Tag Archives: Doug Schmidt

Franklin Historical Society’s Kick-Off Event for a Barn Raising in Legend Park

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The Franklin Historical Society is looking to add a building to the current four buildings that they own and maintain at Lions Legend Park. The four that are on display at the park are the Sheehan-Godsell Cabin which belonged to Franklin’s first non-native resident Michael Sheehan back in 1834 and was later purchased by Michael Godsell  in 1921, the Old Town Hall built in 1886, Whelan School (1878) and St. Peters Chapel built in 1869. All are run and maintained by the Franklin Historical Society, a non-profit organization that preserves the city of Franklin’s heritage.

So now the Franklin Historical Society is looking to raise funds to erect a barn in Legend Park. You may want to join them on Saturday, July 28th, from 1 to 3 p.m. for this kick-off event. Following a brief presentation, the Franklin historical buildings will be open for viewing and will include early farm equipment on display. Topping off these special activities, will be cookies and lemonade, served by the 5th Districts very own Alderman Doug (They Came To Bowl) Schmidt!

I can almost guarantee that the Mayor will be there to do some singing also if prompted. He is sort of like Franklin’s very own Mayor Meier!

Doug (They Came to Bowl) Schmidt

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Just Ask Alderman Doug Schmidt….

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Where is your news letter on what is going on in the Franklin’s 5th District? What are the changes in the 5th district boundry’s? What happened to your idea’s on the EDC? Will you have more than one bag of candy for the parade? Will you be distributing ice cream or just eating it?

Since Alderman Schmidt does not communicate with any of his constituents you can subscribe to Alderman Steve Olson’s e-mails like I do.

Here is Steve’s latest e-mail:

From: Steve Olson [mailto:steve-olson@wi.rr.com]
 Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 10:28 PM
 To: Undisclosed Recipients
 Subject: A few quick city updates

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I have a few quick notes to pass along to you regarding activities in the city.

First, Happy Birthday US!  I hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July holiday and look forward to seeing you at the parade.  As usual, make sure you catch my attention as we come by on the parade route and I’ll make sure (unless you’re at the very end of the route) that you and the kids get some Tootsie Rolls and maybe a handshake.  I may even have a treat for the dogs!  The Children’s Parade starts at 10:30am Monday.  Decorate the bikes and wagons and meet in the Police/Courts parking lot at about 10:00am.  The politicians follow at 10:40am followed by the usual gap, then the parade at 11:00am.

Don’t forget the festivities at Lions Legend Park.  There are bands, children’s activities and food.  The headliner Monday night is “Little Pink Houses,” a Melencamp cover band that I think is very good.

REDISTRICTING

For the first district (mine), the change will REMOVE residents west of Forest Meadows Drive between Forest Hill and Drexel and place them in District 2 (Ald. Solomon).  District 1 will ADD residents east of 76th Street to 68th Street between Drexel and Puetz Road.

Other changes involve the 2nd and 5th districts primarily.

There are legislative guidelines that impact the re-districting, but I believe that YOU, the residents should be able to view and make comment on the redistricting.  Please take some time to attend the Council meeting and offer your opinions.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Mayor and other members of the Common Council have made substantial changes in economic development activities and direction for the city.  I’ll only say that for the past 20 years I’ve been actively involved in bringing (and attempting to bring) a balance to our tax base by encouraging business development in our community.  In the past, I’ve served on the Economic Development Committee as a member and as its’ Chair.  I’ve serve on and chaired the 27th Street Steering Committee and was instrumental in forming the Economic Development Strategic Plan Oversight Committee (made up of Common Council, School Board, EDC, Plan Commission and Community Development Authority members) that developed the Ticknor Report and Franklin First plans for city wide economic development.

Because of the direction decided on by the Mayor and Common Council, I have decided to withdraw from these activities.

On a brighter note; Joining with Alderman Taylor, I fought to have EVERY dollar of assessed value of the Franklin Business Park be calculated as a tax reduction for the taxpayers of the city.  The Business Park was developed under a TIF district that this year will be completely paid off and put on the tax rolls.  That means that approximately $160,000,000  (one hundred and sixty MILLION dollars) in new tax base will be added for your December tax bill reduction.  I note that the TIF was retired in 18 years, 5 or 8 years ahead of the plan even though there were 2 rather substantial rules changes during its’ life that impacted the payback period.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS

You may know that the new tornado sirens have been installed and tested.  I, to this day, believe that the $150,000 that the Common Council spent this year to install these is a waste of money, but they’re in.  Let’s hope they never get used.

For substantially less money, (less than $10,000), we have also implemented a “Reverse 911” system in the city to provide parallel and expanded notification of not only severe weather, but other events which may warrant resident notification.  EXCEPT FOR TORNADO WARNING, participation is VOLUNTARY.  There are many events which you may be interested in receiving notification via phone, cell phone, text or e-mail notification.  Please sign up for this FREE (well, it did cost $10,000 to set up) service on-line by completing a form on the city web site at: http://www.franklinwi.gov/Home/Services/FranklinNotificationSystem.htm

That’s it for now.

Say Hi at the Parade or when you’re getting FREE ICE CREAM donated by Hiller Ford after the parade.

Steve

Steve Olson
8091 S. Meadowcreek Ct.
Franklin, Wisconsin 53132

414-425-9060
E-Mail: solson@franklinwi.gov

As for Alderman Doug Schmidt, I would not hold my breath waiting for any communication from him.

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Economic Development in Franklin – Try Number II

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Rick Romano of the omnipresent FranklinNOW posts the story of the upcoming proposals for the city’s approach to economic development in three plans being considered at the June 6 Committee of the Whole and the June 7 Common Council.

Alderman Steve Taylor is pushing forward his past failed agenda for a seven-member body, that would including one alderman, which would report to and work more closely with the CDA. Note that Taylor is pushing for businesses to deal more directly with the mayor. Then again, Steve Taylor is always looking for more power for the Mayor, a position he relishes for himself in the near future. Steve Taylor’s plan did not pass during the May 17th CC meeting due to a lack of a second and the wariness of the rest of the council for Taylor to rush his plan through as a frustrated Taylor wanted.

In response to Steve Taylor’s resolution, two members of the EDC – Alderman Steve Olson and resident-appointee and acting chair of the EDC Joe Haselow - drafted a new plan that allows up to 12 members who have “passion” as well as a “profile of relevant skills” who will proactively develop and respond to economic opportunities. Several comments were made at the last council meeting that the Mayor has appointed unqualified members with little passion for the appointed positions on the EDC.




A third economic development resolution, authored by Alderman Doug Schmidt,  was all but dismissed at the May 17th Common Council meeting, also cuts the commission to seven members and consolidates some of the same Steve Taylor elements but does not place it under the CDA.

Be ready for some red faced arguments and a generally fun time at the two meetings on June 6th and June 7th (see Fred Keller’s Food Fight posting). Bring popcorn but please refrain from throwing it at the council.

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