a possible motion on an increase in sewer user rates. This was the subject of a lengthy Wastewater Commission meeting I attended Thursday, and commissioners voted to recommend an increase in sewer rates. The council must approve this. This is a very complicated issue, but I go in to Tuesday’s meeting expecting to support the increase for several reasons. First, it’s what the wastewater facility needs to pay its bills while also beginning to grow the cash balance in its budget. That balance does not currently exist. The recommended increase is also manageable for residents. For the average user, it will equate to an estimated $5.50 increase per tri-annual sewer bill, or $16.50 annually. And I’m told that our sewer bills will remain among the lowest in the area, even with the increase. It’s also the first increase since 2007, and the one previous to that came in 2004. A decline in the volume of sewage treated is also driving this. In short, it seems like a fair request on the part of our Wastewater Commission.

The Common Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Click here for the full agenda.

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October 24, 2009 · 3:03 am

More on the 15th Avenue Project

Got some more details today on what’s planned for 15th Avenue next year … and I like it. The most recent proposal — recently submitted to Wisconsin Department of Transportation — includes the following:

  • Removal and replacement of travel lane concrete pavement from College to Rawson;
  • Removal and replacement of selected parking lanes, curb and gutter; and
  • Medians at Maple, Cherry and Beech streets.

Pavement would be widened from south of Cherry to north of Beech to accomodate those two medians and allow for a right-turn-only lane into the South Milwaukee Middle School entrance driveway. The Beech median would run through the entire intersection … eliminating left turns from 15th Avenue on to Beech.

And there would be no widening to accomodate the Maple median, meaning there will be some street parking lost in the 1400 and 1500 blocks of 15th Avenue. The tradeoff is a safer crossing for Rawson Elementary students, something my 4K student son will appreciate.

Want to learn more about the plans? Stop by the Public Works and Property Committee meeting at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, at City Hall. And, as always, feel free to comment here or contact me at erikbrooks32@yahoo.com.

And click here to read my earlier post on this topic.

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October 17, 2009 · 7:53 pm

Solid Plans for 15th Avenue Improvements

Some long overdue road work is coming to 15th Avenue … thanks to federal stimulus dollars.

The project includes full replacement of the travel lanes from College to Rawson avenues, and that’s great. It needs it. It also includes localized replacement of curb, gutter and parking lane concrete.

But the best part of this project is the safety improvements that are planned around South Milwaukee Middle and High School.

At this point, two narrow median strips are planned for intersections at Beech and Cherry streets near the two schools, and a third is being considered at Maple Street near Rawson Elementary.

The medians would allow for more prominent and permanent street safety signage and possible school zone flashing lights. They also would emphasize school zone and pedestrian crossings, slowing traffic. 

I am asking that they also include some sort of decorative landscaping to make the new street a first-class corridor for our city.

The pavement would also be widened on the east side of 15th from Cherry to Beech to accomodate the medians and allow for a designated turn lane to the middle school drop-off area.

Work is scheduled for next summer, and actual construction costs will be entirely funded with stimulus money. (The city is picking up an estimated $125,000 in design and engineering costs.)

The city and Collins Engineering held a public information meeting on the project last week. Only several neighbors attended, despite persistent concerns about traffic around the schools during drop-off and pick-up.

I’ll keep you updated on the status of the project and what the final plans call for. In the meantime, feel free to add a comment here to let me know your suggestions for the project and 15th Avenue traffic concerns.

And a big thanks to the city engineer’s office and Collins Engineering for their work on this so far, including meetings with school officials and neighbors to give them a chance to provide their input on the project.

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