The Deal is Done
The South Milwaukee Common Council put the final touches on its approval tonight for a Walmart store to be built at 222. North Chicago Ave., although some of the 200 or so residents who attended tonight's Council meeting thought it was a done deal long before this. Way before Alderman Brooks voted no in September on an aspect of the process because he opposed the less-than-transparent way the Council was proceeding.
Brooks, however, voted tonight with the 6-2 majority (First District Aldermen Craig Maass and Frank Van Dusen III opposing) that gives Walmart the green light without being bothered by the vagaries or uncertainties that accompany a conditional-use permit, which is the only way Walmart could have proceeded without the Council's approval of the three Walmart-related items on tonight's agenda. Those measures changed the zoning of the Walmart site to commercial use, joined what were two parcels of property into one, and vacated 11th Avenue which bisects the now-single parcel and goes through the middle of the Walmart site.
Alderman Brooks Explains
Perhaps everyone who reads this blog also reads Fourth District Alderman Erik Brooks's blog. In case some don't, here's a link to his post regarding last night's Common Council meeting and his votes on the Walmart-related agenda items.
Alderwoman Pieper Provides Clarification
In response to my blog post about last night's Common Council meeting, Third District Alderwoman Lisa Pieper provided the following information from the city's Community Development Authority Executive Director Danielle Devlin regarding Tax Increment District (TID) 2, which includes the Walmart site:
The property is in a TID which froze the assessed value of the entire district at the time of its creation, 2000. This frozen value is called the Base Value. Tax revenues from the base value continue into the general fund of the city and taxing entities no matter what. BUT any improvements or raises in value generate tax revenue over and above the Base Value. That revenue is called the increment and is kept in a separate fund for the purpose of assisting with projects that raise the tax value that wouldn't otherwise happen. When those projects do happen, they raise the value which then generates additional increment, which is then used to pay back any debt or reimburse any project costs that were approved as part of the assistance. The owner/developer isn't given a "tax break" but pays the new and improved full assessed value. The benefit to tax payers is that they wouldn't have the increase in value at all without the assistance and when the assistance is paid back and the TID closes, the added value then goes to the general fund. So it's a return on investment of dollars that the tax payers never would have had BUT FOR the project.
A Good Cudahy Neighbor
Local Liberal Blogger Caught Not Stating the Truth
Chris Liebenthal who many of us know as Capper is in the news again.
Fostering Self-Determination
My son Tyler will be attending his first Self-Determination Conference this week. This year's theme is "People Power: Learning, Connecting and Making Change"
The Waisman Center just released a new guide for "Fostering Self-Determination Among Children and Youth with Disabilities. Ideas from Parents for Parents." http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/naturalsupports/pdfs/FosteringSelfDetermination.pdf
Garlic Mustards Pickers at the Fair
South Milwaukee's own Gaelic folk music band, the Garlic Mustard Pickers, will be performing at the Holiday Folk Fair at State Fair Park on Saturday, Nov. 19, from noon to 2 p.m.
If you are planning to visit the Holiday Folk Fair, the GMP would love it if you would stop by and say hello. You can find them at the Coffee House Stage near the Food Court.
You can also check out their website at http://thegarlicmustardpickers.org/
Act 10 It's Working - A Must See
I will repost this video every so often until all my readers watch it.
Support the Arts at Cudahy Middle School
Cudahy Middle School will be performing "King Midas and the Palace of Gold" on Thursday November 10 at 7:00 in the Cudahy Middle School gym. There is a small admission fee to see this fine performance.
I know from personal experience that the kids have put in a lot of time on this performance.
Death Threats Against Governor Walker
As I have said before, some people suffer severe Walker Derangement Syndrome. I would also like to point out that the left is not the peace and love they would like others to believe. The far left contains some of the most vial and disturbed individuals that will stop at nothing.
Do You Really Support OWS, Then You Do This!
Occupy Wall Street Parasites: North Korea Better than South Korea, Socialism to replace capitalism.
Holiday Market Dec. 3 & 10
Neighbors who are missing South Milwaukee's wonderful Farmers/Public Market that ran on Thursdays from June through mid-October can take heart.
The Farmers Market organizers are putting on a Christmas Market from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. the first two Saturdays in December, in Caterpillar’s Heritage Building and museum, 1970 10th Ave. This will be a great time to find unique holiday gifts -- especially for those hard-to-buy-for folks in your lives.
