Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Alderman Dan Soltysiak had raised questions on whether places that sell alcohol should put up fences to keep drinkers from walking away with beverages, but police argued that the barriers actually encourage drinking.
As the first big party of the season approaches, businesses hoping to serve beer or other alcoholic beverages at Jammin' on Janesville had to wait for approval of their permits based on safety concerns raised by an alderman. At the April 9 Finance Committee meeting, Dan Soltysiak had asked what controls would be in place to define the licensed areas and who would be served, saying he believed alcohol needed to be restricted to a specific area. Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti noted then that the Police Department had not had any issues with the event in the past, but the matter was deferred in order to assemble the parties requesting a permit. High Hitchin’ Tractor Pullers, Heritage Presbyterian Church (June and August only), Sandhill Booster Club…
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Judge finds a "contentious" relationship between developer Art Dyer and the city, but ultimately ruled that the claims against the city could not be proven.
Judge Lee S. Dreyfus, Jr., has dismissed all claims being made against the City of Muskego by Art Dyer and Parkland Ventures, LLC, which included conspiracy and defamation of title, and punitive damages of $46 million. The lawsuit has been pending in Waukesha County Circuit Court since 2009. Wednesday's ruling could close the chapter that has held up development on the "tree farm" land known once as Parkland Mall at the corner of Janesville Road and Lannon Drive. Dyer had no statement after the ruling, and Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti was brief in her comments. "We are pleased that all claims have been dismissed; it's been a long haul," she said. Dreyfus made his decision after "reading through thousands of pages of material, including …
Monday, February 18, 2013
Jobs and development a common theme at the State of the City Address
Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti said she was hoping to be able to share more specifics, but until deals can be inked, she was happy enough to announce that new businesses and new jobs were coming to the city in 2013. "We are going to see a multi-tenant unit at Kohl's, and I had hoped to share the names of those tenants today, but until everything is finalized, I can't and I don't want to jinx anything," Chiaverotti told the group assembled for the 2013 State of the City Address on Friday. She explained that the businesses coming into the development on the corner of Moorland and Janesville Road were "quality tenants." In addition, new development along the Moorland corridor, considered as a key piece in the economic development puzzle for the …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Plantings, benches and trash cans will be a feature at Parkland Drive and Lannon Drive intersections, courtesy of the Muskego Woman's Club
Good things come to those who wait, and the members of the Woman's Club of Muskego have apparently been waiting - and saving - a long time for the new Janesville Road. The group presented a check for $12,000 to the city during Tuesday night's Common Council meeting to place planters, benches and trash cans at the intersections in the heart of the downtown area, at Lannon and Parkland Drive. A total of four benches, four flowered planters and accompanying garbage cans will match the streetscaping along Janesville Road, and will take $8,000 off of the city's punch list for the project. Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti, who was a former president of the organization, congratulated them for their patience. "I can tell you, these women have been waiting…
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Some council members wanted more oversight of expenses, but others saw the move as micromanaging and less efficient. The Committee of the Whole voted against making any changes to the city policy.
The city's purchasing policy will remain as it has been, but not after some debate on how much can be spent before the Common Council has to review it. The discussion occurred Tuesday night at the Committee of the Whole meeting. Generally expenses that were included in the council's approved budget do not need another look, unless they exceed the expected amount. Department heads can approve expenses up to $25,000, with the Mayor's approval also needed for those higher than that. However, Alderman Dan Soltysiak challenged the policy stating that the Common Council was charged with the oversight of finances, not the mayor, and said they should be the ones signing off on expenses over $25,000. "This would provide another layer of checks and…
Friday, November 16, 2012
While the polls closed at 8 p.m. on election day, Nov. 6, counting of absentee ballots went late into the evening, prompting Muskego's Mayor to ask for help from the state
Muskego's turnout in the Nov. 6 presidential election was indeed robust, and for the most part went off without a hitch. "I have to say thank you to our election officials, the day went unbelievably smooth," Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti announced just prior to the Common Council meeting on Tuesday. "We also had a record number of early voters, and we had extra poll workers that we called in to central count here at City Hall to work with the absentee ballots. Even I was enlisted to help out, and I can tell you the process is just ridiculous," she said. Workers took until past 2 a.m. Wednesday morning to complete the casting of nearly 7,000 absentee ballots. They began around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, and the process of opening each ballot in a sealed …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
While city-owned facilities are not in a state of disrepair as those reviewed in the school district, aldermen approved hiring a firm to determine needs and efficiencies, despite some feeling it's an expense that can wait.
A proposal to spend $40,000 to hire a consultant to review all city-owned buildings came under fire from some Common Council members Tuesday night, but was ultimately approved after an extended debate. Jeff Muenkel, the city's director of development, recommended hiring Zimmerman Architectural Studios to conduct a study of the library, City Hall, and departmental buildings, like parks and public works. The firm would survey staff and others who those buildings to determine needs, and how best each space could be utilized. Potential recommendations may include construction of new facilities, but could also point out more efficient use of the spaces, which would save the city money in the long run. The 2012 budget estimated the cost of the …
Friday, October 12, 2012
Kathy Chiaverotti was struck in the city hall parking lot after Tuesday night's council meeting
After being struck by a car Tuesday night, Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti says she feels lucky that her injuries were minor. "I was walking out into the parking lot after the council meeting when I saw the vehicle coming, and I thought, 'ok, what do I need to do to get through this' because I knew I wouldn't be able to get out of the way in time," she said. "I consider myself very fortunate, and I know it was just an accident and the driver feels terrible." The driver was an 85-year-old man who was also at the meeting. Chiaverotti said her injuries were "really very minor - I have possibly a broken wrist, but they tell me they won't be able to tell for a couple of weeks. Other than that, it's just bruises." It has not been confirmed whether the …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Aldermen say the popular senior program has merit, but the summer street festival can do with less funding
The Muskego Senior Taxi will continue to receive funding from the city in 2013 at the same level it has in past years, but Jammin' on Janesville will likely face a cut. Meetings at the Committee of the Whole Tuesday, aldermen asked questions of representatives from the taxi service, which provides low-cost rides for Muskego seniors, to determine if they would continue to approve a $5,000 request for funding in 2013. The organization started about six years ago and has received city funds every year since. At issue was not whether the program was a benefit to the city, but rather how the city should categorize funding for this and other community organizations and services. "There are a lot of other organizations that would appreciate the …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Council approves funding for College Avenue entry, which will be completed in 2012 before the snow flies to allow residents to access the sledding hill.
Residents will be able to enter the much-awaited Park Arthur from College Avenue to go sledding, after city leaders approved a bid for paving the entrance. Approved on Tuesday night was a plan to pave the College Avenue entrance, plus remaining parking areas and a trail from the middle lot to the base of the sledding hill. Payne and Dolan put forth the winning bid of $219,268 for the paving project. The total also included an alternate bid of $59,450 to complete a bypass lane on College Avenue required by the county. In addition, it was expected that $185,000 of the entire project cost will be covered by park dedication funds. Payne and Dolan was one of four companies that submitted a bid. The bypass lane was originally estimated to cost $…
Gerry Karn
3:05 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Muskego does have great local businesses , we just need to give them more support . more ›