Franklin Today

$1,000,000 in the hole?

For the past several years, the 27th Street Corridor has been the site of tons of activity in terms of commercial development. This has been courtesy of several TIF (tax-incremental financing) district set-up along the corridor on both sides of the street. Franklin and Oak Creek are supposedly working jointly on this endeavor; it remains to be seen, however, as to how much Franklin will allow Oak Creek's vacuum cleaner to suck in terms of taxpayer dollars. A prime example of this? The Drexel Interchange.

Should we really trust our neighbors in Oak Creek?

Having in-depth open records can have plenty of perks for the public...including those living in adjacent communities who might be concerned about joint projects. The 27th Street Corridor has been in the works between the cities of Franklin and Oak Creek for almost ten years now. Mind you that under the current set-up, any new (re)development occurring on the corridor purely benefits taxpayers of the Oak Creek-Franklin Public School District and not the one most Franklin taxpayers reside in, the Franklin Public School District.

In light of that, it amazes me that Oak Creek Mayor Dick Bolender got in a huff several months ago over Franklin leaders, thanks to pressure from their constituents, refusing to automatically agree to funding a portion of the Drexel Avenue Interchange with Interstate 94. In the Minutes of Oak Creek's June 29th, 2009 Common Council meeting, Mayor Bolender notes Mayor Taylor's refusal of simply agreeing to convincing our aldermen at Franklin City Hall to find dollars to pony up to Bolender's community. Apparently I was correct in noting many times before that Oak Creek apparently is in the mode of being Franklin's bully, and it's only in that mode because some Franklin leaders past allowed our community to be in that position...especially when it came to giving up lands now deemed prime commercial territory to Oak Creek's school system.

By the "New Day" on Franklin's Common Council occurring on April 1, 2008, Franklin City Hall shifted its gears towards Oak Creek, and Bolender is now completely aware of this.

I might have spoke too soon...

I just discovered that Franklin's Common Council is holding a special meeting tonight at 6:30pm. One of the topics is:

Recommendations from City Engineer relating to February 6, 2009 letter from Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Frank J. Busalacchi regarding Federal Stimulus Local Project Solicitation.

Hmm...well the only stimulus item Mayor Taylor requested in his wish list that has to do with WISDOT is, you guessed it, the Drexel interchange!

Good grief!!

So long, Drexel interchange?

Make sure to read what I found out from last night's Mayoral forum in Oak Creek by clicking this link!

Milwaukee Connector Study to be in Franklin

While it is a short notice, if you want your voice heard about the future of transit in Franklin or the southern suburbs in general, the Milwaukee Connector Study will be holding an open house on the subject at the Northwestern Mutual Campus tomorrow from 4:30 - 6:30pm.

The stimulus package submitted by Mayor Taylor

A very big and special thank you goes to City Clerk Sandi Wesolowski for being very prompt with my request on this issue. She has been the biggest asset in City Hall for many, many years.

The full document can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

Download Franklin Stimulus Package

Here's the list from most to least expensive:

• $33 million: Ryan Creek Interceptor (extend municipal sewer to SW Franklin and areas of Muskego & New Berlin)
• $20 million: Franklin Cultural Arts Center
• $12 million: Community Center
• $4.8 million: Land for completion of a Dedication of a Greenbelt Ecosystem to the Public
• $4 million: City Hall expansion that would include community room facilities
• $3.96 million: Dept. of Public Works Building Addition (New Garage)
• $3.75 million: Drexel interchange funding
• $3.3 million: Puetz Road reconstruction from 76th Street to Hwy 100
• $2.9 million: Addition on current Sewer and Water Utility Building
• $2.3 million: S. 51st Street (Phase 1) (Drexel to Puetz - - FHS area) (Reconstruction/widening)
• $1.7 million: S. 51st Street (Phase 2) (1300 ft N of Rawson to College) (Reconstruction/widening)
• $1.65 million: Pleasant View Park improvements (playground, basketball court, playfield, tennis court, pavilion, and connecting trail)
• $1.6 million: Utility improvements: Rawson Homes Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation
• $1.16 million: Hillcrest Neighborhood Park (New neighborhood park south of Elm Court) (includes basketball courts, baseball diamond, softball diamonds, playfield, playground, tennis courts, ice skating area, park pavilion, parking lot, and walking/education trail)
• $1.12 million: St. Martin's Neighborhood Park (New neighborhood park on west side of 116th & Meyers Drive) (same amnetities as the proposed Hillcrest Neighborhood Park)
• $1.03 million: Forest Hills Neighborhood Park (New neighborhood park west of Forest Park Middle School) (same amnetities as proposed Hillcrest and St. Martin's parks)
• $1.1 million: S. 51st Street (Phase 3) (Rawson to 1400 ft south) (Reconstruction/widening)
• $1.1 million: Street improvements to S. 76th Street from Imperial to Drexel (medians and pedestrian walks)
• $1.1 million: Utility improvements: Oakwood Road to Franklin Business Park water main extension
• $994,458: Oak Leaf Trail extension to County Line Road
• $330,000: Street Improvements to Oakwood Road from 60th Street to 6,100 ft east)
• $250,000: Utility improvements: Hale Park Connection Repair to Sanitary Sewer
• $140,000: Lions Legend Park improvements (accessibility & Historic Village)

Mayor Bolender of Oak Creek vetoes OC resolution on Drexel interchange

This has probably been the most confusing week for blogging on the Drexel interchange. Whether it is the media reporting on the story or the elected officials themselves, someone has to be doing flip-flops right about now...one way or another.

Mayor Dick Bolender, which wrote his rebuttal to a blog entry of mine yesterday, vetoed the Oak Creek Common Council resolution that would have put up $3.8 million, or 25% local share, for the Drexel Avenue interchange with I-94. Now enters in the issue of either the media getting their facts incorrect or Bolender trying to cover his tail, since the media reported that it was Bolender who worked on the same "compromise" legislation that he just vetoed. Bolender strongly denies the charges in his response to MMT.

Meanwhile, what's left is a ton of confusion on too many angles. To be frank, I think the primary confusion must be with the Oak Creek Common Council, who apparently cannot trust either their Mayor or their media. Next up would be the City of Franklin, who keeps getting nagged and pestered by Oak Creek officials to come up with some magical number to financially support the Drexel interchange. While Franklin Alderman Steve Olson, who is Chairman of the Joint 27th Street Steering Committee, is claiming ignorance on whether or not Franklin residents want to spend up to $4 million on an interchange in Oak Creek. How do I know this? I received an e-mail from a concerned citizen who e-mailed Alderman Olson with some questions. Originally Olson had this to say to the citizen:

You mix several issues. First is the interchange itself. Second is who pays for it. I support a new interchange at Drexel Avenue. I believe it will benefit the entire region. I also believe, that due to the regional benefit, the state, using federal funds, ought to pay for it 100%.

The citizen then asked:

It is abundantly clear Franklin taxpayers want no part of that interchange on Drexel Ave. Why is this dead horse being whipped again? Are you a part of this travesty? Are you in favor of it in spite of the taxpayers' wishes?

Olson responded:

You make a lot of assumptions in your statements. I don't know if taxpayers in Franklin are for or against an interchange at Drexel.

I don't have to sit back and think twice to know my answer is an absolute NO towards favoring an interchange at Drexel. Why? Well, unlike Olson, I have been upfront in noting time and again that Oak Creek has wanted funds from Franklin, funds that Franklin taxpayers simply cannot afford. What Olson does is neglect the whole issue about Oak Creek's desire for our tax dollars pouring across the border, and thus he bounces off the direct questions. His statement that the feds should cover the interchange is nothing new with regards to rhetoric. He wanted Milwaukee County to pay for upgrades to S. 76th St in Franklin; upgrades that included what the county considered nearly $8 million in improvements and wouldn't pay for. Olson fought back with another alderman and ultimately lost that battle. If Olson can't win a battle with Milwaukee County, who's to say he can win a similar one with the State of Wisconsin?

In my opinion, it seems that Franklin officials are trying yet again to get their hands dirty with this interchange, which is simply ridiculous considering we have the option of simply walking away from all the nonsense and the bologna.

Perhaps the last angle of confusion has to be with those communities impacted further north of the interchange, like Greenfield and the City of Milwaukee. Several leaders from both cities have lodged complaints against the interchange, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce seems to agree with a pending ACLU lawsuit alleging discrimination between a heavily minority-based population in Milwaukee and a heavily Caucasian suburb in Oak Creek. If the interchange is dead, there technically wouldn't be much of a lawsuit! However, if it is alive and well, I'd presume the lawsuit would be, too.

Ah, it's all in a week's worth of Franklin and Oak Creek politics. It never ceases to amaze me.

An update from Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm, including another sex offender arrested in violation of Franklin's sexual predator ordinance

Hello 3rd District,

Much has gone on since my last update and in a short period so far this year. Please forward this message to those who may not be on my e-update list. You can request to be added by sending me an email at kwilhelm@franklinwi.gov. (Your address is not given out).

One of the boards and commissions I represent is the Board of Health. Selected updates are: Flu shots are still available through the City and it is believed that they have hit the mark on the type this year, which means it should be very effective.  See www.kwilhelm.us for clinic dates. Also, please be aware that there has been a Salmonella outbreak linked to certain peanut butter products. The Center for Disease Control continues investigation; updates at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella.

The Council meeting is Tuesday, Jan 20th at 6:30 p.m. The link to the full agenda can be found on my website's information page.  Items that may be of interest in order on the agenda are:

• Ordinance to relax natural resource protection standards.
• Special assessment for 51st St reconstruction from Rawson to 1300 ft. North.
• Direction to staff on detached garage ordinance.
• Cost sharing for the Drexel Interchange.
• Complaint against Buckhorn Inn bartenders, holders of alcohol/beverage license.

From Chief of Police, Richard Oliva, 1/12/09:  After a thorough investigation, the police department established that a registered sex offender was living within a restricted zone in the city.  The department and City Attorney have begun the process to enforce the city ordinance that restricts where registered sex offenders can reside. In addition, our investigation determined that this offender violated the sex registry law by failing to report his change of address with the state. Today, we took him into custody and will be presenting him to the District Attorney for the felony charge. Arrested was: Darren L. Logue 7855 S. Scepter Drive #8; (Convicted of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child)

Previous Council action was taken on Jan 6th for a 90-day closing of the Buckhorn Inn in connection with last year's fatal drunken-driving crash.

3rd District resident and Economic Development Commissioner, John Michlig has requested review of the Jan 6th Council action in relation to the return of $9,000 fee as part of a liquor license application at the soon to open Staybridge Suites. (Jan 26th meeting date).

4th District News: Marshall & Ilsley Bank has filed a foreclosure action against the developers of Franklin Oaks condominium project in the 4th District off 27th & Drexel Ave. The bank claims almost $4.6 million plus interest of almost $35,000 a day as well as late fees for 52-units is owed.

Your local spending power is needed! Please continue to support our local Franklin businesses.

Best,

Kristen Wilhelm
3rd District Alderman
City of Franklin
9229 West Loomis Road
Franklin, WI 53132
Home phone 414.423.1606
kwilhelm@franklinwi.gov
www.franklinwi.gov

Can't the darn Drexel interchange just go away?!

Tomorrow evening both the Franklin and Oak Creek Common Councils will be discussing the Drexel Avenue interchange with I-94. The Drexel interchange has been a hotbed of discussion and now controversy with an lawsuit filed by the ACLU, which is supported by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and several aldermen from Greenfield and Milwaukee.

This will be very interesting because Franklin's Common Council previously rejected any funding of the interchange until they saw potential economic benefits of the project. Since WISDOT wants a 50% local match, Oak Creek has been asking Franklin for up to $4 million dollars at one point for its share of funding. Due to this and the fact that I'm a resident of Franklin, this blog has been staunchly OPPOSED to the Drexel interchange because I have the following opinions:

1. Franklin has NO MONEY in the coffers for such an expenditure
2. If Brookfield has only 2, 27th Street should be a-OK with 3 (including the future Elm Rd interchange)
3. Why would Franklin spend money in Oak Creek when there are plenty of projects needed within...well...Franklin!

The Journal Sentinel put up an article about Oak Creek's decision to bring back the proposal, which states that Mayor Dick Bolender and Mayoral candidate Alderman Mark Verhalen both wanted to bring this issue back for discussion. According to the article, Bolender and Verhalen both are looking at the Common Council to approve of a 25% local share for the project, which amounts to $3.8 million. What immeadiately got my attention was the fact that Common Council President (and Mayoral candidate) Dimity Grabowski was NOT part of this newfound "buddy-buddy" tactic by Bolender and Verhalen. I spoke to Dimity earlier tonight about the payday loan ordinance, and after that was done I went to the Drexel interchange for a quote. Dimity provided the following:

After several discussions with State Rep Mark Honadel, it was Mark Honadel  who suggested that the City of Oak Creek should consider the possibility of a 25% cost share, versus letting this issue die.  I was aware of this for some time, and were other's.  It was not Mayor Bolender nor Ald Verhalen who suggested this.  I am simply letting you know that the credit due on this one, is State Rep Mark Honadel.  Should you need to verify this, feel free to contact him.  The Oak Creek Common Council unanimously has agreed that to ask the tax payers to swallow the cost of $7.5 million, is unreasonable, hence, the decision to try and shoot for 25% local cost share, versus 50%.

Later tonight, she contacted me with the following information:

I just got off the phone with Rep Mark Honadel, who is the one that brought this issue back to the table, to consider Oak Creek paying 25% of the local cost share. I completely understand Franklin's position, not a problem.

Here is my problem..... I don't want for Oak Creek to even consider paying anymore than they have to, to get this done.....  the taxpayers would never stand for 7 million, let alone 5 million!! Ridiculous!

I just wanted to ensure that Rep Mark Honadel got the credit for this one, not the Mayor for simply picking up the telephone and contacting the Journal....  I have never stood by and allowed people to take credit for something that they don't deserve, that dosen't seem right to me. Just my opinion.

For my part, I contacted Franklin Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm to see why Mayor Tom Taylor would want to bring this issue back up. According to Wilhelm, the Mayor wants the Common Council to send the Drexel interchange issue to three individuals for input: The Director of Finance, the Director of Administration, and the City Attorney. In the end, I'll predict that all three will come back to the Common Council after their "research" and recommend to the Council approval of sending tax dollars to Oak Creek.

Readers, this interchange has become an irritant to Franklin taxpayers; it just never seems to go away. Whenever residents feel the issue is dead or has vanished, it magically reappears to haunt them some more. The threat of Franklin taxpayer money being sent to Oak Creek seems to never disappear, and that's a high concern of mine. Mayor Taylor has always been in my sights ever since the days of the Boomgaard boondoogle, and he never seems to disappoint us in doing more and more nonsense every month.

I just hope it doesn't have to take a jam-packed Council Chambers in Franklin to finally kill this wretched interchange...because right now I don't think Mayor Taylor or members of the former Franklin Citizens for Responsible Leadership (Aldermen Olson, Skowronski, Sohns, and Solomon) get the hints.

Oak Creek alderman puts another nail on Drexel interchange; Franklin leaders blush in embarrassment

If only the last part of the title was true...

Yesterday, Oak Creek alderman and member of the Joint South 27th Street Steering Committee, Alderman Tim Michalski, told reporters that after the newest denial by the OC Common Council to fund an economic study on the potential benefits of the Drexel interchange the whole concept is "likely dead."

This puts a whole new paragraph into the chapter of the Drexel interchange that relates to an ACLU lawsuit and comments made by Franklin leaders on it. You see, a few entries back I questioned strongly as to why our Director of Administration Mark Luberda made comments to the Daily Reporter, and I also criticized Steering Committee Chairman and Franklin alderman Steve Olson for his quotes in the NOW newspaper a few days later. Why? Because Oak Creek seemed to be mum on the topic and Franklin already made their statement in a public vote that DENIED local funding from us to Oak Creek for that interchange. Luberda and Olson should have thought it over before making comments, especially now.

Before Michalski's statement, many City of Greenfield officials were opposed to the idea of punishing 27th Street north of I-894 in favor of development south of I-894. To add onto that, the ACLU filed a lawsuit which stemmed from these complaints, which also came from members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the businesses that currently line 27th Street north of 894. Then the City of Milwaukee Common Council might get involved because, obviously, the majority of businesses on 27th Street north of 894 reside in the City of Milwaukee. Great! As you can see, city vs. suburban priorities are quickly becoming a point of discussion.

Franklin did its part and our leaders should have laid in the weeds. There was no need for anyone in Franklin to discuss an interchange that would be going up in a neighboring suburb. If anything, cities like Greenfield and Milwaukee were probably thankful of our Council's vote; a YES from Franklin could have definitely opened the gate for that particular train to leave the station. Instead, comments from our leaders could very well have a negative impact, since Milwaukee is aiming to make this situation part of a broader conflict. I'll easily point out that Franklin shouldn't be part of this mess, but unfortunately is now front and center thanks to Luberda and Olson.

With Franklin's pants down, Oak Creek steps up to the plate by having Alderman Michalski, of whom serves on the same committee Olson chairs, tell the media that from his perspective in Oak Creek, the darn thing is dead. Wonderful job, fellas! Olson and Luberda just argued FOR an interchange that not only was rejected by our Council and by the people of Franklin, but is now apparently "dead on arrival."

If I was Olson or Luberda, I'd definitely be red in the face on that one. I don't know whether to be sympathetic or simply say, "GOOD ONE!"