Wednesday, May 30, 2012
As sale closes on 100-plus acre parcel, plans commence to develop the natural area; an oversight on the DNR's part puts a wrinkle in grant funding process.
The Conservation Committee met earlier this month at city hall and front and center in their discussions was the development of a site plan for the 103 acres of land known as the Borst Property. Early snags with weed-tipping The land, which will be renamed the Badertscher Preserve at the request of Nancy Borst in honor of her father. The commissioners will now begin thinking of how they want to develop that property, and Conservation Coordinator Tom Zagar presented a restoration and development plan for their review. The land holds a lot of promise, but DNR funding may be in jeopardy as part of it is used by the Little Muskego Lake District (LMLD) to tip weeds. Zagar said the weed harvesting was mentioned in the initial application …
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Among agenda items for Tuesday night, a recommendation to retain special legal counsel to handle questions of recall elections, should they come
Faced with the possibility of recall elections of the mayor and two aldermen, the Muskego Common Council on Tuesday will consider whether to hire an outside attorney advise the city on the mater. Aldermen Keith Werner (4th District) and Neome Schaumberg (6th District) and Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti have all been targeted for recall by Muskego for Ethical Government, a citizens political action committee that formed initially to force a referendum on the lake park purchase. The group has been collecting signatures since March 30 and have 60 days to turn them in. An email from city attorneys Eric Larson and Donald Molter advised the city to hire a separate firm to "eliminate the appearance of impropriety" should the city's attorneys have to …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Borst property will hopefully close on Friday after several delays
With a full slate of issues from an aldermanic appointment to several closed session items, the Common Council came back from a closed session more than two and a half hours into their meeting Tuesday night to discuss an update on a purchase of a large parcel of land on the north side of the city. The purchase of a nearly 100-acre parcel owned by Nancy Borst is hoped to close on Friday, after several delays have reset the clock. Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti explained that the revisions in the agreement, including additional land that the Borst family would retain, had delayed the finalization of the sale. The result was a lower cost to the city by $30,000, however anticipated funding by the DNR for the land, which is considered environmentally …
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Initial resolution will be accompanied by another that outlines more detail on ad hoc committee, with alderman hopeful there isn't another 4-3 split
With a full membership of the Muskego Common Council expected on Tuesday, discussion on the proposed lake park purchase can move forward. The 4.6-acre parcel already has an offer to purchase by the city; the property is owned by Michael Dilworth, and has been the point of passionate debate by residents. Opponents feel the $3.55 million price tag is too high and that the city has not completed other park developments. Proponents have cited that the lake frontage offered is an ideal location for a second park on the lake, with the other (Idle Isle Park) having parking limitations and being difficult to find. A proposal by Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti was to be introduced and discussed on Feb. 28, but problems with open meetings regulations kept …
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
One of the city's largest land purchases requires rezoning prior to completion of the sale, and one of Muskego's largest retailers looks to make updates.
The Plan Commission will meet Tuesday night at City Hall at 6 p.m. Included on their agenda are two properties that have recently made progress at council, and another that is the largest retail property on Janesville Road. On Nov. 22, the council heard the reading of the ordinance allowing for the rezoning of the Borst property, located off of Hillendale Drive and Field Drive. This action was required as part of the purchase agreement between the city and Nancy Borst. The commission will hear the logistics involved behind revised rezoning lines as well as new property boundary lines to make the purchase a reality. The Borst property has been deemed environmentally significant to the Little Muskego Lake watershed, and will be developed in…
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Despite a list of approvals, Muskego Finance and Common Council move through quickly.
The Finance Committee and Common Council Met Tuesday night at City Hall, and made quick work of the discussion items before them. Here's a recap of items approved at Finance, and again at Council In addition, public hearings to rezone properties near the Sauced Restaurant to a business district (local service center district), which could allow for additional business development in that area, and to make the Borst Property a conservation district was held with no public comment. The council approved these measures unanimously.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Second offer doesn't reflect a change in price but indicates approval of grant funding for a slightly smaller parcel.
A new resolution was approved Tuesday night by the Common Council on an offer to purchase land significant to conservation. Owned by Nancy Borst, the property size bid on in the resolution is 106 acres, slightly down from earlier 112 listed on the first offer. The land is currently designated as a “high conservation priority area” based on the city’s conservation plan. The land would be joined to the 27-acre “Ridges” conservation site along Field Drive. Borst's property offers additional wetlands, woodlands, an oak savannah and spring pond, and is part of Little Muskego Lake’s watershed. Residents who worry about losing natural beauty in the area should be encouraged by the revision, as it brings the city closer to acquiring the land, …
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
City convenes to tackle water, sewer and operating budgets for 2012, and later considers the latest offer in the Borst property purchase.
The Muskego Committee of the Whole continues its budget review for 2012, with Tuesday night's focus on operating, water and sewer utility budgets. Should additional work be required at the 6pm meeting, the committee may reconvene after the Common Council meeting at 7pm. The Common Council's agenda is relatively short, but includes the following items of note: Appointments to the Community Development Authority and the Library Board. These are citizen appointments, and previous discussion has involved debate on whether citizens must be required to reside in Muskego. Easements allowing WE Energies access to city property are up for approval as well, and indicate the utilities construction involved prior to the Janesville Road construction…
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Conservation area that has been deemed as significant is bid on by the city for $1.2 million.
The Common Council met in closed session Tuesday night at City Hall to discuss an offer to purchase property near Hillendale and Field Drives on Muskego's north side. After reconvening into open session, an opening bid was made for $1.24 million, or $11,063 per acre. Owned by Nancy Borst, the property is approximately 112 acres, the land is currently designated as a “high conservation priority area” based on the city’s conservation plan. The new land would be joined to the 27-acre “Ridges” conservation site along Field Drive. Borst's property offers additional wetlands, woodlands, an oak savannah and spring pond, and is part of Little Muskego Lake’s watershed. The city's offer is contingent upon grant funding from the Wisconsin …
Scandihovian Lady
9:30 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Denise, there are a lot of responsible dog owners who clean up after their dogs, like yourself, but but unfortunately quite a few who don't and I have one of the later owners on our street whose dog has a favorite spot on our lawn and leaves her business there daily. Several other neighbors on our block have well-trained dogs who stay in their own yards. It's all about the owners and how well … more ›