Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Council votes to stay on course for road project while maintaining what they saw as a public benefit.
After several weeks of debate and indecision, there will be a path on Tess Corners Drive after all. A unanimous vote to amend the current plan will keep the path on the same route, but narrows it to six feet, in part to address concerns that an eight-foot path was too intrusive on some homeowners' front yards. The Muskego Common Council had four options before them, recommended by the Public Works Committee last week: The on-road option would have presented the most expensive option and delayed the project until 2013. Many of the opponents to the trail had cited the loss of older trees in front of their homes, as they rest in the city's right-of-way, and would have preferred the on-road option or elimination of the trail to save them. …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Aldermen and citizens' appointments are set for the next term
The following appointments were made to the various government committees at Tuesday night's Common Council meeting. The term expiration dates appear in parentheses. Aldermanic Appointments Library Board - Alderman Neil Borgman (4/16/2013) Parks & Recreation Board - Alderman Dan Soltysiak (4/16/2013) Conservation Commission - Alderman Kert Harenda (4/16/2013) Community Development Authority - Alderman Rob Wolfe, Alderman Keith Werner (Expire 4/16/2013) Citizen Appointments Board of Appeals - Henry Schneiker (May 1, 2015) Board of Review - Steven Roncke (May 1, 2017) Board of Review - Tom Reck (Fulfilling the unexpired term of Dawn Schiel; May 1, 2016) Conservation Commission - Julie Holubowicz (April 30, 2015) Conservation Commission - …
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…
Organizational meeting will see incumbents and new member sworn in and make appointments for committees.
The new edition of the Common Council will officially start work Tuesday evening, which is labeled an organizational meeting. Incumbent Aldermen Neil Borgman (D3) and Dan Soltysiak (D5) will be sworn in by Judge William Domina for their respective fifth and second terms on the council, while Robert Wolfe, who upset incumbent Tracy Snead for the 1st District aldermanic seat on April 3, will begin his first term. Judge Patrick Berigan will also return for another term as municipal judge. Snead will be recognized for her six years of service on the council, and may offer a parting statement, however she had indicated at the April 10 council meeting that she may not be in attendance. She also had thanked her family and supporters at the end of…
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 …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
As the debate turned downright nasty in some races, local candidates on both sides of the results say it's time to get back to work for the city's best interests.
Whether it was a winning candidate, or one who ended up short in the vote count, the tone of conciliation mixed with a little fatigue over Muskego elections was evident. "While it's a happy time, I'm also concerned over how the races went, and how negative everything became," said 3rd District Alderman Neil Borgman, who will be back on the council for a fifth term, defeating challenger Larry Lefebvre. "I'm honored to serve my district, I've worked hard, and I've tried to listen to what they're saying as I've made decisions on the council," Borgman added. "Our race was fairly clean in comparison to what Tracy (Snead) and Dan (Soltysiak) had to face, which was sad." Snead was also ready to move on after her loss to Robert Wolfe, who posted a…
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
In an election with higher than expected turnout, Aldermen Neil Borgman and Dan Soltysiak with return to council, but Tracy Snead's term ends after six years with a defeat by challenger Robert Wolfe.
Muskego Alderman Tracy Snead was bounced out of her 1st District seat on the Common Council Tuesday — losing to challenger Robert Wolfe by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Two other aldermen who were on the ballot Tuesday fared better — District 3 Alderman Neil Borgmanand District 5 Alderman Dan Soltysiak survived challenges from Larry Lefebvre and John Engelhardt, respectively. The Wisconsin primary election was expected to draw about a 35 percent voter turnout, but local aldermanic races in Muskego and a heightened interest in recent Common Council decisions seemed to increase numbers at the local polls. Voter turnout was 41 percent in the city, but aldermanic races increased that number considerably in those districts. The Snead-Wolfe race …
Monday, April 2, 2012
City, county and national races make for a full ballot on Tuesday; be informed before you head out and cast your ballot.
Unless you've been abroad (for example, interplanetary travel), you know that it will be time to head to the polls on Tuesday. We've listed information about the candidates in all contested races on our Election Central page. There are contested races in all three aldermanic districts. Incumbent Tracy Snead and Robert Wolfe will vie for the 1st District; Alderman Neil Borgman and challenger Larry Lefebvre will be on the District 3 ballot, and the 5th District will feature a race between incumbent Dan Soltysiak and John Engelhardt. The candidates had presented their views during a forum on March 20, but others will also appear on the ballot who were not present during that event, including Muskego-Norway School Board candidates Eric …
Mark Oium
1:00 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Too late for a referendum. Might you mean a recall? I hear they're in style. I hate being in style. more ›