Spring Election 2013

I've noticed there are still people checking in on this blog even though I haven't posted anything in over a year.
So, figured with the upcoming election, I'd update things a bit and provide a link in case you're still wondering for whom to vote in our local Caledonia races.
Recently the Racine Taxpayer's Association sponsored a forum for our eight candidates, five of whom showed up, and they were given nine questions. This link will take you to the videos from those questions. Hope they help!
Racine Taxpayer's Forum for Caledonia Candidates

60% of Wisconsin School Districts maintain or cut levies under Walker Budget

Of 448 school districts in the State, 269 were able to either hold their tax levies at current levels, or actually reduce the burden on taxpayers with tools available through the Walker 2012-13 Budget!

Charlie Sykes has the entire list of 269. Of course, Racine Unified, since they negotiated with their unions before the budget took effect, lost out on savings that could have been passed along to us!

Despite citizen objection, S. Milwaukee Walmart moving forward

Although the article doesn't specifically state it, sounds like South Milwaukee is willing to create a TIF district to bring in Walmart.

South Milwaukee Walmart moves ahead

Yeap, those evil corporations!

(click to enlarge)

Obama's energy policy

Starve grandma and grandpa - no problem...just don't mess with my choo-choo trains!

So, Obama is threatening cuts to social security and medicare (which of course he'll try to blame on Republicans) but is not willing to cut $53 billion in spending for high-speed (or not so high-speed) rail projects! Why am I not surprised?

What the Debt Limit Battle is All About

Journal Times, Capital Times and Wisconsin State Journal revenue problems risk NYSE listing for parent company

It will be interesting to see just how long some print newspapers are able to hold on since I'm not buying the claim that their revenue problems are primarily the result of a down economy.

Lee Enterprises stock dips below $1 minimum

H/T Fred at Real Debate

Patriotic spirit alive and well in Cape Cod

Why in SE Wisconsin do we get the flash mobs that vandalize and terrorize? Why can't we get one of these?

"Stop it, Ann, this isn't like you."

Wondering why this account of "chokegate" is not appearing in the mainstream media? Nevermind, I know the answer!


More details emerge in Wisconsin's chokegate
A few excerpts from the article follow.

According to one witness, Bradley charged toward Prosser, shaking her clenched fist in his face. Another source says they were “literally nose to nose.” Prosser then put his hands up to push her away. As one source pointed out, if a man wants to push a woman who is facing him, he wouldn’t push her in the chest (unless he wants to face an entirely different criminal charge). Consequently, Prosser put his hands on Bradley’s shoulders to push her away, and in doing so, made contact with her neck.

At that moment, another justice approached Bradley from behind and pulled her away from Prosser, saying, “Stop it, Ann, this isn’t like you.” Bradley then shouted, “I was choked!” Another justice present replied, “You were not choked.” In a statement following the incident, Bradley maintained Prosser “put his hands around my neck in anger in a chokehold.”

Co-Chair of Joint Finance to be featured guest at local GOP meeting

92 diamonds to recognize 92 years for Packers Super Bowl ring

Top photo is the Super Bowl XLV ring; Bottom photo shows all four Packer Super Bowl rings

All the details on the ring HERE.

Top Wisconsin Court Invalidates Ruling Striking Down Union Bargaining Law

Just in case you haven't read this anywhere yet...this comes from Bloomberg news.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court threw out a lower court ruling invalidating legislation signed by Governor Scott Walker that curbed public employees’ collective-bargaining rights.

The high court ruled today that Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi exceeded her authority when she issued a May 26 order invalidating the measure after she had found it was created in apparent violation of the state’s open meetings law.
Continue reading HERE.

The entire Supreme Court ruling including a concurring statement from Justice Prosser and dissenting statement from Chief Justice Abrahamson can be found HERE.

Wind power turbines in Altamont Pass threaten protected birds

Where is the outcry from the environmental left on this issue? How many times have we heard of the delay or cancellation of a development project by the DNR or pressure from the Sierra Club because some rodent, salamander, insect or some such creature will be displaced, yet silence on the killing off of a protected species? Interesting! Reminds me of the gentleman who was all bent out of shape at the thought of a red fox being displaced if Walmart was to build in Caledonia. Wonder if he'd share a similar outrage over this article?

By Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times
June 6, 2011
Reporting from Oakland—

Scores of protected golden eagles have been dying each year after colliding with the blades of about 5,000 wind turbines along the ridgelines of the Bay Area's Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, raising troubling questions about the state's push for alternative power sources. I encourage you to continue reading here.

H/T Jay Weber

Friday Fun

Mr. CU's video on how to get drenched while filming waves at Reefpoint Marina during high winds - from last Sunday.

What we've got here is a failure to communicate...

Just a few days ago, Village President Ron Coutts was quoted in a JT article as saying, "While the Walmart proposal appears to be over, the Highway 31 area will likely be on the list of areas to be re-examined."

Then today, a more encouraging article appears in the JT indicating Walmart is still interested in a store in Caledonia.

HELLO! Is anyone communicating with anyone on this proposal? Are the negotiations going to be funneled through a newspaper reporter? Did the JT reporter think to get comment from President Coutts on this latest article? Have we reached some sort of unspoken stalemate that has the Village waiting to rezone the 4 Mile/Hwy 31 area until it sees a proposal from Walmart, and Walmart waiting to come forward with a proposal until it has an indication that area will indeed be rezoned?

Osmosis isn't going to get it done guys - you have to actually communicate - could someone pick up the phone and make the call please?

Caledonia committee seeks County involvement for 794 extension

Members of Caledonia's Legislative and Licensing Committee, Trustees Kevin Wanggaard and Tom Weatherston, worked with Village Administrator Tom Lebak this afternoon to hash out the language for a resolution that will move 794 another step closer to realization in Racine County.

The resolution will express Caledonia's support for the extension of 794 into Racine County and ask the Racine County Board to pass a resolution to include Racine in a study group being overseen by the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

Currently, Milwaukee is studying the extension of 794 to a southern point of Hwy 100. From the draft minutes of the Village Board on May 3: Trustee Weatherston updated the board that Patricia Jursik, Milwaukee County Supervisor and Chair of the 794 Committee, came to the last Caledonia 794 extension committee meeting. One of the discussions at the 794 meeting was a concern with bottlenecking on Hwy 100. The village needs to be proactive and get a plan in place to address the additional traffic the extension will bring. This is what the committee is focusing on.

Wanggaard and Weatherston (who also sit on Caledonia's 794 Committee) also discussed extending the road into Racine County to at least 6 Mile Road, and possibly further if the City of Racine and Mt. Pleasant are supportive. A study committee would likely focus on finding the most feasible route to bring the highway into Racine.

The resolution is expected to be presented to the full Village Board at their first meeting in June.

Racine Tea Party supports citizen "buy-cott"

click to enlarge

Walmart in Caledonia, Part III - Neighborhood Market

These pictures are of a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Dallas, Texas, provided by a Caledonia resident who was visiting that area.






The "Neighborhood Market prototype" is what has been suggested by Walmart representatives for a potential development in Caledonia at 4 Mile Road and Hwy 31.

Click on any picture to enlarge.

Caledonia's 794 committee meeting again next Monday

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the I-794 Extension Committee will be meeting at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, April 25, 2011 in the Conference Room at the Caledonia Village Hall, 6922 Nicholson Road, Caledonia, Wisconsin, for the purpose of the following:
1. Update from Milwaukee County regarding the plans and timelines for
the extension of I-794.
Dated April 21, 2011.
Karie Torkilsen
Village Clerk

Milwaukee's Lake Parkway Advisory Committee met on February 16th, primarily discussing whether or not intersections would be needed (and alternatives) at the following major cross streets:

Layton/Edgerton; Grange; College; Rawson; Drexel; Forest Hill; Puetz; Ryan and STH 100.

I've included the notes on the discussion of Hwy 100, since that is currently planned as the end point and could determine the feasibility of extending the parkway into Caledonia/Racine County. The full minutes from that meeting (including maps of potential roadway crossings) can be found HERE.

STH 100
1. Mr. Yunker noted that two locations are being considered for an at-grade intersection at STH 100—one location at the existing intersection of STH 100 and Pennsylvania Avenue and one location at a point west of the existing intersection of STH 100 and Pennsylvania Avenue. Mayor Bolender expressed concern that intersecting the Lake Parkway extension at Pennsylvania Avenue may result in additional traffic using local roadways, such as Ryan Road, to access the Lake Parkway extension to avoid possible traffic congestion on STH 100. Mayor Richards noted, and Trustee Weatherston agreed, that locating the intersection west of Pennsylvania Avenue would potentially make it easier to extend the Lake Parkway south into Racine County.

Mr.Yunker noted that it may be costly to construct an at-grade intersection west of Pennsylvania Avenue because STH 100 is elevated at that location.

2. The Committee agreed to review further information regarding the potential impacts of the two
alternative locations being considered for an at-grade intersection at STH 100.

Government Gone Wild - the National Debt

H/T Tom W and Dave W

Bender Park boat launch closed until May 20th

A few weeks ago, Mr. CU and I witnessed a small fishing boat returning to the Bender Park boat launch at the end of Ryan Road in Oak Creek. At one point it looked as if they were on the bottom pushing off with their oars. We spoke with the fishermen - they estimated the depth at 1 foot or less in spots!




On a return visit last week, we saw the equipment and booms in place for Milwaukee County's Bender Park Safe Harbor Dredge project.







According to the contract award, this will be at a price of $263,633 to remove approximately 8,000 cubic yards of sand. Depending how wet the sand is, this equates to somewhere in the range of 20 to 30 million pounds!

Could it be?

Could it be village officials are finally at the "serious" stage about extending sewer and water services to the I-94 corridor? The items on the agenda for a joint meeting this Wednesday would seem to indicate they are.

SPECIAL VILLAGE BOARD AND UTILITY DISTRICT MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Caledonia Village Board and Utility
District will hold a Special Joint meeting on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at the Caledonia/Mt.Pleasant Joint Park, 9614 Hwy K, Franksville, Wisconsin, at 6:00 p.m., for the following:

1. I-94 Corridor Water Engineering Report and Sanitary Sewer Facility Plan Update from Foth Infrustruture & Environment, LLC.

2. Discussion regarding finance options as presented by Ehler’s & Associates.

Dated April 15, 2011
Karie Torkilsen
Village Clerk