The Forum

Local election season will be upon again soon.  Trustees Maher and Anderson will be the incumbents, should they decide to run.  This will be Trustee Anderson's first election, having been appointed to her position following former Trustee Guy Johnson's unopposed election as Village President. 

The one potential (though unlikely) wrinkle in this election cycle is the Feb 19th primary, which is scheduled to coincide with the presidential primary.  Because turnout on this date will be higher than usual in Shorewood, this would be the date most likely to cause unusual results in the Trustee election.  More people will likely turn out than the usual 1,200 - 2,000 people who typically vote in Shorewood. 

Although this would an intriguing scenario, it is also fairly unlikely, as we will only have a primary for Trustee if there are more than 4 candidates for the 2 open spots.  The last time Shorewood had a Trustee primary was in 2004, in the height of the library battles.  Having more than 4 candidates this year seems very unlikely, given the relative lack of highly divisive issues. 

If we have 4 or less candidates for the 2 positions, the election will be the first Tuesday of April.

This post is mostly just a test to see if video can be embedded in the blog, but is also proof positive that some people have entirely too much free time.

The SHS student newspaper is reporting that demolition of the athletic field has been further delayed by the discovery of asbestos in several of the associated buildings.   (Hat tip, Maryln)  According to the article from last week, Athletic Directer Bill Haury is now pointing to August 18, 2008 as an expected date of re-opening of the facilities.  This date is a significant revision of the original target date of March 15th, which is listed on the D2D website as the expected Phase 1 completion date.

D2D Demolition Delayed
Shorewood Ripples, 10.21.07
Santera Michels

A demolition evaluation of the track and field has been completed, and the D2D campaign committee has hired a company for the demolition process. The purpose of the evaluation of the track was to search for hazardous materials such as asbestos.

 

“A couple of buildings, such as the warehouse located behind the bleachers, contained asbestos,” said athletic director Bill Haury.  The finding of this material caused delay in the demolition. Retter, the construction company hired, will oversee all aspects of the demolition and building processes. 

 

“The actual demolition shouldn’t take that long,” Haury said. Phase one of the D2D campaign is expected to be completed by August 18. This phase involves the demolition of the current site and installation of the track turf, bleachers, press box, restrooms, and lighting.

 

Many teams will have to adjust for the construction. Girl’s soccer practices will be moved to Estabrook Park, while the track and field team will hold for their outdoor season at either Riverside University High School or Whitefish Bay High School.

 

Kristen Obiakor, junior and track athlete, expressed mixed feelings about the upcoming season. She said, “I’m upset that I won’t be able to practice at home this year, but really excited for the new track.”

 

The softball field will be closed starting June 15, leaving the spring softball season unaffected. “I’m glad that I will be able to play on our home field for my final season of high school softball,” said Jordan Tetting, senior. 

 

However, Haury said the summer leagues will need to move to other locations.

 

“Hopefully everything will be ready to use by the fall season in 2008,” said Haury. Shorewood will be holding many home games next year to help make up for the costs of having to use other facilities. 

 

“My goal is to make the money up in two seasons,” said Haury.

Following the Billy Goat story, I received several emails with even more bizarre ordinances and statutes.  Here is one to keep in mind this winter.  This one comes to us by way of a Glendale reader.

11.2.4 It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or throw by any means any dangerous missile, object, arrow, stone, snowball or other missile within the City of Glendale, provided, however, upon written application to the Chief of Police and Common Council, a person may be granted permission by the Common Council to construct and maintain a supervised non-commercial archery range if, in the opinion of the Common Council, the construction or maintenance of such ranges will not endanger the public health and safety.

 (Hat tip, you know who you are).

I haven't done post with a strange ordinance of the day recently, but came across this one while researching "at large" elections.  This bit of hilarity comes to us from WI State Statutes.  Although it is a statute, and not an ordinance, it is still a good warning for those among you who let your boars and billy goats run loose after they hit 4 months old.

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172.01 Animals not to run at large.  No stallion over one year old, nor bull over 6 months old, nor boar, nor ram, nor billy goat over 4 months old shall run at large.  If the owner or keeper of an animal described in this section, for any reason, permit the animal to run at large, the owner or keeper shall forfeit $5 to the person taking up the animal and shall be liable in addition for all damages done by the animal while at large, regardless of whether the animal's escape was the fault of the owner or keeper.

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D2D Chair Sean Cummings and I exchanged several positive emails today regarding where we are on the athletic field renovation. I think you will find his updates helpful.  Here is what he had to say:

I certainly understand the desire of residents to see visible progress on the field renovation.    The D2D Committee, SHS administration and School Board members have been active in progressing behind the scenes.    Soil samples, survey work, construction management contracts  and design reviews have been conducted.   Further design reviews will continue as each of the new facility elements (field/drainage prep., retention walls, bleachers, lighting, field turf, lighting, concession stands, locker rooms etc), are finalized and sent out to bid.    Demolition bid documents were prepared,  sent out and are due back on the 19th, with an expectation that visible progress will be made yet this month and into early November.

We are working very hard on each element to get the biggest bang for our buck.   Yes volunteer committees may be slower than people would prefer however we are determined to get it right, receive good value for money and deliver a project we can all be proud of.  

The truth is we had to pick a time well in advance so that alternate plans could be made for these teams.  Schedules, times and places for visiting teams had to be locked up.

We had planned to have demolition well underway by now however I am sure you can appreciate the complexities of ensuring that DNR, MMSD, Village and School Board needs are met, specifications clear, bids back, contracts and funds in place.    As dedicated and talented as this volunteer group is we all have full time jobs and everything does not always line up as planned.  

I plan to issue a regular project update to keep the community fully informed.

Although the SHS athletic field is no longer hosting football games, there is still Lacrosse being played on the surface.  I drove by the field tonight, and noticed Lacrosse practice in full swing.  If the field can host Lacrosse, why not other SIS/SHS sports?    (Sorry for the photo quality.  Cell phone camera!)

I really am not trying to be irritating here, I really just cannot comprehending what is going on here.  We are spending money on transporting our teams to other facilities while our own (apparently usable) field sits mostly idle. 

I am a big believer in giving hardworking volunteers (like the D2D committee) and public officials the benefit of the doubt in most cases.  But in this case, I am truly mystified by how the beginning of the renovation process is going. 

Jim Genthe gets credit for the most creative emails, with the most impressive array emoticons, pictures, and graphics.

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Hey Steve,
It's been a while since I've touched base with you;
well, other than that random incident of photoshop with the condo project!

Anyway, I was just wondering what your thoughts might be re: the ongoing village projects!
 I'm confused and concerned by the haphazard way it seems they are being implemented!

I agree with Dave Tatarowicz that the Oakland Avenue Streetscaping is
about as 'hit 'n' miss' as it comes! First there was a several week lull after the streetlights
were removed from the west side of the street. Now, as I drive the street several times a day,
the entire length looks like a no-parking war zone with the workers bouncing around
from one end to the other like a pinball machine! Meantime, both sides an obstacle course
for cars and/or pedestrians trying to patronize local businesses!

After the original prediction of the SHS lot being closed for an entire month, which I thought FAR too long since they could just close it during the creation of the new access (which they actually DID)
it was only closed for around 1 1/2 weeks! Granted, this was a GOOD thing (apologies to Martha Stewart)
 but why does no one even know WHO was responsible for the closing in the FIRST place,
much less declaring a timeframe for it??
(School Board--> Village Board--> (aHA!) -->the DPW!!)

Moving to the seemingly stationary D2D project, I have yet to see ANY movement
relating to actually beginning construction, while the "dreaded dome" has migrated southeast to the baseball field! I'm at a loss as to why, weeks after the triumphant ground-breaking ceremony, those appear to be the only shovels to touch the ground, yet the football team has had to play their 'home games' away
since that Friday evening!

Anyway, I hope you've continued to find good food, cold brews and stimulating
conversation around our favorite 'burb;
mayhaps I'll run into you at the Post, Brit Inn or  the Oakcrest Tavern!
Keep on blogging!

 - Jim Genthe
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Very creative :-)

We are now only two and a half months away from the beginning of election season in Shorewood.  The terms of Trustees Mike Maher and Dawn Anderson expire this coming April.  Maher was first elected in 2005, while Anderson was appointed in 2006, when now President Guy Johnson vacated his Trustee seat to run for President. 

They have voted in opposition from time to time, including the smoking ban (Maher for, Anderson against), the closing of wards during the Feb-06 primary (Anderson for, Maher against).  There are likely other times as well, which I will look into more deeply if they both decide to run.

Several of you asked me why no visible progress has been made on the athletic field renovation, so I emailed Sean Cummings to find out.  Here is his response.

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Steve,

We are awaiting demolition bids to be back Oct. 19th and expect demolition to commence shortly thereafter.

- Sean Cummings
Chairman, D2D Committee
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This raises several questions:

1. Why we have been unable to use the field for the last month and a half, despite no construction activity?
2. Why didn't we already have demolition bids in hand before restricting use of the field?

 I received this letter from a good friend of mine who rents in Shorewood and parks in the Village Hall/Library parking lot.

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Dear Steve,

I am a single female, late 20’s and am now going into my third year of living in Shorewood. I rent, so I pay for a parking space behind the city hall.

Beginning this summer, I have been made to feel uncomfortable by an individual that is also in the parking lot, but does not live in Shorewood.

Every weekday, I walk to my car before work and there is a man parked and sitting in his car by himself or sometimes with a small child. It started out innocently enough, a ‘good morning’ or a smile as I walked past to get to my own car (where he parks, I almost always have to walk past him to get to my vehicle). Several weeks later it turned to a honk from the car horn, and if I didn’t acknowledge, even more honking to get my attention. I finally asked him why he was always parked in the lot, in which he replied “I am waiting for my girl…I live on the other side of town, so I don’t want to drive back and forth.”

Mid September I went on a week long vacation, and upon returning, this individual asked me ‘where I was’ and then also told me that ‘he missed me.’ To make matters even more uncomfortable, several times now he has gotten out of his car upon seeing me and approached me, offering to carry something to my car. When I advise him I am fully capable, he follows me to within several feet of my vehicle and then usually walks back to his car. He has asked me to approach his car and has also asked if he can have my phone number. All of which I have refused to do.

I usually leave for work around 8:00, and even if it is 8:30 or 8:45 he is still parked there. One day last week, I left for work at 7:30 (to avoid him) and was relieved to see his car was not in the parking lot, but then noticed it was parked down the block. He promptly started the car and drove up along side me asking me how I was doing etc. And now as of last week, I have now tried to move my car to the front my building early in the morning, so that I can avoid having to interact with this man on a daily basis.

I have been meaning to mention him to the police for the last several days, but to my luck this morning at 8:10 there was an office standing near my car talking with another village employee on a smoke break. Prior to getting into my car I told them what has been happening and that it is making me very uncomfortable to go to my car (I have no other choice on where to park) and that it has become more than just a ‘good morning.’

The officer looked at me and shrugged. He told me the man was ‘doing nothing illegal’ and that he had ‘every right’ to be in the parking lot.

I challenged what he said and asked if I should just be ignoring my feelings and concerns.

Again, all I got from the officer was a shrug.

I am so upset by this officer’s reaction. I am not asking for the man to be arrested or to be ticketed, I just wanted the police to be aware that this is occurring on a daily basis and that it is making one of their residents very uncomfortable. I do understand that it is a public lot, but I do not feel that my concern was taken seriously, especially when you are always told to ‘listen to your gut feeling.’ Had this individual continued to just wave and smile, I would not have said anything, but the fact that he is now getting out of his car, I look at this differently and do not know if his actions will progress or what to expect next.

I am open to suggestions on how to handle this if anyone has any.

If I had the option of parking elsewhere, I would, but in the mean time I suppose I will just have to continue to move my car and feel unsafe in my own back yard.

Help!
Upset and Nervous Renter

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SHS Parking Lot

The Village of Shorewood has confirmed that work on the entrance to the Shorewood High School parking lot is sufficiently completed so that the lot may once again be used by staff, students and the general public.  However, please continue to be extra cautious when driving on Oakland Avenue.  Watch for pedestrians/our students.  When work is completed on the west side of the street, the traffic lanes will be flipped so work can be completed on the east side. 

A program called the "Neighborhood Initiative" is working its way through the Shorewood VIllage Board committee structure. If implemented, the program would offer assistance to duplex owners in the Village of Shorewood in upgrading their properties, or converting them to single family homes.  Several options are being discussed, including incentives to convert to single family dwellings, attic space upgrades, and down payment assistance. 

Below is an email from Trustee Dawn Anderson outlining the origins and intent of this program.

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From: Trustee Dawn Anderson
To: Steve Koczela
Date: Sep 21, 2007

I'm not sure when this was first brought up, but I first heard of it when I joined the board last June(06). As you probably recall it is an idea that grew out of a market study on residential properties by SB Friedman and Co - the village asked for it after the Visioning Plan. They presented the study in March of 06 with recommendations on how to approach revitilization of the village's duplex stock. They identified 3 areas of concern:

1- A shortage of family appropriate housing units
2- deferred maintenance of duplexes with absentee owners and
3- overcrowding of duplexes. 

The goals of a "Neighborhood Initiative" would be to enhance housing options for young families and improve the exterior conditions of the existing "problem" duplexes. Overcrowding would be addressed through increased enforcment of code - we have yet to discuss this part of the initiative. For obvious reasons, we want the housing stock in the village to be attractive to young families and we want to protect the value of housing stock in areas that are more heavily concentrated with duplexes with absentee owners.

The CBR committee had discussed it briefly last year, with Ericka Lang tweaking some ideas as we spoke, but it did lay fallow for quite a bit of time - the shoreline ordinance and smoking ban ate up alot of the limited time we had to discuss it in committee before board meetings.... so we have just taken up discussion of it again recently.

We still are really in the preliminary stages of collecting more information and discussing the recommendations among ourselves - I can't give you cost estimates or a timeline at this point. As we move on, we'll be talking more about process and the nitty gritty of how the program might work. But at this time we are talking about incentives that will encourage upgrades/enhancements and more owner occupied duplexes.

Next week we are meeting to talk about code enforcement and how that would fit into the plan. When it might go to the full board for consideration is something I just can't say right now.
 
I hope this helps - have a nice weekend, dawn
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