The Brookfield Scene

There will be a huge used book sale at the Elm Grove Public Library next week.  The 20,000 books, CDs and DVDs and other media have been accumulated by the Friends of the Elm Grove Library - in a small area of the basement.  By Wednesday, March 5, volunteers will have organized and moved the vast collection to two rooms of the library's lower level.  The Elm Grove Library is located at 13600 Juneau Boulevard in Elm Grove, WI. 

Book lovers, avid readers and book collectors will find a huge assortment of books - fiction, non-fiction, children's books, biographies, history books, reference books in all genres as well as an amazing assortment of audio books, used music tapes, CDs, DVDs, books on tape and puzzles for sale.

Everything will be sold at very reasonable prices - 50 cents for small paperbacks, $1.50 for hardcover; special books, tapes and videos at $2.00 and up.  Highly collectible and rare book items will be featured at a table of specialty items. Other unique books will be available through a silent auction.

A "Friends Only" Preview Night takes place on Thursday, March 6, 2008 from 6 to 9 p.m. for members of the Friends of the Elm Grove Library.  Please note:  Memberships may be purchased at the door.

The 22^nd Annual Used Book Sale opens to the public on Friday, March 7, 2008 from 9 am. to 6 pm.  Admission is free.

Saturday March 8, 2008 the book sale continues with a Half Price Sale* from 9 am. to 5 pm.  Prices for books and all other materials will be reduced in half.  (*Excludes the specialty and silent auction items.)

Sunday, March 9, 2008 is the $4-A-Bag Sale*.  The Bag Sale* begins at Noon and continues to 4 pm.  Each bagful can be filled with books (and other items) and bought for $4.  Everything must be sold.  There is no limit on the number of bags an individual can buy.  (*Excludes the specialty and silent auction items.)

The chairmen of the 22nd Annual Used Book Sale are Kathy Baptie, Karen Dahlman, Connie Pavletich, Pat Ruttum and Carla Stensberg,

The Friends of the Elm Grove Library is a non-profit organization founded in 1984.  It has over 200 members. Proceeds of the book sale will be used to update the Elm Grove Library's collections. 

Last week, the City of Brookfield's plan commission held a meeting about the proposed Fountain Brook Crossing development on Moorland & Greenfield Ave.  Billed as the "city's tallest building" and located at one of the many city's "gateways" this structure will generate more tax revenue for the city.  The meeting was a show and tell because the attendees were not allowed to speak.  They were, however, allowed to provide written feedback. Twenty-nine (of the 30) attendees' comments were negative.

Although the city says it listens, the plan commission apparently doesn't.  Its members are Mayor Speaker; Aldermen Mark Nelson, Rick Owen and Gary Mahkorn; Jennifer Donze, Kevin Wahlgren and Paul Wartman.

Just a week later, the Common Council approved the general plan and rezoning. The developer now has six months to provide his plans.

There are many other development plans in the works.  Be sure your voices are heard.

There have been several headline making articles about the city lately.

In terms of planning and development, the city is considering annexing vacant land at its northwestern gateway.  The land currently lies within the town of Brookfield.  I met with Dan Ertl, department head, in fall.  At that time Ertl said the city does not actively solicit annexations (that is, it is not the aggressor).  Evidently, though, this additional property would make that portion of the "city's gateway" more viable.

The newly proposed gateway building at the corner of Moorland and Gateway has an overly large footprint.  It has little green space.  Kyle Prast has effectively shown the size of the footprint by overlaying various buildings on the GPS map of the building site.

Mayor Speaker has objected to having the donated art work displayed in front of the library along Calhoun Road. The art work is currently placed behind the library where no one can enjoy it. Speaker's concerned about the "some" people who may not approve or appreciate the art.

He has also raised the perennial concerns about the level of service provided by the county's centralized dispatch system.

Last week, in an unusual gesture, the mayor proposed that the city share more of the cost to widen all of Greenfield Road.  There is a half-mile stretch west of Brookfield Road that narrows to two lanes. This section of the road is along the Town of Brookfield.  It wasn't widened because the town felt the cost-sharing the state had proposed was disproportionate.

Speaker's rationale for kicking in more?  Alleviating potential accidents at the narrowed section and a more equitable cost-share. At the time the state apparently  included land the city had annexed from the town!  City aldermen rejected Speaker's proposal.