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By Janet Evans
Monday, Nov 3 2008, 07:00 AM
I want to speak to you today about the City Budget that the Common Council will be adopting this evening. Before I get into some proposed changes I want to talk about the budget process. First, the Mayor proposes a budget after deliberating with each department head. He then sends his budget to the Finance Committee. Each committee member is assigned a department to meet with and go over their individual budget. The Finance Committee then meets and each member presents their assigned departments budgets. Finally, the Finance Committee makes a recommendation to the Common Council.
That brings us to tonight’s meeting at 6:30 when the Common Council will hold a public hearing on the budget. As many of you know, I recently campaigned on controlling city spending. I believe the Mayor and the Finance Committee has done just that without drastically cutting essential city services. I would NOT vote for this budget if I didn’t feel that your hard earned tax dollars were being spent wisely. Real sacrifices have been made. Already three employees have been laid off and we have left open another three positions. These were three dedicated employees who gave their very best to the city and its residents. Their service to the city should be commended.
This budget has not been finalized yet. There are two aldermen, Steve Olson and Lyle Sohns, who are attempting to adversely affect the budget. Alderman Sohns is trying to eliminate $240,000 out of the budget in an attempt to save $.09 for every $1,000 of your homes assessed value. This would save me a total of $20.70. But, what would it cost me in city services you may ask? He proposes to eliminate two employees from the Department of Public Works (DPW). These are the same employees who plowed your streets this winter and worked to keep your roads in good driving condition. He wants to eliminate a part-time employee out of the City Clerks office. Has anybody been to City Hall in the past few weeks trying to vote? The Clerks office handles all of the city’s official records, complaint handling, legal notification to the public, the issuance of licenses and permits, preparation of agendas and official minutes, and administration of elections. The Clerks office is the face of the city and this proposal will hurt its effectiveness.
Here is what Steve Olson wants to do to our city services. He proposes to eliminate a plumbing inspector and an electrical inspector in an attempt to save money. Here are the facts: We will have to pay unemployment for 39 weeks to each employee. Because the other inspectors are not certified to do plumbing and electrical inspections we would have to immediately contract out most of those services. I do not see much savings there. Also, these two inspectors handle citizen complaints. Now, those complaints would have to be picked up by the other inspectors, which would drag out the compliance process. I don’t know about you but this process takes long enough as it is.
There are a few items that both are in agreement. They are focusing on a 1972 road grader in which parts for this vehicle are unavailable. In the winter this vehicle is used as a part of the DPW snow operations. In the summer it is used to grade shoulders and establish and grade roadways. The DPW is being so budget conscious that they are going to be purchasing a used road grader.
There is also the issue of public safety. I asked that $15,000 be put into the Capital Improvement Fund in order to have a study done on a tornado warning siren system. Both aldermen have said that this is not necessary and Alderman Sohns said that he would not vote for the budget with it left in the budget. We are one of the few communities in the area that does not have this system. I cannot believe our Fire Chief would support something that wasn’t a benefit to the safety of our citizens. I cannot believe that all of those other communities are wrong. If we would have has this system in June they would have gone off three times in a six-day period. I have taken your phone calls and read your emails and that is why this item is in the budget.
Finally, my friends, I want to talk about principle. In 2007 both aldermen voted for a 5.7% tax levy increase. Why was 5.7% okay last year but all of a sudden 3% isn’t? Where were they last year when residents were asking for relief? Where were they in 2005 or 2006? I guess principle now prevails. I want to point out that in 2007 Alderman Olson voted against the budget at the Finance Committee but then voted for it when it came to the Common Council. He said that he wanted to be a team player. I guess principle didn’t matter then.
I want to thank you for your time and interest in this very important subject. As always feel free to call me with any concerns that you may have no matter where you live in the city. I am listening.
Steve F Taylor
Common Council President
P.S. Please don’t forget to vote.
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Oct 6 2008, 06:30 AM
The school year has been underway for a little over a month now and something has been brought to my attention. The condition of Franklin High School's athletic facilities are in rough shape. When comparing them to neighboring city's they rank near or at the bottom. A committee has been formed and I am a member of it. I am doing this because I feel there should be some city representation although I am not looking to spend any city tax dollars on new facilities. All other funding types need to be looked into.
I believe that high school athletics bring communities closer together. We all rally together and cheer on our student athletes whether they are our children or not. Please take a moment and click on the link below and fill out the survey. It will help us rank our wants and needs.
Thank you for your time and cooperation. Please let me know if you would be interested in serving on this worthwhile committee.
Steve F. Taylor
Franklin Athletic Facilities Survey ç
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Jul 21 2008, 06:35 AM
On Tuesday night I am introducing a modification to the City's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). What I am trying to accomplish is to make the Common Council more ACCOUNTABLE in how our City is ultimately going to look. The change that I am recommending is to the City's site plan approval process. Currently a developments site plan approval, (architecture, parking, landscaping, etc.), never goes before the Common Council. It is brought before the Plan Commission and approved or denied. In my first three months in office there have been a few cases where my hands were tied and I was not allowed to make any changes or improvements. I have a real problem with this.
In April I went before the voters and asked that they give me the opportunity to make Franklin a better place. However, our UDO prevents me from determining how our city looks. Currently I am being held ACCOUNTABLE but City policy does not give me the tools to accomplish my constituent’s desires. I would like to be held ACCOUNTABLE and I want this responsibility to rest on my shoulders. Therefore, my proposal still sends the site plan to the Plan Commission and they will make a RECOMMENDATION to the Common Council for final approval. I still want our fine Plan Commissioners to handle all of the heavy lifting, but I want the Common Council to have ability to fine-tune it. I am privileged to have been given this opportunity to serve and I would like to be able to make sure that your vision gets adopted. Ultimately, this is YOUR city and it is Your Voice that should be heard.
Please feel free to contact me on this issue.
Steve F Taylor
Common Council President
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Jun 25 2008, 06:30 AM
Before I say anything else I want to make it clear that I appreciate the job that the bloggers do for the community. They are reporting a lot more than the newspaper reporters do and many times they are more accurate. I don’t mind when they are critical of my stances on the issues facing the City. I think it is a way of keeping all of us honest and inline with our constituents because we know that we are being watched.
However, what I do not like are those who use an alias when blogging. This isn’t Watergate so the need for Deep Throat isn’t necessary. It is really easy to hide behind the curtain like Professor Marvel did in the Wizard of Oz. But, in the end he was all bark and no bite. If you really want to be a player in the community tell us who you are. I guess I do not understand why the need for secrecy.
If you can’t bear to give up the cloak and dagger feel free to contact me. If you are worried about me revealing who you are, let me make one thing very clear. In politics your word is your bond. Violating this trust is the biggest sin and you will find yourself on the outside looking in very soon. If someone breaks my trust I will be finished with him or her. Feel confident that I will not tell anyone who you are.
So, I have a challenge for Apollo! Pick up your phone and give me a call. If you want me to listen to your opinions I will do so in this format. I would like to get your input. Otherwise if you want to continue to throw out you views in a mysterious way I will politely place them in the circular file.
Steve F Taylor
Common Council President
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boomgaard Vreemd-Nederlands 06/24/08
Franklin-Oakcreek Honored for 27th St. Corridor 06/20/08
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Jun 20 2008, 05:09 PM
Alderman Steve Talyor was kind enough to share the following press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Kristin Settle
Zizzo Group Advertising + Public Relations
414-319-5700 ext. 236
kristinsettle@zizzogroup.com
Franklin, Oak Creek honored for South 27th Street Corridor Efforts
Project receives Honorable Mention from Public Policy Forum for
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Franklin and Oak Creek – June 20, 2008 – The Public Policy Forum recognized Franklin and Oak Creek for their collaborative work on the South 27th Street Corridor Project as part of its
“Salute to Local Government” awards banquet. Both cities were awarded an Honorable
Mention in the Intergovernmental Cooperation category, which recognizes partnerships
between governmental bodies. “The South 27th Street Corridor is a monumental cooperative effort between Franklin and Oak
Creek and it is estimated to bring $2 billion in economic growth to our two cities,” said
Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor. “We are very grateful for this recognition.”
Oak Creek Mayor Dick Bolender echoed this sentiment, “We are proud of this honor for our
efforts. This project will grow our tax base, bring family-supporting jobs, and improve the
quality of life for our residents.”
Last year, Franklin and Oak Creek jointly received the 2007 Wisconsin Good Government
Award for their cooperative planning efforts to prepare the South 27th Street Corridor for
high-quality business development. Thus far, developments that have established businesses within the South 27th Street Corridor
include Northwestern Mutual Life, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Liberty Corporate
Preserve, Colonial Woods Condominiums, and Staybridge Suites Hotel. New public information Web site, www.south 27th.com, has been launched to serve as a
central resource for residents and developers to learn about the area. The preliminary site also contains history and background information as well as South 27th Street Steering Committee
meeting minutes and future agendas. The Web site contains public information and allows for
public perspective on the project.
“This Web site will be a place where residents of both communities can get accurate
information,” said Mayor Bolender. “The temporary site will serve as a channel for sharing
our accomplishments with the public until a more robust site is launched later this year,” said
Mayor Bolender.
“We recognize that public input is vital to the success of this development,” said Mayor
Taylor. “The new site will deliver up-to-date information and provide another means for
residents to share their thoughts on this important project.” To learn more about the South 27th Street Corridor, visit www.south 27th.com The South 27th Street Corridor is an
economic development partnership between the cities of
Franklin and Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The Corridor is strategically located between the City of
Milwaukee and Racine County, and includes the area surrounding the six-mile stretch of
South 27th Street between College Avenue and County Line Road. The development is
estimated to bring $2 billion in economic growth to the area. The vision shared by both cities is that the South 27th Street Corridor and the adjacent areas will be a preferred destination for
developers, businesses, residents and the greater community.
###
View the actual Press Release:
Press Release.Public Policy Forum Award.June 20 Ã here
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Jun 11 2008, 06:30 AM
Before I get to the reason of writing this blog let me first say a few things about the recent flooding in the City of Franklin. I, along with many others had water damage to my home. I visited a half a dozen homes this weekend and offered my support and assistance. I spent some time with Mayor Taylor on Sunday assessing some of the damage and he kept me abreast of the City’s efforts during the storm. We had many city employees working around the clock this weekend and I appreciate all of their efforts. I want to single out Fire Chief Jim Martins, Assistant City Engineer Ron Romeis and Public Works Superintendent Jerry Schaefer for their dedication to the City.
This storm wreaked havoc on our residents and many are without flood insurance. Even if they do, the deductible is not what they wanted to spend their hard earned money on. Don’t forget to call the Milwaukee County Disaster Hotline at 414-278-3000 to report your damage. Please feel free to contact me if you need additional assistance.
Now, to the reason of this blog……….
Last week I met with Zizzo Group Advertising & Public Relations. This meeting came about after a phone call I received from Anne Zizzo in response to some questions I had about the South 27th Street Corridor project. At this meeting, we discussed what the future holds for this project and for our community. I shared with them my desire to see the project move forward in a positive way. Zizzo Group agrees, and we brainstormed ideas for more significant public input on the future of the South 27th Street Corridor.
I am excited to work with our partners in this unprecedented opportunity for our communities. In fact, the economic impact of this project to our two cities is estimated to be as much as $2 billion. I am committed to helping bring quality developments, family-supporting jobs, and positive attention to the South 27th Street Corridor. The South 27th Street Corridor plan will grow our tax base, improve our local economy, and serve as a model for other cities nation wide.
I encourage the public to continue giving input into this project and to contact me with any questions or concerns. Forging ahead together, we will make the Corridor a community-friendly economic development opportunity with tremendous potential. I hope to hear from you on this issue.
Steve F. Taylor
Common Council President
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, May 8 2008, 11:09 AM
Alderman Steve Taylor sent me a note to share with the citizens of Franklin.
He will do this from time to time as one way of keeping in touch with the community.:
May 7, 2008
Dear Janet,
There have been some recent comments and discussions about my preparedness, whether it is as Common Council President or as a member of the Finance Committee. Let me start out by assuring the citizens of Franklin that I know that Rick Oliva is the Chief of Police and Jerry Schaefer is the Superintendent of Public Works. As a matter of fact, I have spent the last three weeks meeting with each and every Department Head. I have done this in order to better understand what they do and to let them know what I expect of them and tell them how I operate. If I have a problem with how an employee is performing I will talk to them in private and discuss my concerns. I will not fill up an entire Committee of the Whole agenda in order to publicly browbeat city staff.
There have been two Common Council meetings since I have been the Alderman of the 4th district. Since these meetings, I have gotten the impression that there are some who would like me to be more vocal. This will happen over time. However, I will not speak just to hear my own voice. I believe doing this lessens one’s impact on the debate. Also, I believe citizens in attendance and fellow alderman will start to say, “Hear he goes again”.
On Tuesday night I was appointed to the Finance Committee. I campaigned on holding the line on taxes. The Mayor has signed a tax pledge. It only makes sense to appoint someone who has the same feelings on the city budget. The Mayor and I have a common interest and that is to be fiscally responsible in the upcoming year. There are those out there who may not realize that I served on the Finance Committee for three years in La Crosse. The only difference is that in La Crosse it is the Alderman that creates the budget. There are no citizens involved until the public hearing. I prefer to have the responsibility rest on my shoulders.
I have spent my first month in office trying to thank most of my supporters. I have already reached out to some for their opinions and guidance. I have received numerous phone calls and emails regarding issues that not only face the 4th district but also the City. I have only had one person contact me on the “Boomgaard” naming controversy. I have read the blogs and I encourage those to contact me to voice their concerns. I am excited about what the next three years have to bring and I am hoping to hear from my constituents. I can be reached at 414-301-9786 or staylor@franklinwi.gov.
Please post this on you blog for your readers. Thank you for continuing to keep our citizens informed.
Steve F. Taylor
Common Council President
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