Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Residents near Somerset Drive and Hawthorne Road have seen too many close calls at a three-way intersection, and blame the removal of stop signs.
Although the resolution to return stop signs to each corner of a T-bone interesection was already on the agenda at Tuesday night's Common Council meeting, residents were in attendance to make sure it stuck. Dozens of parents and children sat in to make sure three stop signs would be placed at the intersection of Somerset Drive and Hawthorne Road, telling the council that since their removal in 2011, there have been too many close calls and an accident was imminent. Jerome Burish, a resident of the subdivision, told the council that removing a stop sign on the westbound side of Somerset made the intersection unsafe as oncoming traffic could not see bikes in time due to bushes that hinder a driver's view. Apparently the sign was removed in …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The newest candidates were sworn in at Muskego City Hall on Tuesday during an organizational meeting to begin the new term
Muskego Municipal Judge Patrick Berrigan swore in the candidates who won their respective aldermanic races, telling them "the job you do here is as important as anywhere in government, especially because it affects people on a day to day level." His remarks came Tuesday night during an organizational Common Council meeting at Muskego City Hall. Aldermen Bob Hammel (D2), Rob Glazier (D4), Kevin Kubacki (D6) and Eileen Madden (D7) took the oath of office to start a new two-year term. Outgoing aldermen Kert Harenda and Neome Schaumberg, as well as former alderman Keith Werner, were also recognized for their service. Committee appointments by council vote were also made, including Common Council President, Dan Soltysiak; Plan Commission …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Preview of the Muskego Common Council meeting on Tuesday includes an agreement that could increase the resources to the Muskego SWAT team, and a public hearing on the rezoning of a former gas station
The Muskego Police Department's SWAT team could get a whole lot larger, using the power of partnership with seven other Waukesha County communities. The Common Council will vote Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on an agreement for the Suburban Critical Incident Team (SCIT), which will provide the city's force with additional monthly training and personnel when the need arises. The cities of Brookfield, Delafield and New Berlin, as well as the villages of Chenequa, Hartland, Mukwonago and Pewaukee would also be a part of the new team. According to the agreement, the city would be required to pay a yearly fee of $4,000 beginning in 2014. It would be just $150 more than the current annual budget for the SWAT team and ammunition. For 2013, the …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Finance Committee will talk with offenders of liquor licenses during Tuesday night's meetings at City Hall.
A full slate of meetings at City Hall include the following, beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday: Finance Committee (Alderman's Room): Several businesses were cited in December for violating their liquor licenses by selling alcohol to underage customers. Chief Craig Moser has requested that representatives from each of the businesses, which include Aldi's, Denoon Saloon and Jetz Convenience Center, appear before the committee to discuss the incidents. In each of the cases, police reports state that underage "decoys" were asked for their identification. However the birthdates listed on their IDs would have revealed that they were still not old enough to purchase alcohol if they were read correctly. Big Muskego Lake District, 6:30 p.m. (Muskego Room…
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Common Council makes a short night of it, but makes a few key decisions before the year's end.
It's a rare council that adjourns after only 16 minutes, but Tuesday night's Common Council did just that, approving a measure to hold the salaries for elected officials, forgiving about $3,600 in debt, and approving a new position at City Hall. A resolution to establish salaries for elected officials removed specific term dates and keeps salaries frozen until the council would deem it necessary to change them through the budget process. The move puts the city more in line with state statutes. The Mayor receives $2,556.67 every other week, and councilmen receive $293.79 every other week. The council president (currently Neil Borgman) receives an additional $23.08 biweekly. In addition $3,600 in back property taxes owed from among two dozen…
Monday, December 10, 2012
List of businesses reaches back to 2004,
About two dozen companies that had been a part of the Muskego market could soon be off the hook for past property taxes owed. The Common Council will vote on a resolution to deem past debt for property taxes as 'uncollectible' Tuesday night. The list includes properties that had owed the city from 2004, and include some names that may be familiar, Beef O'Brady's, Marek Lithograph and Scentsations Day Spa among them. Uncollectible debt can be caused by a number of things, including disappearance of the debtor, collateral used to secure the loan being destroyed, bankruptcy, or insolvency on the part of the debtor. The range in money owed varies, with as little as $0.84 to $745, and totals $3,622.02. In addition, the city will officially vote…
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Several projects planned in the city will involve grant money to get off the ground, or in this case, in the water.
A deteriorating pier at Idle Isle Park and needed improvements at the Boxhorn Launch are awaiting approvals for grant money, and the Common Council will have those items before them Tuesday night. The fishing pier at Idle Isle was the largest budget item for 2013 in that park, but DNR grant dollars, which could fund up to 50 percent of the expected $63,000 price tag, won't become available until the end of next year. In addition, another DNR grant is being sought for the boat launch at Boxhorn Drive. The city purchased about 3 1/2 acres at the site in spring for $170,000, and hopes to improve the boat launch for access to Big Muskego Lake. The grant could be as much as $88,100. Also on the agenda: The council meets at 7 p.m. in the …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The city approved a recommendation to offer the county $1 to purchase the BP land at Janesville Road and Lannon Drive, understanding some risk is involved, but preferring to control what happens at a vital corner in downtown.
The Common Council gave its approval to move forward on a purchase of land at the corner of Janesville Road and Lannon Drive. The site formerly held the BP gas station, and despite the understanding that some risk is involved in cleaning up the site, which is considered slightly contaminated, the council saw more benefit in controlling what happens next on the site. Alderman Kert Harenda, who had requested more time to review an environmental study already done on the property, said he was concerned that no ground water information was available, but admitted he has seen other cities take the risk in acquiring properties like it. Alderman Dan Soltysiak saw the purchase as a way to "spur economic development, as long as we can make a sale …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
A decision on whether former city employees, including 3 policemen who left the department during 2012, will get compensated is up to the Common Council tonight
Despite a plea from Police Chief Paul Geiszler on Oct. 30 to allow former cops to receive a retroactive two percent cost of living increase, the finance committee passed on a decision, forwarding it to the Common Council. The pay increase was not voted on for 2012 until the year was more than halfway over, and employees of the city, including police officers, would receive a retropay check as a result. However, as some employees may have retired, resigned or been terminated earlier in the year, the question on whether to compensate those employees was unresolved. "We have three employees impacted by this, who retired with 98 years combined service, and it's my opinion that anybody who worked here whether they retired or left during 2012 is…
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Walking in parades, sharing emails, and appearing even by accident together in places can all lead to infractions of the state's open meetings law, so better be safe than sorry, says city's attorney.
It's a staple of the yearly Muskego Community Festival parade: most if not all of the city's aldermen and its mayor walking the route, armed with candy to throw out. Harmless, right? Not exactly, said City Attorney Eric Larson, who gave an overview of the state's open meetings laws and how all Muskego officials can do better to avoid trouble. The potential that their being together in any place can be a meeting is reason enough to post it on the city's website, even if no business is discussed. Even though the definition of "meeting" should not include chance meetings or social gatherings, things happen. Like the constituent who wants to talk about an issue at such places like the festival. "A good rule of thumb is that if you give the …
Brian Hofmeister
8:51 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Neighborhoods, Kids, and more Stop Signs are a good combination in my book. No one needs to be in a hurry when driving through a neighborhood. more ›