News Briefs
Short news stories and links of interest to Milwaukee residents.
Concerns rising over fires and cuts to firefighting assets
News - News
The Milwaukee Fire Department's 106 year-old Ladder Company No. 10 based at the 3628 N. Holton St. firehouse was eliminated in December due to budget cuts that include rolling "brownouts"--rotating, temporary service/staffing cuts at multiple fire stations. Ladder 10, the biggest single cut, was a first response, search and rescue crew tasked with getting people out of burning buildings.
After a recent fire death and multiple fires in this area, there is a concern about safety from area residents. Alderman Bob Donovan with the firefighters' union is pushing to restore the Holton station's previous level of service. This is Ald. Milele Coggs's district however, closely adjoining Ald. Nik Kovac's district. Both Coggs and Kovac supported the cut and promised to monitor the safety impact.
Coggs and MFD Chief Michael Jones have reiterated their support for the cuts. Kovac has not commented on them or the fires since the cuts were made. And Coggs has invited the community to a town hall meeting with Chief Jones on Thursday evening, January 14 - 5:30 p.m. at the Kern Park Pavilion, 3614 N. Humboldt Blvd.
Meeting to Explore Milwaukee’s Intermodal Transportation Possibilities
News - News
Diverse Group to Discuss How Well Businesses Involved in Importing, Exporting are Served, Alderman Says
An exploratory meeting next week in Milwaukee will bring together a diverse array of groups looking at how they might unite and affect positive transportation changes to better serve area businesses and manufacturers who are regular importers and exporters of goods, equipment, products and supplies, said Alderman Terry L. Witkowski.
Alderman Witkowski, one of the meeting’s organizers, said the group will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 1 at the Port of Milwaukee offices, 2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Dr. Attendees expected to take part include Alderman Witkowski, Port of Milwaukee officials, Mitchell International Airport officials, representatives from the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, Gateway to Milwaukee officials, Milwaukee County Supervisor Christopher Larson, and representatives of private trucking and railroad companies serving metro Milwaukee.
Landlord licensing delayed, might be a fight
News - News
From Tom Daykin's Land and Space blog:
A proposed Milwaukee ordinance that would require apartment buildings in certain neighborhoods to be certified by building inspectors before they can be rented was delayed Tuesday by the Common Council.
[....]
Council action was delayed on a motion by Ald. Bob Donovan, who said more time is needed to address landlord concerns. Ald. Nik Kovac, one of the proposal's sponsors, said the council has enough information to make a decision now, and should not delay a decision.
Donovan's motion to delay until the next council meeting was approved on a 9-5 vote. Voting against the delay were Kovac and aldermen Robert Bauman, Willie Wade, Terry Witkowski and Tony Zielinski.
That's a victory for the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, which is lobbying against the measure.
Residential rental unit inspection and certification program passes ZND
News - News
This morning at a packed and overflowing meeting of the City's Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development (ZND) committee, Art Dahlberg, commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS), explained and spoke in support of an ordinance to establish a residential rental property inspection and certification program. As a five-year pilot program, it would only apply to Lindsay Heights and the UWM campus area. Dahlberg noted that 70-80% of complaints to the DNS in these areas concern rental properties.
2.8% increase in $1.1 Billion MPS 2010 Budget
News - News
The Milwaukee Board of School Directors has amended its Fiscal Year 2010 budget. The Board routinely adjusts in October the budget it passed in June, once fall enrollment levels are known and the state releases its aid information.
The Board action will result in a 2.8% increase in the schools’ portion of the City of Milwaukee tax levy.
The total amended MPS FY10 budget is now set at $1,072,818,849. Directors were able to pass a budget limiting the tax levy increase to 2.8% despite $2.4 million in additional insurance coverage requirements imposed by the state and a $7.5 million increase in MPS’ contribution to the City of Milwaukee pension system. There was also an overall reduction in state equalization and integration aids of $2.8 million.
The newly amended MPS FY10 budget will be transmitted to Milwaukee’s Common Council prior to adoption of a city budget, expected in early November.
More details at "Blogging MPS."
RSS
All News (Atom 0.3)
All News (RSS 2.0)