Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Committee of the Whole opts to leave ordinance as is, which means if you wish to keep chickens, your lot will need to be 2.75 acres.
The Muskego Committee of the Whole (COW) met Tuesday night to discuss whether a new ordinance, or changes to existing ordinances, could allow for residents in higher density neighborhoods to own and raise chickens. Presently, only residents with properties that are 2.75 acres or larger can keep chickens (20 per acre), and have to provide adequate containment and sanitation measures. Alderman Noah Fiedler (District 7) explained that he had received an inquiry from a resident of his district, but City Planner Jeff Muenkel explained that the city has probably received as many as 15 such inquiries. He explained to COW that cities as large as Chicago and those similiar in size to Muskego like New Berlin have ordinances allowing for raising the…
An apparent faux pas by the Mayor raises the question of what the public thinks about Muskego's new logo.
The Muskego Committee of the Whole (COW) had a short agenda, but the first item seemed benign enough, that of the City's logo. Aldermen expressed concern when Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti announced at a prior council meeting that the new logo was now hanging in the council chambers and would eventually be adopted on the website. No one felt the change wasn't objectionable, as it more closely matches what the gateway signs on Racine Avenue and Moorland depict. However, as Alderman Keith Werner explained, "I think my issue with it is that it just 'happened' without discussion. I don't mind it, but it would have been nice to know." Alderman Noah Fiedler agreed, stating that the look was the same and he liked the simple design, but "after all we'…
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Other communities have made allowances for residents to keep poultry; why not Muskego?
The Committee of the Whole will meet Tuesday night at 6:30 pm, and along with a review of the City logo, will discuss whether they should craft an ordinance to allow chickens to be kept in the city's higher-density areas. Recently, Milwaukee adopted such an ordinance, and Muskego has allowed the keeping of animals on properties larger than 10 acres (1983) and more recently has designated an agricultural district as a minimum of 2.75 acres for specific types of animals (Chapter 17, section 8.36 if you're keeping score at home). The issue came to the attention of the city at the request of a resident in Alderman Noah Fiedler's seventh district. The committee meets directly after the finance committee in the first floor Alderman's Room in …
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
New straw poll taken at Committee of the Whole meeting indicates continued conflict over whether to cut two inspector positions to save the city money, or to keep the services in house to ensure a perceived higher quality of service.
Citing input from constituents to reconsider, a renewed discussion of whether to retain building inspection services within the city versus outsourcing revealed that aldermen are rethinking their positions. Neil Borgman said he was approached by several constituents who said they like having the service remain as it is, and indicated he was going to change his vote. City Planner Jeff Muenkel said at a previous meeting that the two building inspector positions account for 86% of that division’s $160,000 in total wages and salaries. That number does not include the costs of any benefits. Alderman Dan Soltysiak called himself "bullish on the city" and saw potential for growth as a reason to keep the service in-house. "We all want Muskego to …
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…
Warm weather continues, but don't get too used to it. Changes are coming.
Click below to get your live, local information. In the event of something out of the ordinary, such as a major crash, Patch editors will update this as quickly and accurately as we are able. Give me a list of today's events. Patch calendar editors recommend: Catching up on what's going on in City of Muskego government. A full slate of meetings begins at 5:30pm with Finance Committee. Committee of the Whole discusses the 2012 budget at 6pm, and Common Council meets at 7pm. As always, the public is welcome. Is there information you'd like to get every day that we haven't included here? Let Muskego Editor Denise Konkol know, and we'll try our best to include it!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Informal straw polling at a meeting of the Committee of the Whole reveals a tie; deciding vote could be up to Alderman Dan Soltysiak.
City planner Jeff Muenkel appeared before the Committee of the Whole this past Tuesday evening to discuss cutting two building inspector positions in the proposed 2012 operating budget for that particular division in his department. Muenkel said that the two building inspector positions account for 86% of that division’s $160,000 in total wages and salaries. That number does not include the costs of any benefits. If approved, the city would look to outsource the work of these two positions to a private firm. Muenkel said he thinks it’s "terrible" that something like this needs to be done, but understands the financial necessity. According to Alderman Noah Fiedler, Muenkel has attempted to avoid this move for the last few years, but the …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Janesville Road and Pioneer Drive are major capital expenses to be reviewed during special meeting of COW.
The Muskego Committee of the Whole will meet Thursday at 6pm to continue and complete their review and discussion of the proposed 2012 budget. Tonight's meeting will focus on the largest expenses the city will be facing in the Janesville Road reconstruction project, as well as a project involving Pioneer Drive that had orginally been slated for 2013. The items were originally scheduled to be discussed on August 23, but were postponed due to a presentation on a development on Little Muskego Lake. The COW will meet in the Alderman's room of City Hall. The public is invited to listen in, but no public forum is offered during this meeting.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Deadline rushes plans to redraw ward boundaries, and ultimately, voting district lines .
Amid a packed crowd at City Hall this past Wednesday evening, the Committee of the Whole met in a special session to rethink ward boundaries, and ultimately, voting district lines, to reflect population changes in the 2010 census. Voting lines must be redrawn by law once every decade when the census is completed. Alderman Dan Soltysiak said that while the boundaries proposed at the City Council Meeting on July 12 did rebalance the population between wards, they broke up neighborhoods and should be reconfigured to address the legislative priority of keeping neighborhoods intact. Alderman Noah Fiedler and Alderman Tracy Snead agreed that they would like to see neighborhoods kept together if possible. "I'm good with neighborhoods," said …
Fleming
1:08 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Put it up for a referendum, let the people vote on it. I'd like to raise a few chickens, no roosters. You don't need roosters unless you want fertile eggs. more ›