Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Residents weigh in against recreational path, citing safety concerns during the meeting, but others have also registered support. Despite a potential delay in construction and additional costs for redesigns, the council votes to defer approval and sends p
A bike path and recreational trail that was planned to be a part of Tess Corners Drive reconstruction hit a roadblock Tuesday night as many residents spoke against it during the Common Council meeting. After subsequent discussion on the council, the plan was deferred to the Public Works Committee for further review. Neighbors cited the loss of trees, traffic concerns, diminishing property values and flooding and runoff issues as reasons to kill the path. Judith Stenzel, who lives in the area, told the Common Council in a public input session, "our land will be interrupted; traffic is already a concern, and the addition of a bike path will lead to more traffic." She also said she could forsee future lawsuits stemming from any accidents that…
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Hoping to leave previous conflict and divisiveness behind, council members are sworn in after a rough election season.
The Muskego Common Council turned a page Tuesday night as new terms began for incumbent Aldermen Neil Borgman and Dan Soltisiak, and Robert Wolfe took the seat as 1st District alderman. He had defeated Tracy Snead earlier in April after a race that featured tensions between the two candidates, and at times turned personal. In addition, Municipal Judge Patrick Berigan was sworn in by Waukesha Circuit Court Judge William Domina. It will be Berigan's sixth term on Muskego's court. Council members then voted for president, selecting Neil Borgman on a unanimous vote. Soltysiak also received a unanimous vote as the council representative to the plan commission, and Kert Harenda was voted in as the council representative for the Little Muskego …
Residents come forward at eleventh hour to halt bidding process for construction of recreational trail, citing concerns over loss of trees and saying the road is too dangerous for anyone to ride bikes, even on an offroad trail.
They've been a part of every road plan, in part to allow residents to ride bikes and walk around the city, however a planned recreation trail to run along Tess Corners Drive has come under fire by residents who feel the loss of trees and the cost isn't warranted. The matter was initially aired as part of a Committee of the Whole meeting last week, and was again discussed Monday Night at the Parks and Recreation Board meeting. The issue puts residents who supported a path because of safety concerns for people wanting to walk or ride along the road against those who feel the path still wouldn't provide safety for bikers or pedestrians. Christine Nelson, a resident who lives on Tess Corners Drive, told the committee on April 10 the path would…
Friday, April 13, 2012
Ease of access, transparency cited as reasons to invest in new web design and purchase of new software to publish documents and eventually video related to meetings.
Anyone with complaints about finding information on the city of Muskego website may have their prayers answered by fall 2012. A combined investment of about $39,000 will overhaul the website, seen by many as cumbersome and out of date, as well as incorporate new software that will help provide more online documents and eventually include streaming video of meetings. CivicPlus was recommended for the website redesign. The total cost of the package was $31,850, but the city will realize a $5,000 award from the company. Annual support and maintenance, which will begin in the second year of the contract, is $5,037, and includes a complete website redesign in the fourth year. SIRE document management software will also allow access to meeting …
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
While the city has maintained silence over recent mediation, the developer/owner of the nearly 11-acre parcel in Muskego's downtown relays his frustration in the inability to reach an agreement to settle lawsuit.
As the lawsuit against the Muskego by property owner Art Dyer failed in mediation earlier this month, officials had little to say about the specifics of the negotiations involving the former Parkland Mall site. "The specifics of mediation are not to be discussed by anyone at the direction of the mediator so as not to harm the mediation process. The city will continue to honor that," Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti said. However, Dyer had plenty to say after Chiaverotti's statement during her State of the City address last week indicated that Dyer had "backed out of negotiations." Dyer claims that the city conspired to prevent him from developing the land, in effect taking the property from him. He sent a recap of his issues with the city in an …
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Young's Auto celebrates a belated groundbreaking in Muskego's downtown, continuing 33 years of service.
Donald Young got a little emotional in thanking the business community and the city for its help in making a new auto collision repair shop a reality. He spoke as the Chamber of Commerce and other partners came out to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Young's Auto on Friday afternoon. "I couldn't have done it without all of your help," he said. The current shop, which was estimated to have been built around 1922, is going to be torn down as Janesville Road is widened, which was a little bittersweet for Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti, who was on hand to congratulate Young. "I hate to see an old building be torn down, but it is a sign of progress, and we're happy to help out Young's with getting a new building," she said. The structure …
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Young's Auto
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Officials hope delay of purchase of Little Muskego Lake property and creation of new committee will address public's need for costs on proposed park development
Extra time to consider citizens' input on what should go into a park on the lake: Check. Exploration of costs based on that input: Check. The ability for the Common Council to reverse an earlier decision to buy the property should it decide buying the park land is not in the best interest of the city: Check. Addressing the concerns of many residents regarding the city's proposed purchase of a 4.6-acre parcel on Little Muskego Lake, aldermen voted 5-2 Tuesday night to approve a resolution that puts the next step into the hands of the Parks and Recreation Board. The resolution calls for the creation of a subcommittee of the parks board that will study the issue, gather cost estimates and public input, and come back to the Common Council with…
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Misinformation at the heart of opponents' claims, says Craig Anderson, who hopes to set the record straight.
"There are so many things that Muskego does right, that when you're bashed over the past couple of months, it takes a toll on people," said Craig Anderson, Muskego Parks and Recreation Director. Anderson and his department have been taking on criticism as the debate has raged over a new park development on Little Muskego Lake, and it was apparent that he felt the need to set things straight. Speaking at the parks board meeting Monday night, Anderson addressed several inaccuracies that have been at the heart of arguments opposing a second lake park. The city has made an offer to purchase 4.6 acres on Little Muskego Lake along Janesville Road, which has set off controversy over what the current state of the city's parks is. Lately, talk of a…
Unfinished business on lake park development will take center stage at Muskego Common Council Tuesday night.
The Muskego Common Council will convene at City Hall on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (or shortly after the 6:30 p.m. Finance Committee meeting) and it's hoped that resolutions surrounding the proposed lake park purchase can be finally discussed and voted on. The offer to purchase lake 4.6 acres of lake front property at a cost of $3.55 million could be delayed if the council agrees on language for a resolution that would postpone the deadline to close on the property until Sept. 30. There are two similar resolutions presented individually by Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti and Alderman Kert Harenda that outline the formation of an ad hoc committee as well as funding a study to gather costs on a park development beyond the sale of the land. In addition, a …
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 …
Birdwatcher
3:09 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Spend the money on the Schools!! Remember 2 no votes on that! more ›