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.

More public funds for 27th Street?

Tonight's Common Council agenda includes two development topics: the Crossroads intersection (Hwy 100 & Loomis) and the 27th Street Corridor. What stands out is how those two topics part ways in terms of priorities and vision.

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.

Halloween trick-or-treat time to be decided tonight

Every year, this issue for some reason or another becomes a hot topic at City Hall. This is due to some politicians, like Mayor Taylor, believing that more conformity in the trick-or-treat times throughout the Milwaukee metropolitan area will result in less crossover between communities. The matter became a hot button issue in regards to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council (ICC), which Mayor Taylor is its Chairman. 

In recent years, leaders in the suburbs, Mayor Taylor included, are frustrated more than ever in terms of carloads of children coming from elsewhere, the elephant in the room being the City of Milwaukee, to the suburbs in persuit of a safer, more enjoyable trick-or-treat (and likely better choices of candy at the doors). The leaders are upset because of an apparent silent uprising among suburban residents having to purchase additional candy at the local Target or Walgreens to accomodate these Milwaukee youths running around in costumes with their, in our case, Franklin counterparts.

Council tables 230-foot sidewalk connecting subdivisions to FHS

Last night after a spirited debate over a variety of matters, the Common Council voted 6-0 to table a bid acceptance to construct a 230-foot sidewalk connecting subdivisions south and southeast of FHS to the school. This proposal came before the Council after months of earlier discussion that started when a homeowner wanted to build a path along the border of his property for students rather than the alternative of nothing.

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.

Kohl's HQ decision sheds light on new public spending

In what could be considered a blow to efforts to lure the Kohl's Corporate Headquarters out of Menomonee Falls, news from the Journal Sentinel indicates the exact opposite will actually be happening. JS Business Reporter Tom Daykin reports that Menomonee Falls officials have produced an incentive and relocation plan to Kohl's that would involve up to $41 million in public spending to keep the corporate headquarters there. Under the Menononee Falls plan, Kohl's would relocate to the more esteemed Woodland Prime Office Park, closer to US 45. Daykin further notes that Kohl's will make the final decision on its corporate plans this Fall.

City redistricting plan could have major impacts in 2013

The City of Franklin's new districts have been created, at least temporarily, and will be discussed at the Common Council meeting on August 2nd. With the new boundaries, if approved, the Common Council could see new representatives in 2013, since one of the aldermen will be just barely kept in the district he represents, and another could lose what some argue as a significant portion of his voting base.