Smoke detector test leads to fortunate fire call
A fire call in Kenosha today illustrates the importance of having functioning smoke alarms — and testing them, fire department officials say.
From a Kenosha Fire Department press release issued by Battalion Chief Matthew Haerter:
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Kenosha to pay Bear $3.7 million in Uptown Gardens settlement
Kenosha will pay Bear Development $3.7 million under a settlement recommended by Mayor Keith Bosman and approved by the Common Council in a special meeting today.
From a press release issued by the city this evening:
Under terms of the settlement, the City will pay the developer $3.7 million, including $2.9 million in damages and $800,000 in court costs, attorney’s fees and other expenses. In exchange, Bear has agreed to a City request for the company to invest at least $5.8 million – twice the amount of dollar damages in the case – in positive economic development in Kenosha within the next five years. If Bear Development does not make a $5.8 million City investment, it must return the unused part of the $2.9 million to the City, the agreement states. Additionally, under the agreement, the incremental increase in assessed value must be achieved within seven years. Bosman said the City’s insurance company will cover at least $350,000 of the settlement and added that negotiations are continuing with the carrier. “This settlement makes the best of a very challenging situation and allows the City to avoid the significant legal and financial risks of a trial,” Bosman said. “This matter has been difficult, to be sure, but we are pleased that our negotiating team was able to secure a significant investment in the City of Kenosha as part of the agreement. We appreciate that Bear looked at what’s best for both Kenosha and their legal position, and we look forward to their future investment in our community.” A federal judge ruled in late September that the City was in breach of contract when it declared null and void an agreement with Bear Development to build Uptown Gardens. The 70-unit, low-income apartment complex was planned for the former American Brass Co. site at 18 th Avenue and 63rd Street.”
Pleasant Prairie Professional Police Association to host sixth annual Shop with a Cop and Firefighter
The Pleasant Prairie Professional Police Association is proud to announce that the Sixth Annual Pleasant Prairie Shop with a Cop and Firefighter charity event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Shop with a Cop and Firefighter is a way for members of Pleasant Prairie’s Police Department to give back to the community by helping local families who may not otherwise be able to celebrate the holidays in a traditional manner. Children from underprivileged families pair off with a Pleasant Prairie Police officer or firefighter and select gifts for their family members.
City plan commission meeting notes
TacoBell.com
At tonight’s City Plan Commission meeting, the following conditional use permits were approved:
- For a 2,862 s.f. restaurant with a drive-thru to be located at 4002 – 52nd Street (Taco Bell). The plan is to raze and re-build in the spring with the proper approvals. Other Taco Bell restaurants are also being remodeled nationwide. Construction should last approximately 80 days. Fifteen additional parking spaces will be added, as well as additional landscaping elements. The Taco Bell representative stated that he’d make every effort to work with the city to meet all of their requirements. Alderperson Anthony Kennedy, the alderperson of the district, said that he was not contacted before this meeting. Kennedy stated that he would not deny the request, but he could have been an advocate for the representative. Everyone agreed that the appearance of the location will be greatly improved. Continue reading
Mayor’s Youth Commission awards for final period of 2011 announced
For the fourth and final nomination period of 2011, the Mayor’s Youth Commission awarded six individual awards to outstanding youth from the Kenosha community.
The Youth Commission selected these individuals based on their outstanding personal achievements and positive contributions to the Kenosha community. This program is designed to fill the gap in the availability of awards for youth and young adults in Kenosha. The Mayor’s Youth Commission created the program to recognize our city’s youth for the important contributions they make.
Nomination forms can be obtained at the Mayor’s office, Room 300, at the Municipal Building, or on the Internet at www.kenosha.org.
At the Nov. 7 Common Council meeting, five youth award winners in eighth grade and higher were invited to attend a council meeting and be presented with their award.
These students include (info from a city press release):
Portion of trail to close during utility work
(Click for larger view)
A portion of Kenosha County’s North Bike Trail will be closed for a week due to utility construction, County Executive Jim Kreuser’s office announced.
WE Energies will be conducting the work from Nov. 15 to 23 from 14th Place to 18th Street. People are asked to use caution and to avoid that portion of the trail during the project.
Common Council notes
Kenosha’s Common Council met on Monday night. Below is a re-cap:
- Six young people were presented with Mayor’s youth commission awards.
- Fifteen people spoke during the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting. Topics included the Saturday bus service, the on-site medical clinic, and the support of live music.
- Our Kenosha Tap was granted its yearly cabaret license. The Art Bar was approved for its yearly cabaret license, after being denied last month. Five other establishments were also approved for their yearly cabaret licenses.
- Hydrate Margarita Lounge surrendered its beer/liquor license.
KUSD standing committee meetings report
This evening, five KUSD standing committee meetings were held. (Please note that what is approved at these committee meetings is then sent on to the full Board of Education for their review. That meeting will be held on November 22nd.) Below is a report of the highlights of each meeting:
Audit/Budget/Finance Committee
- The committee voted to discontinue the practice of paying advanced placement (AP) exam fees for all students, except those required by state mandate (those receiving free/reduced lunch), and that parents/guardians cover the AP exam fee for each exam the student opts to take. Currently, the AP exam fee is $87 per exam. During the 2010-2011 school year, KUSD paid $79,149 for AP examinations. Rebecca Stevens suggested a waiver for those students in hardship situations. One of the committee members asked for statistics on how many students take advantage of these exams in obtaining college credits.
Common Council upholds mayor’s veto
At tonight’s Common Council meeting, the body voted to uphold the mayor’s veto of the previously approved reorganization of the Licensing & Permit Committee. You will recall that, at the last Common Council meeting, the body approved, by a vote of 9 to 7, the reorganization. Click here for the previous story on this topic: Mayor vetoes Common Council vote on Licensing & Permits.
Matt Knight, deputy city attorney, stated that twelve votes are needed to override the mayor’s veto, no matter how many are in attendance. Alderperson Ray Misner stated that he knew that he didn’t have enough votes to sustain the override.
Pleasant Prairie Veterans Day Ceremony coverage
/Earlene Frederick photo
Pleasant Prairie held a Veterans Day Ceremony to pay tribute to America’s service men and women Sunday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial, inside Prairie Springs Park.
During the ceremony, Pleasant Prairie VFW Post 7308 was honored, bricks and benches were dedicated, and a moment of silence was observed. A special bench was dedicated to U.S. Army Veteran and fallen Fond du Lac Police Officer Craig Birkholz, a former Pleasant Prairie resident who died in the line of duty earlier this year.
You can see more photos of the event by clicking the link below:
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Car crashes into building
/Earlene Frederick photo
A car crashed into a building in the 2600 block of Roosevelt Road, Kenosha at about 7 p.m. Sunday.
The impact caused visible damage to the building, which housed a business, and the car. People in the car were injured.
Units responding to report of fire
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 7:32 p.m., Somer Fire and Rescue units are responding to a report of a fire of an unknown type in the 1700 block of 12th Avenue, Somers.
Controlled burn planned in Prairie Springs Park on Monday
Pleasant Prairie and the state Department of Natural Resources have made the following announcement regarding a controlled burn planned for Monday, Nov. 7:
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Units responding to report of crash in Somers
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 8:39 a.m., Somers Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a crash in the 1300 block of Sheridan Road, Somers.
Flight called for industrial accident
/Earlene Frederick photo
A patient that was involved in an accident at a local business was transported from Kenosha Airport by Flight for Life medical transport helicopter Thursday evening.
Kenosha Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and brought the man, who appeared to have a severe hand wound, to the airport to meet the helicopter.
Units responding to fire in garage
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 10:11 p.m., Somers Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies are responding to a report of a wood burner in a garage on fire.
Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue to host steak dinner fundraiser
Photo by Jerry Attrick via stock.xchng
The public is invited to join Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue as they host the 5th Annual “Steak by Fire” Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 5, between 4:30 and 8 p.m. at St. Therese (2021 91 st St.).
Members of the department will be preparing a steak dinner and side dishes with coffee and dessert. Tickets for the dinner will be sold at the door on the night of the event and cost $15 per person. Children’s meals will also be available for $3.
Units responding to separate crashes on Green Bay Road
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 3:47 p.m., Somers Fire and Rescue and sheriff’s deputies responding to a report of a crash on Green Bay Road at Highway KR, Somers.
Mount Pleasant firefighters also on scene. Two vehicles are involved and blocking traffic, but not clear what lanes.
UPDATE 3:51 p.m. — Deputies responding to a report of an apparently separate crash at Highway K (60th Street) and Green Bay Road. Car reportedly on side and about to turn over. Person reporting a back injury.
UPDATE 3:54 p.m. — Vehicle is in ditch but not rolled over, deputy at scene of Highway K crash reports. Scene is just west of the intersection of Highway K and Green Bay Road.
Kenosha making use of GPS units
The city of Kenosha is taking steps to have all of their snow plows equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) units in time for this winter’s snowfalls. A presentation was made at tonight’s Public Works Committee meeting. The Public Works Department will be able to track the whereabouts of the snow plows, their paths, and their speed from the office. Snow plow drivers will be issued a GPS unit by their supervisor at the beginning of their shift, which will be plugged into hard-wired battery supplies in the snow trucks. There will be no way drivers will be able to manipulate or tamper with the units while en route.
Mayor vetoes common council vote on licensing & permits
Kenosha’s Mayor Keith Bosman issued his very first veto during his tenure as mayor. It had to do with the vote that was taken at the Common Council meeting held on Oct. 17, 2011. This veto now precludes the formation of the new commission, as was previously reported here. See the previous article by clicking here: Licensing & Permit Committee Becomes Commission. The council voted 9 to 7 to adopt the newly reorganized Licensing & Permit Committee. Those alderpersons who voted in favor of the proposed reorganization were: Ray Misner (the sponsor of the ordinance change), Theodore Ruffalo, G. John Ruffolo, Katherine Marks, Lawrence Green, Anthony Nudo, Steve Bostrom, Daniel Prozanski, Michael Orth and David Bogdala.
Another Kenosha transit public hearing held tonight
There were about 35 people present at tonight’s Kenosha Transit public hearing meeting held at the Municipal Building. Transportation director Ron Iwen hosted the meeting, calling upon audience members to voice their opinions and comments. He stated that the final decision about discontinuing Saturday service still hasn’t been made. Whatever is proposed will have to be approved by the Transit Commission and the Common Council.
Iwen stated that the state funding of 58.5% is dropping down next year to 53%, which represents a half million dollars less than the current year’s funding. “Plus, fuel costs and paratransit services (Kenosha Achievement Center) have increased.” He also stated that they are leaving a mechanic position vacant in order to help fill the shortfall. “The city of Kenosha is not taking away any funds; the funding from the city remains the same as last year. Kenosha is not the only city with this problem. It’s being felt all across the state. Racine is pulling their Sunday service and scaling back their Saturday service. Most of the state is experiencing cutbacks,” stated Iwen.
Possible uses for the old Kenosha Engine Plant site
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What to do with the old Kenosha Engine Plant site?
A little history on the site: The factory opened in 1917 and was acquired by Chrysler with their purchase of American Motors in August, 1987. On May 1, 2009, Chrysler announced that the Kenosha Engine plant was to close by the end of 2010 as a result of Chrysler’s bankruptcy and restructuring plan. The buildings have 1,900,000 square feet of floor space, and the property is located on 106 acres at 5555 – 30th Avenue, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The opening of the 3.5-liter engine line, in 2002, came after the company invested $624 million in a 450,000-square-foot expansion of the plant. As of May, 2009, employment at this facility was approximately 800 workers. Kenosha Engine was one of the Chrysler Group powertrain plants that scored at the top of their segment according to the 2007 Harbour Report for North America, a broadly accepted measure of productivity in the automotive industry. The last engine was produced on October 22, 2010.
