Tag Archives: Oak Creek

by | February 10, 2011 · 11:10 pm

Maintaining the Creek: Finding Common Ground on a Local Waterway

I’ve written a lot about how I love Oak Creek. It’s such a special part of the 4th District as it meanders on its way to Grant Park and Lake Michigan.

It’s also far from perfect. It’s overgrown with vegetation in places, and it can get dammed from time to time with fallen trees and other debris. It’s also far from desirable as a recreational option.

What can or should be done to address these concerns and make the creek an even more valuable resource for South Milwaukee and other area communities?

That was the subject of a meeting held earlier this week at City Hall, where about 20 people gathered to discuss the creek and its future. Among those in attendance were city leaders (including Mayor Tom Zepecki, Alderman David Bartoshevich, City Engineer Kyle Vandercar and me) and representatives from the Milwaukee County Department of Public Works, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

The discussion centered around what can and should be done to ensure Oak Creek is effectively controlling flooding (and not contributing to it).

Among the questions raised: Who “owns” certain parts of the creek? Who is responsible for keeping it clear? What about dredging the Mill Pond? And, perhaps more importantly, would improving the flow of the creek and/or dredging potentially help lessen the severity of flooding for area homeowners? Also, what role could these efforts play in enhancing the recreational options the creek allows?

There honestly weren’t many answers coming out of the meeting, but at least we’re talking about these issues. That’s why Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik should get a lot of credit for organizing the gathering and taking the lead on this issue.

This discussion is long overdue, and valuable, and it ended, for now, on Monday with SEWRPC pledging to look into what it will take to do a deeper dive study on the creek and come up with some options. We’ll see where that leads.

Like the creek, this will move slowly. But at least it’s moving. I hope it leads to a day where all key stakeholders realize that maintaining and enhancing the Oak Creek watershed is a partnership, a shared responsibility by all of those who enjoy and benefit from a well-maintained waterway.

It’s not the county’s creek. It’s not one city’s creek. It’s the region’s creek. We need to act like it.

I’ll keep you posted, and please post your comments below.

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by | January 12, 2011 · 9:10 pm

Oak Creek Power Plant Update and Other Headlines of Interest

So, the Oak Creek power plant is finally complete.

Read the full Journal Sentinel story here. From it:

The biggest unknown: the project’s final cost. We Energies will file reports detailing the final cost this year when it seeks to adjust rates for 2012 and 2013, Kuester said.

Regulators approved a $2.15 billion price tag for the project, and set a cap allowing overruns of up to 5% to be passed along to utility customers.

“We hope customers won’t have to pay for any cost overruns associated with the construction of the power plants,” Charlie Higley, executive director of the coustomer group Wisconsin Citizens’ Utility Board. “We’re also hopeful that the plants continue to run well, and that We Energies doesn’t charge customers for any costs associated with uneven performance” of the first coal plant last year.

And check out these other local headlines of note:

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by | October 6, 2010 · 9:10 pm

Help Wanted: Oak Creek Cleanup Planned for Saturday Morning

Take ownership of a 4th District resource!

Friends of the Mill Pond & Oak Creek Watercourse have scheduled the fall cleanup for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. The designated clean-up area is from North Chicago Avenue to Rawson Avenue.

Volunteers are needed to clean trash and debris from selected areas along the watercourse. Some of the items previously found (along with common trash) removed are: shopping carts, a plastic slide, a pay phone, tires, tire rims, crutches, bike tires, batteries, assorted balls and toys, a tricycle, fire extinguisher, jacket, container of oil, pieces of plywood and a street barricade.

Safety vests, bags, bottled water and vinyl gloves are provided to participants. Volunteers are urged to bring tall boots if they have them.

Email friendsofthemillpond@gmail.com for additional information.

It’s supposed to be a great day … and I hope to see you there. The Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse could use your help in cleaning up this South Milwaukee jewel. Bring your family and friends!

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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 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 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 | November 16, 2009 · 10:29 pm

No Surprises Here: Post Office Project Still on Hold

A recent communication from the United States Postal Service pretty much confirms what we already knew … that the Oak Creek postal sorting facility is on hold, and there probably won’t be any financial assistance from the USPS for the Pennsylvania/Nicholson Avenue project.

According to the October 29 letter from Paul Purcell, manager of real estate acquisition for the USPS, to the City of Oak Creek: “A combination of economic forces and a drop in mail volume have led us to suspend most new construction projects including this one.”

As a result, the letter states, the USPS can’t commit to construction plans and any potential contribution toward planned improvements to Pennsylvania/Nicholson. That means that any road improvements, now planned for 2011 and 2012, will probably fall on the shoulders of the state, Oak Creek and South Milwaukee. (It’s going to be split 80%-10%-10%.)

Again, this is no surprise. But it’s at least good to know where things stand as design work on this road project begins in earnest in 2010.

You can learn more about the Pennsylvania/Nicholson project in this October post. And check out this post on the postal facility.

You can read the full USPS letter to Oak Creek here.

A few additional notes about this:

  • The letter indicates the postal facility may proceed on a smaller scale … even though that may require new approvals from local officials. Stay tuned on that potential “re-sizing,” as the USPS puts it.
  • The USPS still wants to be part of the Pennsylvania/Nicholson planning and design process, should work on the facility proceed. According to the letter, any improvements necessary for the facility, whenever it is built, can be accomplished at some point in the future.
  • Without the USPS’ financial involvement, the addition of the roundabout planned for Hickory Street seems unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely. Again, the design process will help determine the potential options here, and residents will have plenty of opportunities to give their feedback.
  • The letter also contains reference to the Pennsylvania/Nicholson project plans being “accelerated.” They are not. This has been on the drawing board for some time … and the fact is that we can’t let the uncertainty surrounding the postal facility determine how we proceed with this important road project.
  • Oak Creek Mayor Dick Bolender has since sent a response letter to federal postmaster general regarding the future of the facility. The letter reminds that postal officials that, at this point, work on Pennsylvania/Nicholson will proceed “without the installation of the roundabout, the frontage road, and within a right of way that is inconsistent with plans for the USPS project.” He adds that the USPS may have to go through the project approval process a second time if the project is revived. Bolender urges the “USPS to reconsider its position with respect to the project” and “commit now to reconstruction of S. Pennsylvania Avenue from Hickory to College including the roundabout and frontage road.”

 I’ll keep you posted on what happens next on this project.

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by | November 12, 2009 · 11:03 pm

Weekend Events to Keep in Mind … Including the 4th District Town Hall Meeting

There’s plenty going on in South Milwaukee and the 4th District this weekend.

  • For starters, I hope you can attend the 4th District town hall meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday at City Hall. Learn more here.
  • Before or after the meeting, why not stop by the Holiday Bazaar? It’s scheduled for  9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grobschmidt Senior Center. Learn more about the event in the center’s monthly newsletter here.
  • And don’t forget about the H1N1 clinic at the Oak Creek Community Center, also on Saturday. It’s co-sponsored by the South Milwaukee Health Department.

Also, don’t forget about the Rawson Elementary playground dedication at 2 p.m. on Friday. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend this one due to a work function, but I hope you can show up to thank the Rawson PTO and others for making this new playground happen.

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by | November 12, 2009 · 10:49 pm

Potentially Bad News for my (and Your) Ash Tree

I must admit, this story has me a bit concerned about the ash tree in my backyard … and the other ash trees in South Milwaukee.

The Latest Finding of Emerald Ash Borer: Oak Creek

From the Journal Sentinel article:

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported two infestations Wednesday in Oak Creek. The first was on Ridgeview Road, west of I-94, and south of W. Ryan Road. Then, later on Wednesday, crews found more infested trees on W. Oakwood Drive, also west of the interstate. All told, about 20 trees appear to be infested …

Now, this is not a big surprise, as the tree disease continues its gradual spread, and there is some (relatively) good news from the article:

Wisconsin hasn’t experienced the devastation of states with more mature outbreaks, such as Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. In those states, an estimated 53 million ash trees had died or been removed by 2007, according to experts.”

Let’s cross our fingers that doesn’t happen here.

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by | November 6, 2009 · 9:49 am

South Milwaukeeans Welcome at Joint Oak Creek H1N1 Vaccination Clinic on Nov. 14

The Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and St. Francis Health Departments will be holding a joint H1N1 vaccination clinic on Saturday, November 14 at the Oak Creek Senior High School. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or as long as vaccine lasts. Only members of the targeted group can get the vaccine.

Click here to visit the Oak Creek website to learn more.

Also, Cudahy has a clinic planned for November 9. Click here for more.

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by | October 17, 2009 · 9:00 pm

New Look for Rawson Elementary Playground

UPDATE: I heard from Rawson Principal Colin Jacobs today, and he said the playground is expected to be completed in mid- to late November. It will take approximately two weeks for the equipment to be installed and another week for the rubber matting to be put down. “Pray for good weather,” he told me in an email. Consider it done. Thanks for the update, Mr. Jacobs.

There’s some good news for 4th District kids.

Work is underway on replacing the outdoor playground at Rawson Elementary, and the new equipment will be first-class. The old equipment has already been removed from the site.  

The project got a boost this summer when the City Council allocated Community Development Block Grant money for the effort. Some “leftover” CDBG funds from Oak Creek also helped with the project.

It’s a worthy project, one that will benefit the entire community. And I know my son, a Rawson 4K student, is even more excited than I am about it.

Thanks to everyone, including school leaders and the dedicated volunteers who have raised funds for the playground, for making this happen.

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