I wasn’t able to attend the S. 27^th. Street Corridor Steering Committee meeting yesterday, which took place in Oak Creek., at 8:00 a.m.

Luckily, Franklin blogger Fred Keller, was able to attend, and he has a report on his blog Bullseye. 

You can read that HERE


My only comment I’ll make here is that the next meeting of the Steering Committee will mark the 120 days where the Committee is supposed to have a decision regarding “Boomgaard.”  



The Steering Committee had made a point in May about involving the community.   Well, they haven’t even discussed whether they are doing anything about Boomgaard in this 120 days let alone involving the community.  They dropped the ball. 

S. 27th St. Corridor Website

Let’s not forget why….

Why?

Because we have children in Franklin...

That's why.

As long as those we elect are spending our tax dollars wisely...

As long as those we elect listen to our voices...

We can spend money on our schools.

We just need to keep an eye on that spending.

We need to make sure those spending the money are putting those dollars where they are needed most...

Here....

If we don’t spend any money on our schools…who will?

Let's just get it right, Franklin.



Photos from Franklin Public Schools Website

Eddie Lynn Keck, who on June 23rd plead guilty to two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, was sentenced today. 

The following is the court transcript:


http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl

 Additional Text:

Defendant Eddie Lynn Keck in court with attorney Christopher Hartley. Defendant Eddie Lynn Keck in custody. William J Molitor appeared for the State of Wisconsin. Sentencing proceeded. Presentence Investigation reviewed. Additions and corrections were made. Statements by state, defense and defendant. Additional statements by: Joanne R., Suzanne B., Vanessa F., Patty K. As to each count, consecutive: The Court sentenced the defendant to serve a term of IMPRISONMENT of 30 YEARS in the Wisconsin State Prisons, credit for 253 days time served as to count 1. CONFINEMENT of 18 YEARS and EXTENDED SUPERVISION of 12 YEARS with the following conditions: -Pay all costs, assessments and victim/witness surcharges. -Provide a DNA sample for the Data Bank and pay all appropriate costs. The defendant is advised as a convicted felon he may not carry or possess any firearms/body armor. The court advises the defendant that voting privileges are suspended during the length of this sentence. Defense counsel will file Ineligibility Notice at a later date. The defendant is given a written explanation of the determinate sentence, and advised of his appeal rights by defense counsel. The defendant is not eligible for the Challenge Incarceration Program. The defendant is not eligible for the Earned Release Program.

 

Previously:
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

June 23rd. 2008:

Eddie Lynn Keck Pleads GUILTY to two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.

06-23-2008	Plea hearing	Wagner - 38, Jeffery A.
Event Party Keck, Eddie Lynn
Additional Text: Defendant Eddie Lynn Keck in court with attorney Christopher Hartley. Defendant Eddie Lynn Keck in custody. William J Molitor appeared for the State of Wisconsin. As to counts 1 and 3: Defendant was advised of constitutional rights and maximum penalties, waived all rights, plead GUILTY and was examined as to the plea. Plea Questionnaire/Waiver of Rights and Addendum received and filed. Parties stipulate to the complaint as a factual basis for the plea. Court found defendant guilty as charged in the Information. As to counts 2 and 4: Pursuant to plea negotiations and on motion of State, Court ordered counts dismissed. Court will order a PSI and remand the defendant. Defense counsel is also having a sentencing memorandum done by Cedar Creek Counseling. Court orders case adjourned to 7-24-2008 in Branch 38 at 8:15a.m. for SENTENCING. ls Sentencing hearing scheduled for 07-24-2008 at 08:15 am. ~~~~~~~~~~ Charge(s) Count No. Statute Description Severity Disposition 1 940.09(1)(a) Homicide by Intox Use of Vehicle Felony C 2 346.67(1) Hit and Run-Involve Death Felony D 3 940.09(1)(a) Homicide by Intox Use of Vehicle Felony C 4 346.67(1) Hit and Run-Involve Death Felony D   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eddie Lynn Keck Pleads Guilty - Sentencing Update

I attended the Annual Meeting of the Electors, immediately after I attended the regular Board of Education meeting Wednesday night.

As far as the Regular Board of Education meeting, it was basically uneventful and seemed to be in fast forward…I suppose in anticipation of the Annual Meeting.  The only item to report is the student enrollment.  The current District Total is 4080.  You can see the breakdown in .pdf format 2008-2009 FPS Enrollment.pdf.

The annual meeting was a real turn-off for me.  First, School Board President Dave Szychlinski, after the preliminary introductions and motions got underway, spoke to the audience (the electors) as if we were a group of children, talking down to us, then the “plants” in the audience rattled off the motions and seconds so quickly in the beginning of the meeting that you couldn’t even think.  

As far as  John Neville’s assessment that the vote was unanimous?  Well, officially it was, but just because there were Aye’s and no No’s or Abstentions, that doesn’t mean there were some of us in the audience who were fed up and were not about to participate in the fraud called the Annual Meeting of the Electors. 

  This, the meeting that Dave Szychlinski termed Grassroots Democracy In Action  (pod cast).


If the Board wouldn’t be so worried that the levy wouldn’t pass and would forego the plants, and really let the electors run the meeting, maybe then, and only then, could the community believe that the Board of Education, who was elected by us, is doing the job they were elected to do.

"Can you take care of my plants?" (pod cast)


Mr. Jim Milzer, Director of Business Services and Assistant Superintendent gave the budget presentation (.pdf) to the electors which was followed by a re-education (pod cast) to the electors by the Board President as to what "cautionary" means after Jim Milzer has just gone over the items.

And here is one intelligent comment  (pod cast) from a citizen concerned about the bussing issue in Franklin.  Why is bussing given to all students, even those who live, as an example, 11 houses away from school?  Mr. Milzer, who is a “soft talker,” really needs to break the bank on his huge salary increase and get himself a Mr. Microphone to hold when he speaks, has the answer  - which our city really needs to address.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tanya Ruder did film the meetings, and the website has had this blurb up for the past month:

FPS Cable Channel 96

 

Franklin Public Schools Cable Channel 96 offers a variety of viewing opportunities.  It is currently in the stages of being rebuilt to offer the best available information possible.  There is currently some information available, but the newest information is scheduled to begin running in September, coinciding with the start of the school year.  

 

For those of you who have had any issues with the cable channel not coming in, having squiggly lines or receiving only "fuzz" when it is on, please contact Time Warner Cable (TWC) for a service call at 1-800-627-2288.   You can also send your name, address, phone number and issues to Tanya Ruder at rudert@franklin.k12.wi.us and she will work with the district's TWC representative for you.  They will come and check on cables that may be loose in the area and trouble shoot the problem for you.

Welcome to another school year  : )

Last night after attending the School Board Annual Meeting of the Electors (which I will be doing a short report on shortly) I stopped over at City Hall to catch the end of the Technology Commission meeting.  I have quite an interest in technology and our city website, and especially was looking forward to the discussion of audio streaming.

Unfortunately I missed most of the website presentation but did hear enough of the end discussion, including when money was being discussed.  There are some things that are just worth the money.  I don’t know if you have ever come across an item in the store that was being sold for just a few bucks and you picked it up with a smile and said boy, how the heck did they make this product for that price; unbelievable.  Sometimes when you think about what you pay for some products, compared to others, it’s a no brainer.

To me, spending $40,000 on upgrading our technology is a no brainer.  As a Franklin citizen who values technology I believe it would be a mistake for our Technology Commission to not send a proposal to the Common Council to upgrade our website to the best and most up-to-date site it can be.  And I believe it would be a mistake if our Common Council did not approve the $40,000.

That said, to my apology.

Later in the meeting District 1 Alderman Steve Olson once again made me a target of his bloviating (that’s the kindest word I can use).  Once again I was just sitting in the audience as a citizen of Franklin observing.  As he gave his presentation about how he believes Franklin is not up-to-date with the taping of meetings (I think I have heard that before…oh, yeah, from me and first from John Michlig) all of a sudden he turns and looks toward me and makes a reference to the fact that Mrs. Evans has embarrassed the City of Franklin.

Well, about 14 sets of eyes all turn to me….

And I’m thinking…(well, me being a lady and all I won’t tell you what I’m thinking) (Actually, I’m not really all that much of a lady so maybe on my Righty blog I may tell you some time).

Anyway…slip of the tongue that he phrased it that way?  I believe he was attempting to say that my pod casts of the Common Council meetings, which I, a peon of the universe (my characterization), am able to do, are better than the antiquated cassette tapes that the meetings held at City Hall are forced to fumble with; that we, the citizens of Franklin are forced to go to City Hall and request and pay for, and then find a cassette player for, if we no longer own such a thing. 

He had some other things to say, as usual…but I’ll let you go to City Hall and request an antiquated cassette tape to listen to the conversation…after all…I’m just a blogger.

But, once again, I do apologize for embarrassing the City of Franklin by going out and learning how to do a pod cast.  I guess for some, ignorance is bliss.

"Future Shock," a great book I read back in high school.  We may have a little of our own future shock to deal with monetarily regarding maintenance and improvements in our school district:

What’s that dollar amount?

  That’s the Grand Total of the Future Long Range Maintenance and Remodeling Plan for Franklin Public Schools dated 5/15/08 (revised). I received a copy of the Status of Ongoing Buildings and Grounds Projects (2007/08) and 2008/09 Buildings and Grounds Projects back at a Building and Grounds Committee meeting on May 21st.  I was pretty impressed by how most of the projects over the years had been allocated funds and then came in under budget.  The last two pages of the large packet were Future Long Range plans.

That doesn’t mean everything on the “wish list” will be implemented.  The district has running lists for each school and they are still working on projects from prior school years. 

Some of the larger items on the packed two page list include the following:

Ben Franklin		Grounds	Create drive for loop by receiving area and dumpster enclosure		$100,000
		Grounds	Additional athletic field		$250,000
Country Dale		School Bldg	Replace Classroom Doors		$70,000
		School Bldg	Replace coat strips with lockers		$50,000
		School Bldg	Remodel Center restrooms		$15,000
		School Bldg	Remodel East restrooms		$30,000
		School Bldg	Remodel West restrooms		$30,000
		NW Exit	Replace one door w/two		$25,000
Forest Park		FACE	Divide FACE into two rooms, not three		$120,000
		School Bldg	Replace all lockers @12" to achieve 850 total		$107,000
		School bldg	Replace lockers in girls locker rooom		$225,000
		Interior	Retrofit lighting system to T8		$150,000
High School		Parking area	Add drop off loop and widen access		$180,000
		Parking lot	expand student parking areas to the west and add visitor stalls		$250,000
		Pool locker rooms	Replace lockers		$60,000
		Grounds	Renovate stadium w/8 lane track		$2,750,000
		Grounds	Add roads and develop practice fields		$300,000
		Grounds	Add tennis courts		200,000
		Back hall classrooms	Replace tile and base		$50,000
		Pool	Renovate and allow for use of starting blocks/replace deck coating		$200,000
		Gym	Replace air handling units and add A/C		$250,000
		Science rooms	Upgrade and add sinks and safety equpiment		$500,000
		Near Cafeteria	Add a Senior commons area		$25,000
Pleasant View		Grass Playground	improve drainage to expand play area		$180,000
		Playground	Resurface and extend play area to playstructures		$205,000
Robinwood		Playground	Renovate pavement & improve drainage		$159,000
		Interior	Renovate lighting system to T8		$110,000
SW Glen		Boiler Room	Replace Boilers		$100,000
		School bldg	Carpet multi-year replace all		$200,000
		Exterior	Replace asphalt, address drainage & expand playground		$250,000

Long Range Maintenance & Remodeling Plan - Page One.pdf


Long range Maintenance & Remodeling Plan - Page Two.pdf





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



2008-09 Project Status

Country Dale		School Bldg	Run New TV cable to all classrooms		7,000
High School		Roof section 4	Replace		$55,250
High School		Parking Area	Widen egress lanes		$26,000
Pleasant View		Section B	Replace HVAC systen (1st flr remaining north half classrooms)		$199,000
Robinwood		Pod H	replace hall floor tile		$20,800
Robinwood		C-pod	Abandon and replace underground ductwork to overhead		$30,000
SW Glenn		Interior	Retrofit lighting system to T8		$85,100
			Sub-total		423,150	$0
			Contingency		$76,850	$76,850
			Total		500,000

Franklin Police Reports

By CNI staff

Posted: Aug. 13, 2008

 

A 45-year-old woman was arrested for disorderly conduct for fighting with other patrons at Buckhorn Tavern, 9461 S. 27th St., at 11:50 a.m. Aug. 7.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's hope the Police Chief informed the "special prosecutor" of this incident just in case any bartender or alcohol issues were involved.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

According to my Alderman, Steve Taylor, he has notified the City Clerk's office to make sure this incident did not go unnoticed. 

He said that every six months the clerk’s office runs an incident report on local bars and sends findings to License Committee.  They automatically run a report if there may be issues with revoking a License.



HT:  Thinnes 

Well, not really. 

But the quote is "So, put me in jail."

That from Franklin District 1 Alderman Steve Olson, the newly appointed member of the 27th Street Jt. Steering Committee. 

Since there are only four members on the current Steering Committee, two of the members meeting together out of the four member committee to discuss business is a violation of open meetings law, is it not? 

And Alderman Olson catches himself as he begins to report that he and Jim Rhiner met together or discussed increasing members on the committee.  As I was not there, but have the tape provided to me, I can't tell you if he stopped himself, or was stopped.  But the "So put me in jail," comes out, which acknowledges he is aware of the issue.  So, possibly this was discussed between the two of them at some point.

This same issue was discussed at the Economic Development meeting briefly between Alderman Olson and Alderman Taylor - with reference being made by Alderman Olson that two bloggers were in the room. 

You will also hear in the podcast which begins with scheduling of the next meeting, Alderman Olson, at over 2 hours into the meeting, bring up, with an apology, and terms it as an 800-lb. gorilla, the fact that something needs to be done regarding Boomgaard. 

Yes...Boomgaard.  Remember that Steering committee?  How quickly we forget.   Just brush it under the rug.

I guess "committee" meetings don't have to follow Robert's Rules of Order.   They are more like a three ring circus.  I don't know which city staffer gets the horrible job of filtering through the MESS of tape they are left with from these meetings, but there is no rhyme or reason to these meetings.  Most of the time three people are talking at one time. 

There are Rules for a reason.

There are Ordinances for a reason.

Alderman Olson seems to believe that fact -  if you listen to his statement made at the Common Council meeting last Tuesday.  "Ordinances come first."  "If there is an ordinance violation alleged, this city owes it to its constituents and citizens to completely investigate it in a timely manner."

That said,  you can listen to this brief podcast from the tail end of the Steering Committee meeting regarding these two issues.


HERE




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



S. 27th Street Steering Committee - August 21, 2008

Jim Rhiner – Chairperson - EDC/CDA, Franklin
Steve Olson - Alderman, Franklin
Marie Myszkowski – CDA, Oak Creek
Tom Michalski – Alderman, Oak Creek

City Staff
Doug Seymour –Dr. Dpt. City Development, Oak Creek
Mark Luberda – Director of Administration, Franklin

Also in attendance:

Kristen Wilhelm - Alderman - Franklin
Ron Romeis - Franklin Engineering
Pat DeGrave - Oak Creek Administration
Consultants-   HNTB (3 Persons)Audience - Ted Grintjes, Scott Thinnes


Note:  Alderman Olson, or any other Alderman or Committee member is welcome to comment on my blog, or post a blog post as Common Council President Taylor often does.  Just send it to me via email.  I welcome their opinions.

H/T:  S. Thinnes

I'm not posting the entire meeting...once again, I believe our city government should be broadcasting these meetings on the web.  I shouldn't have to be doing it.  We're behind in the times.  But speaking of being behind in the times...besides using a cassette tape for recording their meetings, it appears that the offices are an organizational mess.  It first sounds like lack of staffing.  If our city is dealing with complaints and violations from the 70s that aren't resolved yet, there's a problem. 

In the second podcast you'll hear Mr. Luberda says he just had a complaint that existed of 100 items, and he had to make the decision as to what items were important, and he pared it down to what he alone believed were 14 valid items to act upon.  That seems to me to be quite a bit of micro-managing.  If Mr. Luberda has to go through every complaint in the city and troubleshoot it besides all the other duties he has, no wonder nothing is getting done.

I also have to question his prioritization.  I'll give him the benefit of the doubt since there has been some turnaround in employment.  Then again, these problems have been going on for quite some time.  Somewhere some of this is going to have to be put in the lap of administration.  It can't be thrown in the faces of bottom level office staff.

Lastly, do I hear correctly (yes, I know I do hear it correctly) on the tape Alderman Sohns saying Mr. Rhiner has the Fox file/information on and off again?  Why is that?  Why would Mr. Rhiner, a volunteer of the community have any files related to this case?  If you are on the 27th Street Steering Committee or the Economic Development Commission as an unelected member, or not an employee of the city, does this entitle you to have official paperwork related to violations?  That....is the question of the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Common Council wrapped up discussion on this issue talking about problems in the offices of City Hall with paperwork, keeping up on complaints, and the Fox's court appearance and whether it was in fact scheduled for today, August 20, or cancelled/postponed (it was).  Also a Citizen Comment from the Fox's.

Listen to the podcasts at my Righty Blog


HERE

Alderman Sohn's responds that he will not resign....as expected.  he says the Mayor violated City ordinances and State law.

He believes it is a disservice to the Fox' s that the city sat on the complaint for over a year.

Alderman Wilhelm and Alderman Taylor both state complaints must be investigated and ordinances enforced.

Alderman Wilhelm is concerned that the Aldermen are not being kept informed.

Listen to their comments at Righty Blog

HERE

After Mayor Taylor's response to Alderman Sohn's letter, several of the Aldermen had responses.

You will hear from Alderman Skowronski, who will voice his disapproval toward Alderman Sohn's.

You will also hear from Alderman Olson, who states he believes the city does a horrible job handling complaints, if we handle them at all.  He also has an issue regarding the eminent domain issue the Mayor brought up.

Listen to the audio at Rightyblog

HERE

 

Before I attended the Common Council meeting tonight, I attended the License Committee meeting.

This is the second License Committee meeting I have attended, and I have been told I am the only observer, citizen or elected official, who has attended since the new committee has been in place.  I do not know if anyone ever observed in the past.

It is a very uneventful process, and, for me, at times uncomfortable, as I feel I am intruding  in the personal business of people.  But in reality,  I know it is not "personal business," because if someone is being called before the Committee to discuss whether they should be entitled to a license to be a bartender, and they have had past issues with the law, then it becomes public. 

The first time I attended was basically to see what these meetings were all about.  Tonight I wanted to ask a couple questions.

The committee consists of  the following:

The License Committee is comprised of 3 Aldermen appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council, each to serve a one-year term commencing May 1.

Powers and Duties:  It is the duty of this Committee to review applications for business licenses in the City of Franklin and submit their recommendations to the Common Council.

Members		Term/Expiration
Alderman Tim Solomon		1 Year/4-30-09
Alderman Kristen Wilhelm		1 Year/4-30-09
Alderman Steve F. Taylor		1 Year/4-30-09
Ex Officio Non-Voting Member: Sandra Wesolowski, City Clerk

Alderman Solomon is very knowledgeable on this Committee, as Aldermen Wilhelm and Taylor are new this year.

Before I had the chance to ask my questions, Alderman Taylor brought up one of them himself to Alderman Solomon.  He mentioned that the Buckhorn has been an isssue on the blogs and citizens are concerned.  He asked what the status was. 

Alderman Solomon said he has just been in contact with the City Attorney and was told that the License Committee should take no action until they hear from the Special Prosecutor.  The License Committee is the jury in the Buckhorn case.

I asked whether there was a time limit regarding how long the Special Prosecutor may take to submit his findings.  Alderman Solomon said no, he cold take as long as he needed. 

In closing...due process regarding the Buckhorn looks like it can take until hell freezes over...if the Special Prosecutor delays, then the License Committee takes the time they need to be the "jury," before presenting this issue to the full Council, who knows...maybe all of the bartenders will be working somewhere else by then.  Maybe the Buckhorn will finally be sold by then.  Who knows.

City Attorney

The City Attorney is responsible for conducting most of the legal business in which the City is involved; such as legal opinions, ordinances, resolutions, general legal counsel, purchase and sale of property, and prosecution of ordinance and traffic violations. SERVICES: Attend all Common Council Meetings Review ordinances and resolutions Consult with staff and elected officials on legal matters Render legal opinions as requested Hold instructional meetings Coordinate legal defense of claims against the City Represent the City, its Boards and Officers in civil claims and litigation Prosecute ordinance violations Prepare and review development agreements Prepare and/or review City contracts

Jesse A. Wesolowski City Attorney David D. Fleming Assistant City Attorney Wesolowski, Reidenbach & Fleming, S.C. 11402 W. Church Street Franklin, WI  53132 414-529-8900 Fax: 414-529-2121

***************************

It sounds like our City Attorney is a very busy man....