June 14 Board Meeting (Wrap-up)

I questioned the SEWRPC regarding their involvement with Milwaukee's trolley.  The director stated that they definitively were not involved in an aspect of the trolley project.  He stated that they were being considered for involvement in the planning of the trolley, but ultimately the city went with a different vendor.  The director pledged to inform me if that changed in any way.

If this is true, it is great news, as it means that we don't have to worry that money we contribute to SEWRPC is being used to fund Milwaukee's streetcar debacle.  I plan to keep a watchful eye for any involvement, just to make sure.

The plan to help E.H. Wolf & Sons in Slinger with a 0% interest loan went through.  Slinger is also providing help.  The County will be repaid through a TIF district.

The Shoreline & Wetlands revisions were approved as well.  I did ask some questions about a 3 foot setback requirement, as it seemed too close.

June 14 Board Meeting

There are a few significant items that will be addressed in the June 14 board meeting.

SEWRPC (South-Eastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission)

SEWRPC will be giving their annual report.  In addition, Resolution 15 will fund the assistance of SEWRPC in develop a plan we are required to maintain for the state, the Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Plan.  The cost for their assistance will be $43,700 for their assistance in 2016-2018.

Since they are involved in regional planning, I checked in with the County Administrator to find out if they have any role in Milwaukee's trolley project.  I have always maintained that the trolley project is foolish, but as long as Milwaukee is only spending Milwaukee's money, they have every right to be foolish.  I have also maintained that no Washington County taxpayer money should ever be used to fund Milwaukee's trolley in any way, ever.  All of the neighbors I spoke to about my position on Milwaukee's trolley were in complete agreement with me.

I found out that the SEWRPC has been retained by Milwaukee to help in the planning for their trolley.  I also found out that the County currently gives roughly $250,000 per year to the SEWRPC, and that we have no concrete assurances that some of this money is not being used to fund the planning for Milwaukee's trolley.

So there are really 2 issues here:

• Resolution 15, which ONLY funds the assistance of SEWRPC in developing our multijurisdictional plan, a document we are required to maintain.  This plan must be updated for 2018.  I will probably be voting for that resolution, so that our county employees have the resources they need to put together a satisfactory plan.  I would not want us to lose any state funding because we did not put together a satisfactory plan.
• County contributions to SEWRPC.  I will be questioning the SEWRPC about their role in the planning for the trolley, and more specifically how that planning is funded.  Unless Milwaukee is paying for the trolley planning above and beyond their normal contribution, I will be pushing to drop the county's contribution to the SEWRPC from the 2017 budget.

E. H. Wolf & Sons

Resolution 16 would give economic development funds in the amount of $260,000 to help a company named Edward H. Wolf & Sons to grow their business.  You can view the company's website here: http://www.ehwolf.com/

They have acquired property adjacent to one of their existing facilities, and need some financial help with some site preparation expenses including an environmental assessment, environmental remediation, and tear down of the existing structure.  If it is the property I am thinking of, it is currently useless property that has been an eyesore in Slinger for years.

The belief is that, with this expansion, Edward H. Wolf & Sons would be able to grow their business, bring more jobs to Slinger, and strengthen the tax base for Slinger and the County.

This proposal has already passed the Executive Committee, and generally seems like the type of economic development we should be looking to support.

Shoreline & Wetland Legislation

In April, the outgoing county board attempted to review changes to chapter 23 of the county code, which impacts the use of shoreline property.  Because the legislation had been given tot he board only a day or two before the board meeting, the board decided to refer it back to committee.  At that time, there were concerns that the new ordinance was too restrictive.

Ordinance 4 will be a new version of the Chapter 23 amendment.  In checking in with the County
Parks and Planning Director, I learned that the new version of chapter 23 will be more favorable to landowners and less restrictive than the current code. 

Unless I hear that the new code will trigger lawsuits, unduly trample the rights of landowners, or require landowners to tear down existing structures, I plan to support this legislation.

Those are the major things with the upcoming board meeting.  Please feel free to e-mail me with questions, comments, or concerns.