Franklin Today

Aldermen look for 27th Street spending options while Mayor points out the unknown

Last week, the Common Council authorized staff to explore funding options for the city as they continue to make developing 27th Street a high priority. This continuation of spending comes at no surprise to some, given that the city has pumped in millions of dollars from a variety of public funding sources to this commercial corridor. When the spending began back in the 1990s, Franklin officials believed strongly that our neighbor to the east, Oak Creek, would be an equal partner sharing an equal high interest in seeing the corridor develop to its maximum extent. However, as years turned to decades Oak Creek's interest went from a nice high to perhaps an all-time low. This was evident as Mayor Taylor mentioned prior to the Council's vote that with a new mayoral administration in Oak Creek coming soon, their commitment to the corridor was up in the air.

Council approves golden employee contracts

Tuesday's Common Council meeting focused on employment contracts, job descriptions, and restructuring of the city's Finance Department. Included with this agenda item were changes to the Director of Administration's contract and job description, currently held by Mark Luberda, changes to the Director of Finance & Treasurer position, currently held by Cal Patterson, and the creation of a new position in the Finance Department. For the past several months, the city has been looking into methods to fulfill the finance obligations that were being done under both the Director of Finance & Treasurer position.

Common Council refuses to make report accurate

Last night on a 3-2 vote, the Council rejected Alderwoman Wilhelm's motion to correct portions of the Planning Department's Crossroads Area report that was before the Council for review. Wilhelm noted discrepancies in the report and made a strong case as to the importance of accuracy in public documents. "When it comes to Boards and Commissions' actions, you just can't make this stuff up. There should be motions and actions that support your facts before putting them in a document for the public," said Wilhelm.

Ryan Creek Sewer project under EPA review

On February 3rd, the Daily Reporter published an article (only available to subscribers) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing Franklin's Ryan Creek Interceptor Sewer (RCI) project for the SW portions of the city. Several days prior to the article on the 3rd, the Daily Reporter also had an article stating that the RCI "conflicted" with the goals the federal government laid down for usage of Clean Water monies.

County redistricting plan is approved; City representation increases

Yesterday the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved of its redistricting plan with a vote of 13-6. With this vote, the county moves forward to the 2012 election cycle with 18 districts, down one from the current 19. The district chopped off comes via Supervisor Joesph Rice's district, which was a district representing the North Shore suburbs. Rice was usually part of the minority on the County Board, generally siding with a more conservative suburban bloc versus the majority, more Democratic bloc flanked by supervisors from the City of Milwaukee.

Franklin Post Office spared from nationwide list

On Tuesday, news broke that the United States Postal Service was reviewing post office locations for possible closure or conversion into "Village Post Offices" - where the USPS would work with area grocers in merging operations. While the USPS won't make their final decision until December, they have released a list of locations. Fortunately, while rumors have grown that Franklin's post office was struggling, it was spared from this list. The closest locations are 5 post office sites in the City of Milwaukee.

Read more at the Business Journal.

Payne & Dolan pursues berm enhancements

Over the past several weeks, there has been growing concern and discussion regarding the eastern berm along 51st Street, which shields residents from the quarry. This arises from a proposal by Payne & Dolan, the operator of the quarry, that would relocate the berm closer to 51st Street. Concerns by residents are always along the lines of the quarry expanding in the future, of which such expansion would occur eastward. This has always been a hot button topic that likely will never vanish until operations at the quarry cease. 

Franklin Today becomes talking point for some as CCD proposal is considered

Let's just say I didn't really want to bring this up, but rather avoid discussing it altogether. However, due to several e-mails and phone calls from readers asking to learn more, and to get my perspective on this, I'm inclined to opine about it and get the air cleared. 

At last night's Committee of the Whole meeting, as you've read in the previous post, Citizens for Community Development (CCD) submitted a proposal to the city to, in essence, merge and create a public-private partnership to encourage and drive new economic development proposals and growth for the City of Franklin. Being the President of CCD, more intrigue and interest was being placed on my views and background more than anyone else, and rightfully so. As the President of any organization or business, you in essence almost become the face of that organization or business. If aldermen were interested in CCD's proposal, they have the right to ask CCD questions that can be to the point.

During the discussion, which was recorded on video by Bryan Maersch of the Franklin blog Wag the Dog, CCP Taylor made mention that I, through Franklin Today, have made or could be making remarks that could, in essence, be of concern if the city is teaming up with CCD underneath me as President. CCP Taylor made the suggestion of perhaps having editorial oversight prior to some pieces being posted.

I responded in-kind and, as you can hear for yourself on Maersch's video, stated that if the city worked/merged with CCD on this proposal and this website was causing too much concern or unnecessary grief in terms of bringing in developers, retailers, etc. to Franklin, that I would go as far as shutting down this website. I hope my readers know me well enough by now to understand that my personal passion for helping our community move forward easily could trump writing this blog. If the blog became something that didn't serve a justice to the city and its residents, it should be shut down. I told CCP Taylor that what he had to say was fair and I fully understood and appreciated his remarks.

To my surprise, that response prompted Alderman Olson to criticize CCP Taylor as basically telling me to suppress my 1st Amendment rights, to which CCP Taylor denied this, and rightfully so. I did, in a nutshell, read "in-between the lines" with CCP Taylor's remarks to me, which wasn't appropriate on my part, and I have already personally apologized to CCP Taylor for doing so. I know for a fact that CCP Taylor enjoys reading this website, has frequently kept tabs on stories and opinions posted on this website, and even has pulled me aside after a meeting or two to remark (positively) on the content.

For the record, I do not fear my 1st Amendment rights will be trampled in any way, shape or form. I believe it was simply CCP Taylor giving a friendly reminder that people are reading and watching, and some might take things a bit too seriously and offensively than others. CCP Taylor did not at all recommend Franklin Today being shut down, noting how the site is basically the new cord that connects the community together, and how that would be a shame if it were to be eliminated.

I personally would just like it put to rest and would appreciate Franklin Today not being the "headline grab" for some with other agendas to derail or criticize members of the Common Council. CCD, as an organization with a Board of Directors and Advisory Board, wants to work in a cooperative manner with the City of Franklin. I happen to be President of the organization and the blogger for this website, and I certainly do my best to keep my organizational duties and this website as separate as possible. I have already began to take note, on my own accord, to refrain from being what some could label as too "personal" or "editorializing" on this site. If that bothers some, I do apologize. All I want to do is do my personal best to help move Franklin Forward.

New Franklin Today poll question is up

For those not yet "fans" of Franklin Today on Facebook, a new poll question has been posted: 

Would you support the city creating a TIF District to help bring in a high quality development, such as a town center project or major office park?

You can find the poll at this link. Feel free to also write your opinion in the comments section below this post.

It's Franklin vs. Brown Deer...

Andy's on 51st & Rawson is one of a few choice stations in the metro area where E85 flex fuel is available to customers. Being observant of this, on Thursday Andy's will be offering a very (no, extremely) reasonable rate of $0.85 per gallon of E85 (max 20 gallons) at its Franklin (51st & Rawson) & Brown Deer locations. They're making this part of a friendly challenge between the two stations to see which community "flexes" their "fuel muscles" more. 

From their press release:

Summer is the beginning of Ozone season. Ozone, the main ingredient of smog, presents a serious air quality problem in many parts of Wisconsin, particularly Milwaukee County. Even at low levels, ozone can cause health effects and is especially harmful to those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

A typical Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) driver can prevent 4 tons of lifecycle CO2 and other pollutants from entering our air every year by fueling with E85 instead of gasoline. Because E85 is made with up to 85 percent ethanol, it has many other added benefits, including reducing our dependence on foreign oil and supporting local economies.

This year’s E85 Challenge is sponsored by the American Lung Association in Wisconsin Clean Air Choice® program, Andy’s Stations and the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board.