Archive for September, 2009
Pollution case against Waukesha firm resolved
Posted by: | CommentsAttorney General J.B. Van Hollen has announced that his office has resolved a civil case it brought against Dresser, Inc., for its alleged air pollution violations at a manufacturing facility in Waukesha.
Grenade donated to Good Will
Posted by: | CommentsWaukesha Good Will employes became alarmed when they saw a hand grenade with a detonation pin still in it had been donated Tuesday afternoon to the center at 1400 Nike Drive.
It was taken to the center’s office and appeared to be either fake or inactive because there was a hole in the bottom, a police report says.
Police report they took custody of the item and and will destroy it.
Varkas presents Waukesha County budget proposal
Posted by: | CommentsWaukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas presented his 2010 budget proposal tonight that included borrowing for the start of a new $36.6 million Health and Human Services building, planning for the long awaited completion of the Waukesha bypass and Courthouse remodeling that ends the use of public hallways to escort jail prisoners in chains to court hearings.
The Vrakas budget contains a $98.5 million tax levy, up 2.8% from the $95.8 million last year. The operating budget was up 3.5%.
“This is a budget that will not give us heartache next year,” Vrakas said in an interview. He unveiled his budget to the County Board of Supervisors.
The levy means a 1.2% increase in property taxes. The average homeowner will see a $5 rise in the county portion of tax bills, he said.
The levy is comprised of two segments. Vrakas is asking for a general levy of $95.7, and $2.8 for the Federated Library System, bringing the total levy to $98.5 million.
For a home valued at $272,199, the tax this year would be $508, as opposed to $503 for a comparable home last year.
A $1 million spending cut was achieved by eliminating of the equivalent of 15 full time positions, Vrakas said. Each employee will be asked to take a two-day furlough next year.
The county has kept 40 jobs unfilled this year to cut personnel costs, he said.
Vrakas said his biggest concern about maintaining this budget and preventing it from bleeding red ink next year is that a continued economic downturn would prevent tax payers from working and forcing them to turn to already overtaxed county services.
The county needs property values to rebound and home sales to heat up, which brings revenue in the form of real estate transfer fees, he said.
The county lost at least $2.5 million in revenue, according to the budget proposal document, including $775,000 in transfer fees, $425,000 in community aids for Health and Human Services, $400,000 in investment income and $167,000 in state aid for transportation.
Construction of a new Health and Human Services Building is set for 2012 and $1.7 million is being set aside to separate the public from inmate movement in the Courthouse.
Vrakas boasted that Waukesha County is currently the only county in Wisconsin with a AAA bond rating. Dane County recently lost the coveted rating used to borrow money.
Update on Wal-Mart, YWCA projects
Posted by: | CommentsWaukesha Director of Development Steve Crandell reports that the new Wal-Mart proposed from West Ave. and Highway 164 has applied for city permits, a sign the much awaited development is moving forward.
Crandell made his report Monday to the City of Waukesha Redevelopment Committee.
He also reported on the planned demolition and redevelopment of the old YWCA on West Ave.
The cost of knocking down the large building with two pools came in at about $75,000, he said.
The site has been environmentally evaluated and some asbestos removal will need to be done. The soil is clean, he said.
Site plans call for 7 lots to be developed along West, 1 on Dunbar and 3 on Bethesda.
An offer to purchase has been extended to the owners – Waukesha State Bank – which foreclosed on the property five years ago.
Crandell said he hopes to hear back from the bank by Oct. 9. If plans proceed as expected, work on putting single- and two-family homes on the lots should begin mid next year.
The city and Waukesha county have entered into a partnership to pursue state grants to tear down the old structure and find a developer to convert the site into a livable neighborhood.
Crandell also reported that he and Karen Richards, director of the BID, will speak at the Recapturing Your Downtown Conference in Wausau on Oct. 22.
The two will speak about the redevelopment of downtown Waukesha. Their presentation will be named afte the movie title “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” he said.
As visitors enter the presentation room, the movie’s theme song will be played as background music, he said.
Gun fires while being cleaned
Posted by: | CommentsThe program that generates police blotter is up and running again. Here’s a report that is a little different.
A Waukesha woman told police her neighbor was cleaning his gun when it accidentally discharged, leaving a bullet hole in the window of her home in the 16oo block of Haymarket Road.
The incident happened Friday night.
The neighbor left a note on her door, telling her what had happened and that he would pay for damages.
She called police who are investigating why someone would clean a loaded gun.
UWW prof’s research in USA Today
Posted by: | CommentsThe national newspaper mentions local anthropology professor Kathleen Bubinas. Her research has found that local farmers markets have a positive impact on local economies.
Bubinas of the University of Wisconsin – Waukesha was brought up in a USA Today article about the growing popularity of farmers markets, buoyed by a growing interest in local foods and sustainable farming.
City’s proposed budget depends on future union concesssions
Posted by: | CommentsCity Administrator Lori Luther released the executive budget proposed for 2010 that is dependent on city union workers agreeing to a one-year salary freeze for next year.
The Common Council Finance Committee will examine the proposed budget on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in October. The budget originates from the office of Mayor Larry Nelson.
“This is probably the most difficult budget that the city has had to put together,” Nelson said in a late Friday interview.
Negotiating a year of no raises is “the only way to possibly avoid layoffs,” Nelson said.
About 400 union and 100 non-union employees will be asked to take a salary freeze, he said.
To finance the spending side of the budget proposal, the tax rate would increase 12 cents per $1,000 of evaluation – from $8.83 this year to $8.95 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2010.
The overall tax levy is proposed to increase 6.43%,, from more than $48.3 million this year to more than $51.4 for next year.
Luther explained part of levy increase was due to paying off more than $1 million in debt.
The city has a $359,063 court settlement to pay to Walgreen’s, a debt created by a dispute on property valuation and subsequent taxes.
Budget planners had to cope with a loss of nearly a million dollars in revenue brought on largely by a $300,000 reduction in state shared revenue, a $300,00 loss in interest income and a $250,000 loss in development related fees.
All city unions are up for contract renewals next year. Luther said a successful negation for a zero wage increase must be negotiated.
“I am cautiously optimistic that negotiations will result in a mutually agreeable solution for a one-year labor agreement given these extraordinary difficult economic times,” she said.
“We have not, however, sat down with the unions to discuss contract proposals” she said, “but will be doing so in the near future.”
Other cost increases are $290,000 in the pension fund and $220,000 in solid waste tipping fees, Luther said.
The total budget proposal, which includes borrowing, dropped from $127 million for 2009 to $119 million for 2010.
Field narrows for Waukesha police chief selection
Posted by: | CommentsThe Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Laurel Walker is reporting that two local heavy hitters who were candidates for new police chief have been eliminated.
Observers were surprised that Brian Dorow, a former Waukesha cop know for his work as associate dean of law enforcement instruction at WCTC did not make the cut. Dorow was popular choice of many movers and shakers in town.
Police Capt. Mark Stigler, head of the department’s criminal investigation unit and son of a former Waukesha police chief, also was seen as a contender in this horse race. He didn’t make the cut, either.
Police arrest teen at Whittier
Posted by: | CommentsSeveral parents of pupils at Whitter Elementary School on the city’s south side became alarmed yesterday afternoon while picking up their kids when when they noticed a 15-year-old male watching children on the playground, police Capt. Mark Stigler said.
The teenager was arrested for obstructing. He is not a registered sex offender, Stigler said.
There was no contact between any child and the teen who appeared to be mentally challenged, Stigler said.
Fatal accident on I-94 & Sunnyslope Rd.
Posted by: | CommentsThis just in from Waukesha County Sheriff’s Deptartment.
On Sept. 24, at approximately 2:50 p.m., squads from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, City of Brookfield Police Department and personnel from the City of Brookfield Fire Department responded to a one-car motor vehicle accident on westbound I-94 at Sunnyslope Rd.
Upon arrival, the driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, was not breathing and unresponsive. City of Brookfield Fire Department personnel transported him to Elmbrook Hospital.
William Krajnak, a 56 year old City of Brookfield resident, was pronounced dead by staff at Elmbrook Hospital.
Initial investigation indicates that Mr. Krajnak was traveling westbound on I-94 when his vehicle suddenly left the roadway. After traveling on the grass for approximately 400 feet his vehicle struck one of the bridge pillars for Sunnyslope Road in a head on manner. It appears Mr. Krajank was suffering from a medical emergency at the time of the accident.
State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Bridge Inspectors arrived on scene. After completing their inspection, they stated there was no structural damage to the pillar or bridge.
